Blade play, definition?

J

JayBird

Joined
Apr 28, 2000
Messages
132
I have a fairly new Benchmade 730 which I really like. But lately it's developed a very slight lateral (side to side) blade play. I would quantify this as being about one thousandths of an inch and it can be percieved only as a "clicking" feeling, not a gross sideways motion.

If I carefully, slowly, tighten the pivot to just stop play, the action is so sluggish from the friction it's unpleasant. I am using Tuf Glide for all bearing surfaces.

Is this amount of movement enough to be called "blade play"? Should I contact BM? I really doubt this movement will affect function, but it is a annoying. Especially considering that my Spyderco Native, a much less expensive knife, has no play, even after thousands more opening and closings than the 730.
 
Since the knife is fairly new and you say it has "developed" the lateral movement, it's likely a small spec of debris has worked into the pivot mechanism, assuming you haven't dropped the knife onto a hard surface in the locked position, or used it to pry with. Don't void the warranty by disassembling it - send it to BM, they're good people to work with. BTW, I also use Tuff Glide and, although it's a good protectorant, I don't think it's the best lube. I've been considering giving something else a try, like Millitect (sp?) or White Lightning.
 
Some folders have blade play. It has always been this way, and always will. Its true that you dont want that will visibly flop from side to side, but there is nothing wrong with a folder that has such a small amount that you have to concentrate to feel the "click".

When I first got heavily into knives, I had a few folders that had a small bit of play that I was able to feel. Like many newbies, I was crushed and could not wait to get home and get that offending knife out of my pocket as I would never trust it again. Finally a friend who knew more than me told me that some folders had a small amount of play and that was the way of the world. I began using my knives like that, and guess what...they did not fall apart, fold up or get worse...they worked just fine for years.

If such tiny amounts of blade play are so bothersome then perhaps its time to look into fixed blades, or realize that blade play (in small amounts) is not something to be worried about in most cases.
 
Hi Jay :) ..Richard is right.., and the only thing that caught my attention was your description of the perceived problem as "clicking"?

I don't think it's a bad idea to give BM a call..., and it will probably make you feel better. :)

(800)800-7427 (ask for Travis Noteboom)

You could also just email them:

info@benchmade.com

Good luck...the 720 is a nice knife!



"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
Jay

You might want to try a little self-help before contacting BM.

Try backing the pivot screw completely out, clean the threads both inside the pivot and the screw threads and use a LITTLE Loc-Tite (the blue stuff) on the threads and JUST tighten the screw enough to take up any "wobble". Leave it overnight to set.

I have done this with many folders, including BMs and I have never failed to resolve the problem. Give it a try.

Good luck.:)
 
JayBird,

I don’t know if this “clicking” feeling is design-related or a lack of quality and I have no solution regarding this problem but I understand your irritation.
You have bought a high-priced folder, you have expected a quality produkt and now this annoyingly “clicking” feeling. This is a little bit disappointing and reduces the fun.

I think before you do something with this folder, you should contact BM and ask what they think about the cause of this “clicking” feeling.
 
Thanks for all of the support folks. I should clarify, though, that the "clicking" is simply my way of saying that the lateral movement cannot be seen or felt as a displacement. It's a tactile perception of the bearing surfaces "slapping", subtly, against each other when I wiggle the blade laterally. I really think that you'd measure about one thousandths of an inch of total movement at the base of the blade. It's like the slight play you can feel at the muzzle of an autoloading pistol (where the barrel OD meets the slide ID). Very small, hopefully, but capable of being felt as a "click".
 
I just have to say this. The best way I know of getting blade play out, and I mean totally and completely OUT, is to sell all your knives not marked with a CRK. Once you do that go buy more knives marked with a CRK and you will be a very happy camper!

Couldn't help myself............and no one else had said it yet!
 
I *know* some folding knives have it, and some don't. Good, bad, or otherwise, I'll still opt for the folder that has none. Or so little that I can't readily perceive it.

Desiring a folder with no blade play is not a 'failing of newbies' (my words) alone.

I'm not into carrying around fixed blades, so until I am, I'll make myself feel better by packing a folder with no play.

As was mentioned, a knife that has a bit of blade slop may never fall apart and serve well for many years, but I'd still opt for one without it everytime. There's so many folders out there that don't overtly exude blade play, so why settle?

That's just me, though...

Firebat

:cool:
 
Right on Firebat! And I'm no "newbie" either. None of my EDC's have any perceptable blade-play in any direction in the locked position. Maybe I've just been lucky, but of the many knives I've bought online - mostly Spyderco, some BM, Kershaw, and CRKT - none had/have any blade-wobble, except one REKAT, which had several QC issues and I returned for a refund. IMHO, a quality locking folder ($100, + or -) should not have blade-play unless it has seen one hell of a lot of hard use - things DO wear out - or has been abused. I bought a Buck 110 back in the 60's that didn't develop blade-play (lateral) untill the late 80's. I recently sent it back to Buck to be refurbished ($7 :D ), now it locks up tighter'n a drum. Maybe I'm just persnickety about my toys, but if I've got a locking folder of recent vintage with blade-play that I can't fix, or get fixed, I'll give it away. Just my opinion on the matter, and I am a long time user and "accumulator", not a collector.
 
Unless the blade of your folder flops-around like a wet noodle when you shake it back and forth, don't worry about it. If it cuts well, and doesn't close on your fingers...What more do you need?.:).
 
HaHa! Glockman, it's just something I can't hardly tolerate in a locking folder. Call it fussy or picky or whatever. And you're right, the knife will still do its' job - no argument there. But it's one of the main reasons I don't have any $15 knock-offs in my EDC rotation. For the amount of money we pay for our knives...you know what I mean. :)
 
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