Blade play on a compression locker?

sph3ric pyramid

sph3ric pyramid

Joined
Jul 24, 2002
Messages
861
I got my first compression locker today, a Lil' Temperence. Great knife on all counts, but there was just a little bladeplay (I tend to be a bit anal about lock construction). Since this is my first compression lock, and I'm not quite sure how everything interacts, my question is what causes bladeplay in a compression lock?
 
Hi Sph3ric. I would have to have your knife to know for sure. Possibilities include:

an extra thou clearance in the pivot hole size.

The pivot needs to be tightened.

How far over does the liner go?

sal
 
Front-to-back or side-to-side play?

My new Salsa is as tight as I think I can reasonably expect side-to-side, but has the tiniest bit of front-to-back play. Almost too little to see, but I can feel it and hear it "click". (This is less play than I've seen in my Spyderco lockbacks, BTW)

The liner's engaging properly with the tang about 2/5 of the way over, so I figure it's just a matter of the liner not being exactly flush with the stop pin.
 
Yes, that's almost exactly it. Just very slight vertical blade-play. So it's just one of the inherent characteristics of the lock, like a lock-back, then?

I took mine down and reassembled after a thorough cleaning, and it's a little better now. Also tightened the pivot screw almost all the way, and Loc-Tited it. Blade movement is almost zero, won't affect anything in practice I don't think, it's just enough that you can feel it in use.
 
The lock drops into a tapered area that is self adjusting. My guess is that the play you feel is in the pivot/pivot hole relationship. We ream to .001 of the spec on the pivot. pivots may vary .001 and that is more than likely the play you are feeling. It shouod be minimal if at all. If it is excessive, you may want to send it to Mike in Warrantee & Repair for a "look/see".

sal
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top