Blade play on brand new Rockstead Higo...any ideas how to fix?

I've posted this before, but I ask who ever I buy from to check for dead centering and perfect lockup/no blade play before I order. (I even ask who I buy my drumsticks from to roll them on the counter for me before ordering - Nothing worse than a warped stick - happens all of the time). I've not had any problems with sticks or knives since I started asking dealers to do this for me.
 
jasonbroni said:
I've posted this before, but I ask who ever I buy from to check for dead centering and perfect lockup/no blade play before I order. (I even ask who I buy my drumsticks from to roll them on the counter for me before ordering - Nothing worse than a warped stick - happens all of the time). I've not had any problems with sticks or knives since I started asking dealers to do this for me.
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That's very good advice and an excellent thing to start asking more questions.
 
bladeninja said:
That's very good advice and an excellent thing to start asking more questions.
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Doesn't matter if it's a $25 Kershaw or $500 Ferum Forge, in the notes section I always ask that they check blade centering, detent, lockup, and blade play.
 
For what these cost, they should be perfect. Sad to see thee was an issue with yours. I'd contact the dealer and see what they recommend.
 
RevDevil said:
For what these cost, they should be perfect. Sad to see thee was an issue with yours. I'd contact the dealer and see what they recommend.
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While I do agree with you, the Higo's are around the price of a dressed up Sebenza $750-850. The Hizens are even cheaper at around $700.

Even CRK has had blades slip out of Idaho that have problems, I've experienced it first hand. I had an Umnumzaan with an ill-fitted detent which caused the blade to jiggle when closed. The tip would sit outside of the handle, causing a huge safety hazard.

CRK fixed me up, and that's all that matters. I am almost certain Rocky would do the same.

My point is, is no matter who the maker is, problems can and will happen. And who knows, perhaps someone could have disassembled OP's Higo and sent it back to the dealer and acted like nothing happened. Crazier things have happened!
 
Blues Bender said:
........My point is, is no matter who the maker is, problems can and will happen. And who knows, perhaps someone could have disassembled OP's Higo and sent it back to the dealer and acted like nothing happened.....!
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And the second half of that would be, '....and the dealer sent out the returned, unchecked knife to the next customer. (....who also returned it and it was sent to the next customer...)

I hate that this can go on so easily in the world of retail knives. I've been victim of it myself.
 
Wheeler80 said:
Doesn't matter if it's a $25 Kershaw or $500 Ferum Forge, in the notes section I always ask that they check blade centering, detent, lockup, and blade play.
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I do the same thing in a different way....In addition to checking those obvious things, I tell them in no uncertain terms NOT to send a knife to me that has been returned for any reason, telling them that if I feel they did that they'd lose not only the sale but a customer too. Some dealers care; some hang up, give me the finger and send me a returned knife anyway.

When the flaw is in an $800+ knife, everyone backstage knows it's there...don't kid yourself.
 
Sorry for the late reply, fellas. The Higo is still wonky. And I still love it. If I could bring myself to stop carrying it, I'd probably send it off. I didn't even complain to the dealer I bought it from, but only because that knife was bought with the understanding I would use it and it would have to go back to Japan occasionally for sharpening. If not for that, I'd probably feel a lot differently all the way around. Rockstead has been made aware of the issue, though - I don't want them blaming me later. When I send it in for sharpening, I'll just ask them to fix the blade play and replace all hardware (to be sure it doesn't come back).

Honestly, I just like the knife so much that I don't want to be without it that long right now...I'd rather enjoy it like it is for the time being (and enjoy it I have!) so obviously it's not bothering me that much. :-)


I like that knife so much, I bought the Higo Ironwood ZDP (steel liner lock version sans pocket clip) a couple days after I posted this thread. After dealing with the first one, I absolutely asked for the dealer (different dealer) to check for blade play on that one. Wasn't going to have that happen twice. That knife is perfect...and also incredible, but a very, very different knife than the Duralumin framelock version.
 
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Thanks for the update knifehoarder. It's like a child you love so much you can't ship off to boarding school.
 
Knifehoarder,

How bad is the blade play? Is it enough to sacrifice precision cuts, or enough to barely notice it? I have a Sebenza with "blade play" but it's so minimal it's not even worth thinking about. My Rocky Chi has a small amount too, almost the same as my Seb.

To anybody that is cringing about the words "Rockstead/Sebenza" and "Blade play" being in the same sentence, I assure you that it's very minimal. I really tug on my knives when checking for play, and most people probably wouldn't even notice the amount of play I'm referring to.:)
 
Blues Bender said:
Knifehoarder,

How bad is the blade play? Is it enough to sacrifice precision cuts, or enough to barely notice it? I have a Sebenza with "blade play" but it's so minimal it's not even worth thinking about. My Rocky Chi has a small amount too, almost the same as my Seb.

To anybody that is cringing about the words "Rockstead/Sebenza" and "Blade play" being in the same sentence, I assure you that it's very minimal. I really tug on my knives when checking for play, and most people probably wouldn't even notice the amount of play I'm referring to.:)
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Blade play bothers me with any knife I buy as it implies inherent weakness. Probably more a feeling for me than factual. But I have more confidence in the strength of my work knives with a tight lockup after years of moderately hard use. Blade play used in the description of CRK s or Striders definitely makes me think warranty.
 
whp said:
Blade play bothers me with any knife I buy as it implies inherent weakness. Probably more a feeling for me than factual. But I have more confidence in the strength of my work knives with a tight lockup after years of moderately hard use. Blade play used in the description of CRK s or Striders definitely makes me think warranty.
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The amount of play is relevant though; is it not? I don't think I've ever felt any knife that didn't exhibit even the smallest amount of play. Maybe I just have uber-tolerance-sensing abilities;)
 
I have a Hizen on the way and for a $750+ production knife I expect absolute perfection.
No blade play and perfectly centered. That's what I'm paying for, right?
 
I know this is years late, but I have something to add for any future problems like this. Did OP check that the bushing was put in in the right direction? It is difficult to see, but the bushing has two distinct sides, unlike CRK. The side with a bit of a concave opening is the side that the screw goes in. I have a strong feeling he had the bushing turned around which would cause a small amount of play.
 
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