blade play on CR folders

A

alexiusmeinong

Joined
Jul 30, 2012
Messages
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Hi all,

How common is blade play on CRK folders? I have handled three CRKs: a small 21, a large 21, and an Mnandi. All of them had a small amount of blade play. Is that normal, or just really unlucky? I'm interested in trying a CRK again, but I'd really like a knife that--at least when it's brand new--has no blade play.

Thanks!
 
I have never heard of this. Were the knives new? Had they been disassembled and reassembled at any point by someone other than CRK? That just doesn’t seem right. The one I’m carrying right now has been to hell and back and still locks up rock solid with not even the slightest amount of play. I second letting CRK get you sorted out. :thumbsup:
 
Are you talking blade play after fully opened and locked or when the blade is free of the detent or lock bar lock-up?
 
Dozens of various CRKs and have never had one with even the slightest amount of blade play. 3 in row seems very odd.
 
Yes, please elaborate on the blade play? Side to side, up/down, when opened, when closed, halfway between?
 
I could only imagine one with an adjustable pivot like the Inkosi moving around a bit if it were loosened too much for flicking purposes. Mine is rock solid. tightest lock up of any pocket knife i have ever had.
 
I have owned several CRK and had zero blade play in any of them ... are you positive they weren't fakes? If they are genuine CRKs you may have the worst luck of anyone I know ... but they definitely shouldn't have blade play.

as Steely_Gunz posted maybe an Inkosi that had the pivot loosened to flip but that should be easily adjusted to remove any blade play.
 
Well, in my experience...(27+ CRK’s), none, absolutely zero have side to side play. When fully opened or fully closed...zero blade play in any direction.
However, probably 50% of my sebenza’s have some blade play...up/down...when half opened. The other 50% very minute.
This is due to the fact that CRK cannot make the pivot bushing super tight or there would be too much friction for opening. Actually, a lot of knives in general behave this way.

Only time that I have experienced side to side play is when there was too much pivot grease, or a small piece of lint or dirt got on a washer when reassembling. This coincides with the blade being off-center as well. Even slightly.

Hope that helps.
 
I've owned 8 CRK folding knives over the years (and a Nyala). All various generations of Sebenzas, except a recently acquired Inkosi. Every one of them locked up as solid as a fixed blade when open.
 
I have one beautiful, lovely, perfect, (really like it) (won't trade it) . . .
er. . .
where was I ?
. . . er . . . oh yeah blade play
There is none in my Large 21.
I have not touched the pivot adjustment.

PS : it has been a perfectly lovely day : Carried my M390 710 all day and switched to the CRK 21 for the evening. I just used the latter in the kitchen to make pulled beef burritos with Pueblo, Colorado green chilly strips.

I just checked the 21, felt zero blade play but I don't get my foot up on it when I test a knife for play. So many of my other really enjoyable knives have play and personally I don't care.
110
Many Para2s
Benchmade 940-1

All with some play. Don't care.
 
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I have had multiple dozens with no noticeable blade play without a simple reason such as something on the lock face. I don't sit there trying to find blade play, but certainly not obvious. I love the way you can take apart these knives and easily put them together with no problems to adjust out.
I think some go out of their way to find problems (of course IMO)
 
Peter Hartwig said:
I have had multiple dozens with no noticeable blade play without a simple reason such as something on the lock face. I don't sit there trying to find blade play, but certainly not obvious. I love the way you can take apart these knives and easily put them together with no problems to adjust out.
I think some go out of their way to find problems (of course IMO)
Click to expand...

Hey Peter. :)
If that was directed towards my post...I definitely dont look for issues with my CRK’s (still have all 27). I actually dont think its a problem, but a necessity for smoothness.
If it wasnt directed towards me...how are ya? Lol. :D
 
I'll make a 100% objective post:

If you noticed some blade play in a CRK there is a problem. It should not exist, period.

My statement is based on a fairly decent sampling, and a fairly good understanding of the mechanics and engineering design behind the knife. Not based on fanboy, pie-eyed adoration of a mythical brand. There are, in fact some things that bug me about these knives. But dammit if they aren't the most solid, well built, stupid-proof knives out there.

Blade play in an authentic CRK? Even folks who don't like them will tell you it simply isn't going to happen.
 
Some people run the pivot a bit loose , that can let the blade move around at half open but otherwise ?
7KJBrcK.jpg
 
alexiusmeinong said:
Hi all,

How common is blade play on CRK folders? I have handled three CRKs: a small 21, a large 21, and an Mnandi. All of them had a small amount of blade play. Is that normal, or just really unlucky? I'm interested in trying a CRK again, but I'd really like a knife that--at least when it's brand new--has no blade play.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

What’s your method when checking for blade play ?
 
I don't use crk grease and my large 21 is free dropping rocket ship. After a long while I notice it will have a tiny side to side. The lock bar has to be disengaged and you gotta give it a bit more than your regular Shabazz wiggle to detect.
This play goes away completely after getting oil into pivot with syringe. No need for disassembly, just open close a bit.
 
I just tried to give my Inkosi a good flex. I took it apart when I first got it to remove the lanyard without untying it. I gave it a good cleaning, a greasing, and put it back together. Maybe just a teeny bit looser than it was.

With two hands, and careful fingers, I could get the blade to wiggle what I could only describe as maybe 1/64 of an inch. That took a full bit of effort on my part and would have never been noticed when under heavy use. I decided to see if this was as good as I could get it. A quick crank of the allen wrenches and the Inkosi was rock solid if a bit too tight to open easily. Backing the pivot screw off no more than a hint of a counterclockwise movement resulted in a knife that will easily open with a thumb (not turning it into a flicking knife) like glass and is so rock solid open I managed to give myself a little love bite with the edge and no play at all.

Long story short, even a CRK with built in adjustment should have no blade play unless looser tolerances for faster deployment at the expense of fit is ok with you.

I rather like the bank vault lock up. I didnt buy the knife to be fast. I bought it because it's perfect. Silky and patient and everything I could want to fidget open and closed on the couch. The gentle break of the detent. The audible snap of the lock up. The rugged and rigid fit. The tiny snapping like a glass rod breaking when the detent engages the knife closed.

Blade play, short of trying so hard you cut yourself, shouldn't be possible with a CRK.
 
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