Blade play on Mudd folder?

Artfully Martial

Artfully Martial

Joined
Jun 8, 2005
Messages
4,761
I've been thinking about picking up a MUDD folder to compliment the RAM, but I've heard some reports of blade play on MUDDs. Anyone have any complaints that weren't correctable by tightening the pivot back up?
 
I've had my MUDD for several months know and it has been used pretty hard. It has developed a very slight, VERY slight, amount of play, but not enough to worry about.

Andy
 
Mine has a tiny, TINY bit of vertical blade play. No horizontal.

Pivot tightness doesn't change it, but it doesnt really bother me either.
 
Artfully Martial said:
vertical or horizontal, and can it be addressed with pivot tightening?

Thanks for a quick response
Click to expand...

Vertical play. I don't know if pivot tightening would get rid of it, I don't know how to tighten the pivot.

But, the play is so slight, it is just enough to be able to say it has play.

Andy
 
I read in another thread where a forumite made mention of bladeplay in the MUDD. I've had mine for a while now and have subjected it to some hard yard work and have not had any blade play to develop, horizontally or vertically. I keep a very tight pivot, but that's because I like it that way, and I just don't see horizontal play becoming an issue. I've taken mine apart to look at the Hawk Lock workings and it looks like it would take some doing to induce play in the blade. If I remember correctly, there are two 1/8" hardened steel rods that the locks steel plate engages to hold the blade in the open position, and the fit of these components looks very tight. But then again, even though all the steel parts of the lock are hardened, if any space did open up between the rods and the lock plate, vertical bladeplay would be the result. So far none for mine though.
 
Mine has no play. I've chopped with it, and I've batoned it through firewood and just about anything else abusive.

I assume if anything got in front of the lock plate, (unlikely with the seals), it could develop some play. It would be very easy to clean up, though. It's a simple knife to disassemble.
 
My seals were never water tight.. And all mudd knives that I have handled including the one I sent to kershaw all developed blade play..
I took it apart..
I feel it is a design flaw...
Tightening the pivot helped a little bit..
If you take the knife apart.. You can see the blade play in action.
 
Artfully Martial said:
trimcut, when you were examining the lock, can you describe what parts were responsible for the play and why?
Click to expand...

IIRC..The lock plate itself is just poorly fitted.. It is a tad too small.. Even with the few that were replaced into it.. I was thinking of ways to make it more reliable.. And a better designed lock plate would do so.. But that is alot of work for a knife of that price.. Sort of pointless actually..
If I am able to I will look for the thread I saw to show you a pick of the insides..
Otherwise.. It is wicked reliable... And an amazing knife.. But blade play is a huge issue for me..
Mine had about a solid 1/4 of play almost.. And the blade could slam back and forth when shaken.. After sending it in.. There was just the slightest hint of play..
And It returned again.. Not as bad as before.. But still not too good..
Matt
 
Artfully Martial said:
Hmm...that's too bad...I suppose I'll postpone my MUDD plans for awhile.
Click to expand...

I would not say to do that.. But if blade play .. And proper function are important to you.. Then you may not like it.. But it is a tank.. I just dont dig the whole project...
 
Well, I love the RAM folder, and I've been undecided on its successor. The MUDD seemed like a natural move. I do hate coated blades though.


I think a benchmade gold class may be in the cards.

Thanks everyone for your help. I hope I get a chance to handle this thing in real life--the real thing is, if I can't play with it in real life, the reviews better be pretty consistently amazing for me to take the risk.

But I do love how it looks, somehow....I really want one.
 
Well.. The clip problem can be fixed to ride properly ... And the blade can be satin finished/ blasted..
I do recommend it.. blade play aside..
And I could help customize it to your liking if you decide to get it..
The action of the knife is amazing..
Either way, good luck
Matt
 
Artfully, with all due respect, you've spent enough time around the Kershaw sub, the fans, and all of our experiences...you should know by now the chances of having any issue is SLIM, and if you do happen to have any issue it will be fixed quickly, professionally, and with minimal cost.
 
You're right, of course. But truth be told, I hate sending stuff in. The only knife I've bothered to is my morpho. My mildly flawed RAM and Para I just sold at a loss. It's just a hassle I hate--and I know, that's just my personal thing.

It looks like this issue is pretty common. From my thread, and others before it, including the passaround, it looks like the blade play issue on the MUDD has affected about 50% of BF owners (that have written in on their MUDDs).

I'm not taking the MUDD off my list. I probably won't buy anything until I'm back from Vietnam anyway.

But I am pretty on the fence about this one. I like the design, but hate the blade coating and don't want to polish it or pay for someone to polish it. I'm not really convinced on the use of rubber on it, as in my experience, rubber doesn't last very long in these sorts of applications (exposed to hot/cold, being moved around a lot).

Anyway, it'll remain a strong candidate.
 
Dude, you run a 95% chance of not having to send anything in...if .01 degree of blade play bothers you, get a fixed blade. Mechanical objects have tolerances and some room for movement.

If you want perfection, get your wallet out, and pay 5 times what a production folder would cost you for a knife you'll be scared of losing.

You can't have the cake and eat it too.

I have seen AMAZING folders over the years. They weren't worth a mortgage payment for me. YMMV.
 
Well, like I said, it's still a possibility. It's not as if I was just about to buy it and stopped--I was just trying to take into account all of my options and the pros and cons of each.

I'd like to handle one in real life before I buy.
 
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