Blade play - pros and cons!

[fulloflead]

I've heard of a LOT of people who just HATE having any blade play. (Sideways wiggle in an open blade on a folder.)

I don't mind it too much. In fact I PREFER a tiny bit of blade play in my folders. I think of it like an AK-47 (gun). These guns were DESIGNED to be loose so that if they got sand or dirt in them they would still work reliably.

Well, that's the way I see tactical folders. I like to adjust my folders so that the blade will have a barely-perceptible wiggle. I think it makes my knives easier to open in all conditions especially since I can't get anal about blade wiggle. I don't see how a little wiggle hurts performance in any way.

I also think it helps to get lube in there.

I just wanted to start this thread to see if anyone else saw things my way (or, possibly could convince me that I'm wrong).

 

[brownie0486]

My thinking has always been just the opposite on this.

I want no blade play to begin with. If I have to use the blade to pry in an emergency [ even lightly ], I do not want any play which will allow the blade to work against the liners of the folder [ have some give to begin with ].

Play will allow the pivot pins, etc. to be stressed more immediately. That said, a little play is not that bothersome to me as long as the pivot is tight.

Brownie

 

[bomtek44]

fulloflead,

I tend to agree with you. An almost imperceptable amount of blade wiggle, side to side, seems to make the axis locks function much more smoothly.....take it away with a minute turn of the torx screw......blade has noticeable friction. What is not acceptable is up and down movement while locked. I have never found this in axis systems, but have observed it in some liners and lockbacks.

 

[patrickb]

I like your categories, when reading them, I could've sworn I read, "I like loose women," but then I re-read it and realized you wrote, "loose knives". Silly me

I hate blade play, especially lateral play. Sometimes vertical play on a framelock can be negated by simply squeezing the locking bar, but in the one case I had this type of play (on a custom), I sent it back to the maker to be repaired. It came back solid. Note, I've never experienced any play on any of my production knives, a William Henry liner lock, a WH button lock, BM Axis and two Kershaw Onion Framelocks (Chive & Leek).

Interesting, huh? I would've figured it would have been the productions that are more susceptible to variations like blade play, but after some thought, customs are hand made which allows for more variation in their manufacture. Going forward, I plan to stick with just a few custom makers, with whom I have a great deal of confidence in their tolerances for error. Nobody's perfect, but I feel some pay more attention to detail than others.

-pb

 

[almtiba]

Hi,

I may be wrong, but I don't see any advantage on having some blade play on my folders...

 

[ARtsig1]

NO blade play for me. I am too anal to accept it!!

 

[jayharley]

I don't like any play. However, sometimes it is difficult to keep the pivot screw set perfectly for both easy opening and no blade play. I hate the fact nearly all folders have this problem. I equate blade play with loose, sloppy design and engineering. Other than my Sebenza, all of my folders all need a periodic "adjustment" to keep them opening smoothly with no play.

On the other hand, with the Sebenza I don't have to worry. Just tighten down the pivot screw, nice and snug, and you automatically have easy opening and no blade play. Nice and simple - nice and easy. I equate this design with snug, perfect tolerances and smooth execution.

I am sure other "production" folders have the same ability as the Sebenza, but none that I know of.

 

[Keith Montgomery]

I prefer no blade play, but if there is a little I can live with it, as long it is not part of an overall sloppy construction.

 

[cockroachfarm]

Come on you fellow anal-retentives!

VOTE!

 

[jayharley]

I equate blade wobble, and blade play to a rattle in a new car. It probably does not affect the use and reliablity under normal conditions, but it literally drives me crazy.

 

[Murnax]

I hate blade play. I don't think a small amount will hurt performance, but it drive me crazy none the less. Many of my knives do have a bit of play, though, so I live with it. A knife that opens smoothly and has no play will always rank higher on my list than one with play.

 

[KeithAM]

I hate blade play, but live with it in a few knives. For example, my Chinook II has a slight amount of vertical play. Spyderco has assured me that this does not reduce the lock strength, but I can't help thinking that it's useful life is somehow reduced (someone please tell me I'm wrong -- I'll be glad to hear it).

Really, the thing that amazes me is how some knives can open so smoothly with no play at all, almost as if they were operating on ball bearings.

 

[fulloflead]

I like your categories, when reading them, I could've sworn I read, "I like loose women,"...

LOL! You better pay attention from now on because NOW I'm going to have to throw something like that into one of my polls someday.

 

[anthony cheeseboro]

I can live with blade play, especially on a hard to get knife or one that I ordered and I just don't feel like sending one back, however, just because I can live with it doesn't mean that I like it.

 

[Wunderbar]

I removed the thumbstuds/blade stops on my MOD Trident.
There was a little bit of vertical blade play. With the studs on, the knife would fail a moderate spine whack. When I removed the studs, the Trident would not fail the moderate spine whack test. So in my case, blade play is a pro.

 

[redhawk44p]

I hate blade play. Everytime I open the knife it irks me.

 

[amw308]

I would prefer not to have any blade play, but i won't stop carrying a knife just because of a little.

 

[Chubbleton]

I personally am very annoyed by blade play, and it is even worse right now; I bought a 710 and it has a small amount of play in all directions, and I really dont want to send it back, I need to use it! ugh! I am trying to figure out if I want to send it in. Prolly will.