Blade Play when Knife is CLOSED?

[Jalopyy]

Was playing around with some of my knives and was wondering. Does it matter at all in terms of the usability or strength of the knife's performance?

To reiterate, talking about side-to-side play when the blade is closed or folded. When opened none of them have any play in any direction. All the knives I own seem to have this while closed to at least a very small extent, so I'm guessing the answer is no.

Knife novice collector here, this is probably a dumb question anyway.

 

[fetzer85]

Not a dumb question.

I believe the reason you don't experience this when open is due to the lock being engaged. For example, a liner or frame lock serves as a third support on the blade vs when it's closed it just has two supports - one on either side.

Could be wrong, but that's what I told myself years ago. [emoji3]

 

[Jalopyy]

Probably. Likely I initially said, all of my knives have it while closed to some very small extent, but none have any play while opened, so it's probably intentional. All long as the knife isn't jostling from moving it I doubt it matters.

 

[benchwarmer380]

Is it play or flex?

My small Sebenza's blade can flex a little bit while closed. If the stop pin screw loosens up, it will actually have some side to side play to it.

 

[brancron]

The only play that bothers me while closed is up-and-down play, aka "lock rock". Besides just being unpleasant in general, on flippers it negatively affects the flipping action.

 

[EChoil]

It's probably OK. Both detent and traditional folder blades should be in some manner 'held' to center while closed.

You can get blade movement in most folders while the blade is closed...meaning if you try you can move the blade side to side, liner to lliner. It should always come back to center, or near center, at rest though. I can do this with plenty of mine.

If it's 'loose' in there though, say to the point of rattling when you shake it, your detent may be weak or flawed. If the blade will move with just gravity while closed it's probably loose. If it's firmly held yet moveable by a little force, you're probably OK.

If the blade is firmly held by the detent yet will move a bit within the blade slot when you try, it's probably normal. Rare is a detent folder where the blade is unmoveably locked when closed.

 

[Jalopyy]

Is it play or flex?

My small Sebenza's blade can flex a little bit while closed. If the stop pin screw loosens up, it will actually have some side to side play to it.

Probably flex. I have to push on the blade a tad to get it to move when closed, so it's not like it's freely moving around, after which it'll return to normal position.

It's probably OK. Both detent and traditional folder blades should be in some manner 'held' to center while closed.

You can get blade movement in most folders while the blade is closed...meaning if you try you can move the blade side to side, liner to lliner. It should always come back to center, or near center, at rest though. I can do this with plenty of mine.

If it's 'loose' in there though, say to the point of rattling when you shake it, your detent may be weak or flawed. If the blade will move with just gravity while closed it's probably loose. If it's firmly held yet moveable by a little force, you're probably OK.

If the blade is firmly held by the detent yet will move a bit within the blade slot when you try, it's probably normal. Rare is a detent folder where the blade is unmoveably locked when closed.

Like above, it's not moving unless I give it some push. Just shaking the knife will equal no play whatsoever, which is why I originally thought there was no issue (and again, no play when the blade is opened to any extent, even if I try to make it move).

 

[Sonnydaze]

Slight movement is of little consequence. But, I just checked my Brad Southard AVO, which I've carried for over one year now, and there is NO "free" blade side-to-side movement whatsoever. If you push on the blade side-to-side, you can get a mm or so movement under "spring" pressure. Had not checked this in a long time, if ever, but I guess I'm not surprised. This is a great folder, and illustrates one reason why I prefer this model over many others.

 

[EChoil]

Probably flex. I have to push on the blade a tad to get it to move when closed, so it's not like it's freely moving around, after which it'll return to normal position.



Like above, it's not moving unless I give it some push. Just shaking the knife will equal no play whatsoever, which is why I originally thought there was no issue (and again, no play when the blade is opened to any extent, even if I try to make it move).

You're fine. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[Jalopyy]

If you push on the blade side-to-side, you can get a mm or so movement under "spring" pressure.

This is exactly what my OP is about, which is why I asked. If it was free movement w/o any influence on my end I'd consider it an issue, but was just making sure it was irrelevant in this exact case.