blade play?

Jason B.

Jason B.

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Jun 13, 2007
Messages
11,196
Is vertical blade play normal with lock backs? I received a FG g-10 endura for my b-day and really like this knife but the blade will move a bit when in use. I thought I had read that it was normal but figured I would ask anyways. gives me an excuse to post pic's too, enjoy.

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Thanks, that the answer I was hoping for.
 
I have a waved Endura; sufficiently tightened there is no play, and the blade is still tight enough to flick. (Albeit with some effort.)
It's also the third Spyderco folder I've owned that didn't wobble. I'm not so sure that it's normal.
 
jacktrades_nbk said:
its supossed to be normal...
Click to expand...

It is NOT supposed to be normal.
This is a question of quality, f&f. And, of course, a money.
I have a Calypso jr. in ZDP-189 which is a cheap construction (no liners, FRN, ...) but it has NO blade play at all.
This is a proof that it were possible to make a lockback knife with zero blade play.
A few days ago I got (from e-bay auction) a Buck 532 Year 2000 Commem. Knife with BG-42 with absolutely NO blade play. (I bought it because I like a BG-42 steel very much - this one was tempered by Paul Bos).

Franco
 
ive never seen not one lockback with no vertical play
they all had it, more or less, even if very very very little, and hard to notice, except with some force applied
 
:( My Endura 4 is solid, with no play. Should I send it in?

Seriously though, sometimes you get a lock-back with blade play - sometimes you don't. It doesn't bother me too much as I buy Spydies as work tools and I know that a little play doesn't make the lock weaker.
 
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I'm not sure about the Endura, but my Delica 4 has a minimal amount of blade play. So if it's a really small amount of play, I'd say it's normal. But if it really bugs you, see if you can swap it out for another one.
 
jacktrades_nbk said:
ive never seen not one lockback with no vertical play
they all had it, more or less, even if very very very little, and hard to notice, except with some force applied
Click to expand...

If I do not see or feel a blade play then it is OK.
I quoted, MY Calypso jr. with ZDP-189, and MY Buck 532 with BG-42 as examples with NO blade play, even with strong force applied.
I am sorry you have never seen one lockback with no vertical play.
It is really a great pleasure to have a lockback with no blade play.

Franco
 
Franco G said:
It is NOT supposed to be normal.
Franco
Click to expand...

Depends on what you mean by vertical play.
A SLIGHT movement upwards(SLIGHT!!!) with heavy cutting pressure IS normal; being able to wiggle it vertically with your fingers is NOT.
 
Franco G said:
MY Calypso jr. with ZDP-189, and MY Buck 532 with BG-42 as examples with NO blade play, even with strong force applied.

Franco
Click to expand...

How strong a cutting force are you speaking of? And you didn't even get .5mm of play?
 
It is only normal with Spyderco.

It didn't use to be normal for Spyderco. They changed their policy and now a "little play" is normal. However, the last Spydercos I bought had no blade play. This includes a brand new Endura last year and a used First Generation Endura that was beat to hell and almost had no serrations...but it had no blade play after more than 10 years hard use. Guess spyderco doesn't make em like they used to.

It's not normal for lockbacks made by Queen, Benchmade, AlMar, Buck, Case, etc.

However, if your Spyderco has some play, many dealers will allow you to ship it back and exchange. Just don't send it to Spyderco.
 
I only own 4 or 5 lockbacks, but none of them have any play. Gerber, Buck, and Spyderco included. Maybe it's just me (and it probably is.. I'm obscenely picky), but if a knife I buy for more than $40 or $50 has any play at all whatsoever, I send it back. It's the one aspect of a knife that I pass the most judgment on.
 
Every lockback I've owned has had some small amount of vertical bladeplay, Including half a dozen first gen enduras I checked out years ago before figuring it was normal and buying one :D On some it's really hard to spot unless you know what you're looking for, but it's there. It should only show up under hard cutting pressure though, not something you should be able to feel just wiggling the blade with your fingers.
 
I just checked my G10 Police and found no vertical blade play. Some of my other Spydercos have a minute amount. No biggie:thumbup:
 
I guess I was to quick to say it was ok on this one huu.... The blade will move with finger preasure and is also noticed in cutting tasks. There is no other movement in the blade because I adjust all new knives to my liking. I think I will just ask after I place my order for the new mule tomorrow:D
 
Franco G said:
It is NOT supposed to be normal.
This is a question of quality, f&f. And, of course, a money.
I have a Calypso jr. in ZDP-189 which is a cheap construction (no liners, FRN, ...) but it has NO blade play at all.
This is a proof that it were possible to make a lockback knife with zero blade play.
A few days ago I got (from e-bay auction) a Buck 532 Year 2000 Commem. Knife with BG-42 with absolutely NO blade play. (I bought it because I like a BG-42 steel very much - this one was tempered by Paul Bos).

Franco
Click to expand...
Franco,

Something can be considered normal without being universal. A small amount of vertical play in Spyderco front locks is not considered a warranty issue by the manufacturer. It may be annoying, but does not negatively impact the safety or usability of the knife.

Not all specimens of a given model will exhibit it. Your Calypso Jr is proof of that. Quite a few do, as can be seen from the number of threads like this over the years. Between VG-10 and ZDP-189 I have at least half a dozen FRN Calypso Jrs, some have it, some don't. It does seem to be more common in some models than in others. That's not a great surprise when you consider that within the front lock family different models have different lock geometry and that there are at least two Japanese makers, plus the factory in Golden, turning out front lock models.

Paul
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stabman said:
How strong a cutting force are you speaking of? And you didn't even get .5mm of play?
Click to expand...

Stabman, I pushed the BG-42 blade of Buck 532 very strongly into the wood table. Much, much stronger than you really need to slice, cut, etc. Buck 532 is not a chopper.

The same is true for the FRN Calypso jr. I own.

Mostly Spydercos have a noticeable blade play even by pulling modesty a blade upwards.

Peter, the owner of Fallkniven company said (an answer to the question about U2 slight blade play) that he can make a U2 folder without a blade play, but it would raise a price. Quite honest answer.

I could live with a small amount of blade play but, as somebody wrote, all of which isn't enough to be upsetting, but enough to be annoying.

Franco
 
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