Blade wobble acceptable in a new knife?

G

george c

Joined
Jan 26, 2013
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Hi Folks,

A question if you will. I've read tons of posts here and if I'm not mistaken, which I could well be, I think I've read comments that some of you mention that a little wobble, while not desired, is acceptable.

I'm a little weak with the terms. Blade wobble the way I'm using it is side to side motion of the blade when opened.

Over the past few months I've bought a "bunch" of knives and I don't remember any of them having any wobble or looseness in the blades.

The knife in question is 3 3/4 inches overall with a 3 inch blade. I really like the knife, great looking, truly nice scales/covers, and fits my hand well. And, it came pretty darn sharp. FWIW, it's from a manufacturer known for quality knives.

I think I may have read that some of you put a knife in a vice to correct this problem. Hmmm.......

Also, the seller is willing to let me return it for a full refund. The seller stated, if I understood correctly, that a little wobble is not that unusual. Of course, "a little" I guess would be subjective.

As always, will greatly appreciate your sage advice and comments.

Regards,

George
 
I have had success with a light tap from a hammer. Put some leather or cloth around the bolster and firmly but gently tap once were the pins are. Try one direct tap and see if the wobble is gone. I had a few new slipjoints that I fixed this way. Don't hit too hard but do make solid contact.
 
Blade wobble not acceptible.

I have fixed a handfull with a careful squeeze in a padded vice, then you peen the proud pin, then sand and polish.

Not as hard as it sounds. Works better on knives that have a firm pull than those with a week snap.

Some designs are coming from certain manufacturers, where they all have blade wobble.

Because I can fix them, I don't send them back for that. I just fix them and make them users.........but all my knives are users!
 
I would send it back. It sounds like it bothers you -and if it bothers you now, it will probably bother you later.

As for the dealer stating that a little wobble is normal, well, that sounds like a dealer I used once or twice and then moved on from about 50 traditional pocket knives ago. No need to repair a brand new knife because somebody claims that "working knives" have flawed build quality. ;)

Best of luck in your decision.
 
If it was a cheap knife, I'd probably just toss it in the toolbox, and wouldn't buy that brand again and look elsewhere next time. But if it was anything other than that, then wobble is unacceptable, in my book.
 
Nope. I think doing it yourself could void the warranty? Worth looking into anyway to make sure you are not stuck with something. I would send it back and ask the dealer to open and make sure the next one is in perfect working order(as I think should be done anyways as part of their job as a seller).
 
Sounds like we may know the knife and it does have a reputation for blade play, especially up and down. However, there are numerous makers that execute the same design with no play in any direction. The seller may have been saying that he won't be able to pull you one with no play. He seems to be willing to try though. Seems to deserve some slack.
 
Some very small amount of side to side play is normal for most knives, but that amount should be VERY small, less than a mm of tip movement relative to the centerline of the handle. (there are exceptions for some types of knives, I expect noticable amounts of blade play in excess of what I just mentioned on something like a butterfly knife.)
 
Also, most of the good mfrs. have a good reputation for making a knife right. Dealing direct with the mfr. may be the best alternative.
 
I was thinking of the Mountain Man. It is notorious for both forms of play, but vertical seems to be, inherent is not the word, troublesome with lockbacks.
 
I don't consider blade wobble normal in a new knife, and I don't consider it acceptable. Since it clearly bothers you, as it should, I'd have to agree with the concensus above, and advise you to return it. However, if you really like the knife otherwise, and the amount of play is tiny, you may want to have a go at fixing it. Hard to say when the knife hasn't been named or the amount of play described. Again, a lot for me would depend on price, and as has already been said, a DIY approach would void the warranty.
 
No, not if it's bothering you. The vendor has agreed to refund the cost, so I'd start again.

Some people 'claim' that blade-play&gaps are inevitable with a new old school traditional knife, I don't accept this it's just an apology for lower standards. It could be used to make a customer feel they are being excessively critical or choosy too. Yes, I do have a few knives with play&gaps (curiously the more expensive type...) but I have a majority that don't exhibit these things-I know which I prefer and can recommend to others.

Another point, blade wobble today, even more so in the future, it isn't going to get better......:mad:
 
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If the knife is a Great Eastern, call customer support and talk to Ms. Chris. I've bought many knives from them over the last few years, and eventually got one with side to side play as you describe. It happens with the best manufacturers, I'm amazed that it took so many knives for me to find one with a problem.

They fixed the issue happily, and I couldn't have asked for a better customer service experience.
 
Per Jack "I don't consider blade wobble normal in a new knife, and I don't consider it acceptable." He's right. Plus, if it wobbles when new, it will probably get worse with use.
 
willgoy said:
Some people 'claim' that blade-play&gaps are inevitable with a new old school traditional knife, I don't accept this it's just an apology for lower standards. It could be used to make a customer feel they are being excessively critical or choosy too.
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+1 :thumbup:
 
What knife it is, doesn't matter the least.
I don't think blade wobble is acceptable on a new knife.
And, I think it's our duty as customers to "teach" the factories that they need to improve their standard and QC. Otherwise, if we accept anything as "normal", we will end up getting knives every day worse.

Fausto
:cool:
 
Let me quote myself from another "blade play" thread.

FLymon said:
Well, there is blade play, and then there is blade play, and of course a fixed blade will give you a good reference of "zero" blade play.

I think blade play is pretty much universal in slipjoint knives since with enough pressure I can get at least a hint of side to side play in every slipjoint knife I ever tried, so I would say we are talking a matter of degree here and everyone's gauge will be different. I have thankfully only had one instance where I felt the play was excessive enough to return to the manufacturer for adjustment. That was a GEC Cigar Stockman where the main blade would rattle if you shook the knife with the blade open. It came back "perfect" so I was happy.

If your task requires that you use a knife in such a fashion that typical slipjoint blade play is a concern, you probably need a fixed blade, or at least a locking blade.
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