Calling all Paramilitary Owners....

[jimmy123]

Hey guys,

As for the paramilitary owners out there, do they have ANY BLADE PLAY on their knives and how well does the compression lock the knife in makning it super solid.

I just got a manix in and its sure it a big knife but there is blade play all over horizontal and vertical. I'm defintely not impress by its sturdiness. My sng even feels more solid then the manix. The blade is too big or the way they designed the blade to be in the handle is not sturdy enough.

For the moment my sng is the champ to keep.

 

[tacticaloperator]

My Manix (a C95, the BIG one) has no blade play at all. Solid as a rock. One of these days I'll get me a Para; would like to know if it has any defects also.

 

[Lenny]

I have a Para, bought it used.
It had vert blade play when I got it and I sent it back to Spyderco.
It came back very slightly better, but still a tiny bit of vert play.
No horiz play ever.
I absolutely never worry about the lock failing.
The Para is a funny knife for me.
I prefer tip up carry, and either liner lock, frame lock, or axis lock due to the ergos. Compression lock is really not conveniente comparatively.
However, the Para gets way more pocket time than any of my other knives.
The damn thing cuts like nothing else I've ever had.
Plus, it's ridiculously simple to resharpen.
Only change I'd make is to reduce the size of the opening hole so it isn't as wide in my front pocket.
The width makes it difficult to put my hand in.
Lenny

 

[Joe-Dirt]

I've had 2 Paras. One with a black blade and one with a satin blade. Neither of them had blade play and both locked up solid as heck.

:thumbup:

 

[Bors]

Hey guys,

As for the paramilitary owners out there, do they have ANY BLADE PLAY on their knives and how well does the compression lock the knife in makning it super solid.

I just got a manix in and its sure it a big knife but there is blade play all over horizontal and vertical. I'm defintely not impress by its sturdiness. My sng even feels more solid then the manix. The blade is too big or the way they designed the blade to be in the handle is not sturdy enough.

For the moment my sng is the champ to keep.

I just recieved a LNIB C95 Manix in Trade. There is no side to side play but I noticed a little vertical play. My first thought was the previouse owner snapped/flicked the blade open a lot. But I don't think thats the case here is why, my lock release moves a little with the blade when I try to over open the blade. I tried the same thing on My Chinook II which I bought new (and I don't snap open) it does the same thing. It looks like it has to do with the design of the lock. The play is only if you try to over open the blade. Trying to close the knife it's solid as granite. However, now that I think about it the over travel play might actually act as a shock absorber when flicking/snapping the blade open. So it might be a good thing.
I don't have a para military but I do have a yojimbo same lock and it's solid as Granite.

 

[T.K.C.]

My Para has no blade play whatsoever. BUT, I also asked the place that I ordered it from to check it for me, before shipping it. My Mini-Manix is also perfect.

 

[Artfully Martial]

My para had vertical play (among other small problems). If you can't inspect them first hand, ask new graham to thoroughly check it out for you. As per the manix, send it in to spyderco.

 

[Django606]

I just got a manix in and its sure it a big knife but there is blade play all over horizontal and vertical. I'm defintely not impress by its sturdiness.

You probably just needed to tighten the pivot

My sng even feels more solid then the manix.

Of course it does. It is a Strider.

The blade is too big or the way they designed the blade to be in the handle is not sturdy enough.

Don't start coming up with lame excuses for the blade play. The knife is well designed.

For the moment my sng is the champ to keep.

Of course your Strider is your "champ." You're comparing a $400 knife with a $120 knife.

my lock release moves a little with the blade when I try to over open the blade. I tried the same thing on My Chinook II which I bought new (and I don't snap open) it does the same thing. It looks like it has to do with the design of the lock.

This happens to all Spyderco lockbacks. It is the way they are designed. If you put your finger in the hole and pull upwards when the blade is locked, all Spyderco lockbacks will do the same. Some may be harder than others, but they all do it. Not a flaw.

 

[Dog of War]

Last couple years, Spyderco's quality control has become spotty IMO, and several Paramilitary's I've had and used were a mixed bag, some with blade play ..... not very becoming any knife, let alone one in this class.

I think the compression lock is probably quite strong and safe, but prefer other designs - a stout lockback like the Manix, for one (although my luck with Spyderco's S30V hasn't been good, either. )

YMMV of course.

 

[jimmy123]

You probably just needed to tighten the pivot



Of course it does. It is a Strider.



Don't start coming up with lame excuses for the blade play. The knife is well designed.



Of course your Strider is your "champ." You're comparing a $400 knife with a $120 knife.



This happens to all Spyderco lockbacks. It is the way they are designed. If you put your finger in the hole and pull upwards when the blade is locked, all Spyderco lockbacks will do the same. Some may be harder than others, but they all do it. Not a flaw.

Lame excuses, sorry but you need to check yourself before making that claim. The screws were tighten and still the same so it is the design flaw because there is blade play all over. I can tell the handle is not able to stop the blade play because no matter how much it was tighten i could tell there was always going to be play.

 

[Joe-Dirt]

....
This happens to all Spyderco lockbacks. It is the way they are designed. If you put your finger in the hole and pull upwards when the blade is locked, all Spyderco lockbacks will do the same. Some may be harder than others, but they all do it. Not a flaw.

They do not all do that. I have a Delica 4 in my pocket right now that I cannot get to do it. I am pulling up on the hole very hard too.

No dice.

 

[barrabas74]

my para had verticle play. I just lived with it, it was so small that it never really bothered me.

 

[kel_aa]

This happens to all Spyderco lockbacks. It is the way they are designed. If you put your finger in the hole and pull upwards when the blade is locked, all Spyderco lockbacks will do the same. Some may be harder than others, but they all do it. Not a flaw.

Can you please direct us to some direct evidence that support your contention? Otherwise it starts to conflict with your other statement: "Don't start coming up with lame excuses for the blade play."

 

[ohmyheckinslc]

My para has some front to back play that I can't quite tune out, but no side to side play.

 

[Django606]

Lame excuses, sorry but you need to check yourself before making that claim. The screws were tighten and still the same so it is the design flaw because there is blade play all over. I can tell the handle is not able to stop the blade play because no matter how much it was tighten i could tell there was always going to be play.

English please? There is a difference between a design flaw and a lemon. Please learn the difference.

They do not all do that. I have a Delica 4 in my pocket right now that I cannot get to do it. I am pulling up on the hole very hard too.

Can you please direct us to some direct evidence that support your contention? Otherwise it starts to conflict with your other statement: "Don't start coming up with lame excuses for the blade play."

I was referring to the slight upwards movement of the lock when the blade is locked open. I was not talking about bladeplay.

I am only repeating what I have read on the Spyderco forums several times. Whenever someone brought up the situation, I believe it was either TazKristi or Sal who addressed it as perfectly normal. It is part of the design.

If your knife doesn't do it, what are you looking at me for? I am only saying that it has been addressed several times as normal, and part of the design.

 

[JoHnYKwSt]

My para has slight vertical play. The compression lock is awsome for strength and reliability but it often does seem to have some play.

 

[kel_aa]

They do not all do that. I have a Delica 4 in my pocket right now that I cannot get to do it. I am pulling up on the hole very hard too.

I am only repeating what I have read on the Spyderco forums several times. Whenever someone brought up the situation, I believe it was either TazKristi or Sal who addressed it as perfectly normal. It is part of the design.

Sometimes misunderstandings and misrepresentations occur, and sometimes when something is repeated so often, it approaches being the truth.

If we accept it as an intentional part of the design then Joe Dirt and everyone else who owns a Spyderco lockback has the right to and should send their pieces back to Spyderco as it obviously does not meet the design specifications.

The alternative is that it is an unintentional consequence of the design, prehaps a design that focuses on overall security and strength. This post for instance seems to point that way:
http://spyderco.com/forums/showpost.php?p=20526&postcount=2

That is not quite the same as having this movement being "the way they are designed." But again, there seems to be some samples that do this and some samples that don't.

 

[Artfully Martial]

This is really not as complicated as we're trying to make it out to be.

If you don't like the product and don't want to send it in to repair, return it or sell it.

So, let's get back to the para. Your Manix situation is resolved.

 

[Bors]

I tuned the screws a little and the play is gone for the most part. I do like the manix and consider it a keeper. Some searching over at the Spyderco forum indicated that this is common and nothing to worrie about. Problem (more of an observation) solved.

 

[lambertiana]

My Para (purchased several months ago) has zero play in any direction, and absolutely solid lockup.