Chinook bladeplay

ARtsig1

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Jul 20, 2000
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Posted over on the General forum but thought it might get more response here. I was at the SMKW's over the weekend and spent a couple of pleasurable hours fondling some knives I had only seen pics of. My purchase had come down to one of two knives, both of which I had already had at one time. These knives were the Al Mar SERE 2000 in black and a Spyderco Chinook. When I looked at the SERE I knew exactly what to expect and was not disappointed at all. Smooth action, great lockup, and razor sharp. On the other hand every Chinook I had to date (3) and ones I had picked up at shows and in stores to handle (4 or 5) had varying degrees of vertical play. None have had any side to side play. So when I held the Chinook I was totally shocked to find that there was NO bladeplay, none, nada, and on the spot told the clerk I would take it. He reached in and pulled one in a box out so I tested it and there was the slight, very slight vertical play, at which point I told him to let me have the display model. This knife is very sweet, especially since there is no play in it. The blade is perfectly centered when shut in the handle, and when opened, after the CRACK of the blade locking up, is solid like a fixed blade. It was a joy to find one like this. My question is how many of you who own a Chinook have this vertical play?
 
Hey there Art, my experiences are very similar to yours.

I've had 5 Chinooks pass through my hands. The first one I bought, purchased from a local shop, has NO play whatsoever.(it was also the display model, and the only one in the store, and only cost me $160, LOL!)

Every one I've handled since has had some vertical play. One was particularly bad. The other 3 could be adjusted to varying degrees, but, if adjusted to the point that they were rock solid, it made them very stiff to open.

Needless to say, my numbered piece is not for sale. This really disappoints me, because I'm VERY fond of the Chinook for a personal protection piece and I'd like another, but none meet MY specs.

I'll continue to handle Chinooks in hopes that I'll find another like #642, but out of the several dozen I've handled, only one exhibits superb fit and finish, thank God she's mine.

I understand that some vertical play is normal in the Chinook, but it STILL BUGS THE HELL OUT OF ME!

Now I know I'm not alone.
 
I have a very slight amount of V play on mine but not enough to measure nor enough to bother me in the least. I don't understand how this is a bad thing to some.

"YMMV!"
 
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