Delica blade play question

BitingSarcasm · Mar 28, 2015

I just got a Kahr Delica and am quite happy with it in all ways but one. There is a little back and forth "rocking" motion during cutting, which I first noticed slicing out cheddar for my boy's lunch. When the knife came out of the box, it had a disturbing amount of oil on it with even the spydie hole "oozing," so I figured the action was a little gunked up from pocket lint and such. So I looked and found some crud that I cleaned out, rinsed with alcohol, re-lubed a little, and tightened up the screws a little. It gets better, but loosens back a bit fairly easy. I would prefer to just fix it instead of going through the whole warranty process, so the question is if anyone has had and solved the same problem. Normally I would just dive in and tear it apart, but I don't really want to void the warranty right off the bat unless I have a good feeling that the problem is going to get resolved. Any ideas?

The Deacon · Mar 28, 2015

A slight amount of vertical blade play is fairly common in Spyderco midlocks. There's really nothing you can do to eliminate it and, unless it's truly excessive, Spyderco is not likely to consider it reason to replace the knife.

BitingSarcasm · Mar 29, 2015

Well damn, that's not the answer I was hoping for. This is the most I have paid for a knife with this problem. It is not excessive, just disconcerting to feel that slight flex back from slicing cheese--maybe asiago or aged gouda should be an issue, but cheddar? Ah well, guess I will pull out the tools and take a look inside just for fun. Thanks for the info.

AF · Mar 29, 2015

Unfortunately that blade play is the norm for the Delica, Stretch, Endura. The newer lock found on the Native 5 is more precise, IMO. And the Chaparral and Sage 4 use a stop mechanism around the pivot to completely eliminate play.

corey.lively · Mar 29, 2015

I guess I'm lucky, I don't notice much of any blade play in either of my Delica 4s, Stretch, Endura 4, Dragonfly 2, or Ladybug 3. The only Spyderco I own that does is my first, an AUS 8 Endura.

Wanimator · Mar 29, 2015

I thought it was partially there by design. I can't remember of the play is a caviat of giving it more strength or the reason the lock has more strength though.

20mmf17 · Mar 31, 2015

BitingSarcasm said:
I just got a Kahr Delica and am quite happy with it in all ways but one. There is a little back and forth "rocking" motion during cutting, which I first noticed slicing out cheddar for my boy's lunch. When the knife came out of the box, it had a disturbing amount of oil on it with even the spydie hole "oozing," so I figured the action was a little gunked up from pocket lint and such. So I looked and found some crud that I cleaned out, rinsed with alcohol, re-lubed a little, and tightened up the screws a little. It gets better, but loosens back a bit fairly easy. I would prefer to just fix it instead of going through the whole warranty process, so the question is if anyone has had and solved the same problem. Normally I would just dive in and tear it apart, but I don't really want to void the warranty right off the bat unless I have a good feeling that the problem is going to get resolved. Any ideas?

how long ago did you purchase it? did u get it used or new?

i would imagine if you purchased it from a reputable seller they'd be willing to exchange or refund it for you if you are within the typical return period...

BitingSarcasm · Mar 31, 2015

I got it NIB last month from BladeHQ, and I feel from my interactions with them in the past that they would gladly swap it out. But if the play is a "feature" then it wouldn't be worth the time and money to exchange it. I have a hunch that there is gunk somewhere in the works from too much lube that is preventing everything from being tightened up, so I am going to disassemble and clean everything to try and take care of it--I would have already but the plague visited, and between caring for my sick boys and my own butt dragging there is not much playtime. Even if it doesn't fix things, it will be an amusing experience and in the meantime I just put a Khalsa or Native in my pocket.