Do you check linerlock blade tension?

[Klesk]

When I buy a new linerlock, I check all the normal things: smoothness of opening/closing, full engagement of the liner in both the open and closed position, centering of the blade in the handle. I then perform one more check: with my left hand (I'm right-handed), I fully open the liner (push it up against the scale) to relieve pressure on the blade. Then, with my right hand, I grasp the tip of the blade to see if there is any side-to-side play. This movement may not be evident if the liner is engaged or is bearing on the blade.

If there is any movement, I don't buy the knife. I have found that looseness in the pivot tension can cover up a multitude of sins. For instance, if a loose pivot is tightened up to the point that the blade doesn't move side-to-side, the liner may not engage properly or the blade may no longer be centered (I speak from experience here). I'm also afraid that, if a knife with a loose pivot is torqued while using it, the blade may twist enough to unlock the liner.

This is the number one reason that I stopped buying Benchmade a few years ago; I've never had this problem with Spyderco.

Am I being too picky? Do any of you perform this type of check?

 

[Bastid]

Too picky - no. That is the first test (as taught to me by Darrel) that I make on any locking knife. You are correct once that lock is dis-engaged a multitude of "sins" can show up.

 

[Joe Talmadge]

Agreed, this is a standard must-do test, not being too picky.

Now, I won't buy a linerlock. However, when I was still buying linerlocks, I wouldn't necessarily walk away from the knife just because I got some wobble when the liner is pressed aside. It could just be that the pivot backed out -- and no matter how well-done, any knife will start to wobble once the pivot is too loose. So the next thing I do is tighten the pivot to the point where I don't get wobble anymore, and then re-check everything. If the pivot was loose on purpose to cover up deficiencies, those deficiencies will show themselves when you re-tighten the pivot. If the pivot simply happened to be too loose, the knife should still perform well once it's re-tightened.

I'd add in one more test for you. You're doing a two-handed test, which will alert you to some problems. Sometimes, a lighter, more sensitive touch can alert you to things that the two-handed approach won't. I use one hand only, thumb the liner aside, then lightly wave the blade back forth at various speeds. Using a nice light grip, your fingertips are much more sensitive and can detect movement that you wouldn't detect with your two-handed test.

Joe