does blade play bother anyone

N

nccoonhunter

Joined
Feb 23, 2013
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My case 3318 CV has just started developing some vertical play on the main blade I noticed it yesterday when I started sharpening it does it brother anyone Elias and how do I fix it
 
Personally I feel that while having no play is nice, it is a fact of life inherent to the overall design of a slipjoint. If a knife got to the point where I felt it might no longer be safe, I would retire that one, but I've never had a situation where a small amount of movement has caused a problem. I also think that most knives will wear to a certain point, then stabilize, where as if you keep tightening, you are going to keep that wear happening. Just my opinion.
 
nccoonhunter said:
My case 3318 CV has just started developing some vertical play on the main blade I noticed it yesterday when I started sharpening it does it brother anyone Elias and how do I fix it
Click to expand...

You should return it. There's no excuse for blade play.
 
Its vertical like when you push down to cit something the blade moves back just a little bit was I too hard on it I've cut rope to bush hook skinned catfish and coon with it am I just too hard on it
 
I put up with some side to side play but vertical play I feel is a manufacturing defect unless the knife was abused.
 
If it's a used knife, I don't sweat it too much. if it's a new knife going into the collection, blade wobble is a pet peeve.
 
I agree with Justin. Many of the older knives I'm into are going to have some play. I would prefer a knife that had none, but its not a deal breaker on an old knife for me. On a new knife, it would be.
 
It bothers me on a new slip joint or one with very little use or wear. After years of service one should expect some side to side. Vertical play is another story. Is the spring loose?
 
Blade play? It depends on how much the knife costs. If under $40, I would accept some blade play, even expect it in really cheap knives. Above $40 blade play is not acceptable. I don't buy knives costing less than $40.

By the way, $40 is where I think a fair line lies. Others may think differently... and that's okay.
 
nccoonhunter said:
My case 3318 CV has just started developing some vertical play on the main blade I noticed it yesterday when I started sharpening it does it brother anyone Elias and how do I fix it
Click to expand...

(I will answer, even though my name is not Elias.)

"vertical play"? in a slipjoint?
I don't believe I've ever seem that. I don't think I'd consider that acceptable unless the knife had been "highly used".
 
I don't care for play in a blade either - a sharp knife should be able to cut rope without developing blade play. OH
 
So I recently got an old Ulster scout knife. I've always wanted one. The main blade has some lateral play. If you look close, you can see that the blade is thinner than the back spring. Less than 1/64 but visibly thinner. obviously, this results in blade play. I considered passing on this knife for this reason. Then I thought, of the tasks I would use this knife for, which one with be harder, or impossible, due to this play? None. What about premature failure? Maybe, but I doubt it. It seems like a very solidly built knife. I suppose this is not apples to apples, but wasn't one of the reasons the ak 47 got its reputation for dependability the loose tolerances it was manufactured to, allowing it to keep working, even when it was dirty, dusty, and even sandy?
 
Sounds to me like the knife has been abused and worn out. "Bush Hookin Catfish"?
 
In principle, yes, blade play bothers me. But in practice if the blade locks up when open for business, then I'll ignore it.

For example, this Schrade 5OT has a millimeter or two of side-to-side play when closed, but it locks up snugly when opened. However, my usual jobs never require beating hard on any piece of pocket cutlery. I think if I ever did use a knife for hard cutting tasks, I'd probably opt for a fixed blade of sturdy design. I don't like taking any tool close to the edge of its perfomance envelope.

tumblr_murvbaGTai1r4zf5xo2_1280.jpg
 
Blade play is a deal breaker for me with any knife.
I might not ditch the knife, but it won't get any pocket time.
I have a few lock blades that have play when closed, but not when opened.
I can live with that.
Doc
 
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