Easiest way to remove blade play from a slippie?

I'd send it to Case. They rebladed a knife for me a few years ago, and total turnaround time was two weeks, give or take a day or two.

I've had several knives with side-to-side blade play, and I gently squeezed the pivot end in a vice. This is only a temporary fix, the play will be there again. Squeeze it too much, and you'll pinch the backspring, and stiffen up the knife to the point that it will be difficult to open.

thx - cpr
 
Hmmm maybe I'll send it to case then. If they can fix it up for me, remove the blade play, polish everything up, then it should be worth it I guess.
 
Hello,

I had a slipjoint knife that had a main blade with play, not a lot, but enough for it to bother me.

I accidentally dropped it while removing it from my pocket and it fell onto a hardwood floor. I immediately checked to see if any of the scales cracked and was relieved to see no damage.

Later on some time, I was using the knife and kind of compulsively and obsessively checked the knife for blade play even though I knew it was already there. I was surprised to see that the blade that had the play was suddenly tight.

The only reason I could think of was that it fell on the side of the knife with the main blade, contacting the floor at the bolster and tightened it.

Ever since then, I've tightened other loose slipjoint blades with no damage and little effort by pinching the opposing bolster tightly with clean (not greasy) and not too dry fingers and rapping it sharply, but not too hard at an angle at the corner of the bolster onto a soft wood surface, something that dents easily such as pine. Kind of as if you were playing a drum.

I've never broken a scale nor marred a bolster using this technique, but if you are worried about higher dollar collectibles or knives with sentimental value such as family heirlooms, I would send it to the professionals at the repair department of the knife's manufacturer or a skilled knife maker.
 
Take a regular hammmer and a magazine or paperback book, open the blade, gently GENTLY tap with hammer, do this untill its as tight as you need it.
 
Zach
Can you explain to me exactly how your method works?
Where does the book come in? Do you read it?
 
I believe you place the knife between the book and lightly tap on the book to prevent damage and scuffing to the knife.

I hope this helps (and is accurate :o), J.
 
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