Foward blade play in a Strider AR

[Infi-del]

Good call :thumbup:

If it's a user, just use the damn thing. I understand wanting a rock solid lockup [especially on a $400 folder], but a little forward play is fine. You've probably already tried doing light spine whacks or tried pushing on the spine to get the knife to close and it didn't. I don't know how long you've had the knife, but it sounds like since you've already "used the crap out of it," a little play has developed. That's normal. I accept it on my users after a period of time and it no longer bothers me. Neither do chips, dents, scratches, rust, or stains. Lock failure would bother me, but I haven't had it happen yet because I buy from quality manufacturers.

I wasn't complaining or anything. I was just wanting to make sure it was fine. I know some guys buy a knife like this and whine and cry if it has even the slightest imperfection because they are more worried about they're knife being showable than usable. I don't intend to send it to strider unless it develops a wiggle. Right now it only has the slightest amount of forward play when I push on the spine with my thumb. And the liner does move and gnat's hair to the closed position. Doesn't bother me. I just wanted to ask about it incase some of the more knowledgable members of this forum might know more about it than I. Just in case it was a "That lock is gonna fail soon" type of thing. But from what I gather. It's not a big deal. So I'm gonna ignore it unless the blade develops something I would call actual blade play. This is nothing really. I just wanted to make sure. When I was young, I bought expensive knives and sat and looked at them. Now that I'm a little older I go out and enjoy my purchase. And I buy things like Strider and Busse so I don't have to treat them like Ladies. So it's all good.

Also, nice AR. The closest thing I have to it is a Buck/Strider 880, which the design is based off of the 1st gen AR. It still ain't no Strider though.

Thanks. I'm workin on getting another one here soon. I love the thing. Maybe the best folder for me in the world. Some don't like the tank like build of it. It's right up my alley.

 

[Infi-del]

Kids.

A liner lock with any of the leaf under the blade tang is locked, and I doubt most of us could break it by hand if it was sticking out 50% on either side.

When you think about it - and it's been discussed in other threads - the only reason we want it to lock up low on the ramp is think we have plenty of years left in it as the metal peens, abrades, and the lock up keeps moving.

Again, if the leaf is anywhere behind the blade it's ok. 25 years from now somebody may be inclined to pay more for a NIB Strider with almost no wear - but what does that get you in the meantime? Clipping a M-tech in your pocket?

Makers have to abandon a style or pass away to make a knife collectible. It's a tool, just use it responsibly.

Wonder why they don't make one that is perfectly fitted with the liner all the way to the other side. Seems like there would be no friction to wear it down hitting the same place everytime and with the liner all the way across the handle gap the blade ain't closin.

 

[Josh K]

Wonder why they don't make one that is perfectly fitted with the liner all the way to the other side. Seems like there would be no friction to wear it down hitting the same place everytime and with the liner all the way across the handle gap the blade ain't closin.

Nope, because you'll still have wear. The liner scrapes across the tang everytime it opens removing a microscopic amount of metal. If it's built right it will last for years (some Spyderco Military models are still fine 5+ years of hard daily use).

The AR has a very thick liner matched nicely to the tang, you'll be fine for a while.

Seriously though, I think that play will go away the more you use it. Just slam it open a couple times each day. It's fun.

 

[tirod3]

Wonder why they don't make one that is perfectly fitted with the liner all the way to the other side. Seems like there would be no friction to wear it down hitting the same place everytime and with the liner all the way across the handle gap the blade ain't closin.

Because the price would double - and sales would drop to about 25%.

Production tolerances are a difficult thing to control. Even with the Sebenza tolerances at a reputed ".0005" of an inch, the stack of components - to slabs, blades, washers, etc. could still be +/- .0025" in width alone. Add the locking surfaces at the ramp, another .0010", and that is more down the length than co-axial to the pivot. Now you have two cardinal directions with play - which makes it really hard to center the liner.

It's a wonder they get it right at all, and certainly explains why the reality of knifemaking is a lot different than the unknowledgeable expectations of buyers in today's market.

But those people don't even know where hamburger comes from.

 

[Infi-del]

Because the price would double - and sales would drop to about 25%.

Production tolerances are a difficult thing to control. Even with the Sebenza tolerances at a reputed ".0005" of an inch, the stack of components - to slabs, blades, washers, etc. could still be +/- .0025" in width alone. Add the locking surfaces at the ramp, another .0010", and that is more down the length than co-axial to the pivot. Now you have two cardinal directions with play - which makes it really hard to center the liner.

It's a wonder they get it right at all, and certainly explains why the reality of knifemaking is a lot different than the unknowledgeable expectations of buyers in today's market.

I don't even know what any of that means. So I'm just gonna nod my head and agree LOL. I guess to put it in dumby terms it would be very hard and very expensive to get it right everytime that way and so they use the forgiving method of a ramp that wears over time?

But those people don't even know where hamburger comes from

Mmmmm. Cows are yummy in my mouff.