General question on vertical play

[joeyza]

Was just wondering, when you guys check your knives for vertical play specifically on frame locks, do you keep pressure on the lockbar like you would when normally holding the knife in hand? Or do you just grab the knife in such a way that there is no contact between your hand and the lockbar?

 

[Barman1]

Should be no play at all when positively opened.
I've had a few frame locks that had play when opened and the only way to eliminate it was to push on the lock bar. I know there is a fine line with frame locks putting too much pressure on the blade and locking up too tight to be easily released and too little pressure and getting play. How it is that I can adjust the lock bar myself to almost perfect tolerances and the manufacturer cannot baffles me. It is their design after all.

 

[Omega Leather Works]

No pressure on the bar.

Joey, which knife are you worried about?

Whenever I get play I test my lock. I know my 810 isn't a frame lock, I just had it handy for a pic. The test runs the same regardless.

Hold your knife the way I have it in the pic.

Make certain that your hand is completely out of the travel path for the blade. Then, using your other hand, apply upward pressure to the spine of the blade keeping your thumb and forefinger on the pivot.

You should be able to apply plenty of force safely. I've never had a lock fail, but the method came from someone experienced with lock problems. I have had some rock appear, but so long as the lock doesn't fail I'm fine with a tiny bit of movement. I ask which knife because that statement doesn't hold true on all knives. I expect more from a CRK than from an inexpensive Spyderco.

 

[Invective]

This is a timely thread as I just dealt with some vertical blade play on my Spyderco Captain today. The way I check for it was the same as Strigamort above. It helps with Spyderco's because the Spydiehole gives me extra purchase on the blade so I can really feel for play. I usually grip the blade with my thumb and forefingers and put my ring finger in the hole (kinky I know ) and flex the blade up and down and try to watch the lock bar as well to see if it moves.

And the Captain's bladeplay was eliminated with a simple cleaning. Took the blade out, used a qtip to clean the lock bar surface and tang of the blade.