Have a concern that may be nothing

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Blade_Crazy

Joined
May 26, 2011
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704
So my case peanut came to me nib with a little bit of blade play in the main blade.

My questions are;

Do I need to worry about a very slight amount of blade play?

If so, how do I fix it?



I know this could be a maintenance question but its more directed at the traditional crowd due to the knife being a traditional and wondering how much blade play is acceptable vs not.
 
Thanks for the question. Got one NIB with a little play as well. Looking forward to some answers from a very knowledgeable crowd.
 
If you bought it from a dealer, you might be able to exchange it for another, but there's no guarantee it won't have blade play either - it might even have more (maybe ask if they can check).

You could send it in to Case for work. Their warranty/repair department has a good reputation. It might take a few or several weeks to get it back.

You could fix it yourself. Put it on a block of wood and whack it a bunch of times with a rubber mallet. A vice or C clamp can accomplish the same thing. However, this will expose the pivot pin a bit, and that might bug you.

You could just live with it. Most of my Cases have a wee bit of wobble. Granted, it doesn't convey the warmest of fuzzies, but a bit of wobble on a slipjoint isn't unsafe like it can be with a frame or liner lock.
 
Personally, I don't worry about a little blade wiggle. If it doesn't affect the useful capacity of the tool, it's not a concern for me. After all, these are not fixed-blade sheath knives.
 
That was my main question, if i should really be all that concerned. I have carried and used it regardless of the wiggle (not really eve noticeable unless your looking).


Is it really as simple as whacking it a few good time to fix blade play? what is the chance of over tightening?
 
I have around 250 peanuts and the only ones with some wiggle are those over 100 years old. A lot depends on what a little wiggle is. There is a lot of difference between say 1/32nd and 1/64th of an inch of play at the business end of a knife. They need to have some "play" to open it with your fingernail and needing a pair of vice grips to open it.
 
smokinbasser said:
I have around 250 peanuts and the only ones with some wiggle are those over 100 years old. A lot depends on what a little wiggle is. There is a lot of difference between say 1/32nd and 1/64th of an inch of play at the business end of a knife. They need to have some "play" to open it with your fingernail and needing a pair of vice grips to open it.
Click to expand...

:eek:

What?? Pics or it didn't happen! :D
 
puukkoman said:
Personally, I don't worry about a little blade wiggle. If it doesn't affect the useful capacity of the tool, it's not a concern for me. After all, these are not fixed-blade sheath knives.
Click to expand...

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

And we have a winner.

A tiny it of bale play doesn't mean thing, and I actually prefer it. It lets 'stuff' drift out when a drop of oil is used, and my own private theory is, that a little clearance is good for a knife that is actually going to be carried and used. Kind of like those old Colt 1911's and M14's we had in the army. You could shake them and hear things rattle, but they always worked.

If I understand the construction right, whacking it with a rubber mallet is just a temporary fix. The pin itself will have to be carefully peened, and then the bolster/pin polished. But there are those far more knowledgable than I on this forum. But me, I'd just use it. I've got some knives that are very old with lots of blade play, but it makes no difference in how they cut a piece of twine, or open my mail.

Carl.
 
smokinbasser said:
I have around 250 peanuts and the only ones with some wiggle are those over 100 years old. A lot depends on what a little wiggle is. There is a lot of difference between say 1/32nd and 1/64th of an inch of play at the business end of a knife. They need to have some "play" to open it with your fingernail and needing a pair of vice grips to open it.
Click to expand...


And you sir, just moved to the inner circle of the Cult!

Carl. Very Impressed Grand High Muckba.
 
If it's really minor I'd just use it. If it gets bad enough that it bothers you then send it in and Case can tighten it up for you.

250 Peanuts??? WOW!

When did the Case Peanut debut? (what year?)
 
arizonaranchman said:
If it's really minor I'd just use it. If it gets bad enough that it bothers you then send it in and Case can tighten it up for you.

250 Peanuts??? WOW!

When did the Case Peanut debut? (what year?)
Click to expand...

Case began making the pattern sometime before 1915.

In the end it's your choice, it's new so you can send it back, if it doesn't bother you can can carry it and use it, if it gets worst or starts to bother you Case can always make it right.

Pete
 
Blade play out of the gate is a manufacturing/assembly flaw. That being said, some patterns lend themselves to this more than others, just in the type of construction that is used.

If there are no noticeable gaps in the liners/springs near the pivot, then it sounds like the blade tang thickness is too thin compared to the spring. If it is just a little wiggle, then like others have said, I would just let it go. If it is more than that, I would consider having something done about it. You may be able to tighten it up yourself, but if not done properly, it will just work itself loose again.

Glenn
 
I fix most blade wiggle my self. Vice, scraps if leather. Tighten carefully. Check frequently. Peen the exposed pin, them sand and polish. Not hard. But I have a few I just put up with a little wiggle on if it is hard to notice.
 
I will take another look when I get off work to determine if its worth the effort to send it off for fixing. I will also look for gaps in the liners/springs near the pivot (though in my memory I don't recall there being any)
 
Bigfattyt said:
I fix most blade wiggle my self. Vice, scraps if leather. Tighten carefully. Check frequently. Peen the exposed pin, them sand and polish. Not hard. But I have a few I just put up with a little wiggle on if it is hard to notice.
Click to expand...

:thumbup: This issue comes up so often we should have a sticky on it! :D
 
For the record I have decided that it not a big enough issue to be to concerned with, if it gets worse Ill send it to Case and have then fix it, otherwise I'll just enjoy my knife.

Here is the knife I was discussing, just so you know.
YBRsbfIusP4gQWZBKUk2KC4YbysOvqq9cf8IVsUDURc=w753-h565-no
 
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