How do you define "zero blade play"

the kid said:
This seems like a stupid question, but I considered all my knives to have zero or no blade play.

Until I was adjusting the pivot screw off a knife to make it open smoother, and checking for blade play while doing so. I noticed a very slight movement of the blade which could not be felt but only seen if you look hard.

I checked some other knives and they all seem to have this. Maybe not when the pivot screw is being tightened to the max, but this would make opening the blade very difficult.

Is this still considered zero or no blade play?
I ask because I want to review some knives in the future and don't want to give false information.

EDIT 2
I need my brains and eyes checked. When checking for blade play the handle itself was moving to, so it seemed the blade was moving. :o
There is no blade play at all in my knives.
Feel free to state your opinion on zero blade play though.
Click to expand...

Usually, blade play will be felt long before it's seen.
 
My test is to open the blade to locked position and then grasp the blade near the pivot and move it right to left, and then up and down. If no play is felt or seen, then I back off to the tip and try again. If no play then, I consider it to have zero blade play. If there is bladeplay, then I either try to remove it by tightening the clip a little bit and go from these. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. When it doesn't, it doesn't stay with me.

As long as a folder has a adjustable pivot, then blade play that develops over time can be adjusted out. It's when the pivot is not adjustable that you have to resort to other methods, or live with it.

I know this may sound strange to a lot of folks, but at the same time, a lot of folks agree with me, but I am a very picky, read as ANAL, about certain things on a folding knife, and bladeplay is definately one. It's just the way I am!

I really believe that the tolerances many knives currently have, due to computer aided manufacturing equipment and laser cutting equipment, and other processes, that a knife can be built with out bladeplay and that the construction process allows for developing bladeplay to be fixable.
 
Blade movement is (potentially) dangerous if it affects the locking mechanism of your folder.

To me, THAT's "blade play"

You're never gonna get "zero" blade movement--physically impossible in a folder (that folds).
 
If your knife doesn’t have blade play with the lock engaged try this. If its a "liner" type disengage the lock and then check for side to side play. You obvious can’t check for up and down play. I have some big name knives that rattle like a "Frost" when the lock is disengaged.
 
J's Knives-N-More said:
I do the same thing, open the folder, hold the handle and pinch the front end of the blade and wiggle with all my might :D If it doesn't move, then there's zero blade play. I've never had blade play with any microtech, CRK, or Emerson frame locks......well, I guess frame locks in general :o
Click to expand...

Do you check for movement with your eyes or do you just check if you FEEL movement. There is a very big difference between both. Visual play is noticed (if you look hard) well before feeling the play in my experience.

I don't feel any movement but if I look REALLY hard I can see the blade moving oh so slightly when I check the gap between the handle and the blade in the light.
 
I'd search for my old thread on this - but why bring up a flame fest? At the time, many posters considered ANY blade play to be more than dangerous, it was defective, and needed warranty service. The maker was considered less than human.

Maybe I exaggerate some, but it's refreshing to see some here understand that any folding knife will have some play, especially as it gets older. Depending on the lock type, it can degrade them and cause failure - particularly with thin, short leaf liner locks. Most of those are cheap junk anyway.

The subjective observation of blade play often has no impact on the functional use of the knife -decades of loose lockbacks has proven that. They are pretty resistant to it because of the way they function.

It boils down to how much experience and expectation the buyer has.
 
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