How much blade play is acceptable with Benchmade knives?

T

TheEdge01

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Apr 3, 2015
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Hey guys,

I am sorry if I sound like a worry wart, but I noticed that it isn't uncommon for Benchmade knives to have some blade play. My Griptilian blade was tight as can be, but my 908bk Stryker blade has about a sixteenth of an inch back and forth play, my G10 Barrage 580-2 has slightly less back and forth play than the Stryker. I contacted Benchmade customer service and they said a little bit of play is normal. I didn't think to ask what they consider a little blade play vs a lot. How much blade play do you guys consider acceptable?
 
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I have a couple of Benchmades with very slight play which I do not tighten down because I prefer the swinging action as is. One is a Stryker. In most cases, I'll search for the sweet spot of no play and good action and Loctite it down there. Easy to personalize your preference. I've become generally less concerned with the condition either way over time but still prefer no movement.
 
jazub said:
I have a couple of Benchmades with very slight play which I do not tighten down because I prefer the swinging action as is. One is a Stryker. In most cases, I'll search for the sweet spot of no play and good action and Loctite it down there. Easy to personalize your preference. I've become generally less concerned with the condition either way over time but still prefer no movement.
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I was mostly concerned that the blade play could cause issues over time.
 
If I am not mistaken, you two huys are describing different blade plays. A tiny bit side to side play is not unacceptable and indeed if you force hard it seems often you can feel it with more than a few folders on washers. Up and down play is more unacceptable because you cannot tweak it away as easily as side to side play.
 
sharp_edge said:
If I am not mistaken, you two huys are describing different blade plays. A tiny bit side to side play is not unacceptable and indeed if you force hard it seems often you can feel it with more than a few folders on washers. Up and down play is more unacceptable because you cannot tweak it away as easily as side to side play.
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Unfortunately, my Stryker and Barrage have forward and back blade play. That isn't good is it??? I have three Benchmades and all three need a trip to Oregon. My Griptilian has an uncentered blade but the lock up was tight. I attempted to center it my self by adjusting the pivot screw, the blade got so tight that I couldn't hardly move it without applying a lot of pressure and it barely moved at all.
 
My 484-1 had a slight bit of side to side play, I sent it back to the mothership and after they adjusted it, they sent it back perfect. No play whatsoever and the action is buttery smooth. Not tight at all, swings easily with no play. If you are concerned at all, just send it to them and they will sharpen it and adjust for free. All you have to pay is the cost to ship it to them.
 
axis locks can have some to a miniscule almost undetectable up and down play. side to side usually can be adjusted out. course for those who like flicking their knives open and closed this doesnt always work to eliminate all side to side play. battle between loose enough and too tight. so its up to your tolerance of play.

up and down much harder to eliminate. ive found as i use the knife.....pressure from cutting stuff besides paper and silly cutting will seat the axis bar deeper and help on up and down play. sometimes even hard firm opening allowing the bar to seat deeper.

to answer the question zero blade play demands is a modern demand. thanks to tight tolerances and cnc machining etc. old pinned knives started a bit loose most times and got looser from use and until they were sloppy and dangerous no one used to care much about a bit of play.
 
If the last three Benchmades I've received are any indication, a lot of blade is acceptable.
 
Yeah I am worried about this as well. I am fairly new to collecting knives. Mostly have Spydercos with the exception of some high value knives and an Ontario Carter Prime. However I want some Benchmades, starting with the 940. I can't get myself to pay the money though for a knife that I hear stuff like this about. I watch a lot of knife reviews too and one chief complaint about Benchmades is the QC. So should I spend my $200 somewhere else? I can't make up my mind, any info helps. My main concern is what the original poster is talking about. I have heard so much about blade play and QC issues with em. Again thanks for any info
 
According to Benchmade at least some blade play is apparently acceptable. I had a first-production run 485 Valet that was a great knife in every way other a small amount of vertical blade play. For a knife approaching $200 this was unacceptable to me and after using for some time hoping it would break in and lose the blade play I sent it in to the company to have them fix the problem. They sharpened it and sent it back with no noticeable different in the amount of blade play.

I had a bad feeling about sending it in. I had read a few reviews of the Valet and most commented that they had blade play, but when I called Benchmade, the lady who answered the phone said they had no record of complaints of this problem with that knife. Yes, there are possible explanations for this, but as I said, I had a bad feeling nothing more. I was worried that the knife would develope more play as time passed so I passed it on.
 
For me it depends on which of my knives has the side to side play. Obviously up and down play is a serious issue and not a pivot screw issue. On my 940 I tighten it until there is zero play, but will still flick open and swing closed, however after a lot of use it will get loose. I won't tighten it back unless it has a lot of play and I mean sloppy play. On my AFO II I keep that as tight as it will let me and still open when I hit the fire button. Just a personal preference. On my non-BM knives such as my Cold Steel Recon 1 I keep that one in what people here call the "sweet spot" which is that 1 100th of a degree turn tightness in between too tight and loose. Takes me a couple minutes but I keep my self defense carry knives ready for action. I let my general utility blades slack more. I'm not a fan of lock tight. There is nothing wrong with it, but I like messing with my knives and I break them down often anyway.
 
Bx2 said:
Yeah I am worried about this as well. I am fairly new to collecting knives. Mostly have Spydercos with the exception of some high value knives and an Ontario Carter Prime. However I want some Benchmades, starting with the 940. I can't get myself to pay the money though for a knife that I hear stuff like this about. I watch a lot of knife reviews too and one chief complaint about Benchmades is the QC. So should I spend my $200 somewhere else? I can't make up my mind, any info helps. My main concern is what the original poster is talking about. I have heard so much about blade play and QC issues with em. Again thanks for any info
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I personally spoke with Benchmade concerning this issue and they told me a small amount of play in any direction is normal if you have to apply pressure to move the blade. IMO Benchmade still produces high quality products and their customer service is usually outstanding, I just hope they don't continue to let products with qc issues leave the factory and develop a bad reputation. My Stryker was shipped out this past Monday for vertical blade play.
 
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TheEdge01 said:
I personally spoke with Benchmade concerning this issue and they told me a small amount of play in any direction is normal if you have to apply pressure to move the blade. IMO Benchmade still produces high quality products and their customer service is usually outstanding, I just hope they don't continue to let products with qc issues leave the factory and develop a bad reputation. My Stryker was shipped out this past Monday for vertical blade play.
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might be normal for benchmade but certainly not for some other brands like ZT, Reate, Hinderer, and CRK.
 
BM blade play on an axis lock can be normal. Some knives come with a very, very small window of pivot tightness vs. free-swinging action. However, you can work on the washers and create a larger window, if you like the free swinging. I have found even with the knives that don't swing so freely, they go just fine with a little nudge closed.
 
From the Knives Ship Free FAQ:
Benchmade's patented AXIS® is our favorite locking system available on a modern folder -- simple, solid and secure. A few of our customers, however, have mentioned noticing some slight vertical play in the blade when it's in the open-and-locked position. You may be reading this because you've experienced the same thing.

Most important, this minimal movement doesn't affect the security of the lock. If it still bothers you, you'll be glad to know that there's an easy way to fix the wiggle: Use your knife.

Seriously, whatever vertical movement you may notice isn't a defect. It's a sign that the components of the AXIS mechanism -- locking bar, ramped tang, stop pin, liners and omega-style springs -- still require some break-in. Over time (and use) these surfaces will "mate" and the vertical play will gradually go away.
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I had no issue of blade play on my 943, 940-1, mini and large griptilians
Or at least nothing I feel like I shall worry about it

I think that you think you cannot trust the knife because of the blade play, then there shall be a problem...
At the end you are the user and you have to feel it right... if you get cut, you will be the only one wounded :(


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