How much blade play is normal?

K

kbog

Joined
Apr 11, 2004
Messages
540
I can't seem to put down my new Manix. Love it.

As I thought, it has loosened a bit (as opposed to my Scorpius which is still very tight). The blade has zero friction when the lock is pushed. I really like that for opening and closing the knife. Quick and easy (even better than my griptilian).

The trade off seems to be in horizontal blade play. If I clamp the knife, I can convince the tip of the blade to move horizontally in a 6 mm sweep from side to side. That is, I can wiggle the tip 3mm in each direction from center. This is not with excessive force, although the last mm in each direction does require a light pull. I also have visible gaps between the blade and the liner at the pivot. They are quite small.

I am convinced that this is not dangerous, nor is it permanent. Tightening the pivot will solve the problem, I am sure (my tool is on loan, of course).

This is far from a complaint as well. Just wondering if this is normal. Does a beefy lockback like this require the occasional tightening? Is there anything I should look out for?

Thanks.
 
I wonder if being able to wiggle the tip a little should be considered blade play. It looks to me like the blade shows a little flexibility without real movement in the lock (at least on my Manix80) which is probably normal.
 
Not sure. I think mine is a bit more than I would like. If I had my tool, I would tighten the pivot and get rid of it, I am sure.

I guess I wonder exactly what is "normal" blade play for this knife.
 
IMHO a quality knife should have about 0%blade play.
3 mm movement to me is way to much.
 
I would agree with u812, i have an old hunter (7 yrs.+ with me). considering it was a hand me down and sees constant use (and quite a few drops) and still has zero blade play, i'd say a new lockback should not be having any play whatsoever.
 
Try wobbling the blade closer to the pivot. What you may be seeing instead of blade play is some flexibility in the G-10 or a little movement towards the washers.

Looking at my Endura, with some pressure at the tip, I can move the blade over to each side slightly (1mm at the most) but there's no movement against the lockbar. I attribute this to flexibility of the FRN handle. At the pivot and at the contact with the lock bar, there is no movement in any direction what so ever.

If what you're seeing is blade play due to a poorly fitted pivot, send it back to Spyderco and they'll make it right. Tightening down the pivot won't eliminate blade play if the problem is actually in the fitting of the pivot, it'll just clamp the balde down so tight it won't move.
 
Just a quick update - a tighten of the pivot screw solved the problem. The trick is to keep from overtightening it. I think I found just the right amount of "pinch" so the blade still drops down freely, but without any play.
 
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