I need a clear definition of blade play.

Steel130

Steel130

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Sep 17, 2010
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Ok so in several of my kershaws I have had they all have a little wiggle side to side. You cant see any bits of light in between the washers or anything. In my spyderco tenacious it has like no wiggle side to side and no up and down. To me that seems like no bladeplay. Am I the only one with kershaws that have a bit of wiggle?
 
You seem to have the definition of "blade play" figured out. If the blade moves around independently of the handles, that's Blade Play.

Most folks only seem to check for it when the blade is open, but some knife enthusiasts notice if there's play in the closed position as well.
Some knife models are known to have up-and-down blade play as well as horizontal. But it's the side-to-side wobble that I find the most irritating.

I only have a couple of Kershaw knives (ET, Gentlemans Lockback, and Chive) and there's no noticeable blade play on any of them.
 
Play with pivot screw a bit. 99% of quality knives you should be able to be adjusted the way that they open smooth, lock up tight and there is no wiggle. Use blue locktite on pivot screw threads, so it doesn't loosen up with time.
 
So again to be clear. The knife should be zero movement in the handle correct?
 
a little blade play really isn't that big of a deal, most likely you could still use the knife just fine. side to side movement can usually be fixed by tightening the pivot screw.
 
I don't mind a bit of play as long of it's only visual; if I can feel the blade play then it's not good.
 
i agree a hair of play where you almost have to squint to see if its there isnt a big deal. However clear side to side when using ect I dont like.
 
I had a kershaw with blade play once. Then I tightened the pivot. Problem solved. :D

I don't generally mind a little bit of side-to-side play. Up-and-down play bothers me to no end, especially in more expensive production knives.
 
Yah I usually find on kershaw that tightening the pivot screw causes the assisted opening to not work as well.
 
Some assisted opening knives generally have some side to side bladeplay due to the nature of them.
 
I can't own any knife with side to side play. I have one BM with a very tiny bit of front to back play and that will be fixed when I send it in.
 
Some people are flat out ANAL about bladeplay, Imanal, and any bit of movement will cause them to howl, Imanal, about that movement. Whether it be side to side, Imanal, or up and down, Imanal, if it's there, they will not be happy, Imanal.

Btw, I'm anal myself and no blade play is exactly what it means, there is no movement any any direction once the blade is locked up. The CNC machines used now get the specs so close that even the less expensive knives, those made oversea's, do not have bladeplay. Every Kershaw I've had has been tight with no bladeplay, but that is due to how tight I keep my pivot. SS, take a #8 Torx and tighten those pivots a hair and I bet you will have no bladeplay at all in those Kershaw's!:thumbup::)
 
You might find a lot of manual flippers come out of the factory with minor side to side play just so they flip easier.

As for play, it bugs me in any direction but my main concern is downward play on frame locks and liner locks because that usually means the lockbar is rocking on the blade tang and they might need a fitting adjustment. When I have vertical play on a knife I can see and feel the lockbar undulating when I extend downward pressure on the blade with my fingers. I just don't like the notion of any lockbar moving when just a little force is exerted toward it and certainly, if the lockbar does move, we all hope it moves inward rather than releasing.
 
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the kid said:
I don't mind a bit of play as long of it's only visual; if I can feel the blade play then it's not good.
Click to expand...

That's strange as I can feel blade play in almost every folder to some extent. It's when you can visually see it move that there is a lot of play. There are only a few knives that I can feel zero blade play and they usually have a big tang and big washers. A little play doesn't bother me as it takes a lot of play to be able to notice it when using the knife. A small amount doesn't hurt anything which is why I wonder why people fixate on it so much when they can't feel it while using the knife. Plus any serious blade play can for the most part be adjusted out with the pivot screw if you take a minute to adjust it.
 
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