I'm obsessed with blade-play...can anyone tell me why?

Once you realize that a folder does not have to have blade play, it's very easy to develop a "personal standard" where blade play is unacceptable.

I don't like blade play. And even if it has no effect on the usefulness of the knife I don't want to own a folder with blade play. That's my "personal standard". In that regard, I won't buy a folder if I can't adjust the pivot.

Some people seem to think that forward/back blade play is normal for lockbacks, and should therefore be acceptable. But I disagree. Whether it's my 30+ year old Buck 110, or my brand new Viper Start, neither has any blade play in any direction. And as a result they are among my favorite knives.

Of course anything can be taken too far and become an unhealthy obsession. There's a big difference between occasionally tweaking a blade to check for play, and torquing on your knife with all your might to try and force the blade to move, or checking it every five minutes. The problem with obsession is- people who are obsessed won't stop until they satisfy their obsession. And when people are obsessed with blade play, they will torque on a blade until THEY create blade play.
 
I will live with a fraction of up and down play on a Lockback knife ( even some higher quality Lockback's will have a minute amount , it seems to be a design problem ) but I won't put up with it on any other type of folder .
Side to side is what I really hate and I will dispose of any folder that I can't eliminate Side to side movement on .
I did give away a Delica that I bought secondhand that had excessive up and down movement that I couldn't cure , but apart from that one I've been very lucky , if you buy reasonable quality it shouldn't be an issue , and even if it is , any maker with integrity will replace it .

Ken
 
Thanks for all the responses!

I think a lot of my neuroses stems from the minute fiddling, trying to find that perfect place where there is zero play but deployment is still snappy.

My ZT 0566 has an incredibly slim happy place that satisfies both criteria.

I picked up some plumbers/teflon/threading tape today. Anyone ever mess around with it? Less messy than loctite, though a little tricky to work with. In either case it did a great job of keeping my pivot screw JUST in the right place.
 
VermontEdge said:
Thanks for all the responses!

trying to find that perfect place where there is zero play but deployment is still snappy.
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I am sooo glad to hear i'm not the only one, it really bothers me even on my "cheaper" knives and I abhor any play at all on my "better" knives. I've been fiddling with the pivot on my new large 21 like a fiend because of this exact issue. A micro turn to the right... not snappy enough, bank vault sebbie feel, a little the left, perfect thumb flick.... teeny, obsessively unnoticeable "play". Will it ever stop? lol
 
I too hate blade play. That is why I love CRK so much. You can totally remove the pivot screw and there is still zero blade play.
 
I think, for most of us, there was a seminal moment when we got our first quality knife. Lack of blade play was part of that "feeling" we all got.
 
Blade play is something I don't worry about.
None of my knives have any detrimental play.
One of my GEC 99's has a bit of up and down but it in no way affects performance.

I was going through my Alox Soldiers for a trade the other day and NONE of these had any play and many are users with the oldest being a 64.
Vic and Wenger(RIP) make some solid knives but the liner lock models, like 08+ Soldiers, do have up and down play.

Does that make these knives less safe or sturdy?
IMO I think not, the newer Soldiers and Trekkers are tough and in its particular case the play is normal and acceptable.

I doubt the Swiss and German soldiers who are issued these knives worry about the issue.
 
collim1 said:
I always check a knife for excessive blade play, but it is not practical to expect a folding knife to have absolutely zero blade play. If I need a real knife I grab a fixed blade, folders are all about convenience and concealment for me.
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I have folding knives with absolutely zero perceivable blade play, and that is with me snatching on them extremely hard.
 
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