JWS MRC blade play?

M

mikemck

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Sep 22, 2000
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I have a somewhat bizarre situation, and I need advice.

I recently got my hands on a large JWS MRC, and I just love this knife. The MRC is what a real knife is all about...but anyway..

Yesterday morning, the lockup was like a bank vault, no blade play in ANY direction at all. Not even a hint of play.
Last night as I was playing with it, I noticed that there is now up & down blade play! You can't actually see it, but you can feel it. In fact, if you shake the knife, you can hear it.

It's bizarre, because it seems to have happened in one day, within hours. This knife was as solid as I have ever felt to begin with, so I have no idea what happened. I did not use it at all for anything, other than opening & closing it. I tried tightening the pivot just in case it loosened up, but that did not help.
I also checked the liner lock, but as best as I can tell, it's locking up in about the same place it always did.

Anyone have any idea what might have happened?
 
Cold be loose bolster screws, handle scale screws, or the screws that actually hold the knife together. Check them and loc-tite when reassembling.
 
I think Sabre is right. It sounds like something came loose, but before messing with it my thoughts lean towards checking with John.

John is a great person to work with, I would get in touch with him before making adjustments. I have no doubt he will do what it takes (within reason) to make sure the knife is right.
 
Excellent advice, and much appreciated.

Does anyone have contact information for JWS?

Thanks.
 
Thank you, that looks to be an excellent place to start.

I sent off an email, so I'll wait and see.

It's really quite ironic, because just yesterday I was talking about how solid the lockup was with absolutely no blade play...I should have knocked on wood or some such "nonsense"...
 
Call John, he will make it right. John stands behind his knives and will do whatever to make them right as long as there are not signs of obvious unreasonable abuse.
 
Mike,

Once when I found one of my blades had a bit of up and down play, Kit Carson determined that one of the washers was out of spec by a thousandth or something like. Just enough to throw the whole thing out of kilter by a hair.
 
Sometimes it is as simple as taking your knife apart, cleaning everything, relubing and putting it back together. It don't hurt to use a paste polish to polish the blade tang that contacts the washers. If phospher/bronze washers are used polish them also. For whatever reason I have found that when I reassemble the knife if I start all the screws then close the blade and start tightening from the pivot screw out along the handle, upon opening, the liner lock will usually be at the left hand side of the blade tang. I'm sure there is a reason for this. You might also check the stop pin and even rotate it. I don't know how you feel about disassembling your custom knives but if you do TAKE YOUR TIME, make sure you have the correct sized tool, and take it apart on an uncluttered work table! It don't hurt to have a clean floor in case you drop a piece.

Only my $.02 worth, and the steps I would probably take.
 
I had the EXACT same thing happen on a JWS knife.
The stop pin was cracked, check to see if that is what happened.
I had to send it back to have the stop pin replaced.
 
This is not something that gets out of the JW's shop much i know more than most. Im sure it will be taken care of you just need to get with John
 
Boy Mike, I feel bad. That was the knife I sent you. Sounds like you got some really good advice. Contact John and he will make it right.

Sorry about the inconvinence and hopeit was not anything before I sent it. It looked and felt just like I described it.

Send it to its "master" and he will take care of it. Again, sorry!:(
 
Originally posted by artsig1
Sometimes it is as simple as taking your knife apart, cleaning everything, relubing and putting it back together. .
Click to expand...


ArtSig1 - you really like hanging out there b*lls-naked without a safety net!!

Don't you know - these things do not come with instructions?!

One thing you got is a set of stones.

Although, I did start doing some of my own computer repairs and - the insides looked like a miniaturized city the first time I opened one up - anyways, hasn't blown up on me yet and each time gets easier and easier .....

:cool:
 
It's the first thing I do when I get a new knife custom or not. I take it apart to clean up the insides and to polish up the insides. Just sorta puts my touch on things. I also like to apply some Tuf-Glide and I don't want it to mix with whatever is in there.

Thats the great thing about these knives, they are easy to take apart and put back together, and it gives you a little insight into the operation of the knife. I've had a couple of customs that the liner lock didn't go over far enough on the blade tang to give 100% lockup. It would slip and allow some up and down play. Now I could have sent it back to the maker and he would have fixed it with no problem, but all it needed was a little tweaking of that liner so that it stayed in place on the tang once opened. I tweaked.......it stayed.....I'm happy!

I have a table set up downstairs that has all the tools I need to take apart these knives. I've got extra screws in case the head on one gets marred or twisted I can cut another to length and replace it. My Dremel is close at hand to cut screws and to polish liners and blade tangs. Also polish pivot bolts. You would be surprised what a little judicious polishing can do for a smooth action! :D
 
Since this popped up again I thought I should reply, (as much as I hate typing):) I had the customer send me the knife as soon as he contacted me and the repairs were made and refurbished to new condition at no charge to him. This was an RC-1 model instead of a MRC and was about a year old, not new.
John W. Smith
 
Mr. Smith, my new knife is on it's way to you for adjustment. Thanks for the good service.

ArtSig1 - the only thing I've ever done with tools is to remove a clip once. The second time I did it was with a Spyderco, and the screw head broke off while reattaching it.

Well, there's my technical expertise in a nutshell. - and I don't have a dedicated workshop table to do it in! ;)
 
.......we are going to have to get together so I can show you a thing or two:eek: :cool: ;) I probably have as much fun taking apart a new custom folder as I get in just having it. I always like to add my on little touch to it by polishing the pivot area a little and changing out the lube and in general just tinkering with things. Course I am not perfect. I've had to send one or two back to the maker and have them correct something I screwed up.:o :o But all in all I do enjoy it and I derive a bit of pleasure from it.

The large(?) JW Smith framelock I traded for will be here Friday and I bet the first thing I do is disassemble, clean, and relube!
 
You're going to really get into the JW when it arrives! Can't wait to get mine back.

Next time in the hardware stores, I'll take a long look at the Dremel tools .....

....come to think of it, this is great fodder for an article. Just got James Nowka's new knife magazine - the premier issue - they strive to find regular fellows to write illustrated how-to articles, in addition to some of the heavy-weight knife writers they presently have!! -- I'm serious - you can do a feature for them and get paid for it!


--- as to your offer, I'd return the favor by showing you how to shoot digital photos and post them on the internet. - you're descriptions are very concise, but ---- WE NEED PICTURES! ... PICTURES!
 
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