Loose tolerance common in Enduras ?

upnorth

upnorth

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Nov 25, 2006
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I wish to start off by saying that I have the highest respect for Spydercos quality products and that this is not a bash. I simply want to know if Enduras are known for some spine slack, loose tolerances. I am not anything like a knife expert so please bear with me if my nomenclature isn't precise. I have had a green FFG Endura for maybe a year or more now. I have never been rough with it and often find it to be my go to knife to open a letter, peel an apple, etc. It's a hell of a slicer. I did start to apply it to moderate cutting tasks and noticed that when I push down to cut, the blade pops back about 1\8th-1\16th of an inch with an audible click. I find it distracting and irritating, maybe because I know that the Spyderco name stands for quality. On the other hand we are talking about a knife that is mass produced in huge numbers so the odd one here and there may be slightly dodgy. This is an inexpensive but amazing knife. What do you think. Send it for inspection?, or this happens now and then, so suck it up and use it like I stole it ?
 
I had the Endura with full serrated blade and black frn handle, It had the same problem, There was no screw to adjust so I inevitably sold it.
Now I have the Spyderco Military CTS-XHP with Brown G10 handle and it is a completely different animal!!
The lower price Spydies are ok but I guess you get what you pay for.
I prefer that any knife I carry as an EDC be reliable to defend my life or perform any task so I don't mind paying the extra bucks.
I say use the heck out of it or sell it and buy a better model like I did. IMHO
 
The lockback models are built with a small spot in the lock face that will divert the trash/pocket lint into it, away from the locking surfaces which would cause an unsafe condition by not allowing contact. This, after a bit of wear often causes what you describe. It's not a defect, a lack of quality or QC, and is intentional.

I'm not describing it well at all. There are dozens of threads discussing it here and at Spyderco Forums in addition to cutaway views, drawings, etc. Almost all the threads describe this better than I can. :)

Joe
 
This little "click" is common in the Endura and Delica. All of the ones that have passed through my hands have had this.

Although it shouldn't be 1/8 inch or 1/16 inch. That's a lot of movement, and I would consider getting it sent in if that is actually the case.
 
My Enduras have a little blade play, but not as much as you described. Also the Military is a big step up. Not to say the Endura is not a good knife, mine continue to perform well and I hope both continue to be in the Spyderco lineup with new versions.
 
Mastiff and THG have it right. A slight bit of movement under a certain amount of downward pressure when cutting is not out of the ordinary or a problem, but something like 1/8" worth of travel is probably more than you'd want. I notice it more on some lockbacks than others. I had a Chinook 3 for a while and found that little click on a semi-regular basis but my steel E4 hardly does it at all unless I'm really pushing on something.
 
Ok, thanks guys, I can live with it. I felt guilty because I really like Spyderco and kind of went off a bit about this particular Endura. My other Spydercos: Endura 3, C95 Manix, Resilience, were all rock solid. I don't like making a big hassle out of a small thing. I'll keep it in the kitchen because it is such a great slicer.
 
As an update.......... I loosened all the Enduras side screws about half way, locked it, gave it some blade\spine torquing. Snugged it all back up tight except for the blade pivot and...................... she's wayyyyyyy better now. Now I have a slight almost imperceptible flex\pivoting. I'm glad that I didn't send it in and just tuned it up a touch. The romance is back. :)
 
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