Spyderco My brand new Spyderco Nirvana has up down blade play

[jamal_spelling91]

Yesterday I received my brand new Spyderco Nirvana and was initially very impressed with the smoothness and fit & finish. It feels solid in my hand and has a good weight to it, though it is on the thin side. The blade is centered and sharp, the detent is a little weak but does it's job, though a slight shake and the blade will come out because it is very heavy. At first the lockup seems secure, there is some blade stick but this was expected after reading and watching reviews from other owners. From the reviews it seemed the general consensus concluded there is a break in period. After opening and closing maybe ten times I noticed the lock stick was going away, and it seemed increasingly easy to disengage the lock - too easy. There seemed to be no stick of the lock bar to the blade. At this time I realized it had up and down blade play, and to my disappointment the lock failed with very little pressure exerted on the blade with my hand. I am returning the knife to the dealer today. I've never had a Spyderco lockup fail before or even have a hint of up and down play. My experience with a number of Spyderco framelocks has been superb, the last Southard I owned locked up perfectly - the lock bar tension and lock geometry were very well done and I was extremely impressed with it. So to get the Nirvana and have this happen is very disappointing. My $10 Sanrenmu locks up solid with no play. It seems that there is not enough tension on the lock bar. I am not here to bash Spyderco at all, I understand that some slip through quality control and issues are not always apparent right off the assembly line. I've owned more Spyderco folders than I can remember, and they have never let me down until this one. The point of this thread is to see if anyone else has had an issue like this with their Nirvana? Thanks guys.

 

[halden.doerge]

Send it to Spyderco. They'll fix it.

 

[sharp_edge]

Maybe the pivot screw is loose?

 

[Cutlover]

What a surprise, it's a framelock that fails.

In all seriousness, that's just a defective product, should be covered. Very good choice of knife too, definitely one of the best looking Spydercos out there.

 

[jamal_spelling91]

I would send it to Spyderco though I really want another Sebenza so back to the dealer it goes. The pivot screw seems tight, there is no side to side play. I don't expect it to be the strongest lock in the world but it should at least be secure. It is a very good looking knife, very well constructed.

 

[palonej]

Same exact thing hPpened to me with a Ti Millie.
Developed up and down play after a day of flicking. Sent it back and they got a brand new one to me in less than 2 weeks.
Stuff happens, I guess.
Good luck

 

[jamal_spelling91]

Same exact thing hPpened to me with a Ti Millie.
Developed up and down play after a day of flicking. Sent it back and they got a brand new one to me in less than 2 weeks.
Stuff happens, I guess.
Good luck

I've owned a few ti millies, two were the standard bead blasted ones and the other was a beautiful fluted and anodized one. Though these all had the steel lockbar insert and they seemed to be solid. Loved the length of the millies, long and slender with great ergos.

 

[palonej]

How true Jamal!!
I have 3 Millies. Camo black blade, work knife. Cruwear with red Putman scales, amazing!! Ti with s30v.....my favorite!! The sound the Ti makes on lock up is addicting!!
Excellent design!
Joe

 

[RLDubbya]

Yesterday I received my brand new Spyderco Nirvana and was initially very impressed with the smoothness and fit & finish. It feels solid in my hand and has a good weight to it, though it is on the thin side. The blade is centered and sharp, the detent is a little weak but does it's job, though a slight shake and the blade will come out because it is very heavy. At first the lockup seems secure, there is some blade stick but this was expected after reading and watching reviews from other owners. From the reviews it seemed the general consensus concluded there is a break in period. After opening and closing maybe ten times I noticed the lock stick was going away, and it seemed increasingly easy to disengage the lock - too easy. There seemed to be no stick of the lock bar to the blade. At this time I realized it had up and down blade play, and to my disappointment the lock failed with very little pressure exerted on the blade with my hand. I am returning the knife to the dealer today. I've never had a Spyderco lockup fail before or even have a hint of up and down play. My experience with a number of Spyderco framelocks has been superb, the last Southard I owned locked up perfectly - the lock bar tension and lock geometry were very well done and I was extremely impressed with it. So to get the Nirvana and have this happen is very disappointing. My $10 Sanrenmu locks up solid with no play. It seems that there is not enough tension on the lock bar. I am not here to bash Spyderco at all, I understand that some slip through quality control and issues are not always apparent right off the assembly line. I've owned more Spyderco folders than I can remember, and they have never let me down until this one. The point of this thread is to see if anyone else has had an issue like this with their Nirvana? Thanks guys.

I guess first off: I'll be the echo which says send it back to Spyderco, they will take care of you.

I've owned my Nirvana for six months; I've carried it a few days during that time, and used it when it was carried. I have used it enough for it to require sharpening two times so far, and it's due for another sharpening. I pulled it just now to check stuff...the detent is quite strong, one of the strongest of any knife I own. If I was inclined to look for a problem myself, I would start with that as my clue. No matter how hard nor how long I shake it, nor in what direction, I cannot get the blade to drop, or to even begin dropping. There is no blade play whatsoever, in any direction; the blade is large enough that I can grasp it with a full grip, and attempt to get some play (to no avail), and there is no way I can get the lock to fail.

I am able to consistently thumb-flick the blade from a fully closed position to an open and locked position; my success rate for this is about 95% - that's as good as I can do with any knife due to hand injuries and intense pain. The toughest part is initially overcoming the detent in the closed position.

The blade is centered perfectly, and lockup is 100% - that is, the lockbar is fully engaged on the locking surface of the blade.

TL;DR: the fat cripple's Nirvana does not display any locking (or other) issues which would indicate a defect in either design or implementation.

 

[jamal_spelling91]

I guess first off: I'll be the echo which says send it back to Spyderco, they will take care of you.

I've owned my Nirvana for six months; I've carried it a few days during that time, and used it when it was carried. I have used it enough for it to require sharpening two times so far, and it's due for another sharpening. I pulled it just now to check stuff...the detent is quite strong, one of the strongest of any knife I own. If I was inclined to look for a problem myself, I would start with that as my clue. No matter how hard nor how long I shake it, nor in what direction, I cannot get the blade to drop, or to even begin dropping. There is no blade play whatsoever, in any direction; the blade is large enough that I can grasp it with a full grip, and attempt to get some play (to no avail), and there is no way I can get the lock to fail.

I am able to consistently thumb-flick the blade from a fully closed position to an open and locked position; my success rate for this is about 95% - that's as good as I can do with any knife due to hand injuries and intense pain. The toughest part is initially overcoming the detent in the closed position.

The blade is centered perfectly, and lockup is 100% - that is, the lockbar is fully engaged on the locking surface of the blade.

TL;DR: the fat cripple's Nirvana does not display any locking (or other) issues which would indicate a defect in either design or implementation.

Thanks for the detailed reply. Sounds like I am the only one in the world who got one with a weak lockup, as most owners like yourself say the lockup is extremely solid and the detent is very strong. I have returned the knife to the dealer and will await a refund, perhaps in the future I will get another one because there is a lot to like.

 

[Lapedog]

Good luck!

But yes the Nirvana is one of Spyderco's nicest knives.

 

[marcus52AR]

Sorry to hear you got one with issues. Hopefully it was just a fluke the passed through. They've had great reviews. I heard they're going to make an integral ti pm2 fluted hopefully with a stainless insert that isn't difficult to service or replace.

Disclamer: the last part isn't true, saw it in another thread, (dream pm2) wish it was.

 

[marcus52AR]

Good luck!

But yes the Nirvana is one of Spyderco's nicest knives.

I had a chance to handle the 40th anniversary native a couple of times, and I was really impressed. Very nice knife. Have yet to have the pleasure of trying on the nirvana.

Edit. Bought the nirvana and I love it.

 

[sharp_edge]

How true Jamal!!
I have 3 Millies. Camo black blade, work knife. Cruwear with red Putman scales, amazing!! Ti with s30v.....my favorite!! The sound the Ti makes on lock up is addicting!!
Excellent design!
Joe

Joe - I have two exact sane millies as you: dlc/camo and ti. Am thinking abot getting the nw kw s90/ti/cf, though it is similar to the full ti version. Should have picked up the 204p/green g10 version last Xmas when it was on sale.

 

[Kjthebarber12]

Yesterday I received my brand new Spyderco Nirvana and was initially very impressed with the smoothness and fit & finish. It feels solid in my hand and has a good weight to it, though it is on the thin side. The blade is centered and sharp, the detent is a little weak but does it's job, though a slight shake and the blade will come out because it is very heavy. At first the lockup seems secure, there is some blade stick but this was expected after reading and watching reviews from other owners. From the reviews it seemed the general consensus concluded there is a break in period. After opening and closing maybe ten times I noticed the lock stick was going away, and it seemed increasingly easy to disengage the lock - too easy. There seemed to be no stick of the lock bar to the blade. At this time I realized it had up and down blade play, and to my disappointment the lock failed with very little pressure exerted on the blade with my hand. I am returning the knife to the dealer today. I've never had a Spyderco lockup fail before or even have a hint of up and down play. My experience with a number of Spyderco framelocks has been superb, the last Southard I owned locked up perfectly - the lock bar tension and lock geometry were very well done and I was extremely impressed with it. So to get the Nirvana and have this happen is very disappointing. My $10 Sanrenmu locks up solid with no play. It seems that there is not enough tension on the lock bar. I am not here to bash Spyderco at all, I understand that some slip through quality control and issues are not always apparent right off the assembly line. I've owned more Spyderco folders than I can remember, and they have never let me down until this one. The point of this thread is to see if anyone else has had an issue like this with their Nirvana? Thanks guys.

I just recieved my yesterday and this morning I noticed it had up and down play also........

 

[jamal_spelling91]

I just recieved my yesterday and this morning I noticed it had up and down play also........

I returned mine and I won't be getting another one. I'm not getting anymore framelocks, too unreliable for me but that is just my opinion. I'll take a AXIS lock or good lockback anyday, or heck a small fixed blade. Framelocks have let me down way too many times!