my Police has vertical blade-play, now what?

D

dennis75

Joined
Jan 2, 2003
Messages
820
today apparently i pushed the abilities of my Spyderco Police SS too far by chopping small branches and chunks of wood from trees for maybe a minute or so, while fishing to clear some bushed shores. i can imagine a folding-knife isn't the best tool for this, but i didn't quite expect this knife to be so severely effected by this though, but here's what happened to it: the tip broke off (oh well, that's like the 6st Spyderco in 2 years that does that to me :), but, not much of a problem, i regrinded the edge to a point again, although now i have an Endura-sized Police :)...), a lot of horizontal bladeplay (not big a deal, just pressed the rivets in the handle tightly together with pliers/vice), and........the dreaded vertical bladeplay.......; does this mean it's a write-off now because that can't be fixed? or does anyone know how to fix vertical bladeplay on a frontlock/toplock-folder?

it should be noted though that i'v had this happen on more knives: buck 110 lockback, spyderco delica frontlock, 2 buck-strider liner-locks, al mar sere 2000 linerlock, you name it, i've always managed to induce vertical bladeplay in knives that had a perfect initial lockup from the factory. what do you think, should i try a frame-lock folder for this kind of things, or wouldn't that be much stronger? thus meaning i should just buy a fixed blade instead for chopping and am i just expecting too much from a folder? i'm thinking of getting a Spyderco ATR or a CR Sebenza now ,but only if someone can convince that framelocks are much tougher than front-top/back/liner-locks...

tia for any help or suggestions,

regards,
dennis
 
I recommend getting a thick fixed blade or an axe for chopping purposes, Dennis. I don't think any folder is meant for chopping duties, no matter what type of lock the folder uses, since most folders are made for slicing and stabbing purposes. Some locks might be stronger and more reliable than others, but I imagine if you chopped wood with any of them, they'd all develop vertical play sooner or later. But, just my opinion.
 
Umm, get a balisong. Either that or a really cheap knife that you don't mind destroying. Or an axe/hatchet/tomahawk. The ATC VTAC gets my vote, but that's the extent of my experience, too. Or mabey a Spydersaw for pocket-portable bush clearing.
 
My Police developed some vertical play. The odd thing was that I have never actually used it for anything; just carried it around. I don't think there is anything you can do to fix it.
 
You could call Spyderco and tell them about it and see what they say? Just a thought.
 
nah, i'd rather remain honest :-). "hi,"my name is dennis and i'm a knife-abuser"

i can imagine that most if not all folders don't take kindly on my usage-patterns ;)
 
There was a thread recently where a guy asked about a folder that would withstand "sustained chopping." My answer to that is there isn't one. One guy answered and said the Camillus Cuda Maxx withstood heavy chopping in a test, and all that was wrong with it afterward was that the lock was loose. Hmm. Sounds a lot like your knife. Get a Becker BK-7 of BK-9 for chopping and save your folders for slicing. Just my opinion.
 
ElectricZombie said:
My Police developed some vertical play. The odd thing was that I have never actually used it for anything; just carried it around. I don't think there is anything you can do to fix it.
Click to expand...

Same here. I barely used mine at all and it developed some vertical play. My SS Endura is already starting to do the same thing and I haven't used it much and when I did it was very very light stuff. I've only had the SS Endura for around 2 weeks now to.
 
ElectricZombie, Bodieism,

are you talking about very small vertical blade play which is inherent to the Spyderco lockbacks? Sal explained that it is difficult to avoid it if one builds very strong and reliable lock (as Spyderco does).
Developing a new vertical blade play without any extreme abusing, is unacceptable. These knives are not very cheap - one expects much more quality.
I am afraid that something is wrong - too many reports on blade play on this forum - lockbacks, Millie, ParaMillie.
How the blade play develops with a compression lock? I thought that the part of liner always gets compressed? Working with knife - more and more compression is added.
You guys should send your knives back to Spyderco, IMO.

Franco
 
Franco, ElectricZombie, and Bodieism: this is not a case of 'regular' vertical bladeplay. i know it's quite common amongst lockbacks and frontlocks, but it's usually just a little, because of regular wear, which cannot be avoided and isn't all that bad either. in MY case however, it's clearly a case of "EXCESSIVE vert. bladeplay", really a LOT, you wouldn't believe if you felt it. i think it's around 2 to 3mm's play. but, like i admitted earlier, in my case this probably due to the chopping, tree-slashing and throwing........., i'm certainly not blaming this one on Spyderco, this was clearly my own 'fault'. :o
 
yeah, let me just add a "get a machete" here.

I guess you've gotta figure out what in the knife *bent* in the process, and see if it can be bent back again. If force in one direction broke it, stands to reason force in the other direction will fix it, if you can get at the busted part.
 
Muppet said:
yeah, let me just add a "get a machete" here.

I guess you've gotta figure out what in the knife *bent* in the process, and see if it can be bent back again. If force in one direction broke it, stands to reason force in the other direction will fix it, if you can get at the busted part.
Click to expand...
actually, i don't think we're talking about something being bent, but rather deformed. constant pressure against the lock is probably compressing metal, like the head of a cold chisel. it won't be bent back.

abe m.
 
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