Just received a new D2 Mini Grip from Cabela's (exclusive). Would like to know if the following is normal:
Short Version:
Blade has about 1mm horizontal movement opened or closed and tightening things doesn't fix it. AXIS mechanism is still a little gritty after cleaning and oiling. Is this normal?
Detailed Version:
- When open or closed, the blade has about 1mm of horizontal play either way. HOWEVER, the play only occurs when I lightly push the blade with my fingers (lighter than I am pushing the buttons to type on this Apple keyboard). It does not move otherwise nor will anything rattle when I shake the blade in my hands. Additionally, when closed the blade will not "recenter" after pushing it off to one side with my finger, it simply stays wherever I set it (including centered). Can't tell for sure if this is the case when open as movement is harder to see. Lastly, it isn't so bad that the blade scrapes against the inside of the handle when opening unless I specifically push it (again, lightly like before) into the inside of the handle.
I have already tried tightening down all of the frame screws with a small Torx wrench. Even tightened the screw for the pivot until the blade would not move freely under gravity and the problem didn't get any better (or worse for that matter). On the flip side, the issue also didn't get worse when I loosened the pivot screw until the bottom of the head/cap was just above the frame. If it matters, I was very careful not to over torque anything and did NOT disassemble anything.
Is this normal and/or something I can fix myself without voiding the warranty?
- AXIS lock was a bit gritty out of the box, both opening and closing. After washing under warm water with hand soap, drying with compressed air, and applying a very small amount of oil to all moving parts per instructions in box, it's much better, but not completely resolved.
Is this just something that will get better as the knife breaks in?
- Not sure why or what it was, but before I washed it, everywhere I touched the knife, even the handle, my fingers would get dirty and turn a bit black after. Even after I wiped it down. Yet the handle is sand colored and looked clean. Blade, spine, etc. didn't feel dirty.
Just wondering what this could be I've never experienced this with any knife ever.
I realize this none of these are big functional issues and a Mini Grip IS a production knife meant to sell at about $80-100 and hence won't be perfect in every way (no offense), but even on my $10 S&W knife I didn't have any misalignment brand new out of the box (even if that didn't last long), the action was smooth, and my fingers didn't get dirty every time I touched the knife.
Other info:
Confident it is not a counterfeit. It arrived from Cabela's in the Benchmade box and it was sealed with one round clear sticker over the seams on the bottom of the box (I haven't bought Benchmade before so I don't know how they should be sealed). Knife was in the bag inside with a set of instructions. Everything looked new and untouched. I'm really like the knife aside from the above minor issues... even the FRN grips.
Short Version:
Blade has about 1mm horizontal movement opened or closed and tightening things doesn't fix it. AXIS mechanism is still a little gritty after cleaning and oiling. Is this normal?
Detailed Version:
- When open or closed, the blade has about 1mm of horizontal play either way. HOWEVER, the play only occurs when I lightly push the blade with my fingers (lighter than I am pushing the buttons to type on this Apple keyboard). It does not move otherwise nor will anything rattle when I shake the blade in my hands. Additionally, when closed the blade will not "recenter" after pushing it off to one side with my finger, it simply stays wherever I set it (including centered). Can't tell for sure if this is the case when open as movement is harder to see. Lastly, it isn't so bad that the blade scrapes against the inside of the handle when opening unless I specifically push it (again, lightly like before) into the inside of the handle.
I have already tried tightening down all of the frame screws with a small Torx wrench. Even tightened the screw for the pivot until the blade would not move freely under gravity and the problem didn't get any better (or worse for that matter). On the flip side, the issue also didn't get worse when I loosened the pivot screw until the bottom of the head/cap was just above the frame. If it matters, I was very careful not to over torque anything and did NOT disassemble anything.
Is this normal and/or something I can fix myself without voiding the warranty?
- AXIS lock was a bit gritty out of the box, both opening and closing. After washing under warm water with hand soap, drying with compressed air, and applying a very small amount of oil to all moving parts per instructions in box, it's much better, but not completely resolved.
Is this just something that will get better as the knife breaks in?
- Not sure why or what it was, but before I washed it, everywhere I touched the knife, even the handle, my fingers would get dirty and turn a bit black after. Even after I wiped it down. Yet the handle is sand colored and looked clean. Blade, spine, etc. didn't feel dirty.
Just wondering what this could be I've never experienced this with any knife ever.
I realize this none of these are big functional issues and a Mini Grip IS a production knife meant to sell at about $80-100 and hence won't be perfect in every way (no offense), but even on my $10 S&W knife I didn't have any misalignment brand new out of the box (even if that didn't last long), the action was smooth, and my fingers didn't get dirty every time I touched the knife.
Other info:
Confident it is not a counterfeit. It arrived from Cabela's in the Benchmade box and it was sealed with one round clear sticker over the seams on the bottom of the box (I haven't bought Benchmade before so I don't know how they should be sealed). Knife was in the bag inside with a set of instructions. Everything looked new and untouched. I'm really like the knife aside from the above minor issues... even the FRN grips.
Last edited:
