Non-wobbly locks...do they exist?

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dougk16

Joined
Oct 2, 2007
Messages
54
I've been using various folding lock knives for years, from cheap to expensive, and the one thing they all have in common is that the lock eventually gets wobbly. The only thing a higher price seems to do is delay when this wobbliness sets in. Now I'm not saying that my more expensive knives are rattling around like a loose pair of scissors. There's just the smallest fraction of give when your grasp the blade and handle and move them around, but nonetheless it annoys me.

So the question is, is there any knife or locking system that anyone has put through the paces and the lock is still rock solid? I realize that folders are intrinsically weak in that they have at least one moving part (which is why I generally prefer fixed), but there has to be a good locking system out there somewhere.
 
What high end folders are you buying? None of the folders I have have developed blade play, from inexpensive to fairly high end.
 
Blade play (side to side movement of the blade in relation to the handle) has nothing to do with the lock of the knife. Blade play is due to the pivot/washers and knife not fitting correctly or wearing out.

If the lock is wearing out (up and down movement of the blade in relation to the handle) then that is a different problem. Given enough time and abuse any lock would wear out, but higher-end ones should outlast you. The only knives that I can think of that will never have any problems with the lock are fixed blades or arguably balisongs.
 
I have plenty of knives that don't have any movement whatsoever. Spyderco Military, Boker Trance and Wharcom, Opinels and all my Kershaw's (Liner locks, framelocks and stud locks). Even my Swiss Army Knives are free of play. The only knives I own and use that do are my lockbacks, such as my Spyderco Manix, Byrd Cara Cara and Buck 110. The play ranges from barely detectable to I can grab it with my fingers and easily wobble the blade. They all lock up securely though. I've also had small, negligable amounts of play in both Axis locks and Compression locks, though they also locked up very securely.
 
If you are talking about blade play like Spyder 10 suggests, have you tried loc-tite on the pivot screw? I wonder if they begin to feel wobbly because the pivot screw is backing out.

Do you own any Axis or Ball Bearing locks?
 
I have several knives with no blade play:

RJ Martin Devistator
All my Kershaws (3)
All my Benchmades (2)

Frame and Axis locks seem to almost always have excellent lockup.
 
ah ok so blade play is the correct term...better than "lock-wobbliness" ;)

kindred_spirits: i wouldn't say my knives are "high-end"...the best folders i have are a spyderco native and some various buck models, but not their most expensive models by any means

spyder10: i was referring more to "up and down" blade play, so it's not really a problem with the pivot...yea so maybe blade play isn't accurate either if that only means side to side

so with my more accurate knife play symptoms in mind, is there a particular locking system that anyone would say prevents this up and down play more than others?
 
dougk;

This is in no way meant to be condescending or abrasive, but as you expand your definition of "high end", you may have more positive experiences regarding "blade play". Not sure what your use is of what models of folding knives is, but you made a great start with the Spyder Native. Your lock experiences will get better with more time and perhaps a wee bit more cash. A D'Allara from spyderville or a griptiliian in either size may be worth the slight premium you'll pay, I'm sure there are others with time on other makes that will help you out. Your job now is to mine the wealth of experience on this forum, and enjoy. It's only a start. :D
 
oh my definition of high-end is very expanded already...my wallet just hasn't caught up yet :)

but my real concern is that i'll spend 200 bux on a top of the line folder and it'll be wobbly after its first camping trip

obviously paying more money means better quality, but so far i haven't spent more than 60 bux on a folder, and all of them get this annoying play...negligible as it may be, for some reason it just irks me, despite the knife (my native for example) being otherwise suitable for all practical purposes

sometimes i feel like there's simply *too* much experience in this forum...i could read a hundred posts on great folders, and just come out with more questions and concerns than when i came in :P
 
dougk16 said:
but my real concern is that i'll spend 200 bux on a top of the line folder and it'll be wobbly after its first camping trip
Click to expand...

Why must you limit yourself to a folder then? I could see for EDC, but for camping why not bring a fb? Even a $5 Mora will have zero blade play in any direction.
 
eh u know i just give the camping trip as an example, but speaking of that i def. bring some kind of fixed blade, usuallly a bowie type knife, but i also bring at least a multitool and a locking folder as well...a 15 in. bowie isn't the best knife for whittling a point onto a hot dog stick ;)
 
You may want to try a BM axis lock or a Spydie ball lock. Now I don't know about the ball lock but the axis can self adjust a little bit to help stop vertical blade play.
Question, are the knives your talking about all liner locks?
 
Tiny86: all my knives are liner locks or lock backs...nothing fancy...

Steven: this is the kind of reply i wanted! something definitive! i'll start looking around
 
spyder10 said:
The only knives that I can think of that will never have any problems with the lock are fixed blades or arguably balisongs.
Click to expand...

He said it! Get an IKBS powered balisong, then you'll have neither side-by-side play nor front-and-back play! Only if you want to go through the flipping motion everytime you open and close. :)
 
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