Otter Mercator Copper Question

[Tejas_Burny]

Howdy all,
I purchased a copper Otter Mercator K55K in stainless. It came with a little blade play so i tapped the pins with a ball peen until the play was removed. After a little bit of use the blade play came right back (not hard use, apples, boxes etc). Is this due to the soft copper handles or am I missing something? If i leave it a little loose do yall think the play will grow larger or is the tightening of the pin causing extra wear on the handles?

 

[bladesmith3]

i have had 2 of them, both had excessive side play. that is why i gave them away. i think it is just the design of the knife.

 

[afishhunter]

Howdy all,
I purchased a copper Otter Mercator K55K in stainless. It came with a little blade play so i tapped the pins with a ball peen until the play was removed. After a little bit of use the blade play came right back (not hard use, apples, boxes etc). Is this due to the soft copper handles or am I missing something? If i leave it a little loose do yall think the play will grow larger or is the tightening of the pin causing extra wear on the handles?

strange.
Aside from the Mercator being a lockback, the basic construction is the same (folded metal handle) as the Douk Douk, and Higonokami.
I have a 100 mm brass handle Higonokami. It has not worked loose in the time I've had it.

I read somewhere that the Douk Douk and Higo can be tightened to eliminate side play by SLIGHTLY bending/folding the handle edge at the pivot with the blade open.
That might cure the wobblies on you Mercator. I suggest working slowly using needle nose pliers, one side at a time.
(Apparently during their country's civil war, some of the users of the Douk Douk El Baraka, folded the edges onto the tang with the blade open, making the knife a fixed blade.)

 

[brownshoe]

Mine is brass and has a solid lockup in all directions.

 

[Will Power]

My Copper lockback is rock solid, not a hint of play, better than GEC lockbacks in build.

Thanks, Will