Para Millie vertical blade play?

S

storyville

Joined
Aug 11, 1999
Messages
1,111
Hey folks,

Just received a Para Military yesterday. Great design: blade, handle, ergos, compression lock are all very well conceived, each the refined result of several years of design development in and across many different knives. However, its "execution" is a little below par compared to the dozen or so other Spydies I own or have owned. Most noticeable (but least significant) is the gritty opening that other folks have noted. Mine is caused by the blade tang rubbing against the clipside inner "lip" of the G10 just forward of the pivot pin (opposite the compression lock). The inner surface of the G10 is a hair higher than the nested liner, and I believe this is causing the friction. With a drop of Militec and a little wear, hopefully this will go away in a few days, as it has for some folks.

Less noticeable but perhaps more significant is the slight vertical (up-down) play when the blade is fully locked. It's not loose, but I can feel it give a little when I press down on the tractioned spine behind the Spydie hole, or on the blade directly. Due to the nature of the compression lock, I'm not worried about it failing; but I'm surprised nonetheless. This is also my first compression lock Spydie; is this slight "give" under pressure common and/ or a result of the compression lock's design?

Finally, just out of curiosity: Given the excellent, robust size of the handle, does anyone know why Spyderco (Sal?) decided on a 3-1/8" blade length, and not a little longer? Perhaps I'm overlooking something, but it appears as if the pivot pin, stop pin, and compression lock could have been moved up a little more, to allow for a slightly longer blade. Even a 1/4" more cutting edge would have been a welcome addition, I think. The more recessed pivot pin, as-is, may improve lateral stability for the open blade; but is there another reason for NOT having a slightly longer blade? (For example, is 3-1/8" a common legal limit across several states?)

Again, a brilliantly designed folder, one that may end "right up there" with the best. Looking forward to working/ playing with it over the next few weeks.

Thanks,
Glen
 
Glen,
I've carried mine for about 7 weeks now and I had noticed some similar problems that plague your knife. My lock up had very small amounts of vertical play and the knife felt a little bit gritty when opening/closing. However, I was relieved to find that the problems did disappear with use and time. The action is smooth as melted butter after a few repeated cleanings and oilings (I use Rem Oil) and the lock up is now tight as a drum. I suppose that it just worked itself in. As far as blade length, why go bigger? Any larger, then you would have the full sized Military. Personally, I had hoped for a sub 3" blade that would be legal in more areas than the 3 1/8" blade. The handle does seem large in proportion to the blade but it makes the knife feel even more substantial. After toting my Para- for the past few weeks, it makes my Calypso Jr feel small in hand and uncomfortable!
Matt
 
I'm glad to hear that the blade play cleared up because I'm picking up a plain edged Paramiliatry from Grand Prairie Knives next week.
 
Anthony,
For what it's worth, got my para military a week ago. Mine is smooth opening. Has a nice audible click when locked open, with absolutly no blade play, in any direction.
 
The bladeplay on mine is just like storyvilles. I've had my paramilitary for about 3 weeks now and it doenst look like its going away. I am probably going to send it back to spyderco soon to have it fixed. I don't remember if mine was gritty when I got it. If it was gritty, the grittiness was minor. The action now is smooth.
 
I have a Lil Temp and a Para. None of the Compression locks have play, they are solid. I like Compression locks.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I'm not sure how the vertical blade play could go away, since it appears to be caused by a lock bar that doesn't settle fully or snugly into the space between the stop pin (above) and the blade tang (below). The lock bar can get smaller, hypothetically, but it can't get bigger. I'll work/play with it for a few days, then contact Spyderco if it continues to bother me.

Jazzman, RE blade length: just a matter of preference. I like the "leaf" shaped blade for every day use, but one consequence of the design's shallow belly is a shorter cutting edge than on a blade of comparable length with more belly (e.g., a drop pt or even clip pt a la Buck Mayo). As the Paramillie handle is easily robust enough to provide control for a slightly longer blade, I would have liked to have seen ~3-1/8" of actual cutting edge, instead of its current 2-7/8". But this isn't a big issue, more of an "I wish" issue.

Glen
 
Storyville,
I had the grittyness, not the locking though. If you look closely and the blade tang it's a ramp shape similar to the millie liner lock. In theory the decreasing space between the ramp and the stop pin should make it solid. Maybe you don't have a well formed ramp or an obstruction preventing it to seat well.
As for the rest of it. I love the handle size to blade ratio. If I had wanted a larger blade I'd be carrying the military. I also prefer the handle thinness compared to the Lil' Temp.
My 2cents US.
Chris
 
storyville,
You should send it back to Sypderco. There is no reason you should have play in your blade. I can understand waiting to see if it will open more smoothly with use, but the blade play is not going to get better. Let them make it right for you.
 
I'd just like to make a small note here, the passaround ATR is back at Spyderco for the same problem. If your requirement is ZERO blade play, you may want to state that explicitly in your note.

In the past when the ATR was returned from warranty it came back better, but not totally fixed.

If you mention it expicitly, you may save yourself a headache later.
 
My Paramilitary has a barely noticeable amount of vertical "shift" under pressure.
Since the compression lock is still new to me, I play with the Para alot, and am constantly looking at the lockup, checking for blade play, and stuff like that. From looking at how the lock works, it seems like whatever tiny amount of play is in there now might well go away as the liner wears in.
Guess time will tell.
Overall, I'm really liking this lock...
 
I have been hot to get myself a Paramilitary, but have yet to locate one. I would appreciate an email about what online sources are reliable, have a good price, and are in-stock.

About the lockup of compression locks. I have one compression lock right now (well, two of the same knife): the Centofante Vesuvius. Prior to buying the knife, I had read that there were some blade-play problems. I bought it anyway, figuring that my affinity for the knife's aesthetics would override such minor problems, and also that I could tighten the knife up to alleviate them. Tightening did alleviate a minor sideways blade-play, but there is still a small vertical play.

This vertical play seems to come from the lock bar not moving to its deepest set on the initial opening of the knife. So when I open it using my thumb in the hole, once the blade locks I put thumb pressure toward the closing direction, then up into the lock-open direction. This seems to give the lock bar some space to "wiggle" and set itself a tiny bit deeper, and the blade is then firmly in place.

Is it possible that the Paramilitary problems you're experiencing (they sound somewhat ubiquitous, which worries me, since I was hoping that my future P.M. would become my favorite knife) could be alleviated by using this 'double-opening' technique?

P.S. My two Vesuvius' both have problems with the blade edge contacting the last spacer when the knife is closed! (Flattening of the edge was occuring!) I had to take the knife apart and carefully use a Dremel grinder to carve a groove in that one spacer to make room for the blade to be seated when closed!)

-Jeffrey
 
PJ,
For getting one. Check new graham knives. I believe that the PE are back in stock (SE's still in stock). Prices are good and Customer Service equal to Spyderco. If you want another Spyderco compression lock that works like a tank check out the Lil' Temp.
Chris
 
Just got my Para Military today - has a slight amount of vertical blade play as well. May keep it for a while to see if it gets better - not sure if it warrants a return or not.
 
Uh, that sucks. The Para would have been the perfect replacement for my beloved Delica, but any blade play on a folder in that price range is not acceptable. What's up Spyderco? Failing locks (aren't they "heavy duty" or even MBC?) on the Dodo, blade play on the Para, service problems - I hope Spyderco will sort things out.
 
Have you tried putting a drop or two of gun oil on the locking ramp? My gunting locks up rock solid with a drop of lube on the ramp. About once every two weeks, it will start to get a teensy bit of blade play, another drop and it is fine again.

Clinton
 
tungsten said:
Uh, that sucks. The Para would have been the perfect replacement for my beloved Delica, but any blade play on a folder in that price range is not acceptable. What's up Spyderco? Failing locks (aren't they "heavy duty" or even MBC?) on the Dodo, blade play on the Para, service problems - I hope Spyderco will sort things out.
Click to expand...

What's this about failing locks on the Dodo? I just ordered one from another forumite -- seems like a cool knife and the pics someone posted of the disassembled lock make it seem very reliable. What kind of failure are you talking about, and is it well known, and is it widespread among specimens or in just one or two knives?

-Jeffrey
 
 
Peaceful Jeffery,
You can probably find it in the threads that tungsten posted but if the lock on your dodo does fail, you can fix it by filing away some of the metal on the blade that makes contact with the ball. The problem is that the balls on some dodos are not clearing the tang. You just need to remove some metal to allow the ball to move further forward. Hope this makes sense.
 
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