That's odd. Without washers in it, I'd expect there to be insane amounts of blade play since the pivot area should be too loose. Did you send return the knife to the seller or send it in to Buck or anything?
i have a few vantages and just threw it in the wood tool chest that has my other bucks in it. some of the vantages i have are great and some not so great. for whatever reason the select's seem to have better quality control than the avid or pro models. i love the shape of the blade and the hole in the blade,i love the shape of the handle/scales and the location of where the pocket clip is. but i gave up on the vantage line. now i look to other knife brands with similar features now unfortunately. if buck would have every vantage put out be exactly the same fit and finish i would stick with them but they lost on this one. i have six vantages and each one varies with fit and finish. i am also a buck collector's club member 2199. so i'm still a buck fan. but i'll just keep these in my collection i guess. i have a paradigm and that thing is great. i wish the fit and finish of the vantages was on the same page as the paradigm. but if everyone else is happy with them then thats great.