SAK problem?

[wardcleaver]

I just got around to checking out my new One Hand Trekker and noticed a lot of vertical blade play in the main blade. Seems to have at least 1/16" of rock, measured at the tip. Seems excessive, but this is my 1st SAK, so I don't know what kind of quality to expect.

Typical?

 

[Alberta Ed]

That's unusual; mine have always been very tight, whether Victorinox or Wenger (both now owned by the same company). Take it back.

 

[James Y]

If your One-Hand Trekker is like my one-hand Soldier model (and my old Victorinox two-hand Trailmaster), the locking liner is meant as a safety in addition to the backspring tension (which most liner locks do not have). My Soldier and Trailmaster have a tiny bit of play in the locked position. In this way, it's more like the old-time liner locks like my old (1970s) Schrade folding hunter (which had a backspring and a similar type of liner locking mechanism, only made of brass), which also has a tiny bit of vertical wiggle. Same with some of the old-time electrician's knives. Unlike a standard liner lock, the liner itself is not the only thing that's holding the blade in the open position; it's just there to help ensure that if the blade somehow overcomes the spring tension during use, it doesn't close on you. So, IMO, a tiny bit of play in this design is not unusual.

Jim

 

[The Zieg]

Mine, too. It's a small bit of movement, but unlike any other locking knife I have. It's part of their design so that the lock engages fully and disengages without undue effort. Victorinox steel is softer than most pocketknives and the wider tolerance in the lock reduces the wear on those surfaces.

I use my OHO Trekker daily on the farm and it has given me (I think) four years of trouble free use. Boxes, hay bales, grain bags, wood, plastic, even a rabbit. The movement of the blade is the same as the day I got it and the liner lock is secure. Don't worry, yours is correct. Use it in good health!

Zieg

 

[vwb563]

All my Trekkers have a small amount of vertical play when they're in the locked open position. It's normal and just part of the design.

 

[jackknife]

If your One-Hand Trekker is like my one-hand Soldier model (and my old Victorinox two-hand Trailmaster), the locking liner is meant as a safety in addition to the backspring tension (which most liner locks do not have). My Soldier and Trailmaster have a tiny bit of play in the locked position. In this way, it's more like the old-time liner locks like my old (1970s) Schrade folding hunter (which had a backspring and a similar type of liner locking mechanism, only made of brass), which also has a tiny bit of vertical wiggle. Same with some of the old-time electrician's knives. Unlike a standard liner lock, the liner itself is not the only thing that's holding the blade in the open position; it's just there to help ensure that if the blade somehow overcomes the spring tension during use, it doesn't close on you. So, IMO, a tiny bit of play in this design is not unusual.

Jim

This. Mark it off as the nature of the beast. You've got the backspacing holding it open under normal use like a slip joint, with the lock being there in case of a gross operator error.

 

[wardcleaver]

Thanks for all your advice. I guess I'll put an edge on it and do a little whittling and see how it does.

 

[scottyj]

My brand new Camo Trekker has the little up and down thing going on, but is rock solid side to side. Like vwb563 said....it's all part of the design.

 

[Chucktabulous]

If your One-Hand Trekker is like my one-hand Soldier model (and my old Victorinox two-hand Trailmaster), the locking liner is meant as a safety in addition to the backspring tension (which most liner locks do not have). My Soldier and Trailmaster have a tiny bit of play in the locked position. In this way, it's more like the old-time liner locks like my old (1970s) Schrade folding hunter (which had a backspring and a similar type of liner locking mechanism, only made of brass), which also has a tiny bit of vertical wiggle. Same with some of the old-time electrician's knives. Unlike a standard liner lock, the liner itself is not the only thing that's holding the blade in the open position; it's just there to help ensure that if the blade somehow overcomes the spring tension during use, it doesn't close on you. So, IMO, a tiny bit of play in this design is not unusual.

Jim

I, too, have an old Schrade folding hunter with a liner lock and there is definitely up and down blade wiggle.
Doesn't bother me a bit, it takes a very deliberate action to disengage the lock.
It's a very safe knife, IMHO.

 

[A.L.]

Liner lock on large SAKs are not really meant to be like typical liner locks. They are more like extra safety for the slip joint mechanism of the knife. So basically it’s slipjoint with liner. It’s normal.