Seller admiting to doing spine whack tests (as a selling point)...

I strongly disagree with your bolded statement. He can describe the condition of the knife all he wants, but he can't tell me things like the angle of the lockface to lock bar, or if the liner lock is slightly bent, or if forward pressure on the liner lock has been reduced from OEM. Condition descriptions can only go so far, beyond that you have to look at what the knife has been through.
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Then we agree. 'Cept maybe I'd say you have to look at the knife. I can't look at "what it's been through" or the story of what it's been through, all I can see is the knife. You buy the knife, not the story.

In this case the guy was upfront about the condition.

Ankerson's spine tap test may be a good bit different from some other fellas. I'd have to see the knife.

But I agree with you in general that "whack tests" aren't something I like to see my knives go through. I don't think there is a need.

tipoc
 
tipoc said:
STATEMENT A: I can't look at "what it's been through" or the story of what it's been through, all I can see is the knife. You buy the knife, not the story.

STATEMENT B: In this case the guy was upfront about the condition.

tipoc
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These are contradictory statements.
 
I'd avoid it.

A "Spine whack test" doesn't test lock strength. I'd say it doesn't test anything, except lock face to tang geometry, and that's a stretch.

The only way to test lock strength is direct, constant pressure on the blade spine, against the lock. Even that can be destructive.
 
The sky is blue, but sometimes it ain't. How's that for contradictory.

Sometimes a fella can give you an accurate verbal description of a knife.

Sometimes people don't.

So in general it's best to look at the knife.

In your case the fella gave you a description of the knife (he told you he "whacked it" and the blade had side to side play) and based on his verbal description you want no part of it. OK, story over.

If the above seems contradictory it's because sometimes things are.

You wanta argue about that?

tipoc
 
I think this is one of those "too good to be true" moments, in regards to the price.

Edit: Just realized you already passed on the "deal". The above still stands though.
 
A spine whack and pounding the spine on a hard surface are two different things. I can spine whack my SAK hard enough to dent wood without the slip joint giving in, so I highly doubt the same thing would hurt a quality folder. A good folding knife is not made of glass. You people get far too finicky about them. I give every folder I have a few firm taps to make sure everything is set right, and it's never caused any play or issues.
 
J85909266 said:
A spine whack and pounding the spine on a hard surface are two different things. I can spine whack my SAK hard enough to dent wood without the slip joint giving in, so I highly doubt the same thing would hurt a quality folder.
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I doubt it.... ;)

I have an SAK and a few other slip joints and they give in very easy, it doesn't take much to defeat them.
 
J85909266 said:
Okay, video incoming.
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That should be interesting to see them give and snap back into place... That is what they do most of the time because the spring gives then snaps the blade back.. ;)

But I can hit mine and case them to fail and hold easy with a snap of my wrist against wood.

The test is only valid on locking knives because there isn't any spring tension to hold the blade open once the lock is defeated.
 
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cj65 said:
No, not the spine whack thread! It is like a case of herpes. It keeps coming back, festering shanker that it is! Do not buy a whacked knife!

I did a spine whack test on the BF Sebenza pass around.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8152244&postcount=84

This resulted in a flesh wound to my spine. However the mole did not grow back. ;):D
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Fantastic review, CJ. All knives should be subjected to this battery of highly scientific tests. :thumbup:

I've got lemonade all over my monitor. You owe me a new keyboard. :D
 
Ankerson said:
That should be interesting to see them give and snap back into place... That is what they do most of the time because the spring gives then snaps the blade back.. ;)

But I can hit mine and case them to fail and hold easy with a snap of my wrist against wood.
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Well, mine must be stiffer than most because it doesn't give at all. Not sure how to prove it with a my crappy quality video, but here it is, with pics of the dents it left in my desk.


PICT5838.jpg
 
J85909266 said:
Well, mine must be stiffer than most because it doesn't give at all. Not sure how to prove it with a my crappy quality video, but here it is, with pics of the dents it left in my desk.


PICT5838.jpg
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I hit them a lot harder than that. :D

I snap my wrist when I do it. :D

Watch my video again and you will see. :)
 
Ankerson said:
I hit them a lot harder than that. :D

I snap my wrist when I do it. :D

Watch my video again and you will see. :)
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I'm sure you do, but my point was that what I was just doing is all the harder it needs to be to check the lock stability, and there is nothing detrimental about it. Spine whacking only becomes abuse when you go overboard.

I could whack the thing at least twice as hard and it wouldn't close, but my daughter is asleep behind me and I didn't want to be too loud.
 
J85909266 said:
I'm sure you do, but my point was that what I was just doing is all the harder it needs to be to check the lock stability, and there is nothing detrimental about it. Spine whacking only becomes abuse when you go overboard.

I could whack the thing at least twice as hard and it wouldn't close, but my daughter is asleep behind me and I didn't want to be too loud.
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I understand that. :)
 
Ankerson said:
I understand that. :)
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My initial post was directed to people that think a simple spine whack is going to destroy a knife, and that you should never, ever do it.

I just felt obligated to prove that I could dent wood with a SAK spine whack, since you called me out on it.
 
J85909266 said:
My initial post was directed to people that think a simple spine whack is going to destroy a knife, and that you should never, ever do it.

I just felt obligated to prove that I could dent wood with a SAK spine whack, since you called me out on it.
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Done correctly it doesn't hurt the knife, done too hard is abusing it. :thumbup:
 
Ankerson said:
It is a valid test for lock strength so show how strong the lock can be . . .
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I hear you; as a test of strength & quality, it's purpose is valid. My point (that I now realize that I didn't clarify) is why would people do it to a particular knife that they are using and/or selling. Doing it to a test piece, and being able to say "this pattern and lock type has passed a spine-whack test" (ie: Cold Steel) is fine; selling the actual knife that was tested is not right, AFAIC. Just my opinion.

michaelmcgo said:
There is a reason you don't do destructive tests on things you use.
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That's what I was meaning to say. :thumbup:

thx - cpr
 
I was in a gun store looking at a .357 mag revolver. The sales guy, who wasn't even born when I bought my first revolver--a Ruger Security-Six--was standing behind the counter opening the cylinder and slamming it shut with a flick of his wrist. I was out of there and didn't come back.

If I want to treat equipment that way, fine, but I don't, and I don't want anyone else doing it with the mechanical devives I want to buy.
 
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