Side to side blade play?

[Lapedog]

I've noticed it on a few of my knives including an old Schrade lockback and a fairly new bearing washer framelock. I tightened the pivot on the framelock and it helped but didn't eliminate it.

Besides triggering my OCD/being a minor annoyance, are there any functional/operational issues that could result from minor side to side blade play?

Also be aware that there is a difference between side to side play, which is caused by looseness and a little side to side flex. Alot of knives, particularly ones with plastic type washers tend to experience a little side to side flex if you try hard enough. On many knives that little bit of flex seems to be caused by the pivot not fitting 100% exactly into its holes, and if you pinch the pivot while you exert side to side flex you will feel the pivot moving. A little flex is definitely not something to worry about.

Often times on knives that force me to choose I will be ok with a tiny bit of side to side in exchange for a better action. I even have one knife I love so much that I ignore the tiny bit of side to side play (caused by looseness)

Side to side play when minor is more of a nuissance. Up and down play seem to be alot more of a big deal.

 

[AJR576]

Also be aware that there is a difference between side to side play, which is caused by looseness and a little side to side flex. Alot of knives, particularly ones with plastic type washers tend to experience a little side to side flex if you try hard enough. On many knives that little bit of flex seems to be caused by the pivot not fitting 100% exactly into its holes, and if you pinch the pivot while you exert side to side flex you will feel the pivot moving. A little flex is definitely not something to worry about.

Often times on knives that force me to choose I will be ok with a tiny bit of side to side in exchange for a better action. I even have one knife I love so much that I ignore the tiny bit of side to side play (caused by looseness)

Side to side play when minor is more of a nuissance. Up and down play seem to be alot more of a big deal.

Yes, I've owned a few knives that used synthetic washers so I'm familiar with flex versus play. What I'm referring to is play, albeit, very minor.

 

[Lapedog]

Yes, I've owned a few knives that used synthetic washers so I'm familiar with flex versus play. What I'm referring to is play, albeit, very minor.

Very minor play is, imho, mainly just a nuissance. I’ve never had a knife I had an issue using because of a little bit of side to side play.

 

[AJR576]

Very minor play is, imho, mainly just a nuissance. I’ve never had a knife I had an issue using because of a little bit of side to side play.

I didn't think that it would be since I use my folders for role appropriate tasks and don't abuse them / intentionally push them past their limits...just always prefer tight tolerances, etc...especially in a more expensive / $400+ mid-tech. I'm waiting to hear back from the maker to see what he says.

 

[Lapedog]

I didn't think that it would be since I use my folders for role appropriate tasks and don't abuse them / intentionally push them past their limits...just always prefer tight tolerances, etc...especially in a more expensive / $400+ mid-tech. I'm waiting to hear back from the maker to see what he says.

Which knife is it, if you don’t mind me asking?

 

[AJR576]

Which knife is it, if you don’t mind me asking?

I'd like to give the maker a chance to address it privately since it's likely a one off/isolated instance and I don't want to create any unnecessary bad press for him.

 

[Wowbagger]

Not quite true. You can use a cushioned mallet on pinned folders, such as the 110, and tighten them up. My old 110 has a tiny bit of play, if it ever got severe enough to have any real impact on use, I’d do the above.

Thank you !
I spit my orange juice on my key board when I read whitty's post.

 

[Wowbagger]

THE PARA 2'S ARE JUST FLAT-OUT GREAT KNIVES. FEW (MY SLYSZ BOWIE?) CAN APPROACH THEIR QUALITY.

THE 710'S ARE VERY NICE FOLDERS...HAD SIX OR MORE, INCLUDING M390. FACTORY LITERATURE (OWNERS MANUAL) CLEARLY STATES (SMALL PRINT) THAT THIS KOOL KNIFE BE CARRIED IN THE POCKET IN A BAGGIE WITH CRUSHED ICE.

ROFLMAO
Ohhhhh ! ! !
I missed that.
Although some have said I'm so cool I could carry a slab of beef in me for a week.
I think they were just pulling my palmwrangler though.

 

[Stutary12]

Very minor play is, imho, mainly just a nuissance. I’ve never had a knife I had an issue using because of a little bit of side to side play.

I agree. But I can never get it out of my head.

 

[marrenmiller]

This discussion got me really curious.
So, the only late lockup liner lock I own is my Emerson. Like that is a suprise

To induce side to side play I took out the pivot bolt and washers. With the blade held in place by the bolt sleeve and lock I tried to get the lock tab to slide off either side. No dice,and I torqued hard. The body spread a bit but the lock didn't slip.

Doesn't prove much. But satisfied my curiosity.

Interesting.

I would imagine that with a load on the spine and the pivot in the blade, you might see failures. I'm not going to try it as I generally discard or return all my knives where the locks act up in any way, haha

 

[jumpstat]

My griptillian develops bladeplay and thats and indication for me to service it. There will be lint, grime etc and when it is cleared, lubed and put back together it would be just fine. My worst bladeplay was on my SmF which I sold off a few years back. It was a Gen2 and I really used it alot. It came to a point that due to wear and tear, it had issues with worn lock face, pivots holes and washers. Unfortunately I am overseas and not in the US and is thus troublesome to send it in for some TLC.