Side-to-side play in Wally World Natives

tradja

tradja

Joined
Feb 10, 2006
Messages
1,176
Like so many knoobs here, I'm looking for my first nice EDC. I went to Wally World to handle the $40 Natives, and much to my surprise, the blade in three different Natives had noticeable side-to-side play. I was surprised, compared to the rock-solid, no-wiggle lockup of other basic EDC candidates I've handled recently (Grip, Minigrip, M16, even Kershaw Leeks).

I want to like the Native, but is this play normal in a Wally World Native? In Natives generally? In FRN handles generally? :confused:
 
Generally speaking no, every Spyderco knife I've held has remarkable lockup. None of them had enough play to bother mentioning.

I knew something like this was gonna happen w/ Wal-Mart. I'm sure Spyderco has had to drop the quality to fit into Wal-Marts budget of a ton of knives at low prices. I didn't think a company like Spyderco would do something like that, I guess I was wrong.

I wont turn this into the ever popular Wal-Mart debate, but I'll just say I saw this comming miles away.
 
TFin04 said:
Generally speaking no, every Spyderco knife I've held has remarkable lockup. None of them had enough play to bother mentioning.

I knew something like this was gonna happen w/ Wal-Mart. I'm sure Spyderco has had to drop the quality to fit into Wal-Marts budget of a ton of knives at low prices. I didn't think a company like Spyderco would do something like that, I guess I was wrong.

I wont turn this into the ever popular Wal-Mart debate, but I'll just say I saw this comming miles away.
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Agreed.

I've seen this crap happen many times before, however it is especially worse when the company doesn't change the name/model number for the inferior product.
 
Probably just needs the pivot screw adjusted. Take a driver next time you go and see if they'll let you tweak the pivot. If that fixes it, you're good to go.

Phil
 
It seemed like a plain rivet, not a hex or torx screw like on other knives I've been looking at.

Disappointing, to say the least! Another day, when there isn't such a cranky guy working, I'm gonna ask to handle ALL of them.
 
How much blade play are we talking about? Strictly speaking, every single one of my folders has lateral blade play from my dragonfly to my minigrip to my yojimbo. Some more than others, but every folder has a little play if you're being anal about it.
 
Side play as you feel it shifted or side play as it flexed? Flexed is reasonable, cause there is only so much material mating for the handle to grip the blade tang. My CRKT Point Guard and Victorinox SAK has no side blade play (shifting) but if I use enough force, there will be flexing play.
 
You can tap the pivot pin on the FRN models with a hammer lightly to tighten them up and reduce or eliminate play. Be careful, however, because tapping too hard can ruin the knife.

Almost every Spyderco lock back I own save the Chinook II has slight play, and I own over ten of them. I think it's a low to mid quality lock back thing, myself.

However, none of my non lock back Spydercos save the Paramilitary have any play at all.
 
I bought two Wal-Mart Natives before Christmas, and they were/are perfect. There is no play whatsoever.
 
tradja said:
Another day, when there isn't such a cranky guy working, I'm gonna ask to handle ALL of them.
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LOL good luck with that one. I had the same experience when I went to take a look at the Native. The crazy old made acted like I was nuts when I wanted to see a different one, he said "they are all the same knife I can't open another one up". So I just walked away never to look again! :confused:
 
If you think the problem is with Wal-Mart Natives, order a Native III on-line.

For what it's worth, none of my lockback Spydies (non of my Spydies for that matter) has any blade play.
 
I have a wally-world native and a native III. Both are/were perfect.
 
Drove 40 miles to a Walmart that had them. Bought the 2 they had and is perfect in evry way!!I do not think Spyderco skimped in any way to make the Walmart native.If I remember right. Mr Glesser( owner of Spyderco) commented on this.:thumbup:
 
I'd rather pay more from a good local shop then shop at Wal-Mart. Different strokes I guess. I just hate Wal-Mart.
 
I bought two Natives at Wal-Mart. None of them had any blade play. Everything was great, except blade chipping. One I returned and second I was able to fix, thanks to Cliff for advice.
R
 
I have bought 3 Walmart natives and have given 2 away as gifts....they all turned out fine. After slight use mine has had some up and down play but its a lockback so I somewhat expect it.
 
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