side to side play normal on benchmade mini grip?

BrentD86

BrentD86

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Jul 27, 2012
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Hey those of you that know me on here know I usually stick to kershaw/ZT. The Benchmade Griptilian series was just raved about so much though I figured I would pick up a mini and check it out. Knife came with the blade grind a bit rough around the edges but I smoothed that out no problem on figured it would based on my research. What I was not counting on was that it has side to side play that I can't get rid of with the pivot screw (if I tighten it to the point of getting rid of it the blade no longer travels freely). Now it isn't enormous and I am used to a company where everything locks up like a vault so I wanted to know if a small amount was normal on these knives or not? Honestly not worth sending it back but if this is the norm it will be the last of this brand I ever purchase.
 
thats a bit odd, I myself own a benchmade mini grip, 2 full size grips and the BM bone collector and none have any play whatsoever, I think you were just a bit unlucky
 
I wouldn't consider side to side play in this knife normal. I've had more than one axis lock knife (a 710 and a 950) and they both locked up like a bank vault with zero play side to side or up and down.
 
Thank you for the input guys, maybe I will give a full size grip a shot in the future.... hahaha honestly if it wasn't for bad luck idk if I would have any at all.
 
sorry to hear you got a faulty benchmade, I love all mine, especially now that we can no longer import thumb hole/stud one handed opening knives due to Australias dumb knife import laws
 
I can't call It "faulty" as my definition of that is a serious problem hindering the function of the knife, this play is very small... honestly a normal person might not ever notice it but I uber inspect all my knives when I get them. I will carry it and use it as that is what I bought it for it's just minor annoyances to me that I was hoping not to get on my first knife from a brand. On the upside everything else on the knife is great, I love the ergonomics and do like the axis lock.
 
I have some side to side play in my Ritter Grip. None in my Rift or Bone Collector. I've considered adding a washer but haven't yet.
 
2 years ago I ordered 2 brand new mini ritters and 1 full size ritter. Both mini's were perfect. Smooth as silk opening with 0 blade play whatsoever. The large is exactly the opposite. For some reason the blade doesn't seem to be wide enough. I can actually see the gap in between both washers and the blade. This makes the opening very gritty and it has blade play unless the pivot is tight enough to keep the blade from moving at all. No idea how this one got past QC.
 
The last 4 axis lock based knives I've bought have had side-to-side play. I sent two in for repair, and they came back pretty much the same. Something changed with BM's tolerances, or there's a lot of out-of-spec parts being used. Someone on BF thought it might be out-of-spec stop pins.
 
I'm pretty anal about bladeplay and the 4x mini ritter grips and 3 regular mini grips I've owned over the past two years all had side to side play. I believe it has more to do with the flex in the FRN handles than actual blade play due to poor tolerances. It doesnt bother me one bit. My only gripe on axis lock benchmades are how easily the pivot screw comes loose after just a handful of opening/closings which leads to horrible blade play and scratched blades. You shouldnt have to completely rely on loctite to have a functional folder.
 
I'm on my 2nd Minigrip for EDC (gave the first one to a friend after carrying it for 5 yrs.) and have never had any of the problems mentioned here. I've had the current one for just over 2 years and just checked- no play.
 
It could be due to bronze washers: they should be more challenging in pivot- adjusting department. Keep to knives with nylon ones or just replace bronze washers: I think nylon washers should provide better adjustability.
 
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