slipjoint blade movement laterally

[HSC ///]

when a slipjoint is completed and there is blade play laterally (side-to-side), what is the practical impact of that? let's say in terms of long term actual use.

thanks
Harbeer

 

[kuraki]

My experience with any folder that has lateral play, is a small amount has very little effect in use, and the effect is mostly in how accurate it will cut. The worse it gets, the more accuracy degrades and at a certain point, I believe actually puts the blade at risk of being broken/damaged in use that may not have occurred if there was little to no lateral play. The example for that would be unexpected lateral stress in a cut, the slop allowing momentum to generate in the opposite direction, when the users cutting force is allowed to travel over center of the blade, and then the hard stop when the blade is moved to the other extreme limit of allowable play.

I've not had that happen, but it's the scenario I had in the back of my head when using a relatively loose knife.

My dad dressed I don't know how many deer with an Old Timer slip joint that had, at least in later years, a fair amount of play, and it never really resulted in any issue.

That's the practical side. I tend to think limiting play by reducing clearances and working to tighter tolerances is one of the differentiating characteristics between a custom and production knife. Though clever production and design has maybe closed that gap over the last decade.

 

[Don Hanson III]

Not much impact on use, but is seen as a quality issue.

 

[HSC ///]

P.S. this inquiry pertains to a knife I just purchased and received, not one I made
It's just always awkward to go back to the maker and say something, so I'm trying to figure out if I should say something or just be quiet and use it.

 

[kuraki]

I guess the two things there for me would be first, how much, and second, user or collector? But I understand your feelings about it. I can hardly bring myself to send a steak back even if it's been cooked into a brick.

 

[Don Hanson III]

A tiny bit of side to side play is acceptable.

 

[HSC ///]

I guess the two things there for me would be first, how much, and second, user or collector? But I understand your feelings about it. I can hardly bring myself to send a steak back even if it's been cooked into a brick.

well I had this $50 NY steak Friday night and it was just "ok"

 

[HSC ///]

A tiny bit of side to side play is acceptable.

well I just took another look and now I can see the blade is bent, not straight
I think that's actually worse than the side to side play.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I am assuming it is a new knife, made by the seller. It sounds like you need to be in contact with the seller and return the knife.

If it is a used, or collection knife, you still may be able to return it, but some sales are final.

 

[HSC ///]

I am assuming it is a new knife, made by the seller. It sounds like you need to be in contact with the seller and return the knife.

If it is a used, or collection knife, you still may be able to return it, but some sales are final.

it's new made by the seller, yes I understand I need to contact the seller.
again it's just awkward and I guess I was trying to avoid having to do that....

 

[Busto]

From a makers view point I would never let one out of the shop that has obvious finish problems. Either the maker has so much on his plate that the quality control allows a unit to slip by or there are bigger issues with disregard for the finished product. One Bad unit leads to Two and if the buyer does not question the quality then the builder may just consider them Good enough since no one is pointing out the Flaws. If the maker is worth his Salt he should thank you for catching the problem and take the knife back for refund or replacement...The Right Way to do Business.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

It should not be awkward. If there is an issue, the seller would normally want to make it right. He will either repair it or repace it, ... or refund your money.

Delaying contacting him can complicate the issue, as one would normally contact the seller immediately if there was a problem when the knife arrived.

 

[Busto]

Good Call Stacy....The sooner the better that way the maker can't call "Foul" by saying the blade has been used.

I have a Build Sheet that I refer to for every knife and on there are my notes for Materials and Inspection. A buyer would never know that I scraped a blade that did not meet specifications. I check my boxes at each step of the build to make sure I did not miss an inspection and feel confident that when the item is boxed it will meet or exceed the customers expectations.