Spec Bump blade play. Normal?

[Matador]

I recently got a Kershaw Spec Bump S30V in a trade and am really diggin' it! There is some blade play both up and down and side to side and I would like to know if this is normal with the Spec Bump and with AO's in general.
Understanding there was a previous owner and wear might be a factor, I traveled down to the local Brick and Mortar and sampled the demo model in the case and it also had similar blade play, but factoring in the numerous times it had been opened also I decided it was not the best example either. They only had the one so I could not compare it to one NIB. I did tighten up the pivot screw and it didn't seem to do all that much. This is my first Kershaw and first long term AO so any advice is appreciated. If this is indeed the norm, than I'm good to go! Thanks for any and all responses!

Happy Holidays,
Matador-

 

[HoB]

No, that is not normal. The side-to-side play is probably due to the pivot not being tight enough. The previous owner might have loosened the pivot to make the AO faster, but the Spec Bump has PB washers and it should be no problem to tighten down the pivot to a point where there is no play and the AO still operates smoothly (it might lose a little bit of speed though). The up-down play is not normal at all. The studlock should lock up rock solid. At least mine does and I don't see why it shouldn't. On a lockback, a little bit of play is normal as the mating surfaces are not exactly parallel on purpose, so the lock can "rock" back and forth a little bit, but on the studlock the stud should simply slid up the ramp, end of story. I would propose to post in the Kershaw forum and ask politely, if ThomasW would be willing to take a look at it. I am sure he or one of his guys would be happy to. They will be able to tell whether there is a real problem or if it just needs a little bit of a tune up.

 

[tirod3]

Having tightened up the pivot and gotten no major improvement, and sampling two used knives, the logical conclusion is that the knife will get bladeplay. All knife materials will suffer wear and increase the amount of looseness between parts. None are permanently durable.

While Kershaw may warrant a second hand used knife, is it fair to ask when you paid for used?

Having knives for 35 years, I can assure you they all have and will get bladeplay given regular use. Only unused safe queens stay tight.

There is a comparison there between knives and wives . . .

 

[Matador]

Thanks guys for all the input. I reworked it a bit and it still has a few problems. I'll send it off to Kershaw to see what they say. I'm still a fan and if I can get this thing right, its gonna be a hella cool knife!

Matador-