Spyderco bladeplay

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benjaminw11

Joined
May 31, 2009
Messages
79
Hi,

I was just wondering what is your experiences with Spydercos. I love the looks, designs, and ergonomics of them, but every one I own and have tried has had terrible vertical bladeplay. I have only experienced their lockbacks, are their other locks better? Have I only encountered defective ones?

Thanks,

Ben
 
My Endura4 is pretty solid. It doesn't have side to side play, maybe if you press hard enough you'll get some flexing. There isn't any up and down play, unless you consider pressing the blade backwards and it moves only a little bit pushing the spring back.
 
Some vertical blade play on the lockbacks is normal and is in fact a design feature.
 
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nu3gawhat said:
My Endura4 is pretty solid. It doesn't have side to side play, maybe if you press hard enough you'll get some flexing. There isn't any up and down play, unless you consider pressing the blade backwards and it moves only a little bit pushing the spring back.
Click to expand...

That, to me, defines vertical blade play. I guess all lockbacks have it, but some have it worse than others.

There's a definite "click" and vertical travel on both of my current Delicas when I go to cut something. My Caly 3 locked up with nearly no vertical play.

And honestly, vertical play was the major reason I sold the Native IV I had. It just irked me that a knife of that caliber had very noticeable vertical travel, where compared to a knife in about the same price/quality of build bracket (the Caly 3) it really should have next to none.

Actually, this thread reminds me, I really need to get around to purchasing a CF/ZDP Caly 3... :p
 
I hate vertical play:( Much prefer liner locks and such these days. My last few Spyderco purchases have been Military, Sage, and Tenacious.
 
The only one spyderco lock back knife that I have that has absolutely no vertical blade,that's the Tasman.Being how this knife's blade is riveted, there is of coarse a bit of horizontal blade play but that's totally acceptable.
 
I've owned around a dozen or so Spyderco folders over the years, and never noticed any particular problem with blade play, horizontal or vertical.
 
Currently have 3 lockbacks and one liner lock, never any problems with any of them. Even my least expensive Byrd Cara Cara has proven to be a extremely capable, heavy duty knife with no blade play whatsoever. Only the highest quality!:thumbup:
 
I had a caly 3 with some vertical play. Gave it away since blade play drives me nuts. On cheap knives i dont care so much but as my edc it drives me crazy. I too love spyderco but i think a knife of that price point shouldnt have significant play.
 
Most of my Spyderco lockbacks have a little blade play - some more than others.

It doesn't bother me too much as I know that the lock is still safe. My models are relatively inexpensive FRN lightweight knives. It would bother me if I was to spend a lot of money on a knife and it had blade play.
 
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I have an older Police model (G-10 scales/saber ground ATS-55 blade) that I've carried and used for years and it's pretty solid, just the slightest hint of side motion after all this time.
 
Most of mine have vertical play. Honestly I don't notice it until someone mentions it. The knives work just fine.
 
I have a few Spyderco knives and really haven't noticed any play in either direction. I would imagine you could get one new that might have passed into sales that shouldn't have or one used that someone used as a wood chopper and loosened it but mine are great.

I use to worry about blade play but don't anymore. I realize the limitations of a cutting device and don't use it for much other than to cut something.
I also bought a Sog Aegis and it has lots of vertical and a bit of side to side play in but it's still a great cutter with a fantastic flat ground blade. So after experiencing "blade play" on that spring assisted knife everything else is "cake walk tight."
Buy one of those and there shouldn't be anymore worries about play in knives. ;)
 
I wonder if this also has something to do with how each of of defines blade play. For me, if I can grab the blade between my thumb and forefinger and wiggle it in the handle, that's what I consider blade play. On the other hand, I don't consider it blade play if I get a bit of flex in the lock up when I am bearing down as hard as I can cutting through some tough material. IMO that's just a fact of life with folding knives. If it bothered me that much I would just stick to fixed blades. ;)
 
I carry and use every day Spydercos lockbacks for more then three years. I do not have any noticeable bladeplay in any of them.
 
All mine are fine.

I've noticed over the years that "bladeplay" actually has little to do with how much the knife blade moves and a lot to do with how the user understands and perceives how folders and locking systems work.
 
try posting in the spyderco subforum here at bf. you may get better expert advice. also sal may chime in.
 
I have used exactly one Spyderco, and still have it. It is a much used and abused original Native lockback, which I have had for many years. It has become my rough use folder, carried when doing yard work, projects, etc. I have broken and reprofiled the tip, and the partial serrations are about half gone due to use and sharpening.

After all this, it has zero blade play. None.
 
Nearly all my lockbacks (spyderco and non) have a little vert. play, but it doesnt bother me. In fact, I believe it makes the overall lockup stronger.
 
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