spyderco endura 4 have any blade play?

I've carried my ffg endura pretty consistently for about a year and have not touched the pivot screw once. There is still no side-to-side blade play, and the only vertical blade play is if i'm really pressing down on the blade, even then it's a very tiny amount of play. As gronk said, keep that notch clean, it definitely helps.
 
I had an Endura-4 sabre grind that devopled a crazy amount of play in every direction after continued heavy use. I've never handled an Endura without play, personally.

I've got a used Police-3 and with pivot tight, it has "no" detectable play. With the pivot on the looser side (how it probably should be), there is some side to side play, but it remains solid edge to spine. I also had a Chinook-2 that had no detectable play, but I never used it for anything serrious.

My general experience with lock-backs is that they usually have some play even when new. I think those with Enduras or other lower-end lock-backs that have no play are the exception, and that some play should be expected.
Personally, I can't stand blade-play, and am willing to sacrifice easy of openning to eliminate when/if possible.
 
Siggy, That's what I've found as well. My Police 3's, Chinooks and similar pieces are all rock solid even after some pretty rough use. But literally every Endura I've ever had or handled over the years (probably 40) has had some form of blade play. I imagine it's likely due to the FRN handle and tolerance stacking and is normal with those versions, since I don't recall having the issue with the stainless steel handle versions.
Thankfully my Enduras have never suffered lock failures, and hold even with moderate spine whackin'.
 
Just fiddled with mine and I didn't notice any appreciable blade play. Love the endura 4, by the way.
 
DBZ220 said:
Siggy, That's what I've found as well. My Police 3's, Chinooks and similar pieces are all rock solid even after some pretty rough use. But literally every Endura I've ever had or handled over the years (probably 40) has had some form of blade play. I imagine it's likely due to the FRN handle and tolerance stacking and is normal with those versions, since I don't recall having the issue with the stainless steel handle versions.
Thankfully my Enduras have never suffered lock failures, and hold even with moderate spine whackin'.
Click to expand...

I think that it bothered me about the Endura because I expected more from Spyderco. I didn't expect vertical flex when pressing down the blade. I in no way abuse my folders but I do expect them to do at least moderate work without flexing or feeling loose. My Ka-Bar Mule, old C95 Manix, CS Rajah 2 etc. haven't been molly coddled and they are rock solid.
IMG_3799.jpg

IMG_3765.jpg
 
crom said:
My spyderco lockbacks all had a wee bit of play out of box. FYI, the only lockback I've ever handled that had none at all is the new generation Recon 1 folder. I mean solid every which way.
Click to expand...

I actually just ordered the recon 1 2010 version!
 
I don't have the Endura4, but my delica ffg and stretch 2 has up down blade play ONLY when i press the blade spine down really hard. Out of curiosity, i used all my strength to push the blade spine down as much as i can a couple of times and it never failed.
 
Interesting thought. I own both versions of the CS American Lawman and both have been used for nasty work and sometimes abusive work. ( cleaning scale wells with several years of the foulest gunk you can imagine built up , general cutting , nicks in blade , scraping of stainless steel scale skirts , breaking down a huge installment worth of boxes made from heavy gauge cardboard, cutting branches to make a blind , digging around sprinkler heads in pebbly soil , clean scraping the filthy buildup under assmebly belts and so on.) my Mini is in my left pocket as I type. Neither one of the AL's have any bladeplay at all and lockup is tight as can be.
Seems to be it is all in materials used as opposed to design. G10 is far, far more sturdy than FRN and of course with a steel liner it is even sturdier.

Just thought I'd share my epiphany.

Tostig
 
My Delica 4 FFG has a bit of vertical lay after a lot of edc carry and use.
I went to my local knife shop and observed a G10 Endura the owner was carrying, and 3 FRN FFG ones.
All FRN ones had some, and the owner said his had been used hard up to the borderline of abuse.
So it may be due to the FRN, I dunno, but I can't imagine hard using my Delica 4 FFG.
 
Both my Endura4 and Delica4 have a little horizontal blade play (both the FFG blade w/ FRN handles). The Delica doesn't have vertical play, but the Endura has a little (really only noticeable if using a bit of force directly against the lock. Many of my FRN handled blades with thinner or no steel liners have a little horizontal play. I had simply attributed that to the slight flexibility of the FRN handles (vs. more rigid G10 or Micarta).
 
I had never detected any in my Endura 4, but after reading this thread I tested it and there's a little vertical blade play. But it's subtle and within my ability to tolerate. Again, it's just a reality of the lockback design. No side to side blade play, but then again I'm not going to yank it hard to try and find some.
 
I like to keep delica as loose as safely possible, and I love how it opens and closes smoothly (closes almost entirely by it's own weight). That developes bit bladeplay, but I still trust it plenty.
 
Tostig said:
If your Spyderco lockback has anything other than a steel or ti handle then it will develop blade play , it is a matter of time. I have never seen a FRN etc that did not have terrible blade play. The Endura will develop blade play with even moderate use.

I avoid them like they have germs.

Tostig
Click to expand...

:confused: I have a zytel endura 3 and a first gen. delica that have been used harder than probably any other knife I own and there is no bladeplay whatsoever in the delica and moderate up and down play in the endura. To say that they develop play with even moderate use is grossly innacurate. The above statement may be your opinion, but to claim it as a fact is absurd. The locks on either of mine have never failed under conditions that would probably be termed abuse.
 
DBZ220 said:
All my Endura 4's have blade play against the lock. Some more than others, with my Full Flat Grind models having the least. Several have been back to the factory and returned as they were supposedly "within tolerances". Even so, still bothers me, as lock play is a pet peeve of mine.
Click to expand...

Well I have mine sent in as I type this. I've seen three prior posts in this thread saying that their Enduras had no flex\slop. If I'm told that mine is within tolerance, Spyderco can keep it. I respect Spyderco and really like the Endura, but this back flexing click every time I use it moderately sends me up the wall.
 
I've owned 3 Endura's. None of them had any blade play at all. Just lucky I guess.
 
Pete1977 said:
:confused: I have a zytel endura 3 and a first gen. delica that have been used harder than probably any other knife I own and there is no bladeplay whatsoever in the delica and moderate up and down play in the endura. To say that they develop play with even moderate use is grossly innacurate. The above statement may be your opinion, but to claim it as a fact is absurd. The locks on either of mine have never failed under conditions that would probably be termed abuse.
Click to expand...

90% of the content on this site is opinion :) My opinion is not a jab against Spyderco at all , but it still stands that I have yet to see one of these models that has been used as intended that did not have moderate to severe wiggle-factor going on.

As the popular saying goes, your mileage may vary.

:)

Tostig
 
What is your definition of play? If you force on the blade and there is movement that's normal, but if it's clicking when you jiggle the thing out of the box, I wouldn't be happy with that. Maybe I can make my EDC click with a little muscle... nope.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top