Spyderco Native 5 Vertical Blade Play

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Krissig12

Joined
Sep 11, 2013
Messages
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I just got a native 5 and I'm really not too impressed. It's my first higher end spyderco and it's been nothing but problems. First, it was very tight and when i tried to oil it, it seized up and got super gritty. Then, after one of the mods on here helped me resolve the issue (thanks btw), I found another significant problem. When I went to cut into a price of wood, I realized that something wasn't right, so I tried again and realized I could feel the backlock button rocking up and down in my palm as I cut. It turned out that it was slight vertical blade play and that the movement of the blade was being transferred to the lock bar. This kinda ticked me off since I had payed around $130 for the knife and had heard nothing but good things about the lockup.
So I went searching for answers on the forums and eventually found someone with the same issue on another forum. Everyone either said that it was normal for back locks to have vert blade play or that they should send it in to spyderco. However one person mentioned that you could fix it by tightening the screw behind the pivot screw. So I tried it. But the problem was that while it eliminated the play, it made the detent completely nonexistent and made it impossible for the blade to swing freely when the lock was depressed.
Overall I'm not to happy with lock backs. If anyone could offer any suggestions, I would really appreciate it. I'm not to keen on sending it in because I'm afraid it's normal and I'll have to wait weeks just to get my knife back the same as I sent it.
Thanks in advance for any help
 
It sounds like you may have over tightened that screw a bit. Just as the pivot it's a very fine line between just right to too tight.
 
Tell me about it. Alright I tinkered with it for a while and I think I got it as close to perfect as I can. It now has very slight "lock rock" and still swings and had a detent. I'm happy with that. Now it's time to break out the loctite. :D
Thanks for the help
 
My native 5 is still really tight... I can't seem to get it to loosen up, and if I loosen the pivot screws any more, it'll create too much bladeplay. Any ideas?

I've tried giving it a wash, and oil, but it doesn't seem to help. :/
 
I have found that over time and use my native v has broken in and now the blade drops freely when the lock is disengaged. When new it didn't and would hang up. Instead of loosening everything, just keep it tight and it will break in as the parts wear.
 
Lockbacks often have a little vertical bladeplay. It doesn't bother me. If it bothers you I'd suggest getting a liner or frame lock.
 
Krissig12 said:
Tell me about it. Alright I tinkered with it for a while and I think I got it as close to perfect as I can. It now has very slight "lock rock" and still swings and had a detent. I'm happy with that. Now it's time to break out the loctite. :D
Thanks for the help
Click to expand...

The lock will have some slight movement in it. I've found it normal and it does not seem to impact the locking ability nor the cutting performance on any appreciable level. The movement was stated at some point to allow for self adjustment as the lock wears in. If there was no play it would be very difficult to engage and disengage the lock at all without some severe rubbing of the surfaces, most likely resulting in faster wear. The Native is one of my favorite knives, and I do own plenty of them and yes I do use them and have not had a problem with the knives cutting.

AF said:
Lockbacks often have a little vertical bladeplay. It doesn't bother me. If it bothers you I'd suggest getting a liner or frame lock.
Click to expand...

Fixed blades resolve this issue entirely.
 
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