Upon receiving my Para 2, I noticed a little blade play side-to-side. I took the knife apart, cleaned it really well, put a drop of loctite on each screw and aligned the blade perfectly center...but the blade play is still there. Does anyone else that owns a Para 2 have blade play side-to-side? Should it be a concern? It's definitely not to the point where it feels like the blade is gonna fall out, but when you wiggle the blade from side-to-side, it is definitely there. Opinions are welcome, solutions even more!!!!!!!!!
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Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Blade Play?
- Thread starter Nick15
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Yes, mine came the other day with SLIGHT blade play. You didn't have to take the whole thing apart. What I did was tighten the pivot screw, put some oil on the blade, and it was rock solid. Sometimes, a little blade play is OK. But when you can move the blade back and forth, you have an issue.
Ya, I didn't think it was a necessity to take it apart either, but mine came a bit dirty....anyways... The blade play is most definitely slight. I have already tightened it as much as I feel comfortable doing, so I don't think there's much more to do than that.....
I did notice that if it was ever so slightly off center that the blade was 100% solid, but this blade play really isn't bad at all and close to unnoticeable.
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It's seems like there is a very decent amount of people complaining about blade play with the Paramilitary 2 , I don't if it is poor tolerances or it's there are so many pieces out there , as the knife is extremely popular
Whether a blade play is a concern or not depends on the lock type
Blade play (either vertical or side to side) with liner\frame\compression locks can definitely be a concern and warning sign
On the other , with AXIS locks , as long as the AXIS bar engage adequately deep enough at the tang of the blade , there is nothing to worry about , even with some blade ply
Whether a blade play is a concern or not depends on the lock type
Blade play (either vertical or side to side) with liner\frame\compression locks can definitely be a concern and warning sign
On the other , with AXIS locks , as long as the AXIS bar engage adequately deep enough at the tang of the blade , there is nothing to worry about , even with some blade ply
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i own two para 2's. a standard version and a carpenter sprint run version. both are rock solid. no blade play side to side or up and down.
both had minor issues with them though. the jimping on the blade thumb ramp was a bit slightly crooked on my sprint run. doesn't bother me as mine will be a user, when i get around to wanting to use it. plus, to me, it gives it some personality, but to some they would find it annoying at that price point.
the standard para 2, has no third hole in the g-10 scale for tip up carry right handed. the blade wouldn't close by gravity like my other compression locks, so i took the pivot screw out and so much locktite had been used it got into the pivot and was gumming it up. i cleaned it out and redid it and good as new now.
btw, once you take your spyderco apart the warranty is void. how they know you did it? you got me, but it's pretty clear in the warranty info.
both had minor issues with them though. the jimping on the blade thumb ramp was a bit slightly crooked on my sprint run. doesn't bother me as mine will be a user, when i get around to wanting to use it. plus, to me, it gives it some personality, but to some they would find it annoying at that price point.
the standard para 2, has no third hole in the g-10 scale for tip up carry right handed. the blade wouldn't close by gravity like my other compression locks, so i took the pivot screw out and so much locktite had been used it got into the pivot and was gumming it up. i cleaned it out and redid it and good as new now.
btw, once you take your spyderco apart the warranty is void. how they know you did it? you got me, but it's pretty clear in the warranty info.
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Taking your Spyderco apart voids the warranty!? I've never heard that before.....maybe I just wasn't listening...... Are you sure? Why would they even put torx screws on it if they didn't want you to take it apart???
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yep, totally sure....
quoted from their warranty page......
"•Repairs to your knife performed by any source other than Spyderco Inc. unconditionally voids the knife’s warranty.
•Spyderco’s warranty does not cover damage caused by abuse, misuse, loss, improper handling, alterations, accident, neglect, disassembly, or improper sharpening. "
there are plenty of other restrictions but i figured this was enough....
i think it's an honor system though, but i can't speak for Sal's company. if you take it apart and break nothing and one day the blade breaks from a steel defect, i imagine your good, but since it already has blade wobble on yours and you took it apart to fix it....? i have no idea. just thought i'd warn you.
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I have had 5 para2s. 3 s30v and 2 20cp. I have noticed that there is a dramatic difference in lockup/blade play/smoothness from knife to knife. Some of mine have had minimal play, some have been rock solid and one has blade play that is really bad. Unfortunately the bad one was deemed within "qc tolerance" by spyderco. Also, some have had locks that were really easy to work while others have had stiff and sometimes very sticky locks. I love the p2 and dont leave the house in the morning without one but I would advise anyone that is looking for one to try and find one locally so that you can actually put your hands on it to be sure everything is OK before making the purchase. I guess the p2 has to have a pretty wide tolerance to be able to offer the knife at a reasonable price.
Dang, I had no idea! Thanks for telling me, but it doesn't matter now. At least I know I didn't cause the blade play...it had the same before and after. Plus I'm almost 100% sure I fixed the problem anyways with some loosening and tightening of the pivot screws. I just have no idea how they would ever know that I took it apart...or even care!? I can see if I improperly assemble it after disassembling it and then try to get them to replace some things I messed up or what not, but just taking it apart and putting it back together when I know exactly what I'm doing is just weird to me.....
Definitely makes sense... still love the knife and wouldn't trade it for any other knife I have!!!
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i don't disagree with you, and i have no idea how enforced this policy is, but it's there in writing, so i figured i'd warn you. glad you got it more stable though. it's a great knife, enjoy it.
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I agree Nick. The P2 is an awesome knife and it has all my other great edc folders collecting dust in a drawer.
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I just checked my Para2s in S90V and my 20CPs and no play in any direction when the blade is locked open. Make sure your handle screws are toghtened (hand tight, not 50lbs worth of torque) 
The policy has been in place for close to 18 months, it's displayed on their website for all to see. Lots of people never see it because they don't bother looking for the details. Unfortunately not everyone has the same level of digital/mechanical dexterity and can put knives back together. Some people just should nto own screwdrivers, or other tools, much less knives. The few ruin it for the many is what happened. How can they tell? Finger prints, and a magnification camera that loojks closely at the torx area. I guess when someone builds thousands of a similar thing, it becomes second nature to identify tampering of any sort.
The policy is enforced as often as needed, if that makes sense. I sent a knife in that I took apart years ago, they asked why I had disassembled the knife. Consequently it was fixed, but it was just as the policy was being put into writing and added to their terms.
The policy has been in place for close to 18 months, it's displayed on their website for all to see. Lots of people never see it because they don't bother looking for the details. Unfortunately not everyone has the same level of digital/mechanical dexterity and can put knives back together. Some people just should nto own screwdrivers, or other tools, much less knives. The few ruin it for the many is what happened. How can they tell? Finger prints, and a magnification camera that loojks closely at the torx area. I guess when someone builds thousands of a similar thing, it becomes second nature to identify tampering of any sort.
The policy is enforced as often as needed, if that makes sense. I sent a knife in that I took apart years ago, they asked why I had disassembled the knife. Consequently it was fixed, but it was just as the policy was being put into writing and added to their terms.
kreole
Gold Member
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I just checked my Para2s in S90V and my 20CPs and no play in any direction when the blade is locked open. Make sure your handle screws are toghtened (hand tight, not 50lbs worth of torque)
The policy has been in place for close to 18 months, it's displayed on their website for all to see. Lots of people never see it because they don't bother looking for the details. Unfortunately not everyone has the same level of digital/mechanical dexterity and can put knives back together. Some people just should nto own screwdrivers, or other tools, much less knives. The few ruin it for the many is what happened. How can they tell? Finger prints, and a magnification camera that loojks closely at the torx area. I guess when someone builds thousands of a similar thing, it becomes second nature to identify tampering of any sort.
The policy is enforced as often as needed, if that makes sense. I sent a knife in that I took apart years ago, they asked why I had disassembled the knife. Consequently it was fixed, but it was just as the policy was being put into writing and added to their terms.
In my experience, this is totally off base. I emailed their CS about a problem with a part, which I only noticed and could only notice when taking the blade out, and was told I had violated the warranty and that there was nothing they could do for me. The problem is clearly unrelated to taking the blade out. That is why I do not by Spydercos anymore.
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If it has very slight blade play you are doing good and I wouldn't worry about it as some have a decent amount of horizontal play and still functions fine. But you can also try tightening up the stop pin as it can help on some knives.
Disassembling the knife does apparently void the warranty which I don't agree with for a couple reasons. If you hurt the knife taking it apart (strip screws etc) it shouldn't be covered, otherwise those that can do it should be allowed to as it is their property. Also, the warranty that comes with the knife says nothing about disassembly voiding the knife and it is only written in a post on their forum and in a roundabout way on the website. What comes with the knife should be the last word on the subject. I haven't had very good luck with Spyderco warranty and service department and this disassembly thing just further rubs me the wrong way. If they want that to be their policy it should in no uncertain terms be written on the packaging that comes with each knife. "Disassembly of knife voids warranty". Many people don't read the forums and have no idea they are shooting themselves in the foot if they take one apart to clean. /rant
Also, I don't think vertical play with a compression lock is an issue at all. The locking tab still blocks the tang and is not going anywhere. Quite a few Para 1 have some vertical play from hard inertial openings and are still completely reliable.
Disassembling the knife does apparently void the warranty which I don't agree with for a couple reasons. If you hurt the knife taking it apart (strip screws etc) it shouldn't be covered, otherwise those that can do it should be allowed to as it is their property. Also, the warranty that comes with the knife says nothing about disassembly voiding the knife and it is only written in a post on their forum and in a roundabout way on the website. What comes with the knife should be the last word on the subject. I haven't had very good luck with Spyderco warranty and service department and this disassembly thing just further rubs me the wrong way. If they want that to be their policy it should in no uncertain terms be written on the packaging that comes with each knife. "Disassembly of knife voids warranty". Many people don't read the forums and have no idea they are shooting themselves in the foot if they take one apart to clean. /rant
Also, I don't think vertical play with a compression lock is an issue at all. The locking tab still blocks the tang and is not going anywhere. Quite a few Para 1 have some vertical play from hard inertial openings and are still completely reliable.