super excessive blade play with my new Native, what do I do?

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

Slipjoint Addict
Joined
Feb 2, 2005
Messages
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My Native, that I bought less than a month ago, has gotten some up and down blade play, but some really excessive side to side play, enough to make the pivot pins loose. I can move the blade any way I want to, and I can squeeze the pivot pins area together, and it makes a sound, and is okay until I open it again. I've opened and closed this knife, but I've barely used it for any real cutting tasks. I haven't abused it either. I really like the design and the feel, please help me out. I can just take it back to Walmart tomorrow in exchange for another one, but I'm afraid this might happen again. I don't wanna do anything that would void the warranty either. The scales feel like they are going to fall off
 
Probably a defect. If you can get it exchanged the new one will probably be fine.
 
Placing a couple of thin razor blades inbetween the body of the FRN part and the blade and then tapping the pivot pin can tighten it up. If it still has too much play for your tasetes after doing it with two blades pop one out and do it again with just one in place. The thickness of the blade will make it spaced so the blade isn't too tight.

It could be sent back too since it is so new. Your pin may be sheared though. If that is the case for sure send it back. What sometimes happens on the FRN models I've worked on is that the hole in the FRN becomes oval shaped over time allowing the blade to move when it did not before. Another prime reason for metal liners in my opinion but if it had metal liners it would be more expensive.
 
Thanks. I've got some old razor blades around, but I'd like to hear from some Spyderco reps before I do that. I might just have to exchange it.
 
i think a lot of the wally world natives are like that. probabbly just cuz the production run was relatively huge, considering the client.

when i went to wally world to get mine 2 out of the 3 that they had in stock, had severe blade-play.
luckly the last one had a tight pin and solid lockup. its a little tight, but i can live with it. (just have to shake it a little harder when i go to unlock it.)
 
I've done the "bump the pivot pin" trick on an older 440V Native. Worked just fine. Use a brass punch with something solid (2x4 maybe) behind the pin. You don't need to tap it all that hard, and the razor blades should give you enough room for opening/closing.

I'd exchange or send back first though.
 
Posted in your other thread too, in short... we'd prefer you send it in to us, but you can return it to Wal-Mart if you'd prefer. The Native still holds the same Spyderco warranty that it always had. If you decide to send it in, please email me at khunter@spyderco.com and I will watch over it.

Kristi
 
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