Tightening a Wobbling Blade(s) **without disassembling knife**

Slice-and-dice

Slice-and-dice

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Wondering if others have developed a "low tech" solution for fixing blade wobble, defined as side-to-side movement of a blade or blades when in the open position on a folding pocket knife? For Bucks like the 110 and 112 (with some but lesser success on the 301, 303) or Case Copperheads and Stockman I can cover the bolster with a thick fabric or piece of leather (to protect from scratching) and carefully squeeze the bolster with adjustable pliers or vise grips with some success, but it lasts only so long before the wobbles return. Also, the bolster pins sometimes rise up a tiny fraction, barely noticeable but can be felt, after using this technique. You folks find a better method to remove the wobbles, which invariably come on most mass market knifes through use?
 
I knew a gal who worked in the "Dragon Bar" in Saitozaki, Japan that only had one leg and post WWII prosthetic construction wasn't all that good so her wooden leg was sometimes wobbly at her knee joint. When that would happen, she'd put the knee joint of her leg in a door jam and slam the door shut on the knee joint. Worked fine most times. Maybe you might put the bolster of your knife in your front door door jam and slam the door on it.

The "I knew a gal who worked in the "Dragon Bar" in Saitozaki, Japan that only had one leg" is absolutely true. Anything after that was posted tongue-in-cheek - errrrr keyboard.

Some guys/gals/youngsters here use a vice to gently squeeze a bolster.
 
Modoc ED said:
I knew a gal who worked in the "Dragon Bar" in Saitozaki, Japan that only had one leg and post WWII prosthetic construction wasn't all that good so her wooden leg was sometimes wobbly at her knee joint. When that would happen, she'd put the knee joint of her leg in a door jam and slam the door shut on the knee joint. Worked fine most times. Maybe you might put the bolster of your knife in your front door door jam and slam the door on it.

The "I knew a gal who worked in the "Dragon Bar" in Saitozaki, Japan that only had one leg" is absolutely true. Anything after that was posted tongue-in-cheek - errrrr keyboard.

Some guys/gals/youngsters here use a vice to gently squeeze a bolster.
Click to expand...
I'm glad I asked Ed just to hear that story!
 
Try giving this thread a look-see.

SnackPack

Thread 'Blade play - who cares!?'

Maybe I’m in the minority here, but I constantly see people asking about blade play and complaining about it but it simply doesn’t bother me that much. I have some high end traditionals that have a little perceptible wobble / play but snappy action. Ultimately it doesn’t impact use at all, and I’d personally have a tiny bit of play with a nice smooth action and snap than no play and a weak snap or lazy action bc the pivot is too tight.

Thoughts?
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You have to know what you're dealing with. If you look at the bolsters and can see the hinge pin it's easily dealt with. You need an anvil like object of some kind. Insert a steel shim something like .003 thick between the blade tang and the liner. Place the bolster of the knife on your anvil, and tap directly on the end of the hinge pin. Remove your shim, and check for play. Rinse, lather and repeat until you get the desired result. You may have to refinish the bolsters when you're done.

If you have shell construction knives, or Swindon key knives it gets a lot more complicated.

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Basically, this is the answer to your question. Personally, blade wobble doesn't bother me, it's natural to some degree in any folding knife. The internet has created a lot of experts who demand zero play and perfectly nested blades. These people are, well.... never mind.
 
Slice-and-dice said:
I can cover the bolster with a thick fabric or piece of leather (to protect from scratching) and carefully squeeze the bolster with adjustable pliers or vise grips with some success, but it lasts only so long before the wobbles return. Also, the bolster pins sometimes rise up a tiny fraction, barely noticeable but can be felt, after using this technique.
Click to expand...

You’re halfway there. The reason it’s loosening back up over time is you’re not peening the pin down to spread the material back out, keeping it from backing out again.

You just have to hammer that raised bit down a little and then polish everything back.
 
Don Quixote, the fountain of youth, alchemy, fix blade wobble - how long is life?

Knife content - what everyone else said.
 
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