Titanium Framelock Vertical Bladeplay

D

Dorito Monk

Joined
Nov 17, 2008
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Anyone know of a way to fix vertical bladeplay in a titanium framelock? I've got a Bradley Alias that's only a couple weeks old and it's developed some very noticeable up-and-down blade wiggle. The lockup is at about 75% already and when you put a bit of pressure on the spine of the blade, the face of the lockbar gets pushed far enough off of the tang of the blade that it allows the blade to close a little bit, creating wiggle. I hope that's a decent description of the problem... Fiddling around with the pivot screw will not solve this problem.

This is the most expensive knife I've ever bought and I'm a bit peeved that the lockbar has already travelled to 75% and it's developed blade wiggle. :grumpy: Anyone know of a way to fix this myself, or should I get in touch with the manufacturer? :confused:
 
Get in touch with the maker. Email them your question. Fidling with the knife now can void the warrenty!

Blade play can be numerous things, not just the locking interface. Stop pin, pivot pin, lock face angle, heat treating of lock face, imperfection in the scale etc. Have them look at it.
 
Sounds like that one should be sent in versus some of the other tricks to resolve lock rock. If the lock up is already at 75%,bending the lockbar may be less of an option. I hate when that happens to expensive knives but unfortunately, the customer is being made to do their own Q/A more and more these days, even with expensive knives anymore. It's almost like the assembler doesn't operate the knife after they put it together in favor of tightening the last screw and throwing it in the box and saying ship it! :( It sounds like the lockbar is just too short in relation to the stop pin so they will either add a larger stop pin then adjust the lockup or maybe even give you a new knife if you are lucky . . .

Dorito Monk said:
Anyone know of a way to fix vertical bladeplay in a titanium framelock? I've got a Bradley Alias that's only a couple weeks old and it's developed some very noticeable up-and-down blade wiggle. The lockup is at about 75% already and when you put a bit of pressure on the spine of the blade, the face of the lockbar gets pushed far enough off of the tang of the blade that it allows the blade to close a little bit, creating wiggle. I hope that's a decent description of the problem... Fiddling around with the pivot screw will not solve this problem.

This is the most expensive knife I've ever bought and I'm a bit peeved that the lockbar has already travelled to 75% and it's developed blade wiggle. :grumpy: Anyone know of a way to fix this myself, or should I get in touch with the manufacturer? :confused:
Click to expand...
 
It may not help in your case, but I had a frame lock knife with a similar problem. I found the other screws loose in the handle setup, and it was allowing the lock to engage far over and some wiggle up and down. It took locktite to stop it from reoccuring. Now the lock engages early and what call properly, all relative of course. rather than about 90% before the fix.

That said id still contact bradley if it were mine just cause you shouldn't have to play repair technician on a brand new knife.

Out of curiousity since I thought bradley didn't actually make any knives.....which maker makes this knife? My guess is benchmade on this model?
 
jbmonkey said:
That said id still contact bradley if it were mine just cause you shouldn't have to play repair technician on a brand new knife.

Out of curiousity since I thought bradley didn't actually make any knives.....which maker makes this knife? My guess is benchmade on this model?
Click to expand...

I think you're right. I had heard it was Benchmade that manufactures the Alias and the Mayhem, while Kershaw makes the Kimura balisongs for Bradley Cutlery.

I'm going to give the company a call in a couple of days and hopefully sort this out with them. If it turns out to be a more complicated issue than just tightening a screw here or there, I'd rather not void the warranty by messing around with the knife myself.

Thanks for the advice everyone, and have a Happy Christmas!
 
I feel your pain! Blade play is such a pain in the ass. Im sure benchmade will take care of you
 
Try this:

1) Loosen all handle scale screws and pivot screw.
2) Apply pressure to the scales such that the side with the lockbar is under upward pressure while the opposite scale is under downward pressure.
3) Keep exerting this pressure while tightening all screws.

Doing this can potentially decrease the distance between the lockbar and the bottom of the blade a tiny bit. Not sure if it will be enough to eliminate your bladeplay but it's easy enough to try.
 
I feel your pain also I had a brand new Alias 2 a couple weeks back that came with the balade touching the nonlock side and if u applied any pressure to the lock side it would not lock at all!! There was no way that that knife went through a QC check so I would say benchmade has some employees that are slacking:thumbdn: I returned mine b/c thats what they suggested, needless to say I didn't ask for a Bradley back in return.
 
I'd call the dealer or get an email into them (depending on return policy) right away. You may be able to return it to the knife dealer for a store credit.

Barring that, I'd call Benchmade and send it back per their instructions. Sorry to hear it, get a Sebenza. :)
 
You might also try this; with the knife closed, loosen the screws, or better yet, take them completely out. Then but the pivot screw in and tighten it down until it will not tighten anymore. Now tighten down the frame screws. Then loosen the pivot to where you want it and open. Many times this will cause the lockup to go to an early lockup.

I feel your pain brother. It just plain sucks to get a knife with this problem. I would send it back regardless of how the above suggestion works out.
 
Ive had one for a year and its still 100% solid. Send that lemon to benchmade they'll fix it.

BTW Mine came with lock up at about 55% and it remains there many months of carry openings/closings later.
 
I contacted Bradley Cutlery and they told me to get in touch with Benchmade's warranty department instead. I'm filling out a form as we speak and I'll ship it out soon. Damned if I ain't getting tired of sending knives back to Benchmade... :grumpy:
 
My Christmas present Benchmade 755BK MPR had vertical play. It was the stop pin with it's multi faceted sides - it was loose! Mine had a cross threaded bolt that wouldn't tighten it and secure it properly. It took some back and forth, but I got it tight. I held the pin with a small (4") hemostat. Start to finish was less than an hour. Not all stop pins are multi faceted - some seem elliptical. Try turning the stop pin's screw, usually a T6, 1/16 of a turn or so. Good luck.

Stainz
 
Stainz said:
My Christmas present Benchmade 755BK MPR had vertical play. It was the stop pin with it's multi faceted sides - it was loose! Mine had a cross threaded bolt that wouldn't tighten it and secure it properly. It took some back and forth, but I got it tight. I held the pin with a small (4") hemostat. Start to finish was less than an hour. Not all stop pins are multi faceted - some seem elliptical. Try turning the stop pin's screw, usually a T6, 1/16 of a turn or so. Good luck.

Stainz
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice, but unfortunately this knife's stop pin has no screw.
 
Just an update on the knife: I got the knife back from Benchmade yesterday and everything's working great again. :thumbup: Apparently they replaced the screws and the entire titanium scale to fix the problem, which is definitely something I couldn't have taken care of myself.

Thanks again for the advice, everyone.
 
I'm starting to get really tired of this game. :grumpy:

Since I got my Bradley Alias back from Benchmade I haven't done anything to it - haven't messed around with any of the screws, lubed it, anything. Now, less than two weeks after I got it back from Benchmade's warranty department, the blade play is worse than ever. If I open the blade and apply pressure to the spine with my hand, the lock bar moves out of the way and eventually disengages. That's not spine whacking or anything like that, that's just me holding it in my two hands and applying steady pressure. When the knife is open, the lockbar is right around 3/4 of the way to the opposite scale.

According to the note that came with it the last time, Benchmade replaced the entire titanium scale and the screws and the knife is exhibiting the same problem. I emailed Benchmade back when I first had an issue with the knife and they still haven't bothered replying to me - I just jumped ahead and mailed it to them with a note describing the problem.

The knife has already been through Benchmade's warranty service and apparently the company won't communicate with me - What the hell do I do now? :confused:
 
I'd call BM and see if they will pay for shipping both ways. So your not out any cash.

Every so often a thread comes up about different locks and the majority of people say they like the framelock the best because it's so simple and strong. But they really are not simple. There are just too many variables that need to get right to make a good one. There are too many companies and tons of custom makers that just can't get it right.

That being said, when someone gets it right i love them and my edc is usually one of my Sebenza's.
 
Dorito Monk said:
I'm starting to get really tired of this game. :grumpy:

Since I got my Bradley Alias back from Benchmade I haven't done anything to it - haven't messed around with any of the screws, lubed it, anything. Now, less than two weeks after I got it back from Benchmade's warranty department, the blade play is worse than ever. If I open the blade and apply pressure to the spine with my hand, the lock bar moves out of the way and eventually disengages. That's not spine whacking or anything like that, that's just me holding it in my two hands and applying steady pressure. When the knife is open, the lockbar is right around 3/4 of the way to the opposite scale.

According to the note that came with it the last time, Benchmade replaced the entire titanium scale and the screws and the knife is exhibiting the same problem. I emailed Benchmade back when I first had an issue with the knife and they still haven't bothered replying to me - I just jumped ahead and mailed it to them with a note describing the problem.

The knife has already been through Benchmade's warranty service and apparently the company won't communicate with me - What the hell do I do now? :confused:
Click to expand...

You pick up the phone and tell them exactly what is in your post. Why would you waste your time sending an email, when you can call their number and talk to a real human being within a minute or less?
 
They better communicate with you. You bought one of their $200 knives and it's not working properly. I would keep calling and sending emails till I got an answer. They are known for good CS. Hopefully it stays that way
 
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