when is too much play?? i have a Q that i won on ebay the other day and there is a small amount of vertical play..i'm talking small amnt..is this something that is acceptable..all my others have no vertical play..also how can one tell that a knife has been sharpened??
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vertical and horizontal play
- Thread starter hardkiss
- Start date
A small amount of vertical bladeplay is acceptable in lockbacks. A bit of horizontal or vertical play will not affect the integrity of the lockback. It will affect linerlocks though.
To determine whether your knife has been sharpened, just look at the edge under a magnifying glass. If there are scratches that are not all lined up, it's probably been sharpened. Also, it's been sharpened if there is a secondary bevel on the edge.
Congrats on winning the Q.
To determine whether your knife has been sharpened, just look at the edge under a magnifying glass. If there are scratches that are not all lined up, it's probably been sharpened. Also, it's been sharpened if there is a secondary bevel on the edge.
Congrats on winning the Q.
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- Apr 27, 2003
- Messages
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Keep in mind that the "Q", although it has become a "collectible" and fetches prices that, at least is some cases border on the outlandish, was intended as something very inexpensive that companies would order with their logo as giveaways, promos, or incentives. The wire lock, while perfectly safe, does tend to have fairly loose tolerances. Most of the ones I have exhibit some horizontal blade play as well, again unsurpising in light of the size of the pivot pin.
As for being able to tell if a knife has been sharpened, it depends both on who did the sharpening and how often.
As for being able to tell if a knife has been sharpened, it depends both on who did the sharpening and how often.
My better half has had a Q for 5 years. The little bit of play it may have will not affect its performance, as long as you remember it's not a prybar, screwdriver, etc. but a small utility knife. Q's are great, their discontinuation was a true loss to the world of spyderco.
i think i got a pretty good 'test' to determine what play is acceptable and what is not on a frontlock knife.
hold the blade on the handle, as far back as you can near the butt, while still retaining a reasonable grip. then start to shake it sideways and vertical with some "strong inertial wrist flick force" (force comes from the wrist, not sure how to explain this otherwise). if you can FEEL, or even HEAR the play during this, then it's too much, thus unacceptable and possibly dangerous. with knives who exhibit this you may also notice that cutting is somewhat annoying because the blade won't keep still in its place, thus messing up the cut a little.
if you can only feel the play by holding the handle and wiggling the blade with your other hand, than it's acceptable play.
hold the blade on the handle, as far back as you can near the butt, while still retaining a reasonable grip. then start to shake it sideways and vertical with some "strong inertial wrist flick force" (force comes from the wrist, not sure how to explain this otherwise). if you can FEEL, or even HEAR the play during this, then it's too much, thus unacceptable and possibly dangerous. with knives who exhibit this you may also notice that cutting is somewhat annoying because the blade won't keep still in its place, thus messing up the cut a little.
if you can only feel the play by holding the handle and wiggling the blade with your other hand, than it's acceptable play.