When it comes to your EDC, how much - if any - blade play is acceptable?

[DustinK]

When open, I don't want any blade play. I would be more of a stickler than this than other things such as centering when closed. Blade play when open is something that can affect functionality and safety of the knife.

 

[J. Doyle]

None. That’s why I like my framelocks… Hinderer and ZT especially

Not sure I understand the line of thinking in the first part. Are you only speaking of vertical play? Or does a frame lock somehow help mitigate side to side play that other locks don't?

Either way, I'm not sure a frame lock has anything to do with blade play more than any other lock.

 

[edgelion]

If I need both hands and significant force to feel the lockup wiggle a fraction of a gnat's butt hair, I can accept it.

I can't think of an example of a new knife that I bought in the last decade that did more than that out of the box, that couldn't be adjusted. A few used knives that I've picked up maybe needed some attention, but haven't been unacceptable. There is the one junk beater in my basement that I don't even remember where it came from that rattles like a pack of tic tacs and serves no other purpose than to scrape crap off my boots, but it has never seen the inside of my pocket.

 

[Dagoth_Blur]

Depends. Some traditional lockback knives have a bit of blade play (means if I grab the blade with my fingers I can force it up and down a tiny bit), and I'm OK with that. For a truly traditional design, it's difficult to eliminate vertical blade play. The tolerances required to eliminate blade play on such a knife are incredibly tight.

On many modern lockbacks, the designers have diddled with the geometry of the lock interface, and I seldom find blade play on those.

I don't accept vertical blade play on other types of locks. If there is any the knife goes into the "for reference only, do not carry" box.

I'm not OK with side-to side blade play in the open position on any knife.

This exactly. Seki lockbacks and other "older" style lockbacks a small amount of lock rock is ok. Anything else no thanks.

 

[oldmanwilly]

Normally I would say zero. But I just picked up a Delica 4 with slight vertical play, very slight. My understanding is that sypdercos opinion is that is normal. So in this case I am accepting it.

Ditto, I only really tolerate the minimal vertical play that appears in some of my FRN Spydercos from Seki.

 

[luethge]

Zero play proffered

 

[1911bphil]

I expect my blades to have zero blade play. My Tri-Ad lockbacks from Cold Steel don't have any.

 

[AntDog]

Zero - as in “absolutely none”.

Ain’t nobody got time fo dat, and I have far too many knives to be bothered to carry one with blade play.

In the past I’ve made concessions for some designs where it was inherent, but not anymore. You really don’t have to live with things that bug the hell out of you.

 

[MarbReds]

None. They aren’t intended to have blade play and most manufacturers can build one without any. I am slightly tolerant of it on a handmade custom, but on a factory knife it’s going back.

OTOH, I’m also not one of these goofballs who grabs the tip of the blade and the pivot and cranks on it to “check for play” that’s room temp iq behavior and it aggravates me to no end.

 

[The Zieg]

If you're rocking a friction folder, you don't sweat it so much. And an Opinel is just a fancified friction folder.

 

[jlauffer]

I rotate my EDC between CS, Demko, CRK, Arno Bernard, and Spyderco...no blade play at all in any of them. Tri-AD, Shark Lock, Scorpion Lock, frame lock, back lock...no play, the way it should be.

Slipjoints? I have a few (mostly BF forum knives), but haven't really analyzed them. But given the design, guess I would tolerate a little bit of play.

 

[Peter Hartwig]

If it I can feel blade play in the locked open position, it would never have become my EDC. That said, I don't go looking for blade play.

 

[Mimic Knife & Tool]

Some never bothered me. As long as I feel it's safe to use and doesn't click or some other weird stuff

 

[tony281sc2]

Not sure I understand the line of thinking in the first part. Are you only speaking of vertical play? Or does a frame lock somehow help mitigate side to side play that other locks don't?

Either way, I'm not sure a frame lock has anything to do with blade play more than any other lock.

I was talking about both. In my experience if a frame lock has a small amount of side to side it can usually be tuned out by tightening the pivot just a hair. And still have good action of course.
I’ve had lockbacks and crossbar locks with play that I couldn’t tune out

 

[MN_Condor]

I noticed for the first time the other day that my Leatherman Wave has blade play in every direction on all the outside locking knives and tools. Never bothered me, still doesn't. However, if my dedicated folding knife has any blade play, that's a no go for me. I'll either fix the blade play, or move it along. Overall, I agree with the sentiment that a small fixed blade is the ideal EDC knife.

 

[GB940Rookie]

A little play either way doesn’t bother me. All of my Japanese Sydercos have some vertical play. I’d rather not have any play, but compared to the knives I grew up with, modern knives are pretty solid these days.

 

[pease]

The only knives that I have with any play that can be felt are my OTFs and some Bucks. A couple of them have a lot of play but I don’t notice it when using them so it’s has never been a problem. I don’t understand the concern about a little play is the knife going to fall apart? Does the play in the blade cause your cuts to be inaccurate? I normally carry two knives one in the pocket fixed or folder and a fixed on the belt.

 

[RPZIP]

None, not even on my fixed blades

But seriously, any discernable play means retirement.

Edit: It no doubt depends greatly on the tasks a knife is used for. Personally I would not regularly employ a folder for stressfull usage. A fixed blade is made for that.

This Kershaw has probably served me EDC for at least a decade and a half. Mostly cutting packages, but often those tough plastic display packs for store bought items, and numerous other things.

No lube, just occasional cleaning and still tight lock up and ZERO play in any direction.

 

[DavidABQ]

I tend to carry slip joints and lock backs and it seems like a slight amount side to side play is coming to allow it to operate.

 

[HwangJino]

None. Not a single knife i own will have blade play. One of the many reasons I sold thr 2 benchmades I had. Shitty knives.