How do you check for blade play?

VermontEdge

VermontEdge

Joined
Jun 10, 2015
Messages
1,144
Hey so...maybe a dumb question but is there a standardized method for checking for blade play, specifically side-to-side? Or does everyone have different standards?

I ask because I realized the other day that I really put pressure on my folders in trying to see if they have any play. However, if I just lightly wiggle the blade back and forth I usually can't feel or notice anything. How do you check for it? Is there a reasonable amount of force to use to determine if it's actual play or if you're just going overboard?
 
Hold handle in one handle, hold tip with other, lightly try to wiggle the blade. If you're not noticing any you don't have any. It sounds like you have a knife without bladeplay.
 
To be a bit more particular, disengage the lock while blade is open, and THEN try to wiggle blade back and forth as EricV said above as you slowly begin to close the blade.
 
I guess I just always find myself wondering if there's a difference between blade looseness vs blade movement. It seems like, if you're determined, you can get any blade to move, right?
 
Play or looseness will have an indexed or notched feel. Thunk, thunk, click click.

Flex if you really lean on it will be smooth. You'll be able to see but not feel it.
 
VermontEdge said:
I guess I just always find myself wondering if there's a difference between blade looseness vs blade movement. It seems like, if you're determined, you can get any blade to move, right?
Click to expand...

There are tons of knives that have zero play or flex regardless of how much you try (within reason) to make some happen.

Grab the very end of the handle with one hand, grab the end of the blade (carefully) with the other...(two fingers up by the spine)

While holding the handle firmly, try to move the blade up and down and side to side.....

You don't have to go crazy with the amount of force you use, being that far away from the pivot with both hands will make it obvious if you have any play.
A little play when doing this test shouldn't be considered an issue, although we are all very different in what we feel is an "issue" with a knife!!
 
The way i check blade play is to make sure the lock is disengaged by either wedging it with a piece of plastic or holding it with my thumb and then seeing if there is any side to side. I have seen some guys check for blade play with the lock engaged which makes little sense to me as a frame or liner lock is going to isolate movement. The trick is to be able to tell what is actually side to side play and what isnt. I have seen people who think their knife has blade play because of their own error. As in holding the lock over and they go to move it side to side and they feel movement. Only that movement was the blade moving in the opening and closing direction. And the knocking they were feeling was the blade hitting the lockface and stop pin. One guy even tried telling me this was lock rock.
 
Shazb0t said:
I feel like a lot of knives would have blade play by this definition? When I think of blade play it is when the blade is locked and has any movement.
Click to expand...

That's the way I check only because the amount of play if any, in the locked (open) position, is what I am interested in.
I usually use the knife when open and locked unless I am throwing it at my dog because he just doesn't want to listen....again!
 
Yeah, when the knife is open and locked, even my $5 tobacco store folding knife is solid. When closed, whole different story!
 
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