What is your definition of blade-play?

kniferbro

kniferbro

Joined
Jan 22, 2011
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Blade-play and lock up are frequently discussed topics here on BF. What do y'all think qualifies as blade-play?

On my para2 my pivot is adjusted so there is 0 lateral play when I wiggle it lightly but if I grip on the blade hard and wiggle it has slight movement.

Do you think this is play or just normal tolerances? What are yall's views on blade-play/lock up? How do you test for blade play?

Let us discuss! :D
 
I define blade play as any movement when the blade is supposed to be fully locked up. I lock the blade in the open position, then i wiggle it to see if there is play. If it wiggles there is play. Depending on the knife play can be ok with me. I expect my microtech otfs to have some play because of their design, but i expect my crks to be rock solid. Users like my aegis and endura can have some play due to their price range, design and the treatment i give them.
 
Any wiggle is play IMO. I've owned 3 Paramilitary 2 knives and they all wiggled a little.
 
legato1 said:
I define blade play as any movement when the blade is supposed to be fully locked up. I lock the blade in the open position, then i wiggle it to see if there is play. If it wiggles there is play. Depending on the knife play can be ok with me. I expect my microtech otfs to have some play because of their design, but i expect my crks to be rock solid. Users like my aegis and endura can have some play due to their price range, design and the treatment i give them.
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How hard do you try to wiggle them? With all your might? Or just a solid wiggle? I've read around here that some people feel that just because the blade moves a little when trying really hard to wiggle it, doesn't constitute bladeplay because every blade will move at some point.
 
I think most folders have play. On a framelock or liner lock hold the bar so that it isn't pushing on the blade and check for play. I think you will find play in a lot of folders. But the lockbar pushing on the blade hides a lot of play
 
mongomondo said:
Any wiggle is play IMO.
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yep. any wiggle is blade play, to me as well. whether up and down or side to side. not that it's always bad. a minor amount doesn't bother me depending on the knife design, lock, and price point, etc.


not that it matters, but....i own 2 - para 2's and 1 - para 1 and zero blade play up and down or side to side. on the other hand the 2 sog folders i own have blade play in every direction and it can't be stopped by pivot tightening.
 
legato1 said:
I define blade play as any movement when the blade is supposed to be fully locked up. I lock the blade in the open position, then i wiggle it to see if there is play. If it wiggles there is play. Depending on the knife play can be ok with me. I expect my microtech otfs to have some play because of their design, but i expect my crks to be rock solid. Users like my aegis and endura can have some play due to their price range, design and the treatment i give them.
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That about sums it up for me. If it wiggles, it has blade play. But I don't find blade play unacceptable in some knives. The knives I grew up with all had blade play. It never stopped me from cutting what I needed to cut. I'd find it unacceptable in a high end knife, though.
 
Blade play?
I play with my blades all the time :p

Any more blade play than .0001 of an inch and she's getting sent back.
( just kidding ) I can put up with a little bit of side to side but up/down play bothers me a lot more as the stress of cutting is in line to the blade and then you feel the play as you cut. Excessive side to side gives problems also but not as bad as up/down.
 
For any folder just a little wiggle shouldn't be any blade play, especially if it's relatively new and hasn't earned some wear - if it doesn't have the tolerances and stability of a $20 slipjoint then what's the point...
 
Any movement of the blade when at full lock-up is blade play.

Is a little side to side blade play a bad thing, nah, most folder have it, no big deal. Up and down though is of concern as it points to some type of problem with lock-up.

-sh00ter
 
Some knives seem to have a sweet spot where there is no blade play and it does not affect the deployment of it an example of this could be the benchmade 943 or 940 it seems that there is a sweet spot on the pivot where there is no blade play but it does not stay there for long if you flip open the blade a lot
 
The very slightest wiggle in a blade on a folder while opened and locked = blade-play.

I have zero tolerance for blade play.
 
If I take the handle, shake it and the blade wigglrd back and forth in the open position. Other test I do is press the tip in a desk, take the handle and move it. Can feel the blade move easily without applying much force.

There is a fine line between blade play and blade moving due to force being applied.
 
Most of us are concerned at that point where blade-play becomes a security issue, and can lead to unwarranted accidents. When a blade is locked-up open, any movement (vertical or horizontal) due to reasonable application of force with the handle held absolute stationary (say in a vise jaw) is "play". Typical reasons for horizontal play are using the blade as a pry-bar (and this happens sub-consciously, without you even noticing it!), while vertical play might indicate an issue with the locking mechanism. A little (within reasonable limits defined by the owner) play is okay though, as long as functionality is not affected.
 
I can detect movement in just about every folder. If the blade can open easily then there are loose enough tolerances there has to be some movement when force is applied. I bet I would feel some movement in knives most people say have no play. But its not a bad thing unless excessive. Even Spyderco lockbacks that have vertical play as part of the design, I don't feel the blade move in actual use. I would say if you can visibly see the blade move in relation to the handle then there might be too much blade play.

The only folder I could not detect any blade movement is a ZT 0500 MUDD. I think that was mainly due to how big the blade tang and washers are under the handle.
 
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