blade wobble

TM · Post by TM » Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:00 pm

ok ya'll - I've wanted to ask about this for awhile. I'd like some opinions. My question is this - Is blade wobble inevitable?

I call it blade wobble. I've heard others refer to it as 'play in the blade' or loose blades. I know some knives can be new and have it. Others develop it over time.

Most of my knives are less than 15 years old and have tight blades. If I look at a knife and you can wiggle the blade after it's been opened I won't buy it. I've had a few of my Case knives with this problem and after sending them to Case, they came back with the problem fixed.

So, if you carry and use certain folding knives regularly, are they going to start wobbling? If so, how much play do you think is acceptable?

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:05 pm

it is inevitable with use. not just opening and closing. can be fixed. depending on how blade is set(with slackner) determines the tolerance.

rigwelder · Post by **rigwelder** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:13 pm

i agree with johnnie, but if you use your knife as a knife instead of a screw driver or prybar, blade wobble usually wont happen. most of my knives or 75 years or older and i dont think any of them wobble.

TM · Post by TM » Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:14 pm

yeah, I kinda' figured it was inevitable- just like death and taxes right?

Of course I would have liked to have heard something like, 'no way a well made knife would ever develop blade play' But I guess deep down I knew that wasn't the case.

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:17 pm

i never pry(well, not much) with a blade but hard cutting can cause lateral pressure which can cause blade wobble in any knife. i have some old knives that wobble and some as tight as the day they were made. the better examples we collect are less used and will of course not be loose. but, a skilled knife mechanic can eliminate most wobble.

Paladin · Post by **Paladin** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:36 pm

Johnnie,
Does a knife have to be torn apart to tighten it up??

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:58 pm

hey ray, in most cases, no. the proper clearance is established with a slackner and the original pin is not worn, it can be lightly re-peened and then finished. if the pin is severely worn it can be replaced with a new pin and finished.

zorrothegreyblade · Post by **zorrothegreyblade** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:38 pm

Simply opening and closing a knife will eventually cause a degree of wobble, the smallest amount of friction on the tang will remove microscopic particles of metal, you can see wear marks on old knives that have had lots of use. Any knife used regularly requires an aplication of fine oil to its joints periodically to reduce this wear, the old guys in Sheffield sometimes stamped their tangs with this very information! As regards side play brought on by the joint opening up, I suppose you get what you pay for, a quality built joint will last longer

OLDSMOKE · Post by **OLDSMOKE** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 5:42 am

I have a few very nice EDCs that have anywhere for just a slight wobble to allmost embarrassing to let anyone see you carrying, some of them are case and camillus,Schrade, Boker, and a few mid 70s Winchsters almost all of which are stockman designs.
I would be interested in knowing just what has to be done to take care of them???
Enjoy The Day
Rusty

Gunstock Jack · Post by **Gunstock Jack** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:28 am

One other reason blades develop this "play" is sharpening. When you bear down on a stone with the blade held sideways you are putting pressure on the joint. Sort of like levering on a prybar. If you remember to back up the blade with your fingers you will lessen this effect. However, I have seen more knives ruined, or at least defaced, by the blades being laid flat or almost flat on the stone or worse, a grinder.