All About Pocket Knives

I have 3 Kickstart knives. All of them have a little side-to-side play or slack in the blade. I have read this is a common complaint. Can the blade be tightened up? Or is this just the nature of the assisted opening construction?

Also, I have an older "new old stock" Mid-folding Hunter Kickstart coming in the mail. It looks like an older design- the pocket clip looks like it’s riveted on (see pic below) rather than having the torx head screws like my other Kickstarts. I occasionally need to remove and adjust these clips. Is it practical to remove the clip if it’s attached with rivets?

The ones I have have all had a varying amount of play. One I felt was excessive, but the other two weren’t as bad. With a pinned together, automatic knife it’s hard not to have play, your bench made and other automatics that are modern are screws and bearings. I really like the kickstart. I think it’s a neat knife and have heard they will come back out with it so I might end up with another.

I didn’t even realize mine were a little wiggly until I read some of the comments and compared them to the Case slip-joints I have. They are still some of my favorites and I carry one them almost every day. If I could tighten them up I would, but I won’t let it bother me if I can’t.