Pingo! Oh my! A couple questions/concerns though...

[mcb]

I've been a Spyderco fan for quite some time now. Only twice have I unboxed a knife and felt utter joy, excitement, a gasp and a plain wow. The first was my Techno. The beefy awesomeness and craftsmanship was out of this world to me at the time. The other time was with the Pingo, last night. The utter joy, excitement, a gasp and plain wow surpassed what I felt with the Techno. I LOVE this knife. I ordered the black handle and I instantly felt compelled to order the orange handle...and I did. I only used it to cut a mango and some paper, but this knife is easily my favorite so far.

But I have some questions, maybe even some concerns about it. There is vertical blade play. I feel it when I hold the handle and move the blade up and down. When I push down on an object, like a book or whatnot, I can feel the blade flex up upon pressure and flex back down after releasing pressure. Is it normal to have this kind of play? Also, I know that the knife was $50 and it isn't that big of a deal, but the blade isn't centered and is leaning towards the right scale. It isn't touching but it is quite noticeable. Does this effect the function of the knife in any way?

I'm sorry if I sound disgruntled, I'm not. I am a big Spyderco fan and have nothing but praise. Every Spyderco I've owned has awesome craftsmanship. This is probably the only one I've gotten that has raised some questions. The reason I feel to bring these up is because it is a slip joint and I plan on using it as an EDC through and through, and with no lock, I'd like some reassurance to feel that this knife is safe and perfectly normal.

Thanks guys!

[Clip]

Quite a few of my mid-locks (Calys) have some vertical play but nothing that I would consider an issue. As far as blade centering, FRN handles (or any knife) isn't always dead center. Doesn't affect operation if its not scraping, just aesthetics. Ill let others with the Pingo chime in more about play, but I'd say you're good to go. The Pingo is definitely on my list.

[hom76]

I got my Pingo two days ago and it is a very nice blade and has become my edc knife pairing up with a larger blade (yesterday with ZT0560 and today with Domino).

I cannot feel any vertical play on mine. After-reading your post, I have looked at the blade for quite a while and found that there may be a bit off-centering but certainly very minimal.. may be caused by the view angle... I don't know...

Anyway, it is a very nice blade and can be brought along with me in any part of the world (except in the sky)..

[sal]

Hi Mcb,

Welcome to our forum.

sal

[The Deacon]

Hard to say. I can't feel any vertical play in my Pingo, but that only proves it's not universal, not that it's a problem. I've got lots of midlocks where there's a slight vertical movement of the blade when cutting, and others with none, so this play in the Pingo may fall into the same "not universal, but not a problem" category, or not. If you're really concerned about it, the only way to know for certain whether Spyderco considers it a warranty issue, or not, is to send the knife to their Warranty & Repair Department for evaluation. Instructions for doing so can be found here.

[opusxpn]

I got one also but mine is centered and has no play, have you tried the pivot screw

[mcb]

Hi Mcb,

Welcome to our forum.

sal

I am honored by your welcome Sal! Thanks for everything!

Thanks for the replies guys. I tried to tighten the pivot, even disassembled and reassembled and still having the play. Having read a bunch of reviews on the Pingo and all have said they have experienced no play, I guess I just got unlucky :p no biggie though, I just ordered another black handle cause this knife is a work of art to me.

I'll just gift this one with a disclaimer and hope it spreads the love and addiction :)

[Qcrazy]

Nicely done mcb. I love your solution. We the picky aficionados see problems when things aren't perfect, where others will use and love a knife like this, especially when gifted by some one that cares!!

[mcb]

Haha thanks. I might actually just use this one and have the others as backups or part of a rotation. It still cuts, still closes, still opens. I guess I can just call the voided warranty, and minor issues that I'm picky about part of it's character :p

Now the question is, am I crazy for being this picky? Lol

[xceptnl]

...The first was my Techno. The beefy awesomeness and craftsmanship was out of this world to me at the time. The other time was with the Pingo, last night. The utter joy, excitement, a gasp and plain wow surpassed what I felt with the Techno. I LOVE this knife.

It's not weird that that Pingo took your breath away.

....Now the question is, am I crazy for being this picky? Lol

I wouldn't call you crazy or picky. I don't know how much your Pingo is moving, but as Deacon stated, my are solid.


Welcome to the forum and we hope you enjoy your new Spydies.

[mcb]

It's not weird that that Pingo took your breath away.

I wouldn't call you crazy or picky. I don't know how much your Pingo is moving, but as Deacon stated, my are solid.

Welcome to the forum and we hope you enjoy your new Spydies.

Thanks! I definitely do and will. I've been playing with it just to make sure I'm not crazy, but I can definitely feel and hear the movement. I probably normally wouldn't care but with no users reporting any problems with blade play or even blade centering, I think I just got unlucky with this one. Like I said, no biggie! Have the orange handle coming Friday according to tracking number and should get my other black handle next week. Those will be put to use and this one will either go in the drawer or gifted.

[garyhh44]

mcb the pingo is a non lock back knife. The play you feel or seem to feel is the norm.
Part of it's character. The pingo is fun just plane fun.
I have two pingos a black and a orange one
The orange one lives in my left front pocket 24/7
The black pingo lives on my work bench.
I use it to cut all kinds leather, it is one of the
best leather knives I have ever used.
Enjoy your pingos.

You All Have A Good Day
GHH

[RadioactiveSpyder]

I agree! The Pingos are great little knives, my black one usually rides along with my Domino... Many welcomes to the new forum members posting in this thread! Cheers, Radioactive

[adairjs]

I have an orange and a black, and both are centered pretty well. I haven't noticed any give or play, but, since I have to carry something tiny (Manbug) while working on a university campus, I only use a Pingo on weekends, and that means for opening packages and other light tasks. I don't understand the mechanics of knives at all, but wouldn't a slip joint be the most likely type of knife to display the kind of flexing mcb describes?

Should there be anyone reading this thread and considering buying a Pingo, I'd have to add that it is my second favorite Spyderco (behind the Zulu), but, perhaps because of the somewhat plain FRN handle scales, it never seems to look as good in photographs as it does in your hand. Can't say I really like the orange, either, but that's a matter of taste, not a criticism. Kind of a shame that cool red color seems to be reserved for training knives. Anyway, to my mind, the Pingo is the perfect EDC knife, rivaled only by the Dragonfly2. Now, if Spyderco would give us a version with handle scales like the Zulu...

[Mallus]

My two Squeaks from the same factory have been free of blade play, should that tell anything. I guess you just draw the short straw like I have with over half of my back locks.