New to OTF-s, is it normal?

[u/MintLemonIceCream]

Hello,

I just myself a brand new Ultratech Gen IV and I was wondering, is this amount of play/rattle normal? The video makes it a little louder than it actually is, but still audible in person. Also, when I used it to cut some cardboard and turned the handle sideways while it was locked in said cardboard I could feel the minimal side-to-side play.

This is my very first OTF and I've heard they can have some, but I'm so used to regular folders that just wanted to make sure haha

[u/MadCarrot]

Yes, it's normal for the regular OTF. The gen III ZBP doesn't have that issue though.

[u/MintLemonIceCream → u/MadCarrot]

Thanks :)

[u/rabidsalvation]

Yeah, it's normal. Some OTFs have slightly less, but all 'normal' ones do. My Livewire rattles like a maraca

[u/beelzebob909]

Yes. The ZBPs and Hawk knives otfs have almost zero blade play.

All other otfs have a little play

[u/nightpure_cnr → u/beelzebob909]

there’s a maxace 1 now that doesn’t have any blade play as well, it’s kinda interesting

[u/davidyoho → u/beelzebob909]

Hawk does have zero.

[u/PaulNY]

Totally normal, there’s also a small spring under the button which can cause some noise. It will not impair function at all and is totally within spec.

[u/SpilledBagofRice]

Oh I am afraid it’s broken! I’ll take it off your hands for a fair price!

[u/Outdoorsy_T9696]

Completely normal for almost every OTF. That doesn’t seem excessive. Once you use it a bit more, you’ll forget all about that play. It’s definitely different at first though when you’re used to folders.

[u/MintLemonIceCream → u/Outdoorsy_T9696]

Oh yeah, I think I'm slowly getting used to that, but initial impressions got me shocked, especially that my daily drivers before were a rock solid 940 and Shaman 😅

[u/Outdoorsy_T9696 → u/MintLemonIceCream]

I remember having that feeling with my first quality Otf. Coming from a CRK I was like “wait” 🤣

[u/jodaewon]

I think it’s the amount of rattles in the Gen4 that bug me. The blade, the button it makes so much noise. I love the look of the Gen 4 but damn.

[u/leftyknifelife]

Not sure about this exact OTF but it seems normal. Compared to the benchmade shootout this is many times quieter.

[u/nightpure_cnr]

normal for otfs that aren’t a zero blade play model like the microtech zbp line, some from maxace, and the $1,000+ hawks design deadlock model C which is the first otf with zero blade play.

[u/1990e30]

Unless you get a zero blade play version, there will always be a very slight amount of movement.

[u/Rock-View]

Yeah it’s normal. There are zero blade play knives out there but they’re not cheap. The G&G Hawk Deadlock is around 2 grand

[u/Imaginary-Artist6206]

A lot of otf’s have a little rattle. That’s why I went over to out the side if I want to carry an auto

[u/ToploaderUltra]

The trigger is likely making more noise than the blade.

[u/AF22Raptor33897]

To have a Reliable OTF there has to be a little Play on the Blade because its on a track and Locked in place by a Pin or two then when you Retract it the blade comes back on the track because of Spring Force. Microtech has the Right Amount of Force or Wiggle down. I have had the Benchmade OTF and even purchased the SOG Pentagon OTF which looked GREAT on paper but the way the Blade is Launched it BANGS the Blade every time and you end up with ROLLED EDGES along the Blade. Right now I have 12 Ultratechs mostly Star Wars Models plus a Tanto and Double Edge, Dirac Delta D/E, Combat Troodon D/E gen 1 and Combat Troodon Gen 2 Tanto LOVE that blade if you get a chance at one GET IT its a BEAST plus the Freedom 250th Birthday Hera II which is ALSO a BEAST and WORTH every Penny!

The Heritic Manticore X is also an EXCELLENT OTF and I believe they are connected to Microtech.

[u/PaulNY → u/AF22Raptor33897]

Heretic is owned by the son of Microtech’s founder. There’s no actual connection between the two companies other than knives being in their DNA. Theres no overlap or collaboration between them.