I've accumulated a few budget priced automatic/switchblade knives over past few years. It has been my experience that most have an inherent propensity to become a little "loose" in blade lock-up over time. Mainly in the vertical lock-up.
However, I was expecting a little more from Ganzo's new autos. Specifically, the 7361 which I just received a few days ago. The knife was perfect out of the box, but in just two days of playing/opening the action it has developed a slight "snick" of play in the vertical lock-up. Mind you, I never cut with it or put any pressure whatsoever on the blade. I'm now inclined to believe that all switchblades are prone to this and believe it is a direct result of the camming mechanism of the crossbolt lock-up.
Am I right in my assessment? Is the action of this particular Ganzo 7361 faulty or the Norm?
That’s an interesting question. I don’t notice any blade play in any of my autos but they are mostly toys, so I don’t actually EDC them most of the time. I was just looking at my Boker Mini Kalashnikov and it has the same design as my Ganzos. From looking at it, it seems like it’s just a matter of time before it gets blade play just from the detent smashing into the bar over and over. But again, in hundreds of deployments, none of them show any play.
It probably depends on the force you put on it, too. People tell me all their Spyderco lock backs have vertical play and none of mine do, so maybe I don’t stress the locks enough. Either way I’m impressed by the G719. I gave a few G707s away for Christmas and everyone loves them, but I think the G719 has a better build quality.
I would have gone for the 719 except for the fact it only has one side... Can't stand knives that don't have same handle on both sides. I call them "one-eyed-jacks".
My bud down the street has a 719..will check and see how it's holding up.
Just to be sure...I am referring to Vertical play. When the blade is locked up grab the back-top of blade and pull up then push down. My sample has a small Vertical "tick" of movement to it. Side to side is tight.
Although I do have some other Ganzo, Sanrenmui examples that exhibit a minute play in both directions. First thing I do to all my Chinese knives is give them brass washers where possible. Of course it does not help with the play at all but does loosen up the action quite nicely..
Matter of fact, I just got another Sanrenmul 9063LUC-GH for $18 local ebayer that had brass washers in it already, that surprised me, normally they have the cheap white plastic washers, not even teflon...
Well, as I mentioned in another topic I created a little wiggle in my 718
Took several hours of hammering on it cuttng of branches of bamboo. (yes I should have used a fixed blade they are on order :laughing:
The other one just arrived today, it is bigger and sometimes I could hammer on the handle, and well that probably was giving it too much force so the wiggle could start.
I have to continue with the work, waiting for the fixed is not an option, so will use the new one, larger blade, possible to only slam that part. report back in a few days to tell how it is holding out.
. Can't stand knives that don't have same handle on both sides. I call them "one-eyed-jacks". 
