First off I am very new to custom knives and new to knives in general. I just bought a new Korth Stinger (from a dealer). Nice knife but the blade is off center when closed. This is intended to be a edc and will be used. Is the any functional reason to be upset about the blade. I realize "Is the blade centered?" seems to be a question asked but what is the reason? Is it simply aesthetics? Thanks.
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Blade Centered. Is it a big deal?
- Thread starter amvet
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GigOne
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Considering the price of some custom knives, people want perfection. They are paying for fit, finish, etc. So yes, aesthetics plays an important part in the equation. . . .for some.
As far as function, it would depend on how far the blade is off center. Is the blade rubbing the liner(s) / scale slab(s) in the closed position or when you open or close the blade ?
Over time, as the parts begin to wear, it's possible for the condition to become worse.
It could be that the pivot screw is lose and needs a slight tweak (tightening).
As far as function, it would depend on how far the blade is off center. Is the blade rubbing the liner(s) / scale slab(s) in the closed position or when you open or close the blade ?
Over time, as the parts begin to wear, it's possible for the condition to become worse.
It could be that the pivot screw is lose and needs a slight tweak (tightening).
As a maker of folding knives, I want the blades to center perfectly. It is a sign of precision and quality.
Linerlocks and framelocks are subject to having off-center blades, because the spring is pushing against one side of the blade when the blade is closed.
If you check your knife for side-to-side blade play, and find it has none, then check your blade. Side-to side blade play is not good, as it can result in lock failure during use. Sometimes the blade grind is not even, causing the tip to be off-center. This is aesthetic only, and won't affect function.
My guess is that you can tighten the pivot screw slightly, and the blade will come back to center.
Good luck!
Linerlocks and framelocks are subject to having off-center blades, because the spring is pushing against one side of the blade when the blade is closed.
If you check your knife for side-to-side blade play, and find it has none, then check your blade. Side-to side blade play is not good, as it can result in lock failure during use. Sometimes the blade grind is not even, causing the tip to be off-center. This is aesthetic only, and won't affect function.
My guess is that you can tighten the pivot screw slightly, and the blade will come back to center.
Good luck!
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Functionally, it is not a big deal. Gig nailed it. RJ confirmed it.
I am a stickler for blade tips being centered. It's the most visual benchmark for precision. There are a lot of variables working against it on side locks, so when it's centered it shows the maker has done a good job.
And, it can very well be a simple tuning aspect. Having assembled scads of kits, I know how to the sideplay and the pivotscrew can be off, and it's many times it's fixed with a 1/16th turn from a driver.
No one from the Korth camp wants to hear this as well. Send them a photo and ask for advice. Their pivot bearing system is not simple.
Coop
I am a stickler for blade tips being centered. It's the most visual benchmark for precision. There are a lot of variables working against it on side locks, so when it's centered it shows the maker has done a good job.
And, it can very well be a simple tuning aspect. Having assembled scads of kits, I know how to the sideplay and the pivotscrew can be off, and it's many times it's fixed with a 1/16th turn from a driver.
No one from the Korth camp wants to hear this as well. Send them a photo and ask for advice. Their pivot bearing system is not simple.
Coop
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I think functionally it is a big deal. If the tip is not centered it may mean that one or more of the "building blocks" or the "foundation" of the folder has been compromised. There are so many things that can cause a blade to not be centered.
Here are just a few examples:
-Blade not flat and parallel
-Handles not flat and parallel
-Backspacer too thick
-Backspacer not flat and parallel
-Holes in blade and handles not perpendicular to surface
-Pivot shaft in crooked
-Pivot shaft to blade pivot fit too sloppy
Tim: I agree-All those items you listed can cause problems. If there is no sideplay, as I said, then there is little danger of the lock failing during use, assuming that the lock-up is good. That doesn't mean that the knife doesn't have other "issues".
Hopefully, he can tighten the screw and improve things.
BTW, nice to see the JYD's up on the Kershaw site! Great job!
Hopefully, he can tighten the screw and improve things.
BTW, nice to see the JYD's up on the Kershaw site! Great job!
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Slightly off topic, but related. I'm a surgeon. I'm very meticulous and I take care to close every incision with precision. I was taught to do this for several reasons. The closure is the only thing that the patient sees. If the closure is perfect, they are very confident that their surgeon did a good job every step of the way (whether or not that is true is another story but perception is everything). If the closure is sloppy, they will (perhaps correctly) assume that the surgeon did a sloppy job overall. The closure itself is important (nice cosmesis and less likelihood of a painful or retracted scar) but it also is an indication of the surgeon's nature. I think you can extrapolate that to knife making to some degree.
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There is no good reason for a folder blade not to be centered.
If your folder is IKBS, the pivot can be quite tight and the action still smooth.
If you have lateral blade play, my bet would be the pivot screw isn't "loctited" and it's getting loose. Tighten it a bit and see if the blade gets centered.
If you have zero lateral play, then I don't know. I've heard that on framelocks you can center the blade a bit if you flex it (opened) towards the side that's too close. I know, it sounds counter-intuitive. I have no idea how this will work on an IKBS bearing.
I have a Korth balisong, the blade is dead centered and there is no blade play (the torx screws are tight and loctited).
If your folder is IKBS, the pivot can be quite tight and the action still smooth.
If you have lateral blade play, my bet would be the pivot screw isn't "loctited" and it's getting loose. Tighten it a bit and see if the blade gets centered.
If you have zero lateral play, then I don't know. I've heard that on framelocks you can center the blade a bit if you flex it (opened) towards the side that's too close. I know, it sounds counter-intuitive. I have no idea how this will work on an IKBS bearing.
I have a Korth balisong, the blade is dead centered and there is no blade play (the torx screws are tight and loctited).
Not every hand made knife is perfect.
Some knifemakers learn and improve. Why denigrate their less than perfect work as long as the knife is fuly functional and represents a best product for the maker?
Not every knife costs more than $500.
Rember, a flaw is "an imperfection, often concealed, that impairs soundness." A new maker can make a perfectly sound knife that may not be exactly centered for any of the reasons given above. Not all of those reasons mean the knife is not fully functional. It could even be good art, although maybe a bit cruder compared to one of the masters.
I have a $240 liner lock from a master smith. He's a fixed blade man getting into folders. The flat thin ground bowie blade is to die for...zero bevel, the real deal. It's got a good heat treat. On one of this master smith's fixed blades, it'd be at least $450. Titanium liners makes a tight package. Elegant yet simple file work on the back spacer rounds out the design. The file pattern is unique. Its handle and ergonomics makes the knife feel as if it is part of your hand.
However, the knife blade is not centered. The blade is off center, but does not touch any liner and the frame is as tight as the proverbial drum. The off-center in no way affects the knifes function. There are a few other minor fit and finish "problems" none of which are "flaws." They're only noticable to a knife nut. If you're not overly critical, they can be seen as "character." I bought it, love it, use it regularly. For $240 it's a bargain and the lock bar, blade position and solidness haven't changed since it was bought. It's not perfect, but it's not "flawed", but then it wasn't bought to be a safe queen or as an investment.
Some knifemakers learn and improve. Why denigrate their less than perfect work as long as the knife is fuly functional and represents a best product for the maker?
Not every knife costs more than $500.
Rember, a flaw is "an imperfection, often concealed, that impairs soundness." A new maker can make a perfectly sound knife that may not be exactly centered for any of the reasons given above. Not all of those reasons mean the knife is not fully functional. It could even be good art, although maybe a bit cruder compared to one of the masters.
I have a $240 liner lock from a master smith. He's a fixed blade man getting into folders. The flat thin ground bowie blade is to die for...zero bevel, the real deal. It's got a good heat treat. On one of this master smith's fixed blades, it'd be at least $450. Titanium liners makes a tight package. Elegant yet simple file work on the back spacer rounds out the design. The file pattern is unique. Its handle and ergonomics makes the knife feel as if it is part of your hand.
However, the knife blade is not centered. The blade is off center, but does not touch any liner and the frame is as tight as the proverbial drum. The off-center in no way affects the knifes function. There are a few other minor fit and finish "problems" none of which are "flaws." They're only noticable to a knife nut. If you're not overly critical, they can be seen as "character." I bought it, love it, use it regularly. For $240 it's a bargain and the lock bar, blade position and solidness haven't changed since it was bought. It's not perfect, but it's not "flawed", but then it wasn't bought to be a safe queen or as an investment.
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Good counterpoint, Brownshoe. There is often an allowance needed.
Coop
Coop
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Very true and well stated. I certainly didn't mean to imply that my work is perfect - I think perfect is a flawed concept (
). We can sometimes get pretty close and it's important to me to try but a trained eye can always find something to criticize. Kohai said it well in a post to another similar thread a while back that there really aren't any perfect knives out there, especially when they're made by hand. One of my favorite folders (by a very sought after maker) has a slightly off-center blade and some imperfections in the blade finish despite being fully functional and beautifully designed.