Blade centering: do you care?

elkins45

elkins45

Joined
Jun 17, 2006
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When I have knives up for sale I often get emails asking if the blade is centered. Truth is I don't usually know unless it's so badly off-center that I can see or feel it rubbing against the liners. I can understand why that would be a functional problem. Unless it's really off-center it's just not something I've ever cared about...but it seems there a a lot of people who not having a perfectly centered blade is a deal breaker.

Do you care if a blade is perfectly centered? If so, why? Help me understand why that is such a big deal.
 
I care when it is a more expensive blade. To me it is part of the fit and finish. I feel it isn't as nice as it could be. I like symmetry in my knives, and I feel this breaks this. It is anal, i know, but it bugs me none the less
 
If it's going to be a user I'm not that concerned as long as it functions properly. If it's a piece I am going to put up or a more expensive piece I would prefer it to be as close to perfect as possible.
 
Knife <$30 and it isn't scratching up the blade and ruining the action...no. Otherwise, yeah it would annoy me. If it's off a hair and not scraping the blade, I'd be most inclined to forget about it.
 
Not really. I have a couple knives that don't have centered blades and it doesn't affect performance in any way. The OCD part of me wants them all to be perfectly centered, but as long as the blade isn't rubbing the liners and getting dulled or scuffed up I don't care.
 
Like others have said, it depends on how much I am paying for the knife and how much off-center it is.

If it is slight and doesn't affect the performance of the knife then I am ok with it.

If it is dramatic it is a problem, because I have had certain knives that continued to worsen as I used them over time until the blade was making contact with the scale.
 
I hate uncentered blades in any blade but particularly in higher end knives. When a $10 Chinese knockoff can be centered on almost every knife, I don't think I'm asking too much for the same in a high end knife.

This is a pet peeve of mine because either the holes are not aligned from production, the blade is not straight or the knife was just not assembled with enough care. But a minute amount on either side is ok. As long as it appears mostly centered.
 
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Hi elkins45 -

I do prefer that a blade is centered as closely as possible.

I have found that after I tune a knife I can generally get the centering close enough to satisfy me.

I guess this is the one "obsessive-compulsive" trait that I have in regards to knifes.

Not a deal-breaker to me, but it is something that should be noted in a sale.

best regards -

mqqn
 
On more expensive knives I consider it important. I believe more care and attention to fit and finish and small detail are some of the reasons I'm willing to pay a premium.

For the most part, if the blade is offset slightly from center, as opposed to sitting crooked, it usually isn't a big issue for me.

Kevin
 
It isn't the biggest deal to me, but I much prefer it. Often an off center blade can be indicative of larger problems, and I have had knives where it got worse over time, eventually touching the liner when closed.
It depends on the price I paid for the knife if it is going to be a major problem or not. If I just paid $200 or better for a knife, I want it centered.
 
As with the other replies, if the knife is more expensive, I want the blade perfectly centered. If it is less expensive, say $80, I'd still like it perfectly centered, but could live with it slightly off - as in I have to look closely.
I wouldn't want to pay >$100 for a knife and have it way off center. It is a function of how much it is off.
I have a Walker liner-lock from Spyderco that is a little off, but I have to look really closely to see this. It doesn't bother me.
 
As long as the blade doesn't rub I could care less on a production knife.

Now on a Custom it better be centered. ;)
 
If it is a hand-made, hand-fitted, sole authorship custom, then yes, I expect the blade to be centered. If it came out of a factory, where production capacity demands looser tolerances, then no, I just expect it to function.
 
Thalestin said:
I care when it is a more expensive blade. To me it is part of the fit and finish. I feel it isn't as nice as it could be. I like symmetry in my knives, and I feel this breaks this. It is anal, i know, but it bugs me none the less
Click to expand...

I like them centered, it's a sign of good craftsmanship in a folding knife. Not anal, just want what I pay for in a folder over $100. Not too much to ask. ;)
 
I tell myself blade centering isn't important, as long as it doesnt rub. Reality is, I tend to love the knives with the centered blades the most.


SMFvbladecenter.jpg
 
It's not something that bothers me unless it way out of wack.

But if it's an expensive knife it should be pretty close.
 
I have heard of people talking about blades being centered in the forums from time to time. The thing is I don't believe I've ever really looked at any of my knives to see if the blades are centered or not. I can remember once when I picked up a traditional knife and the blade rubbed the brass liner. (I didn't buy that one.) I had another where the sharpened blade made contact with the spring when it was closed. I only realized what was happening because I couldn't keep it sharp. Got rid of that one. I never even looked that closely at my Sebenzas. if they open, cut, and close like they are supposed to I'm happy. So put me firmly in the do not care camp...or maybe in the never bothered to look.


It would be cool if someone could post pictures of an off center blade. I'd like to know exactly what people are talking about. Is it just that the blade is offset towards one side or the other or 'bent' one way or the other? (I realize that it could easily be just a blade that is ground improperly rather than actually bent)

Grizz
 
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