Blade centering: do you care?

I don't really care as long as there's plenty of room between the liners. If it's perfectly centered that's just kind of a bonus. If the actual blade itself is off center as opposed to the pivot, that's fairly annoying.
 
I might be moderately annoyed if it rubbed the liners, but I don't know if I would be upset enough to send it back.

I'm a balisong enthusiast, so blade rub is relatively common.
 
In a weak moment, I bought 3 Chinese knives for $12 each. All were perfectly centered. If the Chicoms can do it, I see no reason why everyone else can't.
 
If the knife is designed for the blade to be straight, then it's a matter of precision in how the cut is made if the blade is not centered and straight. Some knives do have blades that are designed to be offset (noticably multibladed ones), but the design is such that the blade is designed to cut at that geometry. I find that a blade that's offset left (looking down on it) is comfortable when cutting in my right hand; whereas a blade offset left is not.
 
I'm pretty particular about blade centering myself. I have thirty dollar spyderco's that were made in China with perfect blade centering and lock up. If That can be achieved I definitely expect it from higher end knives. Especially knives I intend to collect. I don't mind it being a hair off centerif it's going to be a user. But usually I'll just pass until I can find the same knife that is centered. I actually got negative feed back from a sellers once because I didn't want to buy an auto with the blade contacting the handle. I guess it's just a matter of preference.
 
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A.P.F. said:
In a weak moment, I bought 3 Chinese knives for $12 each. All were perfectly centered. If the Chicoms can do it, I see no reason why everyone else can't.
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I can't tell you how many years it's been since I heard or read that word....Chicom....lol :D :thumbup:
 
Well, I expect higher-end knives to have centered blades. It is a matter of fit and finish and it something you pay for with the higher prices. I think Frank is right with $125 being the price were centered blades should be a certainty when shipped.

On a $25 mass produced knife...not a consideration so much as long as the blade is NOT rubbing the liner.
 
I never even looked at a cenetred blade ( and really still don't). If it rubbed, I would have an issue, but if not then I can't see caring.
 
I would be kidding myself if I said it doesn't matter. Needless to assume which one you would pick if the prices were the same. A centered blade tells a lot about build quality and its maker's attention to detail. So, yes, I care, especially for higher priced one.
 
I used to care but no longer do, in general. I got a Paramilitary 2 and Orange Military this year with off-center blades, and I just don't care. I didn't buy either knife for looks. Bottom line: it doesn't affect function.

At the same time, I'd expect a centered blade on a CRK or custom.
 
I truly wish I could get to where you are with that attitude but alas, virtually every time I deploy one of my nice knives, I don't just use it, I visually admire it and sort of linger with it before I close it and put it back in my pocket. Unfortunately, that moment of admiration and molestation of my knife as I contemplate putting it back in my pocket also includes looking at the closed blade centering specifically. It's a sickness of mine that I wish I could lose but as I stated in my earlier post, a smidgeon off either way is not a big deal if it is 95% centered at least.

KeithAM said:
I used to care but no longer do, in general. I got a Paramilitary 2 and Orange Military this year with off-center blades, and I just don't care. I didn't buy either knife for looks. Bottom line: it doesn't affect function.

At the same time, I'd expect a centered blade on a CRK or custom.
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Reeek said:
I truly wish I could get to where you are with that attitude but alas, virtually every time I deploy one of my nice knives, I don't just use it, I visually admire it and sort of linger with it before I close it and put it back in my pocket. Unfortunately, that moment of admiration and molestation of my knife as I contemplate putting it back in my pocket also includes looking at the closed blade centering specifically. It's a sickness of mine that I wish I could lose but as I stated in my earlier post, a smidgeon off either way is not a big deal if it is 95% centered at least.
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I think there might be a money issue when talking about centered blades etc.

Personally I separate Custom and Production as they are different so we can expect different things from them.

If a production knife costs $250 it's still a production knife even if it costs $400 so I don't expect perfection.

Now a Custom knife should be as close to perfection as the maker can do it before it leaves the shop.

With all that said there are Some production Companies that have raised the bar on Quality and or F&F and they should be commended for it IMO. I think all of these go above and beyond the so called norm. :thumbup:

Spyderco
Kershaw
Chris Reeve
Strider
Hinderer
Bussekin
 
I never used to think about it untiI I bought an Emerson CQC 11, which has a blade so off centre ,that there's actually a small scuff mark on the blade from where it rubs the lining on opening and closing. It irritates me because I spent quite a bit on that knife and yet I have some much cheaper folders with perfect centering.
The only way I've found to keep the blade from rubbing, is to tighten the pivot bar to the point where the knife is a bit difficult to open.
I'm not sure which is worse. In any case it's a reminder that even companies with highly regarded, expensive products sometimes make a bit of a lemon. [I have a number of other Emerson folders with nicely centered blades]
 
Ankerson said:
With all that said there are Some production Companies that have raised the bar on Quality and or F&F and they should be commended for it IMO. I think all of these go above and beyond the so called norm. :thumbup:

Spyderco
Kershaw
Chris Reeve
Strider
Hinderer
Bussekin
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I don't think there's been much of an issue with blade centering on any of the Busse knives I've seen. :D

I'm the OP and I think I've discovered that I agree with a lot of folks in the thread who have made a distinction between production and custom knives. Even though I don;'t really care about blade centering, I would expect it in a handmade custom knife because that kind of precision is what you're paying custom prices for.
 
I would prefer a centered blade, but as long as it doesnt rub the liner, if its less than 125 dollars or so its not a deal breaker.
 
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
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:thumbup: I think not having the blade centered would be a huge turn off.
 
As stated previously, higher priced knives should be centered well. Lower priced knives get a little slack b/c of the price point. We are supposed to get what we pay for, correct?
 
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