blade not centered...what to do?

harkamus

harkamus

Joined
Apr 23, 2007
Messages
4,984
Noob question, but if a blade is not centered when closed, what can be done to make it centered?

I guess I'm not really all that worried about it because when I open the knife the blade looks centered. I figured I'd ask though, just in case I could do something.

Thanks ppl.

EDIT: Knife is a ZT 0350.
 
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That's bad news!

You should send it to me, I will throw that sucker away for you!










:D
 
first check the pivot tension, if that doens't work then removee the blade and swap the washers from side to side, eventually you'll find a sweet spot.
 
you can try this:

Open the knife almost all the way (not locked open). Grab the blade in one hand and the handle in the other, put both thumbs on the pivot. Try bending as though you want to break the knife in half at the pivot. Usually bending it the opposite of the way you think it should go works. Now close the knife and see how the blade sits between the scales. If it's moved the right way but not enough then repeat with more force, and if it's moved the wrong way then no big deal, just repeat and bend it the other way. Note that you can't be gentle, it will take a little bit of force to see any change.

Sometimes you have to loosen the handle scale screws a little and do this, then tighten them back when the blade sits centered. (Usuall you can get it close enough without loosening the handle screws.)

This method worked on a few thousand liner lock knives in my experience, so it's worth a shot before you send it in to kershaw.
 
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Will try the pivot screw as soon as I get my hands on the right torx wrench. If that fails, I'll try the washer swap. Should that fail, I will try Al's method.
 
harkamus said:
Will try the pivot screw as soon as I get my hands on the right torx wrench. If that fails, I'll try the washer swap. Should that fail, I will try Al's method.
Click to expand...

Try the pivot screw first, then my method, washer swap last.

Although I actually wouldn't bother trying the washer swap at all. If it needs disassembly to fix then it's not something you should be tinkering with, IMO. Just send it back!
 
If all else fails, call Kershaw customer support. They will take care of your issue.
 
This method worked on a few thousand liner lock knives in my experience, so it's worth a shot before you send it in to kershaw.

Centered blades aren't real common to begin with, and certainly don't affect the function of the knife at all. It's like making sure your flat shoelaces don't get twists - it's a neverending battle.

Use it daily for two years and you'll be happy the blade stays on the pivot. Centering will mean a lot less then.
 
tirod3 said:
This method worked on a few thousand liner lock knives in my experience, so it's worth a shot before you send it in to kershaw.

Centered blades aren't real common to begin with, and certainly don't affect the function of the knife at all. It's like making sure your flat shoelaces don't get twists - it's a neverending battle.

Use it daily for two years and you'll be happy the blade stays on the pivot. Centering will mean a lot less then.
Click to expand...

Depending on the knife I would agree with most of what you said, however, the OP isn't happy with his knife. He wants his blade centered. There are some good do-it-yourself suggestions here and the option of sending back to Kershaw is always available as well.
 
tirod3 said:
Centered blades aren't real common to begin with, and certainly don't affect the function of the knife at all. It's like making sure your flat shoelaces don't get twists - it's a neverending battle.

Use it daily for two years and you'll be happy the blade stays on the pivot. Centering will mean a lot less then.
Click to expand...

The company I worked for was at the upper end of the price spectrum so centered blades were essiental! If the blade on a $400+ knife isn't centered I think it's a legitimate complaint. Hence the developement of proceedures like what I outlined above...
 
It's not the blade centering that really getting to me lately. I noticed when the blade is closed, it cuts into the back of the g-10 spacer. Also, the tip sticks out of the knife handle slightly when closed. I'm getting a replacement for it. I have already gotten an RMA number.
 
my 0350's blade also slightly hits the g10 spacer also. only alittle though if it does go alittle deeper i think i might have to send mine in also.from the looks on it the stop is hitting the frame so i dout it will get worse.
 
Sounds like a possible recurring problem with that spacer matter.

IMHO, the 350 was a step backward for ZT . . .
 
ok i looked at mine in further detail.. my blade does go a little to the left side. i really don't believe that this would affect the performance of the blade in any way. it could prob be fixed very easy but if the knife works fine then what's the prob. it's not hitting the side at all

as for it hitting the g10 mine does also i can see little slash marks in it but it looks like the stop is hitting the frame of the knife now. and it only hit the g10 at the very bottom of the inner g10. about 1/8 of an inch at the bottom of the g10 space. personally i think if u took a tiny file and passed over that part of the g10 just a few times it wouldn't hit at all and it wouldn't effect the product nor would u see it at all. if i do see it get any worse i think i will send it back to them but right now it looks like more then were making it out to be.

if i did take a tiny file and give it like 2-3 passes on the bottom inside of the space would that void the warranty at all?
 
ok i contacted kershaw about this and they got back to me today. they said the blade being a little off centered wont effect anything and unless it's touching the liners don't worry about it. he said sometimes with AO knives they are like that because of the tension on them. also the lock puts pressure onto the blade.

as for it touching the g10 he was surprised . he said my idea was fine to just give the g10 in that area like 2 passes with a small file and it will NOT void the warranty. he told me to do it. he said that if that doesn't fix it he would make sure i got a new one.


mine only touches the g10 ever so slightly so i think 1-2 passes with a file would fix the prob 100% and not effect the performance or looks of the knife in any way.

so if any1 else has this prob this is the solution from kershaw. if it doesn't work then u get it fixed free
 
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The G10 will wear on its own if you use the knife, I wouldn't even bother filing it down, it won't damage the blade.
 
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