Blade Off Center or Tight !

[rpttrsn]

I purchased a handmade liner lock folder awhile back and felt that the blade was to tight to open. The first thing I did was to back off slightly on the pivot screw, located under the bolsters. This corrected the problem opening, to a acceptable level. The problem it created was to knock the blade off center when closed. There is no side play in the blade when open. There doesn't seem to be a happy medium although this could be it. The blade in the closed position is now just clearing the liner opposite the lock. This was one of the early folders that the maker made and was priced right. It was worth the money I spent so I'm just looking to improve on the knife. The pivot pin does not seem to be very thick and the head on the pin have been ground down somewhat to fit in the recess under the bolster. Any thoughts on improving the centering when closed yet keeping it easy to open? I no longer have the use of a lathe to make another pivot pin/screw.
Thanks,
Ron

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

If you can disassemble the knife, you could polish the inside of the pivot and the washers/bushings, if it has any, and the pivot contact surface of the blade itself. With all of that polished out and properly lubricated, you should be able to tighten the pivot a bit more, and still open it relatively smoothly. That's probably what I'd try first.

 

[rpttrsn]

David,
Thanks for your suggestion. It got the best of me tonight. I did remove the blade, two bronze washers on each side of the blade, bushing and the pivot. One side having a female thread ( blade rides on this ) and the other having the screw going into the female pivot pin. As you mentioned the pin is below the surface of the titanium frame. What I did find is that the pivot is to sloppy for the hole in the blade. The pressure from the frame lock against the blade pushes it to the opposite side. If the pivot was a better fit this would not have as much effect on the blade. When I make it tight it overrides some of the pressure but makes the blade harder to open. Loosen the screw and the play in the pivot becomes greater. I feel now that unless I make a pivot with a better fit this small issue I have will remain. Then again a new bushing might be easier. Again the knife with a Damascus blade, Anodized Titanium frame lock, Sambar Stag scales was purchased at a reasonable price. No complaints there. Thanks again for your insight.
Ron