Blades that aren't centered

It doesn't bother me too much as long as it isn't anything excessive. I buy a knife for performance not looks and so far I've yet to see how blade centering affects performance.
 
When you are as anal as I am, then an uncentered blade just ain't going to fly. As said above, learn how to fix them and you have no worries. I have done this on several occassions and it has worked very good, and those knives have not gone out of center since then.

Sometimes it is simply a matter of tightening up al the frame screws, and other times the blade may have to have pressure applied. Usually it happens, an uncentered blade, because the knife in question does not have the pivot area "seated" as it should be.
 
It bugs me if a higher end knife is off center. It is an easy fix to center it but, It still annoys me.
 
LX_Emergency said:
Depends on what I paid for it.
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kreole said:
Knives are tools, i.e., they have a purpose, and as long as they can perform it, there's no reason to fret over an imperfection. As long as they aren't hitting the scale, they'll work fine. Just my two cents.
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If I bought a knife for a couple of hundred, I would expect the blade to be centered. That degree of fit and finish would be a reasonable expectation in a fancy knife.

But I don't buy knives that cost several hundred dollars, so for me it is a "nice to have" not a "gotta have". I notice when I first get the knife and inspect it. After that I don't notice it as long as it isn't hitting anything.
 
For me, the greater the price, the more centered it better be. I sold a knife that was off-center and the buyer returned it, so I'm probably more sensitive to it now.
 
I think the major concerns of knife manufacturers are that the knives perform in the manner they were designed to, and that they perform safely. Obviously they want the knives to look appealing to potential buyers.That being said, since a centered blade is not required for good functioning, it would be interesting to see some manufacturers speak up, and say whether a centered blade is even a part of their QC. In regards to an appealing appearance, I would guess that the majority of knife buyers (which means people not members of this forum,) could care less if the blade is not perfectly centered.

Tony - Each person certainly has the right to choose what things are important to them, but the points you made regarding car doors, car seatbelts, rifle safeties, smooth functioning bolts and shooting straight are not good comparisons in the least. All of these things you mention (which we all also want,) pertain to their functioning properly. Not one pertains to the aesthetics of an item. As long as the blade isn't being impeded by the scales or liners, then it functions as it should. In addition, if they had to readjust each blade not dead center, or dispose of each knife that can't be dead centered, I would imagine that prices would go up. I guess it behooves a person who wants their knives to look a certain way, to go to an actual brick and mortar store, and make sure the knives they buy are they way they want them. As an example, many moons ago I purchased a shotgun. The dealer had just got in about 30 of this particular model. He let me open all 30 boxes and pick out the one with the nicest wood. Can't do that if i had bought it over Gun Broker online. YMMV!
 
It bothers me and I consider it a flaw. I bought an expensive custom from a dealer, the blade was not centered and I sent it to the maker so he could fix it. He called me after getting the knife and told me it wasn't too bad and was only off a little. He didn't fix it so I sold it and would never buy another knife from that maker. Quite a few high end tactical customs seem to have the off center blade problem. It seems like carelessness to me, especially when you see a knife by a maker that doesn't have the problem and realize it can be done properly if the maker actually cared.
 
If it's an easy fix then it should never leave the MFG that way on a high end production or custom folder. If it's not an easy fix like a warped blade or defective pivot or pivot bore, then you either return it if you can or you're stuck with it until it can be sold. To me, if I'm stuck with it after contacting the maker that's the last time I go there. If the company or maker considers a certain level of off centered blade normal then their warranty specifics should clearly state it. Don't let it be a surprise after the fact. And they should always look at the knife if a complaint is lodged because what if it really is a warped blade or bad/bent pivot and not just an adjustment that should have been done before it left the factory in the first place?

When I sell a knife, I always address the blade centering in my description and post pictures of the blade centering. Unfortunetaly, if you are up front about a bad center and you are forced to sell it because you aren't happy with it, you are probably going to take a loss . . .
 
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saw45 said:
Tony - Each person certainly has the right to choose what things are important to them, but the points you made regarding car doors, car seatbelts, rifle safeties, smooth functioning bolts and shooting straight are not good comparisons in the least. All of these things you mention (which we all also want,) pertain to their functioning properly. Not one pertains to the aesthetics of an item. As long as the blade isn't being impeded by the scales or liners, then it functions as it should. In addition, if they had to readjust each blade not dead center, or dispose of each knife that can't be dead centered, I would imagine that prices would go up. I guess it behooves a person who wants their knives to look a certain way, to go to an actual brick and mortar store, and make sure the knives they buy are they way they want them. As an example, many moons ago I purchased a shotgun. The dealer had just got in about 30 of this particular model. He let me open all 30 boxes and pick out the one with the nicest wood. Can't do that if i had bought it over Gun Broker online. YMMV!
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We're all entitled to our opinions right? I want a dead center blade. Period. Thank you for pointing out my faulty comparisons. Let me use better ones.

When I buy a new car I'd like the wheels to be aligned, no tears in the interior, and no scratches to the paint job. When I buy a new rifle I don't want chips in the blueing or scratches on the body. When I buy a new knife I want that blade to be dead center. If that costs me an extra $5.00 for each knife then so be it.

Some of us don't have Brick & Mortar shops around. If I want to check out a knife first hand I have to find a local Gun & Knife show. I just think I shouldn't have to compare ten or fifteen of the same exact knife to find one that is centered. They should all be centered.
 
If it doesn't inhibit the opening/closing of the knife then I don't think it's
a huge deal. However, I just posted that my CRKT Drifter that is 18 bucks
and made in China is PERFECTLY centered. I cannot say that about my:

Spyderco Delica Waved ($65 made in USA),
Kershaw Leek Black/Gold ($50 made in USA),
Spyderco Tenacious ($35 made in China),
Benchmade 940 ($125 made in USA)

Only other two I can think of that line up dead
center are my Microtech Mini UDT $100 and
Lone Wold Lobo ($200) both USA Made.

Now I look at the issue of being centered a little more just
cause I think if the Drifter can do it, everyone above that
price point should have no excuses.
 
knifezoid said:
Spyderco Delica Waved ($65 made in Seki City, Japan.),
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Fixed it for you. ;)

An off center blade does bug me a little but usually I can fix it so it's not a big deal. I wouldn't send it back unless the blade was rubbing the liner or impeding function in some other way.
 
An off-center blade is a flaw and reflects a lower manufacturing standard. Like everything, you get what you pay for, therefore in cheaper knives that's probably acceptable, even expected, but not in more expensive knives. Having said that, I will not buy a knife that doesn't have a perfectly centered blade. :)
 
Well FYI it costs over $500 and has a damacsus blade so obviously I'm going for looks as well as function. Thanks for all the responses and I hope there are more to come.
 
sidecutter said:
seems like very few of my folders are perfectly centered when closed. never thought about it that much. but if its something you just cant live with..... take a 16 oz. ball peen hammer, remove your right shoe, and then smash your big toe.... HARD !!! now you'll forget all about that little knife problem. :D
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This method seems to work with most minor problems, at least until you're home from the hospital.
 
I had a talk with Chris Reeve about centered blades. He was sayig that there are many different possible reasons for uncentered blades. One major one is that most companies grind the blades down before heattreat (thus softer metal) and the heat treating process causes the metal to warm slightly--causing uncentering. Other ways include slightly imperfect grinds etc.

Chris and other production companies and custom makers get cursed by this because very small imperfections become significant once they reach the tip of the blade. This was the problem with my sebenza, and many other knifes including a custom Yuna I have. Some makers will make it right and will suck up the loss, others will not. It is extremely ridiculous to expect a knife maker to toss every blade that is even slightly off center. I think thy should sell the knife as a discount, however, to toss each one would raise the cost significantly. I have quite a few blade that are slightly offcenter. Do they work fine? sure do. Does it bother me a bit? sure does. I still love some of the knives I have that are uncentered, including my Yuna. Just love and use your knives, and forget about the little crap. It will make you a happier person and add years to your life :D
 
I can tolerate a small amount of off-center but yes, would prefer all blades to be perfectly centered. The knives can function just fine even the blade is slightly off-center, and that's the most important thing, but it still does bother me a little bit.
 
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