Does an off center blade bug you?

Does an off center blade bug you?

  • Not at all.

    Votes: 1 10.0%

  • A little, but I will live with it.

    Votes: 2 20.0%

  • It's going to the spa but if they can't fix it, I'll live with it.

    Votes: 3 30.0%

  • Fix it or sell it, I won't accept a blade off center.

    Votes: 4 40.0%
  • Total voters
    10
Isaacherring said:
Ya the only thing that separates a crk from a zt is tolerances and customer service, with Heather gone and tolerances slipping, is it still worth it?
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I am going to address this to shed some light on the subject of tolerances and tolerances slipping.

Where is this coming from? Did the blueprints escape CRK and the majority gain access to a gage lab/metrology lab? How do you know that the tolerances "slipped"?
Tolerance is the amount of deviation from a nominal dimension that is allowable. It is quite possible to have this deviation between all parts on the plus or minus side of the nominal dimension since absolute perfection is not something that is easily achievable nor feasible.
If some of the parts are using up all the tolerance, then you can have a tolerance stacking issue, but this is somewhat rare and when designed right, the assembly should accommodate it.

Tolerance block for reference
web_ex_tolerancingcriticalfit_tols-300x208.png


So, when you use terms like "tolerances slipping", you are making certain ascertations that you a) have the blueprints and know what the tolerances are and b) are capable of measuring the tolerances.

There is a fair amount of hand working on all CRK folding knives- What most of you are referring to is the assembly and fitment..Not tolerances. They are not interchangeable terms.
 
It would and does really bug me. I have only had a seemingly off center blade on a Zero Tolerance 0808. I tried pivot adjusting. I tried wedging the blade to the side and loosening and tightening handle screws. I really like this knife and the blade will recenter but only for awhile. I even loctited all the screws in said procedure but after a couple days playing with it the blade went offcenter again. It is not way off now and I had to learn to tolerate it.
 
bhyde said:
I am going to address this to shed some light on the subject of tolerances and tolerances slipping.

Where is this coming from? Did the blueprints escape CRK and the majority gain access to a gage lab/metrology lab? How do you know that the tolerances "slipped"?
Tolerance is the amount of deviation from a nominal dimension that is allowable. It is quite possible to have this deviation between all parts on the plus or minus side of the nominal dimension since absolute perfection is not something that is easily achievable nor feasible.
If some of the parts are using up all the tolerance, then you can have a tolerance stacking issue, but this is somewhat rare and when designed right, the assembly should accommodate it.

Tolerance block for reference
web_ex_tolerancingcriticalfit_tols-300x208.png


So, when you use terms like "tolerances slipping", you are making certain ascertations that you a) have the blueprints and know what the tolerances are and b) are capable of measuring the tolerances.

There is a fair amount of hand working on all CRK folding knives- What most of you are referring to is the assembly and fitment..Not tolerances. They are not interchangeable terms.
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Yes, sorry I am referring to assembly and fitment.
 
Having an off center blade is the one thing I can't tolerate . Everything else in life I can live with. But an off center blade I can't.

Something in my life has to be centered. And that is it.
 
No there is much more to it than that, the knife has to be made of quality materials etc but the centering of a closed blade really does not effect the function, I mean you don't just sit and stare at that all day do you ??? ;). I am not much of a folder guy so perhaps I simply take a different view.
 
Yes, very much so. It's the reason why these knives cost so much. Chris even said it himself in this video (within the first 2.5 mins).
[video=youtube;4QiEnhA3n0A]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QiEnhA3n0A[/video]
 
It matters to me, but I voted no since I think coming here to collect public opinion to directly use against a manufacturer is of bad taste. If it matters to the OP, then he should continue to voice his concerns and continued dissatisfaction directly with CRK. The CF models are KnifeArt exclusives. I've read really good things about those guys, so maybe he can contact them as well to see if there's any recourse (trade for same, similar, or store credit).
 
straitr said:
It matters to me, but I voted no since I think coming here to collect public opinion to directly use against a manufacturer is of bad taste. If it matters to the OP, then he should continue to voice his concerns and continued dissatisfaction directly with CRK. The CF models are KnifeArt exclusives. I've read really good things about those guys, so maybe he can contact them as well to see if there's any recourse (trade for same, similar, or store credit).
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I guess you have not been around for the community consultation CRK has been doing. Going back to the manufacturer with our concerns is what they paid a consultant to do.

I'm speaking to them about the issue and want to know if I am being unreasonable in my expectations of a centered blade. I don't think that is the case after the poll. We've agreed that based on material selection the reality is a CF scale blade cannot be kept centered. Public opinion won't change physics.

What I chose to do with the knife really has nothing to do with public opinion. It's just a matter of "Am I being reasonable and in line with the average CRK customer in asking to have it centered.".

I had no idea the CF would have this characteristic and I don't think many others did either.
 
JustinFournier said:
I guess you have not been around for the community consultation CRK has been doing. Going back to the manufacturer with our concerns is what they paid a consultant to do.

I'm speaking to them about the issue and want to know if I am being unreasonable in my expectations of a centered blade. I don't think that is the case after the poll. We've agreed that based on material selection the reality is a CF scale blade cannot be kept centered. Public opinion won't change physics.

What I chose to do with the knife really has nothing to do with public opinion. It's just a matter of "Am I being reasonable and in line with the average CRK customer in asking to have it centered.".

I had no idea the CF would have this characteristic and I don't think many others did either.
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First, no, I don't think you're being unreasonable. The expectation of fit and finish when buying a CRK is different then buying say, an Emerson, and fit and finish is to be expected. They don't win all those quality manufacturing awards for knives with blades that can't be centered. So, I'm not saying that going back to the manufacturer with concerns is a bad thing, in fact it's quite necessary. That said, I based my initial judgement on this statement, where it certainly sounds like you were poised to use this thread against them...

JustinFournier said:
Thanks for all the continued input, this is a valuable thread I'm going back to CRK with.
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Either way, my suggestion is to keep the conversation going with CRK or try contacting KnifeArt (unless you bought it second hand, I can't remember if you said that or not).
 
I should have spoken more carefully. I'm not in some kind of litigation or anything. I made a request and they came back with the answer I posted above. I wanted to make sure I was being reasonable and not expecting more than the average customer nor asking them to go above and beyond reasonable expectations when I got back to them.

KnifeArt actually has sent knives directly back to CRK for this issue but it's not going to change physics.

It comes down to this. If you want a blade to be, and stay centered; don't buy a CF scale.
 
JustinFournier said:
I should have spoken more carefully. I'm not in some kind of litigation or anything. I made a request and they came back with the answer I posted above. I wanted to make sure I was being reasonable and not expecting more than the average customer nor asking them to go above and beyond reasonable expectations when I got back to them.

KnifeArt actually has sent knives directly back to CRK for this issue but it's not going to change physics.

It comes down to this. If you want a blade to be, and stay centered; don't buy a CF scale.
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Well I'm sorry that you've figured this out the hard way, but grateful that you shared as I've been waiting on KA to get the small CF Insingo back in stock. I guess I'll grab a micarta at this point. Good luck.
 
straitr said:
Well I'm sorry that you've figured this out the hard way, but grateful that you shared as I've been waiting on KA to get the small CF Insingo back in stock. I guess I'll grab a micarta at this point. Good luck.
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If it saves put people from going through this as well, it was worth it.

I'm too much of a perfectionist as it's part of my personality and my job. I need to learn to live with less and stop mistaking my standards as everyone's.
 
All my Spydercos, ZTs & Benchmades appear centered. I'd expect nothing less from a knife costing three times as much.
 
I have been fortunate enough that all of the CRKs I have bought and sold (30+) had all the blades perfectly centered (based on my own visual inspection).

I have to admit that I would have been put off and would be very bothered if I bought a CRK that was off centered (especially for collection pieces). However, I am perfectly open to let CRK do warranty work on a piece which needs to be fixed. I know for a fact that they will go above and beyond to fix the issue/s if your knife genuinely has a problem.

I have personally owned 3 KnifeArt exclusives with the CF slab and they came perfectly centered from the day I bought them to the day I sold them.


Tapatalk.
 
ice_man said:
I have been fortunate enough that all of the CRKs I have bought and sold (30+) had all the blades perfectly centered (based on my own visual inspection).

I have to admit that I would have been put off and would be very bothered if I bought a CRK that was off centered (especially for collection pieces). However, I am perfectly open to let CRK do warranty work on a piece which needs to be fixed. I know for a fact that they will go above and beyond to fix the issue/s if your knife genuinely has a problem.

I have personally owned 3 KnifeArt exclusives with the CF slab and they came perfectly centered from the day I bought them to the day I sold them.


Tapatalk.
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I guess you got lucky buddy. I quoted CRK as this off centering of the blade on the CF is a known issue and when present cannot be fixed permanently. Yes, I bought it for collection purposes, which obviously will be difficult to serve.
 
Hell ya it would bug me. Matter of fact I sent my brand new insingo back to CRK to have it centered. Came back perfectly centered then after a couple weeks went back to slightly off center. Eventually I got used to it. Now it's back in Idaho getting a clip point blade installed and I forgot to request specifically that the new blade is centered on the form I sent with it. Gonna call tomorrow and let them know it matters to me just in case!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
It's surprising to me that people don't expect a centered blade on a $400 knife. Most of the $8-12 rough riders I've bought were centered. I'd send the knife back for a refund.
 
Just wondering, did you disassemble the knife and reassemble it? Doing so may very well center the blade. Sometimes the knives may be assembled and torqued in a way that causes them to be off center, and a little work at home can fix this.
 
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