how centered are your blades... REALLY?

m0urning_cr0ws

m0urning_cr0ws

Joined
Dec 13, 2010
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92
this question does not apply to lockbacks, slipjoints, axis, etc, only to liner and frame lock knives.
we seem to make a big deal about blade centering when closed but... how centered is your blade really?
the reason i ask is this: i am the proud owner of a spyderco sage 3. the f&f is perfect, and when its closed, the blade is centered perfectly... BUT when its opened and i look at it with the edge side up, i notice the blade leans slightly to the left. So in truth, the blade is off center and when closed the frame lock pushes it to the right thus making it seem its centered when closed. So has anyone else noticed this in their knives, and does it bug anyone that their blades are not centered when open? Also, why do we prefer the blade to be centered when closed but dont really make a deal of it when its open? (I could fix this, but then it wouldnt be centered when closed. Should i try to find a happy medium?)
any thoughts on this?
 
The tips of my Sebenza and Umnumzaan are perfectly centered (I measured to the best of my ability with some calipers). The tip of my LH Military almost touches the scales, and I can hear it scrape the side when I put pressure on the blade to open it--it's annoying. I'd make more of a fuss about it if I wasn't using it as a beater knife.
 
yea but i mean why doesnt anyone make a deal about an uncentered OPEN blade? technically you are cutting with a (slightly) crooked knife no? it kinda bugs me but not a whole lot, my sage 3 is only slightly off center when open.
 
Unless you notice it when cutting, I don't see the big deal. I'm not fussy about off-center blades unless it rubs the handles.
 
i dont really care if its not centered unless its rubbing the liner. i hate that.

i just checked my sage 3 and it is perfectly centered both open and closed, good to go!
 
so... for sage owners... which pivot pin doyou tighten? im ised to knives with only one pivot screw, but the sage has a torx screw on both sides of the pivot? just in case i want to tweak it later...
 
m0urning_cr0ws said:
so... for sage owners... which pivot pin doyou tighten? im ised to knives with only one pivot screw, but the sage has a torx screw on both sides of the pivot? just in case i want to tweak it later...
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If I recall correctly from my Sage 2 before I traded it off, one of the screws won't move because there is an indentation milled into it. The other one is what you use to tighten the screw. Should be easy to figure out which screw you need to turn.
 
I have plenty of liner locks and frame locks. And even the most uncentered ones are still within what I consider acceptable. A big majority of them are very well put together and appears to be "perfect."
 
m0urning_cr0ws said:
yea but i mean why doesnt anyone make a deal about an uncentered OPEN blade? technically you are cutting with a (slightly) crooked knife no? it kinda bugs me but not a whole lot, my sage 3 is only slightly off center when open.
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If somone want precision in the cutting they are doing to that extent (.0001) then a pocket knife is not the correct tool for the job. Think about it. If it's that important to you fixed blades would be a better option.
 
Turn your "closed" knife blade up and look at how it sits between the scales/liners. The tip should be as close to center as possible because that keeps the blade from rubbing on the scales/liners for the entire length of the blade -- tang to tip. If the tip of the blade isn't centered, it's no big deal but if it isn't the wider part of the blade as you go back toward the tang will surely rub and over time, as it loosens/settles in, it could possibly get to the point where it is difficult to close.

Of course the asthetic appearance of a centerd blade tip between the scales/lines is paramount to some people too.
 
RevDevil said:
If somone want precision in the cutting they are doing to that extent (.0001) then a pocket knife is not the correct tool for the job. Think about it. If it's that important to you fixed blades would be a better option.
Click to expand...

this is true, but really i meant it more from an aesthetic point of view, no one seems to care if the blade leans a bit to the side when open. in my experience almost every framelock or linerlock ive had, when holding the knife spine side up, it kinda leans to the right.
 
Sometimes, a blade needs to be bent/krinked in order to make it "lock-up" (engage the locking point) properly with the linerlock/framelock and to center the blade tip between the scales/liners. Therefore; when you open the blade and sight down the handles, the blade will appear to be out of line with the handles (lean left/right) or perhaps even appear to veer off to the right or left. Doesn't hurt a thing -- just part of the knife making process.

To get a really good idea of how much bending/krinking is done on some knives take a look at a 3-blade Stockman knife or a knife with more than 3-blades.
 
RevDevil said:
If somone want precision in the cutting they are doing to that extent (.0001) then a pocket knife is not the correct tool for the job. Think about it. If it's that important to you fixed blades would be a better option.
Click to expand...

or a sebenza haha
 
m0urning_cr0ws said:
this is true, but really i meant it more from an aesthetic point of view, no one seems to care if the blade leans a bit to the side when open. in my experience almost every framelock or linerlock ive had, when holding the knife spine side up, it kinda leans to the right.
Click to expand...

Gotcha, but unless you whip out some calipers no one can really notice. If it is noticeable to the eye, then that knife must not be well made or something is flawed in the overall workmanship/specs. I've got an XM-18 in my hand and I honestly cannot tell. It is more than likely an optical illusion that draws your eye that way because of the way the cut out of the frame is laid out. :confused:
 
I believe you're are referring to your Sage 2?

The Sage 3 isn't a RIL nor a Liner Lock.

My Sage 2 is centered when opened and closed, but neither bother me TOO much.
 
Not an issue for me - as long as the knife locks up securely and it is not rubbing against the scales or other hardware.

I spend a lot more money on cars, and I can find LOTS of fit and finish issues with those - and the cost is much more than the knives I buy.
 
My sage 1 is perfectly centered.. and yes i do like centered blades... just shows he quality andmanufacturing elegance of that blade... im opinion ...

It the sage 2 open is a lil off.. i honestly dont think it matters are your not performing sugery with the thing =p
 
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