How much do little imperfections bother you on a traditional knife?

zippofan said:
Only two things make me send a knife back, significant wobble and a blade hard against the liners. I've had to send a couple to Case and they fixed me right up. As was said, my pickyness is dependent on price paid. A $30 Utica or Uncle Henry will get a pass where a $100 GEC or Schatt & Morgan wouldn't.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Wobbly blade no way. Or rubbing the liner. Those would go back. But off center a bit is no big deal. Loose scales obviously would also have it going back.
 
I am the picky sorts... but, I have noticed that even the best of factory produced knives can vary quite a bit from specimen to specimen. I have new Case knives that are perfect (as perfect as any man made item can be)... but others that are just in the okay range in overall execution. Same pretty much goes with all the other makers knives that I have a few specimens of. Obviousy, some makers seem to get it more consistantly right than others. The higher the price tag, the less mistakes I am willing to accept. I mean, if a knife cost me 20 bucks, and another 150 bucks... well, ya know what I mean ;) Amazing lately with my purchases of some Rough Riders, they not only being so inexpensive, but my having a few specimens of theirs that make it into my most perfect fit & finish list of knives. For instance, my best f&f Rough Rider is better overall than any of my Utica Cutlery knives. Of course Utica knives are not the costliest, nor top tier, but obviousy more costly than the Rough Rider brand. Just another example why I do not judge overall quality construction and such on price..... each item has to be measured and judged on it's own merits. Flaws?... some bug me more than others... and of course the degree of the flaw (like a tiny scratch vs. a large one). I understand mistakes happen... to error is human, and human craftsmanship can be awesome. But again, the more I pay for a production factory knife, the more I expect my extra dollars to get something made more carefully, with less mistakes. Maybe that is asking too much, but in my way of thinking, it's not... again, imo :)
 
Last edited:
sunandsteel said:
How bout a new knife with centering off a hair? I'm fairly new to the knife game so not sure if this is acceptable.
Click to expand...
Is it a custom knife you're asking about? Or a mass-produced factory knife?
On a on-of-a-kind custom, it may be something that you could take issue with.
On a production knife, churned out by a factory, that is normally well within the QC tolerance. If there were a whole staff of cutlers examining each piece for 100% perfection before they left the factory, the knives would have to quadruple in price.
 
Casey4545 said:
I've only sent one production knife back, and that was due to an overly wobbly blade. I don't mind mismatched scales, centering, or even weird blade grinds. The one thing I do fix on my own if its an issue is the spring being flush when open. Otherwise it just feels weird against my thumb or finger in use, but this is usually as easy as 5 minutes with sandpaper to correct. I've even tweaked a few customs to get that perfect flush fit. I guess gaps in liners if its a new knife are bothersome also, but I have SOOO many old beat up well loved ones I don't really mind
Click to expand...

Could you explain how you make the springs flush when open?
 
sunandsteel said:
How does this centering look to you guys?

d5979d39-bbd4-4d0f-a8ef-bf435714b9f7_zps4c02a34d.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
Click to expand...

That's terrible!!!!! That's going to lead to blade rub!!!!! Check it closely for blade wobble!!!!!! I sure couldn't live with it!!!!!!!!! I'd want it out of my house ASAP!!!!!! Send it back, send it back, send it back!!!!!!
 
based on the question in the op my answer is; not at all.
the only things that bother me are blade wobble or if the blade rubs the liner badly enough to mar the edge. most anything else will not impair the ability of the knife to cut stuff and thats what i have them for. lol
 
wouldestous said:
most anything else will not impair the ability of the knife to cut stuff and thats what i have them for.
Click to expand...
Exactly.
And, thinking further in this vein, more and more overly-picky consumers sending back their knives to the manufacturer essentially drives up the cost per knife (or at least drives down the manufacturer's profits, forcing them to raise prices to compensate or else lose money and go under).
If it doesn't affect the functioning of the tool, it's not an issue. Unless, of course, it's a piece of artwork first and foremost, in which case you're going to have to pay artwork prices, not tool prices.
 
I purchased a Case HTR Trapper in rosewood (The one with the saw, gut hook and blade) last weekend, I didnt notice till I got home that there was a chip in the corner of the wood cover on the non-shield side, the chip exposes the brass liners, so its more than just cosmetic. Its a beautiful knife and it will be used on camping trips and the like... but Im sending it back to case to get fixed tomorrow. I can deal with cosmetic issues with no problem, but I see this as damage and the knife is new :P

I only own a few knives, and its the first one Im sending in. I hope I get it back before the Spring camping season hits.
 
[quote Ed]That's terrible!!!!! That's going to lead to blade rub!!!!! Check it closely for blade wobble!!!!!! I sure couldn't live with it!!!!!!!!! I'd want it out of my house ASAP!!!!!! Send it back, send it back, send it back!!!!!! [end Ed's quote!]:eek:

Ed you forgot!! It's gonna make the sky fall!!:eek::eek:


Merry Christmas!!:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top