my stretch came perfectly centered . . .

G

gitarmac

Joined
Jan 20, 2001
Messages
401
. . . and today I noticed the blade is way off, the tip almost rubbing the side. What would cause this?!

I only have had it a couple days. Today I had it in my pocket with some keys as I mowed a lot. The key scratched the top of the blade, which is of no concern to me.

I don't understand how this could happen. I guess I need to take it apart and investigate. I may have dropped it, I don't remember this but I drop things.

What a bummer.
 
The pivot screw likely moved a fraction. I'd tighten it back to center and if it holds your good, if not put a drop of locktite on the pivot screw threads and adjust to center and you'll be good.
 
Now I'm wondering if I imagined it was centered when I got it. I also recent got a zdp stretch, maybe I confused zdp perfection with superblue perfection.

But no, that doesn't sound like me. Any real knife knut like myself, would immediately check that, along with the usual details.

I'm so upset I'm doubting myself. I'll post a pic later. I've never had this happen with a spyderco. A Benchmade yes, not a spyderco.

I'm going to EDC something else until I figure this out. I'm not sure what's more disturbing, the off center blade or the notion that I missed this upon receipt of it.

Can I send it to spyderco for repair?
 
gitarmac said:
Now I'm wondering if I imagined it was centered when I got it. I also recent got a zdp stretch, maybe I confused zdp perfection with superblue perfection.

But no, that doesn't sound like me. Any real knife knut like myself, would immediately check that, along with the usual details.

I'm so upset I'm doubting myself. I'll post a pic later. I've never had this happen with a spyderco. A Benchmade yes, not a spyderco.

I'm going to EDC something else until I figure this out. I'm not sure what's more disturbing, the off center blade or the notion that I missed this upon receipt of it.

Can I send it to spyderco for repair?
Click to expand...

It's honestly not a big deal. Just tighten the pivot screw - chances are it will center back up. If it moves again add some locktite.
 
I already loosened it and retightened it. I had not done anything to it until now, other than opening and closing it. I figured when I loosened it, it would pop back into place, then I would just retighten it. It really wants to stay to one side, where it's at not.

I got it this week, carried it to work (microbiology lab) where it sat on my bench in the AFB room, or nestled gently in my labcoat pocket. I cut a total of 2 apples and 1 tomato, opened a few vitamin packets, and sharpened it a few times, weather it needed it or not. It didn't. Oh, and the twine that was wrapped around the lawn mower blade.

So I'm a little bummed right now. At least I'm over the constant fondling stage that comes with the purchase of a new knife. It was making my trigger thumb flair up.

I'll mess with it some more maybe later.
 
I have bent handles before, just slightly. Too much lateral force will bend it. Might be the case for your Stretch?
They usually spring back though.
I don't really recommend this, but with the knife closed, carefully try to bend it and you'll see the blade move away or toward and handle side... then you'll see what I mean.

Like mentioned, this is not going to be a warranty issue, unless maybe it's bad enough to prevent fully closing or opening, but it doesn't sound like it is.
Don be so bummed about it. Just use it and enjoy it.
 
I'll get over it. Eventually.


At least I won't be afraid to use it hard, like it was meant to be used.
 
gitarmac said:
I'll get over it. Eventually.


At least I won't be afraid to use it hard, like it was meant to be used.
Click to expand...

This is worth a try.

1. Loosen all screws
2. Fold a piece of paper and insert as a "shim" between the scale and the blade. Do this on the side of the knife that you want your blade to move away from.
3. Tighten the screws and adjust pivot to desired tension. Don't over tighten the screw holding the lock bar.
4. Remove shim and check centering.
 
Last edited:
singularity35 said:
This is worth a try.

1. Loosen all screws
2. Fold a piece of paper and insert as a "shim" between the scale and the blade. Do this on the side of the knife that you want your blade to move away from.
3. Tighten the screws and adjust pivot to desired tension. Don't over tighten the screw holding the lock bar.
4. Remove shim and check centering.
Click to expand...

Agree with Chuck, I have fixed centering issues before with this method.
 
Heck, it's worth a try. The more I think about it the more I think I never checked the centering at all. I had just gotten the zdp stretch a few weeks before and was enjoying it's perfection. The superblue one opens very smoothly. If I hadn't looked at it I would not have suspected a thing. But I can't unknow what I know so the superblue one is back to being my favorite again.

I'm going to try the shim trick, thanks for posting. It will give me an opportunity to use my bit kit I got a few years ago.

There is a hilarious meme thread in the general knife discussion forum. This one reminds me of me.:highly_amused:
EC09969E-291D-426C-ADE9-3C8B8197607D_zpstdi4ybez.jpg
 
gitarmac said:
Heck, it's worth a try. The more I think about it the more I think I never checked the centering at all. I had just gotten the zdp stretch a few weeks before and was enjoying it's perfection. The superblue one opens very smoothly. If I hadn't looked at it I would not have suspected a thing. But I can't unknow what I know so the superblue one is back to being my favorite again.

I'm going to try the shim trick, thanks for posting. It will give me an opportunity to use my bit kit I got a few years ago.

There is a hilarious meme thread in the general knife discussion forum. This one reminds me of me.:highly_amused:
EC09969E-291D-426C-ADE9-3C8B8197607D_zpstdi4ybez.jpg
Click to expand...

5 days is a party for me. One month is the usual. Haha...
 
singularity35 said:
5 days is a party for me. One month is the usual. Haha...
Click to expand...

Same here... These days its a bit of a lottery to receive packages via our post office system (industrial action, strikes etc). I've been waiting since end of Dec 2014 for my backup SB Stretch to arrive. No sign of it yet... :(

If it arrives and the blade is off-centre I will be ecstatic!
 
Brock O Lee said:
Same here... These days its a bit of a lottery to receive packages via our post office system (industrial action, strikes etc). I've been waiting since end of Dec 2014 for my backup SB Stretch to arrive. No sign of it yet... :(

If it arrives and the blade is off-centre I will be ecstatic!
Click to expand...

Haha, true.
 
I have decided to sent it to spyderco and let them make the final decision. I havn't gotten around to it yet, I was going to pack it up this week but got a cold. The weeks not over yet so hopefully I can get it in the mail.

I also have decided that I like zdp steel better anyway.

My lunch knives used to be my salts. When I got my first stretch, the zdp one, I started using it for my various and sundry tasks, like lunch duty. It slices so well! Even if I cut meat on a glass plate - I get no flat spots!

I went back to using my salts for my lunch knives but they don't have that laser like quality I like to have in a lunch knife. Also, I used my zdp stretch to cut some fruit and did not clean it till the next day. Even though it was covered in mango juice there was no rust or corrosion at all! I'm always clipping it to my waistband when I'm on my way out to do yardwork. My tenacious used to be my yard work knife because i didn't' feel bad if I used it hard.

I will rotate the superblue stretch into my rotation, someday. But the zdp is now my favorite steel. I can touch it up using my smith tri-stone easily.

I actually have a zdp endura on order. I will examine it carefully right away. I was torn between that and the caly but liked the screws and the pricepoint of the endura.
 
I usually do but it was fine.

Now I need to find the "my blade didn't rust is my zdp fake" meme
 
I bought a Native 5 in carbon fiber when they first came out and no matter what I did the blade would scratch against the liner of the knife. A mark formed after just a couple open/close cycles. I sent it into Spyderco to have them look at it and they sent it back with a note saying it was within tolerance. I clamped the blade to a flat surface on both sides and took pictures to prove that the blade was actually bent (by a significant amount) and asked Spyderco if they were sure that their blade straightness tolerance was greater than the width of the opening the blade will fit in. They answered that NOTHING COULD BE DONE FOR ME. The knife was clearly out of tolerance or else what is the point of having tolerances if you're going to make them allow interferences.
 
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