Need help on uncentered blade....

Locutus D'Borg

Locutus D'Borg

Platinum Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2012
Messages
5,212
Blade is not centered, really close to side but not rubbing (barely). I would take it apart, but not sure what to do next. If someone could recommend a BFer with experience in this, I would pay for the effort. . The knife seems really tight and solid otherwise. I have very few tools anymore, so I could unscrew the pivot but not sure what next other than replace washers. .

Browning, made in Japan (stamped on blade), supposedly made by Tak Fukuta who made knives for Browning. Don't know year of manufacture, but probably early 2000's. The mark on the blade is actually cut through the blade, and it doesn't look Japanese. K KenHash

I don't care about centering since it doesn't rub, but plan on either selling or giving away and I know others care so I figured I'd try to have it centered.

IMG_3387.JPGIMG_3388.JPGIMG_3389.JPGIMG_3385.JPG

IMG_3386.JPG
 
Last edited:
I'm gonna work on it on my own. No more replies needed at this point. I guess I'll keep the thread alive to update youse guys (I was raised in NY).
 
Unfortunately, when we moved across the country and downsize, I gave away my vises, clamps, and other stuff.

So I still would like the name of a BFer that I could send it to if it involves more than just cleaning the washers. Because in studying it, and incorporating the ideas of people above, this may be above my pay grade. Naturally, I would pay.
 
The cutout in the blade is Browning's "Buckmark" (deer/buck head logo).

I hate to state the obvious, but the first thing I would do is adjust the pivot screw and see if that helps (I'm assuming you've already tried this).

Have you contacted Browning? It looks like they still offer that model. From what I've read Browning offers a limited lifetime warranty on their knives for defects. If they can't fix it perhaps you could get an exchange or a refund.

As far as having the knife "fixed", first, I can't see any fasteners holding the handle scales on. That leads me to believe the lower portion of the knife is pinned together, and that the pins are concealed under the scales, and that the scales are epoxied in place.

That would mean that a full disassembly of the knife would require someone to defeat the epoxy, then un-pin the knife. Then reassembly would require re-pinning, and re-epoxy of the handles. That's no small piece of work. And to make the task more complicated it's my understanding that fossilized mammoth ivory is extremely brittle.

From what I know of highly-skilled knife repair persons, you might end up spending a few hundred dollars for the process I just described (if you could find one willing to attempt the job). And that's not counting the actual "repair", which might not even be possible depending on the cause. So you could spend (lose) a few hundred dollars and get back the knife with the same problem.

My advice would be to contact Browning before trying to take the knife apart, or sending the knife to anyone else for an expensive attempt at a repair.
 
Locutus D'Borg Locutus D'Borg I'm afraid killgar is right, since the scales aren't screwed on it would be very complicated to remove them. What you could try is to remove the clip and loosen all the screws on the bolsters, then use a wedge to get the blade centered in the handle, then gently tighten the pivot down and then tighten the other bolster screws and then screw the clip back in. If that doesn't work then I'd contact Browning before sending it elsewhere.

If the liners are bowed then that's a whole different mess . . . but it might help if you could post well-lit close-up pics of the blade/lock engagement area, both open and closed, that could show useful info.
 
Last edited:
Twindog said:
You might want to check out this thread, which is how Benchmade techs center a blade. No tools needed.

centering-a-benchmade-blade.1495117
Click to expand...
Good call on that post! I was just about to make a slightly pessimistic post saying that I've tried all the tricks I'vs seen online and none have really worked for me, however I just tried that one on my PM2 which has always been way off-center and it actually worked! I think before I just never pushed hard enough. Now I'll see if it stays centered. Good post ChazzyP ChazzyP !
 
killgar said:
The cutout in the blade is Browning's "Buckmark" (deer/buck head logo).

I hate to state the obvious, but the first thing I would do is adjust the pivot screw and see if that helps (I'm assuming you've already tried this).

Have you contacted Browning? It looks like they still offer that model. From what I've read Browning offers a limited lifetime warranty on their knives for defects. If they can't fix it perhaps you could get an exchange or a refund.

As far as having the knife "fixed", first, I can't see any fasteners holding the handle scales on. That leads me to believe the lower portion of the knife is pinned together, and that the pins are concealed under the scales, and that the scales are epoxied in place.

That would mean that a full disassembly of the knife would require someone to defeat the epoxy, then un-pin the knife. Then reassembly would require re-pinning, and re-epoxy of the handles. That's no small piece of work. And to make the task more complicated it's my understanding that fossilized mammoth ivory is extremely brittle.

From what I know of highly-skilled knife repair persons, you might end up spending a few hundred dollars for the process I just described (if you could find one willing to attempt the job). And that's not counting the actual "repair", which might not even be possible depending on the cause. So you could spend (lose) a few hundred dollars and get back the knife with the same problem.

My advice would be to contact Browning before trying to take the knife apart, or sending the knife to anyone else for an expensive attempt at a repair.
Click to expand...
Thanks very much. Adjusting the pivot did nothing. Couple things: I bought it on the exchange 2 or 3 years ago. And even though it looks lie it rubs, it doesn't. So I'll just use it and not worry. And at some point I'll give it away to someone. Really appreciate your insightful post.
 
I thought of some things I would do if this was my knife:
1. Try as I described above, messing with the pivot - after - removing the other screws in the bolsters. If no luck, then

2. Remove the pivot and bolsters, then put the pivot back in, using washers in place of the bolsters, and see if it centers. If so then the problem is a slight misalignment of the pivot hole(s) in the bolsters with the pivot hole(s) in the liners, which could be fixed by slightly sanding the protruding section in the bolster(s) - not the liners! If no luck,

3. Check the liners to see if they are in fact bowed. That would be bad, not sure how to fix . . .
 
fishface5 said:
I thought of some things I would do if this was my knife:
1. Try as I described above, messing with the pivot - after - removing the other screws in the bolsters. If no luck, then

2. Remove the pivot and bolsters, then put the pivot back in, using washers in place of the bolsters, and see if it centers. If so then the problem is a slight misalignment of the pivot hole(s) in the bolsters with the pivot hole(s) in the liners, which could be fixed by slightly sanding the protruding section in the bolster(s) - not the liners! If no luck,

3. Check the liners to see if they are in fact bowed. That would be bad, not sure how to fix . . .
Click to expand...
Really appreciate you input. I'll fiddle with the pivot some more. I'm not sure I want to attempt #2. I guess I can have someone with more tools and experience than me try that. Know anyone? I will pay for your, or anyone else's, time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top