Opinions on folding knife blades being centered.

Ten dollar knife isn't expected to be center. $30 or more I would prefer centered but as long as lock up is fine I don't give a crap because on center when closed doesn't affect its performance if it locks up fine
 
As the owner of rather expensive off center knives.... I don't really care unless it's physically touching the liner.
 
Sometimes the blade is actually centered, but when freehand grinding the grind itself can be slightly off. It takes a lot of practice to grind a blade perfectly symmetric. So taking that into account, as long as the blade does not rub I am happy.
 
I would like my folders centered as much as possible. A little off-centered is acceptable as long as it doesn't rub the liners.
 
My Sebenza 25 is not centered. I bought it from CRK at Blade the year it came out. It still seems to be very well made. I haven t disassembled it. The centering is just slightly off. It doesn't t bother me.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
Rubbing the liner is never acceptable, other than that my level of tolerance for it is inversely proportionate to the cost of the knife.
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Agreed that a blade touching the liner and/or handle scale depending on design is not acceptable at any price level. But if I'm buying something like say a Chris Reeve or Hinderer... it darn well better be centered or very close to the point of being easily adjusted out.
 
Personally, I'd be just as concerned by a manufacturer or rep telling me I was being A/R as I would be about the centering. To me, both are unacceptable. I like centered blades. I consider it a sign of quality and pride of manufacture. Besides... it's my money I'm spending so what's "important" to me about the knife I'm buying is what I say is important, not what the maker says is important.
 
In the words of Mr. Hinderer..
"A centered knife doesn't necessarily represent a perfect knife".. some blades/knives preform better when they are a little off centered.. otherwise you can start binding things.
Although, I do appreciate a centered knife, it isn't a deal breaker for me as long as the knife functions properly..
 
Normally doesn't bother me at all. Have had a few BM's that were off center, and didn't give it a second thought. If it doesn't affect performance, and I actually intend to use the knife, it will get much worse cosmetic issues than a blade that is slightly favoring one side. Really in terms of cosmetic issues its pretty low on my list because you have to look for it to notice.

I think above $200 like others have said, it should be at least very close. That is what you pay for in higher priced options, better fit and finish, and sometimes materials. Anything under $200 and I am more lenient just because most of mine are intended as users anyway.
 
Edge retention or ease of sharpening is more important to me. My 112 sits on my hip every working day. Just checked and its not centred and indeed wobbly when closed. Open its tight and sharp. I profiled and polished edge first day i got it and never had to do anything other than stop with green copound since. What it does when shut means nothing to me
 
Me, I'm too picky. I often buy two of the same knife, choose the better one and return the other. Unless it's a CRK, which are pretty much dead on every time. At least my 10 have been. I'm probably lucky.

But that's just me. Mine are all pretty much mid-tech ($400-$500 range) so I want them to be spot-on.

Seems it bothers some, and not others. But being called "AR" would have me returning the knife to the seller immediately. And telling that rep off a little very quickly, too.

I guess I'm AR when the t comes to spending my money, too. Live by the sword, die by it.
 
It needs to be close. Not perfect but close to it. I can tolerate a little off centering. But not much. Of course I would like it to be perfectly centered but life is not perfect.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
A polite rep telling me it was within spec would be annoying, but possibly understandable. A rep telling me that I was anal retentive and I would immediately start a thread in the GBU subforum naming the manufacturer and relating the poor level of customer service I received.
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yup, you know, the knife I can deal with. The way things went down verbally are unacceptable. Headed to GBU later.
 
If it's a knife I'm using I don't worry about it very much. If you try to sell a knife that is relatively new but not centered, I think this will turn off some buyers.
 
DangCat said:
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DangCat-- Frankly, the knife pictured is a piece of crap if that's how you received it new. I think I know whose knife it is but not certain so I won't post it. But, please, post in THIS thread the company and knife model shown, as well as in GB&U (GBU gets far less viewers). Tell us what it is--they're jacking with you. My guess is you paid well over $200 for it and that it's at least a semi-custom.

You do realize they're attempting to screw you after you attempted to handle this privately, right?

As to your story about being patronized into acceptance by the manufacturer's "anal" jibe, if you don't raise holy hell and send it back to be made perfect or a refund, you're a wuss. :) Provided you have been accurate, the story you have told here is absolutely unacceptable and I'd publicize what happened everywhere, including the side of the GoodYear blimp. A maker attempting to manipulate you like this privately should be exposed for the benefit of everyone here. No way that should be tolerated.

If nothing else, I want to know who is doing this to you just so *I* can stay away from them. Do us all a favor and post HERE who made it and is behind this nonsense.​

As to the subject, it's amazing to me the rationalizations I see some have posted for accepting a costly off center blade--"Wayel, if it dudn't rub thuh sides, so whuutt?" Sheesh, they're either too lazy to do the return or can't bear the thought of having to be without their new knife for a few weeks so they keep a dud forever.

All of you rationalizers spent good money on a flawed knife...and others who own the same thing are likely walking around with a perfect piece. What amazes me even more is that all of you who accept such shoddy, mediocre work are only increasing the likelihood that some maker is going to attempt to foist the same thing on ME. Acceptance of such P'sOS is what allows such practices to continue and expand. To be cowered into acceptance because you fear someone might think you anal is, to me, the height of poltroonery.

I'd love to get some of you rationalizers across a negotiating table. With the lackadaisical, please-don't-whip-me, "I dun' wanna make no truhhble" attitudes some of you seem to have, I'd take your freakin' panties.
 
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