the importance of blade centering

The more knives that leave the factory with perfectly centered blades, the less hate threads you see on Blade Forums.
 
A centered blade is a cosmetic thing. If you buy knives to look perfect, then it's important. However if you use a knive, it won't be perfect for long.


I have a $200 custom that has an uncentered, but not rubbing blade. I knew it wasn't centered when I bought it, it's never moved, I like the knife, it looks good. It's not centered because the knifemaker is new at folders, but he is a master smith, thus the handle feels like an extension of my hand and the the blade has a perfect almost zero flat grind. The off-center blade is not the only fit/finish problem, but the price point and overall functional quality is good. The heat treat is so good that it holds a great edge, I dropped it, the tip hit concrete, and it bent a hair, no chips, no broken tip. The beauty of old school 440C heat treated by a master...but with an off center blade.
 
I do not buy a working knife only to keep it pristine for my surviving family members. It is a tool nothing more nothing less. The 1st time you use it and subsequently sharpen it the bloom is off the flower. If it was acquired as a collectable item I will take care not to "mar" it. I have some previously owned knives that though collectable have wear. I cannot do anything about the condition of them before I got them.
 
Off center blade and/or 50%+ lock-up on liner locks are deal breakers for me. I just can't live with that.
 
I don't mind if it's slightly off center. Every knife I buy is a user and I have yet to get into the whole "safe queen" mindset.

But if it's rubbing the liner, I won't even bother with it.

There are knives in which I actually crank the pivot deliberately till the blade is off center. But that is more for rock solid lock-up than anything else. I'd rather be a little off center but have zero blade play.
 
RevDevil said:
1. It's a sign of the craftsmanship/workmanship of the knife. Meaning that everything is lined up, straight, and true.
2. Shows the liners and blade are not warped by machining/heat treating
3. Keeps the OCD folks in check, quiet, & in control.
Click to expand...

I was gonna say that when I get a knife with an off-center blade my eyes start twitching, I start drooling, and my hands get shaky... but I'll go with Rev's answer. To me, it really is a sign of pride of workmanship and a desire to give the customer the best product possible, even if it's not the most expensive piece a company produces. Pride and care in their lower-to-mid range line tells me more about a company than I'd learn by just focusing on their high end stuff.
 
If a folder hasn't been loctited, I think it's ok if it requires some slight adjustment when new; ie, seller might have tried to flip it to test it, screw might have slightly unscrewed itself during shipment, whatever -- point is, if it's not loctited (Which some manufacturers and custom makers don't want to do; maybe they want to allow the customer to adjust the pivot themselves.), and requires some slight adjustment because the blade is off center, then I don't think that's a flaw, or error; the screw has simply been untightened, and needs to be tightened.
 
I am OCD.
So, for me the question is:
Is there a reason why the blade shouldn't be centered?
 
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