Tips on getting a Emerson knife centered.

colubrid

colubrid

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Nov 26, 2005
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Okay I admit I have a thing for perfectly centered blades and early lockup. But this one Emerson I have is ridiculous.

I have leaning blade that leans as soon as you tighten down the pivot screw.

I took it apart and the washers are two different sizes. So I didn't want to switch sides with them but wonder if that could cure the problem. Not sure why there are two different size washers to begin with.

Basically the knife centered when the pivot is loose and the blade wiggles and scratches the side liner while opening. So tghat is not an acceptable open to leave it loose.

But as soon as you tighten it you can see the blade move to the lockbar side.

Frustrating cause I can usually fix this on Spydercos and such by loosening the grips screws and bending the knife so the layers realign and then tighten the screws gradually from the botton to the top screws and viola the blade is centered.

....but not this Emerson, with only two screws on each side of the grip that trick don't work.


So I am thinking it was the ball detent bar on the opposite side of the lockbar pushing on the blade causing the leaning. So I checked it and it was barely sticking out. So that was not causing the leaning blade either.

Any idea on how to fix a leaning blade that leans as soon as you tighten down the pivot screw?


Does Emerson do any warranty work on such a thing to perfectly center the blade. IS there anything even wrong with my Emerson? and I just am to stupid to figure out how to fix it?
 
Oh! and the knife is brand new except the previous owner messed with it so much he told me he took it apart over a half dozen times to try and smooth it out.
 
colubrid said:
Oh! and the knife is brand new except the previous owner messed with it so much he told me he took it apart over a half dozen times to try and smooth it out.
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You really only need to take it apart the once and get the gunk out, any more (without use) is redundant. Opening and closing will break it in better.

I have owned just a few Emersons and don't recall different sized washers. I would switch them and see if that works. The previous owner may have unknowingly done that.

No doubt someone more experienced will come along to help.

I hope you get it situated. Pics?
 
benchwarmer380 said:
You really only need to take it apart the once and get the gunk out, any more (without use) is redundant. Opening and closing will break it in better.

I have owned just a few Emersons and don't recall different sized washers. I would switch them and see if that works. The previous owner may have unknowingly done that.

No doubt someone more experienced will come along to help.

I hope you get it situated. Pics?
Click to expand...


Yes one washer is big and the other is small. Ovbious huge difference in the washer sizes. I wonder if the previous owner had problems and did this now or are they supposed to have two different size washers?
 
BTW I was not the one who took it apart more than 6 times. It was the previous owner. The blade is new and the knife brand new. He just mentioned (before the sale) he did this to get the opening and closing perfectly smooth..

AND I know that is not necessary..!


I actually leave the grit in a new knife and open and close it at least 300 times before cleaning as that break in with the grit polishes things better before cleaning and adding new grease. That is why I prefer to get a gritty untouched Emerson if I can and not one that has been messed with so much..

It is obvious this is a brand new knife. Just got to figure out why the previous owner dissamebled it so many times. He did a great job because I can't see a mark or sign of the screws being buggered with. So he at least had good tools. nOw I just need to figure out why the blade leans. I am sure it is an easy fix once I know what causes it becaue their are no crooked liners or blades and the ball detent is hardly pusing the sides of the blade.. so it must be something with the washers.
 
Looking at my mini-15, I can see that I do have two different size washers. The larger one is on the lockbar side. Mine has never been disassembled. It's just the way it left Emerson's shop. I'm the original owner. It was hand-picked from NGK's stock when I visited their B&M a few months ago. It was NIB when I opened it up and handled it for the first time.

I'm in Locust Grove, BTW.
 
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this common occurrence has been addressed here many times. I have a Journeyman that was just like yours, wouldn't center when the pivot was adjusted to my liking. I tried all the tricks, using paper shims etc. But finally I got it to be perfectly centered by loosening all screws including the pivot and slowly and in very small increments tightening the screws from the farthest screw from the pivot in on the scales. Then when all the scale screws were tight I tightened up the pivot and it stayed right where I wanted it.
 
jharpphoto said:
this common occurrence has been addressed here many times. I have a Journeyman that was just like yours, wouldn't center when the pivot was adjusted to my liking. I tried all the tricks, using paper shims etc. But finally I got it to be perfectly centered by loosening all screws including the pivot and slowly and in very small increments tightening the screws from the farthest screw from the pivot in on the scales. Then when all the scale screws were tight I tightened up the pivot and it stayed right where I wanted it.
Click to expand...

^^ That.
 
my 2009 commander had two different sized washers. My roadhouse had the same size washer. I ordered some more from emerson and slapped them in each knife after break in and was happy with the results: smoother opening and no squeaking. Make sure one of the washers wasn't bent in any way (had it happen on the commander and really messed up blade centering).
 
jharpphoto said:
this common occurrence has been addressed here many times. I have a Journeyman that was just like yours, wouldn't center when the pivot was adjusted to my liking. I tried all the tricks, using paper shims etc. But finally I got it to be perfectly centered by loosening all screws including the pivot and slowly and in very small increments tightening the screws from the farthest screw from the pivot in on the scales. Then when all the scale screws were tight I tightened up the pivot and it stayed right where I wanted it.
Click to expand...

gooeytek said:
^^ That.
Click to expand...

I knew they would come out of the woodwork. Let us know if it works out for ya.


I understood that it was the previous owner. Sorry about my poor wording. I meant you as a generalization not you personally.
 
I called Zmerson today and spoke with Rachael who explained that when one takes apart an Emerson the blade can lean if one does not put it together right.

Here is what she said.


I should loosen the grips screws until they are very loose but not falling out. Then loosen the pivot 1 1/2 times from where you wanted it. Then open the knife.

Now tighten the grip screws from bottom up and then tighten the pivot. Then close the blade.....IT WORKED!
 
When I initially tightened the the grip screw before I called Emerson and spoke with rachael I used the Spyderco method with the blade closed and then flexed the grips causing the blade to move over and then tighten the screws from the bottom up. That works for Spydercos like a Millitary. IT DOES NOT WORK FOR A EMERSON!

When doing this with an Emerson the blade must be open and no flexing the grips necessary. They just align themselves if one follows Rachaels exact method.
 
colubrid said:
...loosen the grips screws until they are very loose but not falling out. Then loosen the pivot 1 1/2 times from where you wanted it. Then open the knife. Now tighten the grip screws from bottom up and then tighten the pivot. Then close the blade
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That is great to know. Thanks for sharing that!
 
I know this is an old thread, but I looked it up and subscribed to it because I just got a new Traveler with a blade that was slightly off. Rachael's method worked perfectly! It even helped the lockbar settle in to just the right spot on the tang. Now the blade is centered and the lockbar fully engages the tang for the width of the lockbar. IOW, the entire lockbar face is engaged on the left side of the tang. Looks to be about 20% lockup and very solid.

Thanks to Racheal and Colubrid for sharing this.
 
+1 to this method. I centered the Traveler in exactly this manner, and it worked beautifully.
 
Late to the party I know, but if a knife has a previous owner, it ain't new in box.
 
colubrid said:
I called Zmerson today and spoke with Rachael who explained that when one takes apart an Emerson the blade can lean if one does not put it together right.

Here is what she said.


I should loosen the grips screws until they are very loose but not falling out. Then loosen the pivot 1 1/2 times from where you wanted it. Then open the knife.

Now tighten the grip screws from bottom up and then tighten the pivot. Then close the blade.....IT WORKED!
Click to expand...
Before I get flamed for resurrecting a zombie thread let me state that I just followed, for the first time, the above advice and I feel like I have a brand-new knife!!

My 7AW is one of my favorite Emersons and the 7 is what got me hooked on Emerson knives. But it has been getting little-to-no pocket time because the blade was just so tight and difficult to open. It actually required two hands to open! And I couldn't wave it. Quite sad.

I had tried adjusting the pivot but had to leave it quite tight in order to keep the blade from touching the liners. I also opened and closed the blade hundreds of times; all to no avail. So, after over a year, I decided to take the plunge and took the knife apart. After cleaning out the gunk, Blue Lubing the washers, and reassembling according to the above instructions -- my 7 is now smooooooth as buttah. And yeah, it waves like it's nobody's business!

That's one of many, many things I like about bladeforums -- there is some great advice to be found amidst the wealth of information that is found here, especially in the Emerson sub-forum. I really appreciate the outstanding community that we are a part of. Life is good. :)
 
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