Would you expect perfect blade centering on a 120- $130 knife?

No. But then again I rarely expect centering to be perfect. I'm not likely to have a stroke if it's not dead on, as long as it isn't rubbing or something I don't really care.
 
Nothing is perfect, it doesn't exist. That being said, I expect good centering from any knife I buy, at the very least. If you're a knife company, you should know how to get a blade centered.
 
Hell yes. That price point is getting to where you should be getting a quality knife for your money. Not just the materials in consideration, that should be obvious to someone buying a knife at that level. As someone else said, a knife Company should know how to get a blade centered. I would consider returning a knife unless the centering was pretty darn close! In fact, I look for blade centering in purchases well below that level. I expect them north of $50.
 
I hate to be this way, expecting perfection, as the blade is a smidge off center but It bothers me. I tried to push it over a little but when I open and close the knife, it goes back to the way it was.:p
 
I do own a few knives that are off center, but I'd rather have more centered knives in my collection than off center and this one I wanted to be perfectly centered.
 
I've had quite a few be off, even on one's that were twice the price. My first course of action is to loosen the frame and pivot screws. Then, in the closed position, tighten the pivot, putting pressure on the blade in the direction you want it to go. After pivot is the right tension, tighten the frame screws, still holding the blade towards the direction you want it to go.

This works for me about 8 out of 10 times. If not and it's rubbing, then send it back. I had a Benchmade that was almost rubbing that I sent back. All they did was tighten it up so that it was really stiff and sent it back to me, blade still way off center. I ended up selling the knife. Most production companies don't see off centered blades as a problem unless they rub.

If you adjust it yourself, make sure you have the proper tools so that you don't bugger it up. When I'm done, it would take a microscope to see if anything had been changed.

I admit, I do find off centered blades annoying but I usually don't let it stop me from enjoying the knife. I don't think I've ever come across a completely perfect knife.
 
I have a handful of traditional knives including a cheap peanut carbon where the blades are dead perfect down the middle.
My PM2 came perfectly centered as did my Buck Vantage.
 
Bigfatts said:
No. But then again I rarely expect centering to be perfect. I'm not likely to have a stroke if it's not dead on, as long as it isn't rubbing or something I don't really care.
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Agreed. A little off centered and not rubbing i would call a quirk and no necessarily a fault.
 
Usually poor centering either means the primary grind is off, or the pivot arrangement is loose and deformed. Either of those problems can make me not buy the knife.
 
I personally am not as picky at sub $200 dollar knives. Once we get to the $175-200 dollar mark I am much more picky. Blade centering not so much. At $200 dollars there isn't a whole lot more you can be paying for other than Fit and Finish being close to spot on. Other than perhaps and exotic steel or something like that.
 
I could not care less about centering as long as it doesn't affect performance. Even on a $1000+ custom. I think grind evenness is a much more important issue and should be improved on knives in the $100-150 category.
 
Perfect? No. Close? Yes. $100 is a bunch of money for me to spend on a pocket knife. If all I wanted was a cutting instrument, there are Chinese made ones that generally come pretty centered, are fair quality, and cost around $10.
 
I guess the last couple of knives I've gotten have been slightly off center so with this $120 purchase, I expect a centered blade. Heck if you can get an occasional $10 Chinese one centered, than it shouldn't be much to ask.
 
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