Yikes! Is this normal? Fixable?

arskrg

arskrg

Joined
Aug 15, 2011
Messages
2,405
Just bought a brand new Buck 0341rws small Vantage Avid and the centering is WAY off. Like I could maybe fit a piece of paper between the liner and the blade.
This was the first Vantage I've bought, so I'm not sure if this is typical for them or not.
Problem is it was going to be a Christmas gift for a buddy, and I bought it from a brick and mortar almost an hour away, so taking it back or sending it to Buck aren't really options.
So is there a way I can loosen and carefully re-tighten something to help the centering? Or should I buy my buddy something else and deal with this later?
 
Check the handle screws and see if they are tight. Check the pivot. When you have a knife with screw construction, just one out of sync will cause the blade to walk to one side or the other. You will need a torx set.
 
Bear in mind that in the end, it doesn't have to be perfectly centered to be a good useable knife.
 
Badhammer said:
Bear in mind that in the end, it doesn't have to be perfectly centered to be a good useable knife.
Click to expand...

A valid point. But I've never seen a decent knife this off center. It's a little embarrassing to give it as a gift. Like gifting someone a book with a bent up cover.
 
DocT said:
Check the handle screws and see if they are tight. Check the pivot. When you have a knife with screw construction, just one out of sync will cause the blade to walk to one side or the other. You will need a torx set.
Click to expand...

Made sure all the handle scales were tight. The pivot is perfect for flipping. Just a hair tighter and it won't flip open all the way.
Still looks like this. Sigh.

 
arskrg said:
Made sure all the handle scales were tight. The pivot is perfect for flipping. Just a hair tighter and it won't flip open all the way.
Still looks like this. Sigh.

Click to expand...

As the recipient of the that exact knife last christmas from my brother that was even more horribly off center (Touches the liner), I don't care one bit. I'll get it fixed if I ever send it in to buck to be sharpened and have it fixed than.
 
You didn't mention that the pivot felt gritty (polishing compound). But, a common answer for a stiff opening blade is to first wash the knife under soapy hot water really well, opening and closing the blade by hand. Then dry well, I like to use a hair dryer, and lube really good. Usually with spray lube and use more than normal. Then I wipe all the lube off and open and close the blade seeing if stuff is still grinding. I let it sit on a paper towel a while to further drain the water displacing lube.

After all that, then I go looking at videos of how to adjust the pivot to center the blade, but not before. Last word - a little torque of the pivot goes a long way. Slow and slight is the way.

300
 
And here's the lockup on the one I bought for myself.
I swear I'm not trolling or trying to bash Buck as a brand, I just expected better fit and finish for USA made knives.
These are going back to the store the day after Christmas and I'm using store credit for something else.
Sure, it could be argued that with the WAY off center smaller one I'm just being picky.
But I have no confidence in this lockup.

 
300Bucks said:
You didn't mention that the pivot felt gritty (polishing compound). But, a common answer for a stiff opening blade is to first wash the knife under soapy hot water really well, opening and closing the blade by hand. Then dry well, I like to use a hair dryer, and lube really good. Usually with spray lube and use more than normal. Then I wipe all the lube off and open and close the blade seeing if stuff is still grinding. I let it sit on a paper towel a while to further drain the water displacing lube.

After all that, then I go looking at videos of how to adjust the pivot to center the blade, but not before. Last word - a little torque of the pivot goes a long way. Slow and slight is the way.

300
Click to expand...

I'm not going to go through all that with a knife I intended to give as a gift. Especially with the wood handles.
I thought I was buying a knife, not a part time job.
And I'm certainly not going to say "Merry Christmas! I'll email you links to different threads and videos about how to fix your brand new knife."
 
Ok, We at the forum understand the idea of the gifting aspect. For future info for you and others the wood handled versions will take this clean-up with no effect to the Dymondwood inserts. I have had these problems also and have corrected them before giving them as gifts without notice by the receiver. Someone that's a Buck nut will usually say "well you have to understand the lower price point of the knife", but I will say as you have alluded that you should not have to fix those issues. We like to think that our purchase was carefully crafted and boxed just for us. But, in truth they are one of multi thousands made each year.
Even the slight lock-up issue is fixable if you wanted to try. I have had them be perfect in all points and I have had 5% that I wanted to fool with making perfect myself. I have even color dyed the beige handles a custom color using RIT dye. Some people accept things as they are and some require more. In the past I have stood at a counter in a knife store and gone thru all 20 of their on hand stock of this model looking for the best handle wood color. If your store won't let you find a perfect model then your action as explained is acceptable to most all Buck Forum members. But once again, after 40 years of knife collecting you will always find a knife or two that slips thru factory inspection with small faults. Some companies more and some less.

300Bucks
 
300Bucks said:
Ok, We at the forum understand the idea of the gifting aspect. For future info for you and others the wood handled versions will take this clean-up with no effect to the Dymondwood inserts. I have had these problems also and have corrected them before giving them as gifts without notice by the receiver. Someone that's a Buck nut will usually say "well you have to understand the lower price point of the knife", but I will say as you have alluded that you should not have to fix those issues. We like to think that our purchase was carefully crafted and boxed just for us. But, in truth they are one of multi thousands made each year.
Even the slight lock-up issue is fixable if you wanted to try. I have had them be perfect in all points and I have had 5% that I wanted to fool with making perfect myself. I have even color dyed the beige handles a custom color using RIT dye. Some people accept things as they are and some require more. In the past I have stood at a counter in a knife store and gone thru all 20 of their on hand stock of this model looking for the best handle wood color. If your store won't let you find a perfect model then your action as explained is acceptable to most all Buck Forum members. But once again, after 40 years of knife collecting you will always find a knife or two that slips thru factory inspection with small faults. Some companies more and some less.

300Bucks
Click to expand...

I appreciate the advice, and the calm and level-headed manner in which it was delivered.
I've been thinking about it, and I think I'll give it to my buddy and let him know that I noticed the off center blade.
If it bothers him, I'll take a trip to the knife store with him and we'll both trade them in for something we like better.
If it doesn't bother him, I'll try and fix the lockup on mine and maybe offer to try and tweak his for him.
 
Sometimes it's hard not to be Ano Retentimum when it comes to this stuff, but unless the off-center blade is causing damage to the knife, I'd learn quickly to ignore the non-issue.
The iffy lockup however, would be something I'd be concerned about (and I've been concerned enough to make some adjustments on knives to improve it).

For a gift, you should exchange it if you can (tell 'em it's defective and a safety hazard), or tell the recipient that you want to to exchange it after the fact but didn't want to be empty-handed at the gift exchange :-)
 
arskrg said:
And here's the lockup on the one I bought for myself.
I swear I'm not trolling or trying to bash Buck as a brand, I just expected better fit and finish for USA made knives.
These are going back to the store the day after Christmas and I'm using store credit for something else.
Sure, it could be argued that with the WAY off center smaller one I'm just being picky.
But I have no confidence in this lockup.

Click to expand...


Early lockup will wear in. More desirable than late lockup.
 
2TONYB said:
Early lockup will wear in. More desirable than late lockup.
Click to expand...

Early lockup is one thing, but look really close.
Only about half of the liner lock is contacting the blade tang.
If the lock bar is 2mm thick, that's 1mm of lockup.

1MM.

I can't imagine anyone would feel comfortable using this as is for anything other than very light work.
 
The lockup is easily adjusted. Found and watched a video on Youtube and it showed how to adjust the lockup. I am biased as I have 8 Vantages and just ordered one more. I know you don't want to "fix" something that is new but you can do it very easy.
 
arskrg said:
Early lockup is one thing, but look really close.
Only about half of the liner lock is contacting the blade tang.
If the lock bar is 2mm thick, that's 1mm of lockup.

1MM.

I can't imagine anyone would feel comfortable using this as is for anything other than very light work.
Click to expand...

Still 1MM more than your average slip joint, which can be, have been, and are used for more than "very light work" over the last several hundred years.
 
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