My personal opinion would be its not awful. If it had bad blade play or loose scales then it would really bother me. It would also depend on the price paid. Also, is it the norm for the manufacturer or unusual? Finally, will it bother you to the point you will dislike the knife?
These are all things I would personally consider.
I couldn't agree more. And with the last few American made knives I have purchased, that is actually a winner. Although it looks quite large blown up, I would be willing to guess that the gaps are maybe .001" to .002". (For reference, if I recall correctly, a dollar bill is .003").
We are all being trained by the knife companies to be ecstatic when we get "a good one", and accept the lesser quality pieces as just part of the purchasing a knife these days. Note
richstag's astute observation; if it is deeply flawed such as very poor assembly, send it back.
Simple, average (or less) fit and finish isn't considered a flaw anymore. Certain patterns seem to come out better than others these days and everyone knows what they are and what to expect. But no matter what, after collecting and using traditional patterned knives for almost 50 years, in my opinion it is "buyer beware" these days. And if you read this forum as well as the other two big pocket knife groups, you will find that it is 50/50 when you send in the knife. Some folks jump for joy when theirs comes back perfect, while others can't even tell what was done to the knife.
Not lecturing here, but as a thought, next time you see something like that send it back immediately to the dealer or take it back to the store. That's why it is important to buy from a reputable dealer and take care of these things up front. No one will take back a knife that you have been carrying and decided after the fact you simply don't like it.
Good luck on this. Hope you let us know what you decide and how you come out.
Robert
