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Benchmade blade centering issues?

trpldwn

May 15, 2013 17:07

Hi yall,
New to this forum but not new to benchmades. Id say that I have approx 15-20. My first was in
2002 so my experience with this company is extensive.All my knives before this post had perfect blade centering and no side to side movement. To my dismay, the last few purchases have had the minor defect of off centered blades and blade play. The first was a Volli that was bought new online which I returned because I did not want to wait for the trip back to benchmade. My experience is that they do not have a fast of a turn around. The second Volli was purchased in Vegas that also had a miscentered and loose blade. I bought it because it was numbered in the first 200 made. Yes I sent it back and they fixed it perfectly and added an old school black oxide clip. Nice but still cost me ten bucks to send it back. Last week I got my first mini ritter that also has a miscentered blade. What is up with that?? Come on now that is a bit ridiculous for knives of this calibur. I have another mini ritter arrving today and am hoping that this one is correct. Sorry for the negative post but benchmade I think we all expect more for our money...

Comments

35 comments

po

May 16, 2013 14:08
One man's off center blade is another man's no big deal. My Volli is a little off of perfect center also, but the blade does not rub the handle, so it is insignificant to me. The pivots on the Axis Assist knives have to balance lateral play and fast opening, two inversely related factors.

I've purchased, dang I don't know, 500 Benchmade knives over the last fifteen years, and have never returned one. I have loosened handle screws and fixed the centering on maybe three or four knives. This year, I've purchased five or six knives so far, all perfectly acceptable.
0
painstakinglymeticulous

May 18, 2013 15:41
quote:

Originally posted by Po:
"the blade does not rub the handle, so it is insignificant to me... and have never returned one."

+1

If the blade is touching the sides, or severely off-centered, then that calls for a DIY or BM fix.. However, if its minor - then it really doesn't bother me, my blades will get screwed up over time anyway
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dragonram7

June 14, 2013 21:15
I picked up an 810 from blade hq. It was rubbing on the left side. In returned it and picked up the 940. I returned home and my wife loves the green and purple. She has claimed it. So it's back to blade hq for another edc.
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knifeowningguy

October 28, 2013 03:13
I think the point is that at the price BMs sell for, there shouldn't be ANY issues with fit and finish. Centering wouldn't be that big deal on a $20 knife, but one that costs ten times that should have no issues.
0
fastjan

October 28, 2013 04:34
quote:

Originally posted by knifeowningguy:
I think the point is that at the price BMs sell for, there shouldn't be ANY issues with fit and finish. Centering wouldn't be that big deal on a $20 knife, but one that costs ten times that should have no issues.

I have to agree. It just seems that they are missing someone to do a final checklist before these knives go into the boxes. We're not dealing with Quantum Mechanics here...if the knives appear to be uncentered to the naked eye, fix them before you ship them. But, over the years I've encountered a ton of forumites who just aren't bothered by it, so as it is with so many other things, ymmv.
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kyle915

October 31, 2013 17:08
I have experienced a few BM's with this problem my 810 and my 915 I was able to fix the 810 but just got rid of the 915 because it too far off and it bugged me. some of my others are slightly off center but I can live with that. I do agree with the comment about having someone check this before the knives get into boxes for the customer.
0
boobar

January 19, 2014 15:56
quote:

Originally posted by fastjan:

quote:

Originally posted by knifeowningguy:
I think the point is that at the price BMs sell for, there shouldn't be ANY issues with fit and finish. Centering wouldn't be that big deal on a $20 knife, but one that costs ten times that should have no issues.

I have to agree. It just seems that they are missing someone to do a final checklist before these knives go into the boxes. We're not dealing with Quantum Mechanics here...if the knives appear to be uncentered to the naked eye, fix them before you ship them. But, over the years I've encountered a ton of forumites who just aren't bothered by it, so as it is with so many other things, ymmv.

I concur, as an industry leader there should be another level of QC before these knives head out to the consumer to ensure that even the smallest problems are caught. I for one am a stickler for blade centering. For some reason if the blade is even a little off center it drives me nuts. It's probably a touch of OCD as I get older and I'm sure it will only get worse.
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stangcrazy79

January 21, 2014 01:27
Boobar--I agree with you to a point. With the volume of knives that they produce a few lemons get through. I got my 950 off center to where is was rubbing the liner. All it took was an adjustment of the pivot and body screws. I have higher end knives that are off center too. As long as it doesn't rub the sides is all I care about. IMO it doesn't take away from performance of the knife in anyway.
0
mobilefirelord

June 24, 2014 22:42
quote:

Originally posted by fastjan:

quote:

Originally posted by knifeowningguy:
I think the point is that at the price BMs sell for, there shouldn't be ANY issues with fit and finish. Centering wouldn't be that big deal on a $20 knife, but one that costs ten times that should have no issues.

I have to agree. It just seems that they are missing someone to do a final checklist before these knives go into the boxes. We're not dealing with Quantum Mechanics here...if the knives appear to be uncentered to the naked eye, fix them before you ship them. But, over the years I've encountered a ton of forumites who just aren't bothered by it, so as it is with so many other things, ymmv.

+1 here. I too would expect any company with "Quality" as a selling point like BKC. It may not be that much factor in how the blade cuts or able to pivot, but asthetically speaking it is major negative point.

I believe all BKC blade I carry can be an advertising point for BKC. I am proud to carry my Benchmade. As an engineer, I have decided the mechanism and quality belief of the company is what make me carry it over another company.

So, if the blade is off center that would seriously hinder enthusiams to put it mildly.

Fortunately, I only have encountered one out of 25 or so blade. Still, if people ask me about blade balancing, I will vote for the "QC dept should reject it before shipping" side.

YMMV as always.

MFL
0
archer

June 29, 2014 05:18
quote:

Originally posted by fastjan:

quote:

Originally posted by knifeowningguy:
I think the point is that at the price BMs sell for, there shouldn't be ANY issues with fit and finish. Centering wouldn't be that big deal on a $20 knife, but one that costs ten times that should have no issues.

I have to agree. It just seems that they are missing someone to do a final checklist before these knives go into the boxes. We're not dealing with Quantum Mechanics here...if the knives appear to be uncentered to the naked eye, fix them before you ship them. But, over the years I've encountered a ton of forumites who just aren't bothered by it, so as it is with so many other things, ymmv.

I agree.
0
archer

June 29, 2014 05:19
quote:

Originally posted by Boobar:

quote:

Originally posted by fastjan:

quote:

Originally posted by knifeowningguy:
I think the point is that at the price BMs sell for, there shouldn't be ANY issues with fit and finish. Centering wouldn't be that big deal on a $20 knife, but one that costs ten times that should have no issues.

I have to agree. It just seems that they are missing someone to do a final checklist before these knives go into the boxes. We're not dealing with Quantum Mechanics here...if the knives appear to be uncentered to the naked eye, fix them before you ship them. But, over the years I've encountered a ton of forumites who just aren't bothered by it, so as it is with so many other things, ymmv.

I concur, as an industry leader there should be another level of QC before these knives head out to the consumer to ensure that even the smallest problems are caught. I for one am a stickler for blade centering. For some reason if the blade is even a little off center it drives me nuts. It's probably a touch of OCD as I get older and I'm sure it will only get worse.

I identify
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fastjan

June 29, 2014 06:48
The other day I decided to swap blades in two of my 710's. Both knives had perfectly centered blades, but when I swapped blades, both knive's blades became off-center quite a bit.

Since I can't stand an off-center blade, I swapped the blades back to their original handles and both became perfect again. I guess the only way I can explain it is that the original knives must have been adjusted in such a way that it forced the blades to move over to centered. Have any of you ever swapped blades only to find that both knives instantly became out of center?
0
keyman

July 02, 2014 13:20
Did you remove the belt clip and the scales?
Or did you just swap the blades?
0
fastjan

July 02, 2014 22:11
quote:

Originally posted by Keyman:
Did you remove the belt clip and the scales?
Or did you just swap the blades?

All I removed was the pivot screw and swapped the blades. Nothing else was loosened.

At this point, I'm just wondering out of curiosity if anyone has seen this. I'm not actually going to swap those blades again. It's not worth the additional adjustments I'd have to do.
0
po

July 08, 2014 23:59
If one of the blades was not true, say off even 1/16 inch, the assembler may have tweaked the handle alignment to compensate for that. If the other blade was straight, and the handle was straight, then swapping blades would make both off center. Loosening the handle screws performing the usual tweaks would have probably aligned the tips since the blades were centered in the original handles.
0
keyman

July 09, 2014 00:52
Well put Po.
My thoughts exactly.
0
dj

July 09, 2014 01:07
That was well put and makes perfectly good sense.
0
fastjan

July 09, 2014 03:04
Makes sense...
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mobilefirelord

July 27, 2014 02:29
quote:

Originally posted by fastjan:
The other day I decided to swap blades in two of my 710's. Both knives had perfectly centered blades, but when I swapped blades, both knive's blades became off-center quite a bit.

Since I can't stand an off-center blade, I swapped the blades back to their original handles and both became perfect again. I guess the only way I can explain it is that the original knives must have been adjusted in such a way that it forced the blades to move over to centered. Have any of you ever swapped blades only to find that both knives instantly became out of center?

I had opposite experience recently. I swapped the blade of my 810 & 810-1401 recently. 1401 had slight off center, and having read fj's comment I went through blade swap to see what causes off center.

My 810-1401 handle is the culprit. I tweaked around bolt as well as that of pivot, but makes no difference. I have also changed washer and pivot bolt and screw without any change. Like Jason from BKC said, the lock and pivot are made with such tolerance, a thousand of inch at pivot point may change the centering.

AS long as the blade doesn't rub against liner, I think I can live with it. May not be happy about it, but may be I am too lazy to send it in...

MFL
0
fastjan

July 27, 2014 05:27
I don't know which is worse...finding that you have an off-center blade or finding a band-aid in your soup.
0
archer

July 27, 2014 17:33
quote:

Originally posted by fastjan:
I don't know which is worse...finding that you have an off-center blade or finding a band-aid in your soup.

Taking a super hot chick home and finding skid marks in her underwear.
0
fastjan

July 28, 2014 13:11
quote:

Originally posted by archer:

quote:

Originally posted by fastjan:
I don't know which is worse...finding that you have an off-center blade or finding a band-aid in your soup.

Taking a super hot chick home and finding skid marks in her underwear.

LOL!
You win...
0
mobilefirelord

July 28, 2014 17:37
quote:

Originally posted by Mobile Firelord:

quote:

Originally posted by fastjan:
The other day I decided to swap blades in two of my 710's. Both knives had perfectly centered blades, but when I swapped blades, both knive's blades became off-center quite a bit.

Since I can't stand an off-center blade, I swapped the blades back to their original handles and both became perfect again. I guess the only way I can explain it is that the original knives must have been adjusted in such a way that it forced the blades to move over to centered. Have any of you ever swapped blades only to find that both knives instantly became out of center?

I had opposite experience recently. I swapped the blade of my 810 & 810-1401 recently. 1401 had slight off center, and having read fj's comment I went through blade swap to see what causes off center.

My 810-1401 handle is the culprit. I tweaked around bolt as well as that of pivot, but makes no difference. I have also changed washer and pivot bolt and screw without any change. Like Jason from BKC said, the lock and pivot are made with such tolerance, a thousand of inch at pivot point may change the centering.

AS long as the blade doesn't rub against liner, I think I can live with it. May not be happy about it, but may be I am too lazy to send it in...

MFL

Additional:

I have adjusted the thickness of washer (grind down the thickness of phosphor bronze washer) and the blade is back to center.

Interesting...
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lightning

July 29, 2014 01:45
quote:

Originally posted by fastjan:

quote:

Originally posted by archer:

quote:

Originally posted by fastjan:
I don't know which is worse...finding that you have an off-center blade or finding a band-aid in your soup.

Taking a super hot chick home and finding skid marks in her underwear.

LOL!
You win...

I dunno dude, a washing machine takes care of skid marks pretty easily, but the bandaide in the soup ruins the soup forever.

Besides, if she is that hot, I have a feeling that the underwear is the last thing I am going to be paying attention too...
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archer

July 29, 2014 03:58
quote:

Originally posted by Lightning:

quote:

Originally posted by fastjan:

quote:

Originally posted by archer:

quote:

Originally posted by fastjan:
I don't know which is worse...finding that you have an off-center blade or finding a band-aid in your soup.

Taking a super hot chick home and finding skid marks in her underwear.

LOL!
You win...

I dunno dude, a washing machine takes care of skid marks pretty easily, but the bandaide in the soup ruins the soup forever.

Besides, if she is that hot, I have a feeling that the underwear is the last thing I am going to be paying attention too...

You may want to give that another thought.
0
lightning

July 29, 2014 05:53
quote:

Originally posted by archer:

quote:

Originally posted by Lightning:

quote:

Originally posted by fastjan:

quote:

Originally posted by archer:

quote:

Originally posted by fastjan:
I don't know which is worse...finding that you have an off-center blade or finding a band-aid in your soup.

Taking a super hot chick home and finding skid marks in her underwear.

LOL!
You win...

I dunno dude, a washing machine takes care of skid marks pretty easily, but the bandaide in the soup ruins the soup forever.

Besides, if she is that hot, I have a feeling that the underwear is the last thing I am going to be paying attention too...

You may want to give that another thought.

Hmmm

Ok, hotness still overrides underwear and biotoxic bandaide soup is still worse yet than skidmarks that I may or may not notice...

Sorry, but having witnessed childbirth several times (OMG,that thing is not supposed to stretch out like that!!!), the animal kingdon demonstrating Darwinism to it's fullest extent with my own eyes (is there really that much blood in a baby deer???), finding things that LEO's cover up with wool blankets so that the media does not photograph, and the insides of my wife while she was giving birth through C-Section to my youngest child (who here can say they truly know what their mate looks like inside) - a simple skidmark is very easy to overlook...
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lightning

July 29, 2014 05:55
Ok, forgice me, I've got low standards

What can I say???
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archer

July 29, 2014 06:00
quote:

Originally posted by Lightning:
Ok, forgice me, I've got low standards

What can I say???

It's all good, I enjoy basic, primal man talk
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lightning

July 29, 2014 06:12
quote:

Originally posted by archer:

quote:

Originally posted by Lightning:
Ok, forgive me, I've got low standards

What can I say???

It's all good, I enjoy basic, primal man talk

Then it is long past time that we sat together beside an open fire, late in the evening and shared a good bottle of scotch...

Sometime before too much longer, I hope
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archer

July 29, 2014 06:15
quote:

Originally posted by Lightning:

quote:

Originally posted by archer:

quote:

Originally posted by Lightning:
Ok, forgive me, I've got low standards

What can I say???

It's all good, I enjoy basic, primal man talk

Then it is long past time that we sat together beside an open fire, late in the evening and shared a good bottle of scotch...

Sometime before too much longer, I hope

I'd enjoy nothing more but I have to make it to your side of the pond first, you know I'm a Canadian citizen.
0