Fixing a Michael May Sheffield Traditional Knife

This video shows more detail in blade straightening then the short I made a couple weeks ago using updated techniques. Try at your own risk!
Here is another method of blade centering. Sometimes what I showed here will be needed but other times this may be better. • How I "Blade Center" A...

[@TheKnifeRaven]

I understand blade-centering is an issue to some, but I broke my Kenavo trying to fix it. Just take my advice, it's not *always* worth it. Be careful out there! And good luck to those who try!

[@LastChanceKnives]

In order to do this you need to have a good feel for mechanical things. Someone that always strips screws out probably does not have this "feel" and should not try this. You have to understand the materials and there limits, then by feel stay underneath those limits.

[@TheKnifeRaven]

@@LastChanceKnives I'm no professional, to be sure. I tried the Johnny Juke method, which seemed somewhat simple. I guess it's a good learning experience for me. "Don't take risks that aren't worth it".

[@WVKNIFEGUY]

You are SUPREMELY TALENTED, and I always enjoy your videos and learn something too!! Thanks and keep it up.

[@LastChanceKnives]

Glad you enjoyed the video. I think I found my spot in here. I find that I can never leave stuff alone, everything needs to be "improved"!

[@slick_slicers]

I’m not sure where a knife blade, touching its liner makes it “unusable“, however, the safest way to straighten this would be using a setting hammer in the traditional manner. There is far less chance of breaking the blade, and therefore it is easier to set the blade correctly.

[@LastChanceKnives]

A big part of the problem for me is that every one around here only carries modern folders. I carry both. When someone wants to see my traditional the last thing that I want to do is hand them one that turns them off and reinforces their thinking that old knives are junk. So I like to carry a traditional that has no issues. As time goes by I learn and improve my methods. I show what I have done good or bad and my older videos do not accurately reflect what I do now. It's a learning process. I learn by trial and error. With a heavy emphasis on error 🤣 Stainless knives like this one are very easy to adjust. So far I have done around 15 with no issues at all. Carbon steel on the other hand is very risky and I will not attempt to straighten one unless it's a very cheap knife or one I don't mind working on anyway. For example I have a Case Sodbuster Jr that I will be making a new blade for. The factory blade was bent. It hit the liner hard and was quite crooked when open.

[@pussypostlethwaitsaeronaut8503]

@@LastChanceKnives 'Stainless knives like this one ...' Michael May pocket knife blades are made from O1 tool steel (carbon), not stainless. You might have had an early one made by his new apprentice. If you had contacted Michael he would have adjusted it to centre for you, although you're not as local to him as I am so it might have been uneconomical to return. The one Michael sent me came nicely centred (I'm an Englishwoman so using the English spelling of centre, of which some are not aware). Anyway, do enjoy the pocket knife. xx

[@dennisblauvelt1773]

That is the INCORRECT way to center the knife blade.

[@LastChanceKnives]

The only correct way to center a blade is to build the knife right in the first place! Any need for adjustment is INCORRECT! That said it works just fine and has never caused an issue. There is the technique of tapping on it with a hammer which really isn't any better as you are causing a lot of shock by hitting the knife. Either way is not ideal. Like I said companies need to step up the fit and finish and build them right!

[@dennisblauvelt1773]

I remember watching them centering a buck knife and they had a soft hammer tapping on the pivot bolster and it straighten it out. I agree they should examine the product before shipping it out. With that being said nice job!

[@LastChanceKnives]

The main reason that I am not afraid to try to straighten a knife blade is because I also make fixed blades. It is no problem for me to make a new blade for a slip joint. In fact I have a Case knife with a broken blade. When I have time I will be making a replacement in K390! It will get a serious upgrade!

[@mikecurtis2585]

Nice job! Still makes me nervous! Have a great week!!!

[@LastChanceKnives]

I would be willing to bet that it makes me more nervous then you! Especially when it's not my knife!

[@bigjsknives]

Great tutorial!! I have an AG Russell Barlow i need to do this to, thanks for sharing!!

[@LastChanceKnives]

The last one I did I messed up the footage and could only salvage a short out of it. This one turned out much better. Hey it's great to learn on someone else's knife.....sorry Jersey Pete!

[@jerseyknifeguy6382]

Hey Ken that’s a fantastic job buddy I’m surprised you got it almost dead center…….lol I’m putting you to the challenge I couldn’t budge it and I thought it was going to snap……. You don’t know how much I appreciate this….. your talkin 150 for a knife I couldn’t use….. impressive Ken nice job man you got that technique down…… you are the man I’m so pleased thanks again looks great😊stay well Ken

[@LastChanceKnives]

It's in the mail on the way back!

[@jerseyknifeguy6382]

@@LastChanceKnivesthank you Ken😊

[@paddyspotatopeelers2154]

Great tutorial mate ,I'll be trying that out as soon as I get flat knipex pliers.atb paddy.

[@LastChanceKnives]

Be careful, Be safe! You have to have a good feel for the limits of the steel. Worst case you will have two smaller knives :)

[@remixato]

Unfortunately the same thing on swiss army knives. I thnik the blades and the layers are very straight when they come out of the production, but then when it comes to closing the pivots, the pressure has to be balanced very well to get a same result of tension in the whole knive. When you have screws instead of pivots, it's quite easy to balance it out. I wish the companies would be more focused on these problems even if they are not technically restricting the usage

[@LastChanceKnives]

Victorinox does bend the blades on purpose so that more than one implement can fit in one space. Actually if you look closely I think they actually grind them a little lopsided on purpose. I have had about ten of them and they are all the same. None were off to the point where they wouldn't function.

[@jelkel25]

Was under the impression the Sheffield makers didn't send out shoddy work when you went upmarket. It would seem I'm wrong. They've always been working knives to me, all my scales on my Sheffield knives are Rosewood or some sort of plastic and you expect the odd off centre (but not that off centre) at the cheaper end of things. I'm glad you managed to fix it, they are generally good knives.

[@LastChanceKnives]

I am glad that fixing the knife went well. It was a friend's knife which makes me nervous. If I mess up my own knife that's on me. To mess up someone else's would not be fun. I don't know if it was just a bad one that slipped through the cracks or if their quality control it hit or miss.

[@oldtimepickin]

How badly did you mark up the tang with the pliers ?

[@LastChanceKnives]

Not even the slightest mark. They are smooth jaw pliers, Knipex Pliers Wrench. The jaws are softer than the blade so they don't scratch.

[@timmatheny-lo9ze]

As long as it’s not rubbing on the liner, I don’t mess with it.

[@LastChanceKnives]

I here what you are saying. The thing that bugs me most is if the blade is not straight when the knife is open. Most times centering the blade in the handle also straightens it out in the open position.

[@dennisblauvelt1773]

👍

[@jeffjackson5331]

Cool

[@LastChanceKnives]

Manufacturers really need to step up there fit and finish. There is no reason why this should need to be done to an expensive knife.

[@jeffjackson5331]

@@LastChanceKnives you got that right

[@RandysWSG]

Scares me watching this lol. Great job though! Great video too.

[@LastChanceKnives]

I bet it scares Pete too! :)

[@RandysWSG]

@@LastChanceKnives Probably biting his nails😂

[@Mcdoogle221]

In my eyes that blade is now void. You have just put stress in that steel, probably has small microscopic stress cracks in the steel, if not the steel was just stressed. I could live with the offset it had but not after its been stressed.

[@LastChanceKnives]

I fully understand your point, but it is not as bad as you think. There are techniques that are used at the factory to adjust blades using a hammer. It happens more than you would think. Not only was the blade here off center, but it was out of alignment with the handle when open. I have extensively used knives that I have straightened without issue. Stainless blades can take a lot of stress without causing a problem. Plus, the steel on many traditionals is run a little on the soft side, making it even less problematic to straighten.

[@ianrosie4431]

Such bad practice

[@LastChanceKnives]

The knife was unusable. Worse the owner did not want to carry it and had no pride of ownership. Now the knife gets used and enjoyed. So where is the problem?

[@ianrosie4431]

@@LastChanceKnives " So where is the problem?". As I said. The problem is in the practice. You saved the knife which is commendable. Just a note, if you sell it on, tell them how you straightened the blade.

[@dereksteele2284]

​@LastChanceKnives how does it being off center make it unusable? That's just an OCD issue