25 not as good as 21

HwangJino

HwangJino

Joined
Dec 2, 2012
Messages
4,605
So I've had the 25 about a week now.

Sharpened and polished the blade a bit.
Noticed the feeling was gritty and disassembled, cleaned, lubed, locktite, and reassembled, as instructed.

Took me 5 or 6 times to get the stop pin just right, then a day later I feel it rubbing.

This is not what I expected from a sebenza.

Is there a trick to getting the stop pin to stay using the loctite? This is my first experience with locktite and I just kind of squirted it on the handle where lock pin meets, also the screw. Yet it still rotates...
Frustrating.

Sebenza 21 is perfect.
 
There's no need for loctite on my 25. Set the stop pin where you want it and then hold it while you tighten the screws till they're tight. The only thing that needs loctite is the pivot. If it still spins put loctite on the screws that hold the stop pin, not on the pin itself. If you just squirted it in there it's probably excess that's rubbing on the blade and not actually the pin itself? Not saying it is, but it's a pretty tight gap between blade and pin and wouldn't take much to make it rub.
 
I share your affection for the 21, but here is some advice on the 25:

- don't remove the stop pin from the locking slab when cleaning. You don't really need to. Just keep it screwed tight to the lock slab and set.
- If you must removed the stop pin, lightly scribe around it with a thin mechanical pencil. This will make just enough of a "snail-trail" in the bead blasted Ti to always have a reference point.
- You don't need a huge amount of locktite. A little dab will do ya. Loctite only dries in the absence of air (which is why the bottles and tubes are only half-full). Don't expect any excess to dry up, you have to wipe it off.
 
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Well I'm not using large amounts of it, but wondering why stop pin keeps spinning when everything is really tight.
I feel I must keep the supplied tools and lube with me wherever I go.
Ahhh wish he'd go back to the old method.
I feel the 25 is less than perfect now, even with less parts.

Thanks for the advice, I will try the pencil method.
 
The 25 is near knife perfection, I've always tightened the stop pin first on both the 25 and 21. Then I tighten the back spacer and finally the pivot. That's just the way I've always done it on re assembly. It works for me.
 
HwangJino said:
Yes 25 is near perfect. 21 is perfect.
Click to expand...

Well, when you think of it, the Sebenza 21 was 21 years in the making. There is a direct lineage from the first H and P Sebenzas, through the Classic MMs to the 21. The 25 was at most 4 years in the making. Maybe in another 17 years, the 25 will be as refined a design as the 21. :D
 
HwangJino said:
Yes 25 is near perfect. 21 is perfect.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say one is necessarily better than the other, they are very different knives. The 21 is a refined folder (with several product iterations under its belt) whereas the 25 is still on its first iteration. I love the action of the 25, and in-terms of knife mechanics, having one less part (bushing) to worry about is a wonderful thing.

All said, I am letting my 25 go simply because it's size (I just don't need a knife that large). I can certainly see myself letting go of my small Sebenza once the Inkosi comes out.
 
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I had a 25 for 24 hours....sold it and got a large 21. I love a lot about the 25(the flat grind, the finger grooves, the balance of the knife, no lanyard pin/hole) I just can't afford both right now so I kept the 21. The 25 seems like the type of knife you have to play with for a while, adjusting as you go to get it just right and smooth, eventually becoming the knife its capable of being. I look forward to picking one up again when my financials allow for it.
 
No thx.. 25 is better in everyway... learn to put the knife back together right or don't take it apart...

Sounds like an operator issue to me
 
I learned that lesson, get the stop pin tightened up in the right spot on the lock side and never mess with it again...
 
I don't think I've ever adjusted the stop pin on my 25. Haven't had the need at least.
 
kidcongo said:
Well, when you think of it, the Sebenza 21 was 21 years in the making. There is a direct lineage from the first H and P Sebenzas, through the Classic MMs to the 21. The 25 was at most 4 years in the making. Maybe in another 17 years, the 25 will be as refined a design as the 21. :D
Click to expand...

Luckily I'm patient hehe
 
I sold a 25 because of the asymmetrical stop pin, got another just recently (about a year later) and love it more than ever. It is my favorite knife. I love the ceramic ball, the finger grooves, and the blade spine. Switching between the 25 and large 21, I am surprised at how different they feel. I just got an umnumzaan in yesterday, so I am in CRK heaven right now. They are all fantastic designs.
 
To me the 25 has the design changes needed to compete in the current market; e.g., you can adjust the action. I prefer true classics, kind of like the difference between a current Endura and its original blad shape. That's why I have the 21. The next classic is the tilock :)
 
I like the 21 a lot more. It's a better looking knife and the bushing is awesome. I've handled the 25 a few times and I won't be buying one. I don't like the finger grooves or the notch in the blade. I think it looks stupid, personally, but that's just my taste.
 
I prefer the 21. I have never owned a 25 but have handled/used one and if you like it that is fine. I won't tell you that you are wrong. I just prefer the 21 myself.
 
I actually prefer my umnumzaan to my large starbenza. A 25 is on my list as I have never owned one but I think the Mnandi is first for me.

-Steve
 
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