advice please.

R

rob i

Joined
Feb 19, 2005
Messages
257
I would love some advice here please. Disclaimer: I am extraordinarily anal when it comes to cosmetic discrepencies in a product... Here goes: I have a sebenza that was new in june of last year. There was an issue with the blade and CRK replaced the blade for me free of charge (grind line symmetry and small heat mark on the tip). The new blade was fantastic but not sharpened completely evenly on both sides. One side had a wider edge than the other. I asked for it to be evened out and unfortunately this changed the profile of the blade a bit much for my liking. It no longer had as deep of a belly, and seemed thinner overall. I couldn't bring myself to ask for a new blade since this already was a new blade. CRK had done everything possible to that point to satisfy the customer. It's not their fault that I didn't like the profile of the resharpened blade. It was within specs so at this point it was just a personal preference issue. So, I opted to purchase a new blade and requested a nice fat blade with plenty of belly. I felt stupid asking them for a new blade but not that bad as I was going to pay for it. At no point did I ask for a free blade. Well, guess what... Fast forward a bit and yesterday I recieved my Sebenza back from CRK and the new blade is AMAZING! They paid complete attention to my request and it is perfect. Here's the kicker.... They didn't charge me!! Unbelievable, truely the best customer service I have ever recieved. And now here's the only issue, one that I am not sure I even want to approach CRK about after they've done so much for me... The tip of the blade is not completely centered when closed. It's close, real close, but not completely centered. I've taken the knife apart and reassembled twice already and there was no change. The tip is closer to the non-framelock side by a bit more than a hair's breath... What do I do? Leave it? I do not want a different blade. This blade is the one I want, but it would be nice if it was as centered as my last blade. I think I am overworrying about this, but I imagine that some of you are at least as anal about these things as I.

Please understand that this in no way should reflect poorly on CRK. They are the best. I am nuts.

Rob I.
 
Is the blade itself crooked, or is it the way it's in the pivot?
Open the blade and look along the back, see if the tip is centered. They can warp in heat treat (I had that on a MicroTech), but it would be unusual. Not anything necessarily wrong, just not perfectly symetrical...:D
 
OK, my take, you're nuts ! :p :p

Send it back it you want, but if it's just a little off centered when closed, that pretty minor in my opinion. Especially as it doesn't affect actual cutting performance.

I just went to a gun & knife show this past weekend. I looked at some $700 custom knives, in some ways I found them inferior to the sebenza. I think it will be very difficult to find a perfect knife.
 
Well, you are nuts - that goes without saying! But CRK has made a very good business of dealing with perfectionists. Creating perfect knives is a huge part of their appeal.

Send it back. You, being you, have no other option. CRK, being CRK, has no option but to make you happy.
 
Non-centered blades/warped blades might be acceptible when we're talking lesser-quality production knives, but not with a CRK. You could always keep it and be the proud owner of the one-and-only-heard-of CRK dud, but for something you may want to use a lifetime, cherish, and pass down the line, I'd strive for nothing short of the CRK perfection that's the norm.

I think it's gracious of you to consider keeping it, but if it ain't right, it ain't right.

Professor.
 
Guys, thanks for the responses. I would kinda like to send it back. asap actually, but am very worried at how they will take it. It's almost like a slap in the face to them after all they've done for me. It is very minor, but I would like it corrected. I would not however want to sacrifice either the blade shape or the point at which the lockbar meets the tang. My fear is that if they fix this, something else will suffer. Any repurcussions regarding centering the blade that any of you know about? When I wanted to even out the edge, I neglected to realize that it would change the profile of the blade. That was a tremendous dissapointment to me. I don't want anything similar to happen. I worry most about that lockbar. It's in a great spot now and I would be bummed if it moved over more to the other side. Also, how in the world do I approach CRK about this????? I am way to nervous to do so. Please help!

Rob
 
Please review this and comment before I send this email off to CRK. I really appreciate the help here guys...

Hi,

I wrote to you yesterday thanking you for the new blade on my Sebenza. I am quite happy with it! However, and I am very sorry to bother you, the tip is not 100% centered when the knife is closed. It is extremely close and almost debatable, but unfortunately it seems to be favoring the non-lockbar side of my knife. I have tried taking the knife apart twice and reassembling, however that changed nothing. It is so minor most people would not notice it. I am cursed with the ability to find these things ( I would be the best quality control manager ever….. seriously, the best).

Can this be adjusted without any compromise to any other part of the knife? Will the point at which the lockbar meets the tang be affected? I like it where it is and would like for it to remain. I imagine that there would be no change in the profile of the blade, but want to be very sure that adjusting this will in no way alter any other part of the knife.

I sincerely apologize for my continuous harassment of your fine company. I sure hope that you do not ban me from future purchases.

Please let me know what I should do.

Sincerely,
Rob Ieva
 
Sounds fine to me. The worst that could happen is they say it can't be fixed or can't be fixed without changing something you don't want changed.

If it makes you feel better I just pulled out an LE redwood inlay and the blade tip is off center to the lock side by probably 1 or 2 mm. It was on the new Micarta inlay we used for the passaround too.
 
Thanks Dave. It's nice to know mine's not the only one. If they tell me no, I'll be ok with it. I've sent the email. Awaiting my thrashing from them. :o

Of course, I will post a follow up to this.

Rob
 
If it is off by as little as you are saying I wouldn't worry about it.
Can you get a pic up?
 
Only one remark,no harm intended..........,you do realise that it still is "only" a production knife,do you?
I have a Sebenza and Mnandi and they're both just a hair off when closed.
I think they are wonderfull and haven't even thought of sending them back.

I admire your courage though........,I would feel a bit awkward sending a perfect knife back,espescially after the troubles CRK went through to make it right!

Now if it was a custom knife,that would be a different story.

The Sebenza is without a doubt the best "production folder" out there,and even gives some customs the "run around"..........,but it's still production.

Enjoy it........,and once again,no harm intended!
 
Well after hearing about others that don't line up centered all the way, perhaps I'll leave well enough alone. I was under the impression that every one of them was to be at dead center when closed. Believe me I DO feel awkward letting them know about this. I'd love to post a pic but I don't have the capability at this time. I appreciate all your feedback. Keep it coming. I can handle the ridicule.

Rob
 
Send it back again but remember you are completely anal so once they get it the way you want it (and I'm sure they will) then you need to buy three more CRK knives as a thank you for impecable customer service. :p Hmmm... if only I had an excuse to by three more CRKs. Wait... that's it. When they get it right let me know and I'll buy more CRKs as a thank you on your behalf. :D I have had my eye on the Mountaineer for a while anyway. ;)
 
Very frankly - and this is not an aggressive answer :D - Yes, you're nuts !:)

Send it back and what are you going to find next time ? There's a tiny scratch of 0.2 microns on the back of the blade ?:eek: :eek: :eek: The framelock bends at an angle of 20.125° instead of 20.126° ?:p And what else ?:rolleyes:

An advice : send it and when it gets back put it in safe in an atomic shelter:)

I don't know if this is a correct translation but there is a popular saying :

"The better is the enemy of the good"

I hope I didn't offend you, it was not my purpose, if I did then I :foot: . But the CRK team has done a great job for you until now and maybe it's time for thanking, not for complaining. IMVHO.
 
Do you ever use or sharpen the Sebenza yourself?
My guess is that you don't because then you'd realize what imperfections REALLY are. I don't mean this to be offensive, it's just speculation on my part.
IMO, you should not not not not not send it back. There's LOTS of other people selling a lot of knives for a lot more money with way more imperfections. Most people just call it personality.
 
If I were CRK I would refund your cost and make your knife a permanent passaround! I can see it now... "and THIS ONE was considered 'unacceptable!'" Then maybe you could find a better knife... good luck!
 
after holding my sebenza up to a light and closing one eye, my blade is one hair toward the non lock side, BUT.....i think its enginered that way. If it were dead centered, then the lock bar would be slightly raised. I think. I could be wrong im no expert. The folks at chris reeve go over each sebenza before it leaves the workbench, i doubt if a flawed one ever slips thru. I buy chris reeve knives for the perfection, i think you should keep that one.
 
ok guys, I appreciate the many comments. Please do remember that I am not in anyway trying to attack CRK.

I recieved a very nice email from Anne offering to take a look at the knife although at this point, I believe that I will just keep it and enjoy it for what it is... a perfect knife.

There were a few comments here that were perhaps a tad insulting, but I guess that is what I get for obsessing over such small details. Please do remember that I never acted anyway other than humble and appreciative with CRK and that I was more than willing to pay for a new blade. I never asked for a free blade. Their customer service IS impeccable and I am grateful for all they've done for me. I hope that I did not convey anthing less than that in my posts.

Thanks again for the feedback.
Rob
Archieblue: I am glad you're not CRK
Leeroy: You're right, I would certainly find something else when I recieved it back. I always do, with everything.
Dave H: Thanks, I appreciated your feedback the most.
Dr. Sharp: I appreciate you checking yours for me as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top