Blasphemy?

R

Richard K

Joined
Dec 30, 2000
Messages
711
My large Sebenza has been rather stiff since I got it. I replaced the grease with Militec and now it's smooth as glass, however, I just used it do do some actual cutting for the first time. I cut the tag off a new item of clothing, the type with the thin nylon thingie that they insert through the fabric and is about .05 mm thick. I chipped the edge on my Sebenza!! Conversely, today I was in a hurry to remove the wire tie on an electrical cord and rather than take the time to un-twist it, I cut it with my LCC DA. No damage to the edge of the 154CM blade. What's up with that? Both appear to be equally sharp. Can I conclude that Microtech 154CM is tougher than Reeve BG-42? Upset,inquiring minds want to know!
 
Maybe it had a wire edge?
That sounds pretty strange.
Honestly, it sounds pretty impossible.
I have done some very rough work with my small Sebenza, including cutting through a piece of a very thick cardboard container using both hands and my body weight to push the knife through the material. It didn't handle that very well, but it didn't damage the edge, either. I've also dropped it tip-first on concrete, and it rolled the edge at the tip, but did not chip it. It has impressed me enough that I recently got a small custom fixed blade in BG-42 that I used to split half a dozen limbs (~3") today with a baton ("just to see"), and it suffered no edge damage.
I hope the chip you're referring to is a small section of wire edge that broke off...other than that, I don't know what to tell you:(
 
When I read your post I found it hard to believe. Later today I cut the same type plastic tag off some clothes I was wrapping up for Christmas. I had a hard time cutting it but it did cut and I soon forgot about it. Later I decided to touch up the edge on the large Sebenza that I used and low and behold there was a chip in the edge. I have four Sebenzas and the rest are perfect. Strange!
 
Owen, Al, Yes it was the thin wire edge. When I discovered it, it appeared as a thin curl of steel as if it had been shaved or whittled off. After brushing the "curl" off with my thumb a chip in the edge remains in the wire edge. It's not worth sending in to have CR re-sharpen but it definitely surprised me after hearing how tough BG-42 is. Now the question is how to eliminate the chip. Do I attempt to re-profile by removing the remainder of the wire edge with my 204 Sharpmaker? If so, what angle?
Thanks
 
I'd strop it on some cardboard, or just cut some cardboard (that's something I have a habit of doing to make sure there's no wire edge), and give it a few strokes with the Sharpmaker on the corners of the white stones at the 40 degree setting (because of the factory bevel, the 30 degree setting probably won't hit the actual edge). That should do it, but if it doesn't work, try tilting the top of the blade away from the stone so it's at a slightly sharper angle, and giving it a couple of strokes. A wire edge or burr will flop back and forth sometimes, but it shouldn't be hard to break off. Hopefully all that will rid you of the wire edge without any problems. If not, I'd start with step 1 (corners of the gray stones), and give it a full sharpening.
I hate hearing about you guys having this problem with your Sebenzas, 'cause I know it's a real confidence killer, and a Sebenza is a knife you should be able to have plenty of confidence in.
 
Originally posted by OwenM
I hate hearing about you guys having this problem with your Sebenzas, 'cause I know it's a real confidence killer, and a Sebenza is a knife you should be able to have plenty of confidence in.
Click to expand...

Is this wire-edge phenomenon common with Chris Reeves' knives (a result of the factory sharpening), or just BG-42 in general? For a $300+ price tag, I would kind if expect the Sebenza to be closer to perfection than any other production knife out there. Or is this naive thinking?
 
A wire-edge just happens sometimes. It is no more or less prevalent on CRK knives (or BG42) than any other manufacturer (or any other steel). It happens when the burr is not completely removed when sharpening. The burr lines up with the edge and you can't really tell it's there by looking at it. It usually appears that the edge it extremely sharp, but it will only last a very short time.

Edit:
Actually, now that I think about it, a wire edge may happen more with better steel. It would seem to me that a burr of BG-42 would be stronger than a burr of 440a (the 440a would fold more easily). I don't know, what do you guys think?
 
You can have a wire edge on any knife...
My comments about it killing your confidence wasn't a reflection on the knife, but about people's perception. You hear all the good stuff about Sebenzas, get one, and then have something happen like Richard did, and immediately think "this isn't what I expected-maybe it's not all it's chalked up to be". I don't doubt from some of the stuff I've read on the forums, that some people would just get rid of it, and any time someone asks about the Sebenza in the future they'll say-"yeah, I had one, and it chipped the first time I used it...". Not saying that's what would happen here, but it's amazing sometimes to see people badmouthing a knife, or even a company in general because the factory edge wasn't up to par, or the finish rubbed off the screws, it opened a little rough out of the box, etc. Y'all know what I'm talking about-we see it all the time.
 
That is very suprising performance. I carry a Large Sebbie EDC and have used it for food prep (lots), cutting carpet (a couple hundred linear feet!!!), wood (carving walking sticks, small repairs around the house), rope, lots of plastic zip ties, tons of cardboard and it has held up great. A few strokes on my Spyderco Sharpmaker brings the edge back to scary sharp every time.
The only thing that I can think of is that you used lateral pressure on the edge (sideways prying motion) when cutting the plastic.
Take care,
Chad
 
Owen, don't worry, I don't plan on getting rid of my Sebenza nor do I intend to "bad mouth" CR knives on the forums. But having owned many knives with ATS-34, 154CM, CPM440V, VG-10 etc., all of which I keep razor sharp, I was a little dismayed/surprised to see this on the first use of a Sebenza cutting, what I consider to be, soft material.
Thanks for your input.
 
Chad, I thought of that too and may have done that. However, being right handed and re-creating the cutting action in my mind, the "curl" of steel should have been on the right side of the edge and not the left as was the case. Did'nt mean to stir up a hornets' nest, was just curious if others have had this experience and if I should be concerned.
 
Richard,
I don't think you stirred anything up. My remarks about things people post on the forums weren't pointed at you, just relating stuff I'd seen happen before as an example of how such little things affect people's opinions.
Hope that wire edge came off easy:)
 
For a $300 production knife, a burr is not a *little* thing. Would you buy a particular Sebenza (in your local knife store) once you noticed that small chip on the blade? Or, would you still be able to resell you Sebenza in the exchange forum for almost what you paid in retail, even though it had the wire edge?

I'm not trying to stir up anything either. But I was surprised to find not one but two cases of chipped blades on Sebenzas. It gave me pause, but I am still planning on purchasing one w/ a CG--will just have to ask the dealer to check for burrs/wire-edges...:rolleyes:
 
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