Continued XM-18 & Sebenza Talk/Review

chadridv

chadridv

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Dec 7, 2009
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As many of you likely know, BF Member "zyhano" create a brilliant photo/review comparison between these 2 awesome knives. I added a few comments and photographs to the thread. In case you didn't see it i will include the link below.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=758512

I started writing another comment in that thread and realized i would kind of like to open up the discussion of my issue in a new thread. Anyway, here's the story. But before doing so, thanks again to Zyhano for an awesome original thread.

So, last night I was messin around with another 3" XM-18 that belongs to a friend. I noticed right away that his seemed to have a much smoother and faster deployment. It's not a huge difference but definitely noticeable. He advised me to take mine down, clean it and try loosening the pivot a hair.

The knife was surprisingly easy and simple to clean. It also put back together easily with no problems, EXCEPT!... now i can't seem to get the blade back to perfect center. I did get the deployment just as smooth as my buddies knife, however it seems you sacrifice blade centering for pivot tension. here's the other problem, to get the blade back to it's previous centered position, not only do i have to tighten the pivot way tighter than it's original tension, but it would be so tight, it would almost be locked shut.

OK, so i'm not sharing this with all of you to bitch or ask for advice, although if you have any i'll take it ;) I really only mention all this as a testament to our beloved sebenza's. The very first time i took down my Sebenza, I put it back together so easily and PERFECTLY! Perfectly smooth, perfectly centered! it must be so difficult to create something as precise as the sebenza, but to make it so user friendly that any layman can take it apart and rebuild it perfectly is truly impressive.

although my XM-18 will still function perfectly fine and don't get me wrong i love that knife, it's just not perfect, and i have yet to see a knife holds a candle to the Sebenza.

I know i might seem nit picky, but I'm sorry when you start spending over $300 on a pocket knife, i have certain expectations. My friends and family already think i'm crazy for spending that much, I'm glad they don't know how much the XM-18 costs!

ok thanks for the rant.
 
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Oh quit your bitchin. Haha. I recently traded a sebbie for a strider and after a few weeks sold it to gee an umnum. The crk quality is just second to none!
 
Have you checked the washers? :)

First time I took a Sebenza apart I spend an hour getting it back together. Now I can do that in about ten minutes. Double check for pinched washers is they key. :)
 
chadridv said:
The very first time i took down my Sebenza, I put it back together so easily and PERFECTLY! Perfectly smooth, perfectly centered!
Click to expand...

Josh K said:
Have you checked the washers? :)

First time I took a Sebenza apart I spend an hour getting it back together. Now I can do that in about ten minutes. Double check for pinched washers is they key. :)
Click to expand...

thank you for the comment but i think you may have misread something. i think the sebenza is the easiest, greatest knife in the world to maintain.
 
chadridv said:
thank you for the comment but i think you may have misread something. i think the sebenza is the easiest, greatest knife in the world to maintain.
Click to expand...

As do I, I'm just saying that you should check the washers on the XM-18, but then again I haven't had one apart so I'm not sure if there is anything funky going on there with the pivot.

I would agree that the Sebenza is one of the easiest knives to take down and put back together. Bar maybe the Umnumzaan. :D
 
Josh K said:
As do I, I'm just saying that you should check the washers on the XM-18, but then again I haven't had one apart so I'm not sure if there is anything funky going on there with the pivot.

I would agree that the Sebenza is one of the easiest knives to take down and put back together. Bar maybe the Umnumzaan. :D
Click to expand...

oh i gotcha. ok thanks. yeah the washers are fine. In fact the knife is much much smoother than it was. It is a pleasure to open and close. It's really just that the blade came a little off center, and although it is annoying, for me it just adds to the list of why Sebenza's rule!

thanks again.
 
I had the same problem when I had my 3.5" XM-18. Nothing opens like my 3" XM-18 though. That thing has the smoothest deployment of any knife I know of or have handled except for maybe a RJ.
I took these instruction straight from Hinderer sub-forum on USN.


1. Open blade to 90 degrees and tighten pivot so that it is really tight.

2. Close the blade and loosen frame screws so they aren’t tight, but still holding the frame together.

3. While the blade is still in the closed position, pull blade towards the side you want the blade to move. In my case, I pulled the blade toward the liner/scale.

4. While pulling blade, tighten the frame screws.

5. Loosen the pivot and adjust it to the desired tension.
 
I like em all but truthfully for me the Sebbie wins simple for a better blade grind for the kind of uses I use a knife for. I feel the Sebenza just comes with a better blade geometry compared to either the Striders or the XM-18 which are both obtuse by comparison.

STR
 
Josh K said:
As do I, I'm just saying that you should check the washers on the XM-18, but then again I haven't had one apart so I'm not sure if there is anything funky going on there with the pivot.

I would agree that the Sebenza is one of the easiest knives to take down and put back together. Bar maybe the Umnumzaan. :D
Click to expand...

Eh having to burn out loctite and reapply it everytime I take it apart doesn't really constitute it as "easy".
 
kawr said:
Eh having to burn out loctite and reapply it everytime I take it apart doesn't really constitute it as "easy".
Click to expand...

You should not have to "burn" out the Loc-Tite. It's low strength and there is just enough to prevent it from ever backing off on it's own.

If you don't find brushing some dried Loc-Tite off and putting a few drops on easy, then you also will hate having to lube any knife, wash them, or heaven forbid take them apart. There are screws you have to undo and everything! :eek:
 
Josh K said:
You should not have to "burn" out the Loc-Tite. It's low strength and there is just enough to prevent it from ever backing off on it's own.

If you don't find brushing some dried Loc-Tite off and putting a few drops on easy, then you also will hate having to lube any knife, wash them, or heaven forbid take them apart. There are screws you have to undo and everything! :eek:
Click to expand...

Right never said it was hard but the fact that you have to do those things pretty much makes it harder in comparison to the Sebenza which is what you were comparing it to. I dont doubt the Umnum is easier to take apart and put back together than just about any other production or custom knife out there.
 
BBQ BOY said:
I had the same problem when I had my 3.5" XM-18. Nothing opens like my 3" XM-18 though. That thing has the smoothest deployment of any knife I know of or have handled except for maybe a RJ.
I took these instruction straight from Hinderer sub-forum on USN.


1. Open blade to 90 degrees and tighten pivot so that it is really tight.

2. Close the blade and loosen frame screws so they aren’t tight, but still holding the frame together.

3. While the blade is still in the closed position, pull blade towards the side you want the blade to move. In my case, I pulled the blade toward the liner/scale.

4. While pulling blade, tighten the frame screws.

5. Loosen the pivot and adjust it to the desired tension.
Click to expand...

i will give this a go. Thank you very much!
 
kawr said:
Right never said it was hard but the fact that you have to do those things pretty much makes it harder in comparison to the Sebenza which is what you were comparing it to. I dont doubt the Umnum is easier to take apart and put back together than just about any other production or custom knife out there.
Click to expand...

It is easier in the sense that there is less to mess with. No pivot bushing, no stop pin sleeve / screw. It's just simpler. :)
 
Sheesh, pretty silly judging a knife on the basis of whether the blade and edge work better for you. Things like tactical looks, clips, scale color, etc. are more important, don't you think?

:eek: Not.

I've been feeling tempted by all the XM-18 talk. I think you just saved me hundreds of dollars! :D


STR said:
I like em all but truthfully for me the Sebbie wins simple for a better blade grind for the kind of uses I use a knife for. I feel the Sebenza just comes with a better blade geometry compared to either the Striders or the XM-18 which are both obtuse by comparison.

STR
Click to expand...
 
What is the customer service like on the xm18? How long would a repair take?
 
BBQ BOY said:
I had the same problem when I had my 3.5" XM-18. Nothing opens like my 3" XM-18 though. That thing has the smoothest deployment of any knife I know of or have handled except for maybe a RJ.
I took these instruction straight from Hinderer sub-forum on USN.


1. Open blade to 90 degrees and tighten pivot so that it is really tight.

2. Close the blade and loosen frame screws so they aren’t tight, but still holding the frame together.

3. While the blade is still in the closed position, pull blade towards the side you want the blade to move. In my case, I pulled the blade toward the liner/scale.

4. While pulling blade, tighten the frame screws.

5. Loosen the pivot and adjust it to the desired tension.
Click to expand...

chadridv said:
i will give this a go. Thank you very much!
Click to expand...

I can confirm that this information is 100% accurate and works perfectly. I even tried it several times to confirm that it does indeed work.
 
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