CRK Sebenza with carbon fiber scale

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You're killing me !

I had a gorgeous large reg with a spiro blade that I carried for a bit but it only saw light duty, cutting shrink wrap, opening letters and boxes, etc. the Damascus is in my opinion at least as good as the S35/S30 steel but I just couldn't bring myself to do harder stuff with it.
Unfortunately that knife is long gone but I still have a nice Ebony/Sipro Mnandi and a Large Unique Ol Glory 21 with a nice Ladder blade that I often think of putting into the rotation but just can't bring myself to do with so many users already scared up.
I'm thinking hard about selling a few to fund a Ladder Damascus Large with the intent of treating it like my Umnumzaan :D

By the way, I'm blaming you when the Wife gets the box at the door.
 
NationalWMD said:
Makes me wish I got the Damascus version :)
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Nonsense, your knife is a damn fine piece. The S35VN blades are beautiful in their own right and they take such an aggressive edge versus the ultra polished edge ss damascus takes. Both edges mirror polished, S35VN will have the more utilitarian edge with that extra bite for tough cutting.
 
most awesome CRK , light and cool

2n00jzb.jpg


OK and the bead looks good :D

sbpy87.jpg
 
Carbon fiber is some tough stuff. In all the years that I had been working with it, I never had anyone call me back and said the material failed in any way shape or form.
 
Well.....I hate coming in these happy gala and ask this and hope I am not offending anyone!

Surface appearance aside....

Since I don't prefer using carbon fiber directly to support a bearing surface, unless it has a secondary larger thrust surface, spreading load, to prevent direct focus wear or fracturing to the tough but brittle resin laminated carbon fiber. Such as in the case, on the small surface area, with the 21's pivot/stop pin/stand off bushings, while under tighten compressed tension.

Did anyone here open up the Seb-21 with carbon scale and have a look/see?

Did CRK counter bored the carbon scale, fit steel thrust wear washer into the carbon scale, to avoid focused compression wear and spreading the load, for longivity?
 
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I have no idea what the terms you are using mean, but here is the inside of a large 21 CF Insingo

4958CB74-CF30-49D3-8494-D21E14712FD9.jpg
 
Carbonfiber is just fine for an application like that. While one will be able to induce some flex that wouldn't be there with a Ti slab it is still well beyond the limits that would be deemed as acceptable.
There is a huge amount of strength through the fiber and that is exactly how and why "dry" carbon fiber is used. If you need strength in multiple plains you would obviously use "wet" carbonfiber. The carbonfiber used for the CRK handles is more than stable enough and even if you dropped it on it's ends over and over you would be hard pushed to even start splitting the layers, or degrading the over all structural intergity of the piece.
I have used a number of different carbonfibers for things like knuckles and kobatons. They take an incredible abount of abuse so for a knife handle you have nothing to worry about. CRK would see you right anyway if you did.

In short. It's all good, man. :p

victorf said:
Well.....I hate coming in these happy gala and ask this and hope I am not offending anyone!

Surface appearance aside....

Since I don't prefer using carbon fiber directly to support a bearing surface, unless it has a secondary larger thrust surface, spreading load, to prevent direct focus wear or fracturing to the tough but brittle resin laminated carbon fiber. Such as in the case, on the small surface area, with the 21's pivot/stop pin/stand off bushings, while under tighten compressed tension.

Did anyone here open up the Seb-21 with carbon scale and have a look/see?

Did CRK counter bored the carbon scale, fit steel thrust wear washer into the carbon scale, to avoid focused compression wear and spreading the load, for longivity?
Click to expand...
 
@TechDoc, I see the same "wear" as in the Ti ones :thumbup:
absolutely no rotation of the washers (as it should be?)

I won't open mine soon (one is from Oct 14) but I expect no signs or wear like in the others (keeping that the pivot it tight)

gooooood stuff
 
Mad_Maxx said:
@TechDoc, I see the same "wear" as in the Ti ones :thumbup:
absolutely no rotation of the washers (as it should be?)

I won't open mine soon (one is from Oct 14) but I expect no signs or wear like in the others (keeping that the pivot it tight)

gooooood stuff
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I certainly wouldn't mind if the CF scale had some type of metal insert to hold the pivot screws, but I don't fear that the CF is not strong enough. It's like worrying that a Ferrari will only go 199 mph rather than 210.
 
^^^

Carbon components on some of those exotic cars, always have reinforcement to spread clamping loads. Chevy even do that on my lowly Corvette's fiber reinforced plastic body pieces.

Glad ^^^^ you bought that up.

But no worries, at least not from me - to each his own! :)
 
There are several highly respected custom knife maker and several knife companies like CRK that are using carbon fiber as the fixed side scale. I really don't think they would be using it if it compromised the quality of the knives they sold.

Chevy's and knives are two different animals.
 
What is the opinion of you CF aficionados about using automotive sealer on the scales to protect them?
 
I just happened to have my 21 apart to do some modding.

Here shown the tale tale imprints of the three bushing on the titanium's hone blasted finish:

DSCN1935_zps0e252dd1.jpg


Unlike stone wash finish, hone blast finish more easily reveal imperfections, such as in the form of the so called "snail trails" on CRK's titanium scales. Such impacted impressions has different effects on unprotected carbon fiber - especially at an area of focused stress - in the long run - irreversible compression fracture - due to the inability of load spreading. Compression stress is not the same as wear on the external surface of carbon.

As an observation, not meant to come across as argumentative: just because *** "There are several highly respected custom knife maker and several knife companies like CRK that are using carbon fiber as the fixed side scale. I really don't think they would be using it if it compromised the quality of the knives they sold.". *** If you are happy with that....which falls under - to each his own.

There are also many other maker that address the fine point, which require time/design effors, in the quest to protect carbon. When I have the inclination for carbon scale, I would choose theirs. Again, to each his own! :)
 
victorf said:
I just happened to have my 21 apart to do some modding.

Here shown the tale tale imprints of the three bushing on the titanium's hone blasted finish:

DSCN1935_zps0e252dd1.jpg


Unlike stone wash finish, hone blast finish more easily reveal imperfections, such as in the form of the so called "snail trails" on CRK's titanium scales. Such impacted impressions has different effects on unprotected carbon fiber - especially at an area of focused stress - in the long run - irreversible compression fracture - due to the inability of load spreading. Compression stress is not the same as wear on the external surface of carbon.

As an observation, not meant to come across as argumentative: just because *** "There are several highly respected custom knife maker and several knife companies like CRK that are using carbon fiber as the fixed side scale. I really don't think they would be using it if it compromised the quality of the knives they sold.". *** If you are happy with that....which falls under - to each his own.

There are also many other maker that address the fine point, which require time/design effors, in the quest to protect carbon. When I have the inclination for carbon scale, I would choose theirs. Again, to each his own! :)
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Since you bring it up..you open it up :)

So, you want a counterbore to "spread out the load" or balance the axial forces placed on the carbon fiber using a thrust washer or something thereof. Have you thought, that maybe that would weaken the CF even more by exposing it to delamination because, you now have a sharp corner to deal with in the bottom of the counterbore.

I totally understand where you are coming from on your critiques of design elements..I do it myself to a degree. There could be so much more to make these things bulletproof. In the end, I come to the realization that this is a production run knife on a smaller scale than larger companies. It's intended purpose to the occasional use of utility to cut things, but does require some common sense. It's not a fixed blade, sword, lighsaber nor screwdriver, prybar or hammer.
This being the case, I guess you can relate to what car companies and other do with this material,..but let's face it..If companies built cars, knives and other tools like what you want I would want..We wouldn't need to buy another car again.

But it does really come down to CF being just like Titanium; Another space age material being used in an application where there are few reasons for other than it's pretty dang cool!
 
bhyde said:
Since you bring it up..you open it up :)

So, you want a counterbore to "spread out the load" or balance the axial forces placed on the carbon fiber using a thrust washer or something thereof. Have you thought, that maybe that would weaken the CF even more by exposing it to delamination because, you now have a sharp corner to deal with in the bottom of the counterbore.

I totally understand where you are coming from on your critiques of design elements..I do it myself to a degree. There could be so much more to make these things bulletproof. In the end, I come to the realization that this is a production run knife on a smaller scale than larger companies. It's intended purpose to the occasional use of utility to cut things, but does require some common sense. It's not a fixed blade, sword, lighsaber nor screwdriver, prybar or hammer.
This being the case, I guess you can relate to what car companies and other do with this material,..but let's face it..If companies built cars, knives and other tools like what you want I would want..We wouldn't need to buy another car again.

But it does really come down to CF being just like Titanium; Another space age material being used in an application where there are few reasons for other than it's pretty dang cool!
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I agree with you 100%! However, I rather accept sharp corner in the counterbore, after the load is spread/absorbed over a larger shield area, perpendicularly, corner of carbon will suffer a lesser chance to delaminate. But then, Mr. Murphy said it posses a possibility, as with everything, right? :)

Additionally, why I stated: to each his own.

I do like my plain Jane titanium 21 Insingo as a blank canvas to do as I may. Just like my other toys to make it better then factory, since factory can not customize to my requirement/expectation.

Deleted to avoid intellectual debates - since I am not very smart and besides, clearly, what do I know, right? :)
 
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Back to the OP's query, I have carried a small regular CF Sebbie for quite a while now, and I have found no appreciable difference in performance between Ti and CF in ordinary use. I see no difference in wear and tear between the two, and no "impacted impressions" or stress fractures that I can discern with the naked eye. Although I am no materials scientist, I think the CF slab on the Sebenza is a durable and lightweight alternative to titanium and is perfectly suited to this application. I think you can buy a CF CRK with a very high level of confidence in its performance.
 
I have a CF handled Sebenza and it wears great. It's also back at CRK for spa treatment right now. Pretty sure the CF slab can be re-blasted just like a Titanium scale, so I wouldn't worry about the appearance at all. It can also be sculpted, sanded and polished, just like G10.

victorf said:
Well.....I hate coming in these happy gala and ask this and hope I am not offending anyone!

Surface appearance aside....

Since I don't prefer using carbon fiber directly to support a bearing surface, unless it has a secondary larger thrust surface, spreading load, to prevent direct focus wear or fracturing to the tough but brittle resin laminated carbon fiber. Such as in the case, on the small surface area, with the 21's pivot/stop pin/stand off bushings, while under tighten compressed tension.

Did anyone here open up the Seb-21 with carbon scale and have a look/see?

Did CRK counter bored the carbon scale, fit steel thrust wear washer into the carbon scale, to avoid focused compression wear and spreading the load, for longivity?
Click to expand...

I love how there's always someone smarter than the guy who made the knife. I'd say CRK's designs are probably pretty solid, but I'm sure he'll always appreciate your input and pictures of your Corvette parts. lol

And seriously, guy...it's a pocket knife handle, not a sports car. There are some "minor" differences in speed and weight you're not quite taking into account.
 
My post did not intend to attack/insult anyone.

I am not very smart and certainly don't know much - but - when it comes to simple knife refurbishment, I can rely on my own two hands with a little splash of imaginations. :)
 
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