CRK tolerances

[Peter Hartwig]

I may have missed it, but was this off center right from the dealer, or after re-assembly & or use?
If after re-assembly, it is user error, but even so there is now the problem with the sanded washer.
I don't see how you are going to get around sending it back, unless there is some after market washer that fits(which I have never heard of)

Mistakes can happen even at CRK, but they seem to try to avoid them as best they can

 

[benchwarmer380]

I had one arrive with an off-centered blade that rubbed the non-lock slab, but I sent it back to the dealer immediately. I'm not sure how the OP's knife would have been more or less fine when new but way off now, unless the washer had been pinched?

That, or the screws could be backing out slightly. The stop pin screw on my small micarta tanto backs out every so often. If i dont correct it in time it will eventually rub. I just tighten it up when it happens, although applying loctite would be the wise and more permanent solution.

 

[Saint 3:16]

Not to hijack, but this goes with the same topic of crk tolerances and blade not centered. Here's my used small sebenza 21, got it slightly off centered and haven't been able to center it no matter what I try, even the tips posted on this thread. Plus the intermittent lock stick which changes every time I take the knife apart.

Anyways, here's a picture. How bad is it and much would this bother you?

 

[stef142]

So, after having read all, I want to point out my initial question: how is possible that with good tolerances CRK has to put in every knife a particular set of washers to adjust it? I have one Griptilian to whom I changed first the scales, then the blade (Doug Ritter one) and it works flawlessly without any adjustment. Is there perhaps an industrialization problem, as CRKs' are not custom knives?

 

[Icky Thump]

Not to hijack, but this goes with the same topic of crk tolerances and blade not centered. Here's my used small sebenza 21, got it slightly off centered and haven't been able to center it no matter what I try, even the tips posted on this thread. Plus the intermittent lock stick which changes every time I take the knife apart.

Anyways, here's a picture. How bad is it and much would this bother you?

That would bother me.

I had a knife (non CRK) w/ same issue...couldn't center it no matter what I did...turned out to be the grind that was off.

 

[Peter Hartwig]

So, after having read all, I want to point out my initial question: how is possible that with good tolerances CRK has to put in every knife a particular set of washers to adjust it? I have one Griptilian to whom I changed first the scales, then the blade (Doug Ritter one) and it works flawlessly without any adjustment. Is there perhaps an industrialization problem, as CRKs' are not custom knives?

There is a certain amount of custom work that go into these. I think the real ? is how did it get past quality control and all their test(if you have seen the shop video you know what I mean. Things happen, but it shouldn't happen often. However these problems are always bigger for the international customers.

Machines can only do so much(or at least at reasonable cost of production). It is the combination of machine and human that achieves the final product. There are a few parts that have to be hand fitted. Thus a return to CRK is needed.
Seems like you may be confusing tight tolerances with every part being perfect off the mill. There will be slight variances. Since the variances on their parts is small, they can adjust them in to a final product with tight tolerances. If you watch the video you will see that hands on work plays into these knives.

 

[brownshoe]

So, after having read all, I want to point out my initial question: how is possible that with good tolerances CRK has to put in every knife a particular set of washers to adjust it? I have one Griptilian to whom I changed first the scales, then the blade (Doug Ritter one) and it works flawlessly without any adjustment. Is there perhaps an industrialization problem, as CRKs' are not custom knives?

You assume facts not in evidence. Your assumption is the tight tolerances are in the systems that determine blade centering. From what I remember, CRK in their factory videos say that they have tight tolerances in how flat their handle slabs are and other areas I no longer remember. However, in these videos, they also say that washer/pivot systems are hand adjusted.

Per your first post, you also "adjusted" your washers yourself, you could have made it worse in a way not related to blade centering. CRK when they had instructions on cleaning a Sebenza on their site, specifically stated that you need to leave the washers alone...because they are hand adjusted for your knife. Washer problems are almost always user error in either cleaning or reassembly.

Maybe you should stick with Benchmade