emailed CRK and they wrote right back

DRider

DRider

Joined
Jan 8, 2005
Messages
597
I have a new, right handed, large classic micarta sebenza, "born" in January 2007. Guess it's been hanging out at True North Knives all this time. I can't help it, it worries me having a frame lock cover what looks to me like a good 85 or 90% of the blade tang, and in a firm left handed grip the lock will move all the way to the other scale! I posted in the general forum and was told that everything is fine, but this is so different than all my other framelocks. So I wrote to CRK and sent a couple pictures.

Heather wrote right back. She said 50% to 75% coverage was spec and my knife looked within that. (I did tell her that it could move all the way to the opposite scale). She said they'd be more than happy to look at it but since the blade still locked totally solid (which it does, as I told her) I might as well keep using it, since they warantee their knives for life. I can always send it in later.

I wrote back, thanking her for a very quick response and saying that since I'm a new parent of this sebbie I don't want it out of my hands, I might as well hang on to it, I can send it in later. I asked if they have a different implementation of the frame lock than other makers, since usually you get no more than 50% coverage on any framelock you get. (I just sent that, if she has interesting info, I'll post it)

I was very impressed by the fast, personal service. I think this is the kind of "hidden benefit" you get from getting such a high end knife. Maybe you could also get an immediate email response from another custom maker (same price level) but I'm not sure about that.

Here's the photos I posted. Yes, I know I'm really beating this horse but let's face it, the knife ain't cheap and I want to be at ease with it. You guys have the same kind of lock up with your sebbies? Do you have a lock that can go all the way to the other scale on a firm opposite grip? (I figure there's a lot more sebbie owners here than maybe saw my post on the general forum)

DSCN1797.jpg


DSCN1798.jpg
 
here is my lockup. i have owned 3 sebbies now, this is the way all of them have been. this pic was right after a visit to crk too.

dsc03450.jpg
 
I would say that it is slightly more over then what I usually see.

This probably means you need to buy another so you can bear to part with sending this one back when the time comes. :D
 
I have three Benzas, and they are all slightly different. All with less engagement than that, though. I also have an Umfaan, which looks about like that. Doesn't really bother me.

Think about how much material would have to be displaced in order for the lock bar to come up short, and then consider how little friction there really is when you actuate the lock. I think we're talking about decades of wear.

Obviously you need to be happy with the knife, but I would not fret. The way I look at it, 50% engagement is actually inferior, because it's that much more likely to pop out.

Use the knife for a few weeks. Develop a relationship with it, then see how you feel. :)
 
Thanks guys.

I hadn't had any luck with this before, didn't do it with great care, but I tried again just now, but very, very carefully, to rotate the stop pin (it's really a bushing) to see if I could get a better result. I was told by other forum folks that might be a way to make a micro adjustment in lock up.

I turned it a tenth of a turn. No change. Again. Worse!. Again. Back to original. Again. Hey, suddenly I'm at more of a true 80% (could it be 75%?) coverage of the blade tang. Now it doesn't look like it's just slapping over to the side; it's stopping where the blade tang takes it's swoop up. I can still move it all the way over but it's a little harder now.

Very slight change, but I'll take it. Maybe now I can relax and just cut stuff. (well, not my fingers. Been there, done that. Stitches come out Monday)
 
Just send it to CRK for a tune up. Otherwise you will dwell on it and never enjoy the knife to its maximum potential.

It should only be gone a short while. Heck, order a little treat (like a Case Sodbuster or Opinel) to carry in the meantime, to make it a little more bearable.
 
knifetester, I've really considered it. Heather's advice (we emailed a little more) is to just use the heck out of it and send it in when it's not locking anything but solid as a rock anymore. So I think I'll give it a month to see if I get fine with it, otherwise, it's going in.
 
Personally I think that looks like it's too much. I've had 2 sebenzas and they both lock up at a little less than 50%.
 
I have 2 large regular BG-42 Sebenzas, one a tanto, and they've gotten a lot of use. Both lock up about like yours, way over. Never bothered me and I' haven't had any problems with locking or unlocking.
 
Great knife, great people (all of them) down there in Boise. Just enjoy the knife and don't over think it! They'll back you up in the highly unlikely event the it lets you down.
Gargs
 
I never understood this because of ignorance, but why is 100% worse than 50% or 75% or whatever? Initial thought would tell one that "more contact = better."

So why is 100% not good?
 
THG said:
I never understood this because of ignorance, but why is 100% worse than 50% or 75% or whatever? Initial thought would tell one that "more contact = better."

So why is 100% not good?
Click to expand...

75+ is good! IMO

I like my frame locks like this, not sure why most do not? :confused:
 
This is one of the really nice things about the frame lock design - it's just not going to fail and fold over on your fingers.The worst that can come with age and probably years of hard use would be the blade developing some vertical play.Still won't bite you.And they'll still fix it for you.
And I agree - CRK's support staff are great - both knowledgeable and responsive.
 
I would think that a 75% coverage would be a more secure lock as long as it's easy to open and close.
 
Well, the theory is that you start with like 50% and over time, the lock wears away a little bit of the blade tang (or visa versa) and it moves on over... but will always lock tight due to the angle of the blade tang. If you start with 80% there's a lot less life left in the lock.

Ok, that's the theory.

In practice, will this be my only knife for the next ten years? I doubt it. And if I have excessive wear so that there's a bit of vertical blade play (which would bug the hell out of me) I can send it to CRK for cheerful repair and it's all good again.

So I think I'm cool about all this. As long as the lock bar is not touching the opposite scale when I open the thing, I'll be ok with it, from all the feedback I've gotten.

What got me going in the first place was that I've never had a frame lock, or a liner lock, that was this far over on the blade tang when the knife was bought new. Never once. So I had to start asking a lot of question.
 
Have you ever heard of a Sebenza wearing out? Ever?



Nope didn't think so! :D
 
So-Lo said:
Have you ever heard of a Sebenza wearing out? Ever?



Nope didn't think so! :D
Click to expand...

I've used mine evry day for the last 5 months and there's now a tiny bit of up/down play- but i attribute that to my incessant fiddling more than anything, i could even be imagining it it feels like such a small movement
 
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