Exterior lockbar relief cuts

Big_Red

Big_Red

Joined
Feb 23, 2009
Messages
669
I noticed on my new Large Micarta Seb that there are two relief cuts on the OUTSIDE of lockbar. Manufacture is 12/2010. None of my other Sebs have these cutouts, even with similar born on dates. It may be coincidence, but that particular Seb is easier to open of my bunch and also seems to have the least lockbar tension.

Do you know if this is an update to the design? Or has it been used in the past?

I've tried to circle the cutouts in the picture below, although it doesn't show them very well.

CR_5302_2_800.jpg
 
Not sure what the rule is here - I have a 2009 large plain 21 without and a 2006 large Classic inlay that does have those cuts. So...they're not new...maybe the inlays get them and the plains don't? Doesn't seem to be a large/small thing, either. I have a 2007 small inlay Classic that has them, as does a 2011 small inlay 21.
 
I had heard that this makes it easier for CRK to polish the rest of the handle but leave the lock-bar portion with the blasted finish. Probably gives the line between the 2 finishes a bit better look as well. Not sure if my info is correct, but thought I would share it. I am sure someone here will know more.

Scott
 
It has been in use for some time on the inlayed models. It helps with clip retention if I am not mistaken. So it is less likely the knife would slip out of your pocket.
 
I've always assumed it is for setting lock-bar tension. My Ummm and S- Sebenza have it on the inside and my XM is outside.
 
I have a large micarta classic made in 04 that has em. They look to be too
shallow to have any effect on the lockbar tension but I could be wrong.
This would be an interesting question to ask Anne or Chris and see what their
response is.
 
The bar is essentially a spring. It would need to have a thinned area to allow it to act as a precise spring and and allow it to be fine tuned during assembly.
Would be a good question to Anne or Chris.
 
From my understanding, those cut outs are there to allow for a clean transition point between the polished scales and the bead blasted lock bar. All the inlay models have polished scales except for the micarta variants, however the micarta variants will still have the cut outs.
 
JoHnYKwSt said:
From my understanding, those cut outs are there to allow for a clean transition point between the polished scales and the bead blasted lock bar. All the inlay models have polished scales except for the micarta variants, however the micarta variants will still have the cut outs.
Click to expand...

This.

marthinus said:
It has been in use for some time on the inlayed models. It helps with clip retention if I am not mistaken. So it is less likely the knife would slip out of your pocket.
Click to expand...

And this.

Only inlay models get them, it's not for setting lockbar tension.
 
Here's an answer posted on behalf of CRK a few years back:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4749379&postcount=10

Chris Reeve Knives said:
Heather's initial note to Kam is correct. Here's an image of the small scallops in question:
View attachment 75314

You can see similar scallops in an image of Jame's 2006 LE: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4721858#post4721858

The inlay design of the Sebenza calls for handles with polished faces and a sandblasted lock bar. The scallops only exist to facilitate a clean interface between polish and sandblast finishes. While they do cause an ever-so-slight difference in the spring constant of the lock bar, there is no degradation in lock bar robustness -- the lock bar movement is but a fraction of the total elastic range of motion for the titanium structure.

I hope that helps.

Dave
Click to expand...
 
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