Feel the edge when a Classic is closed?

J

J_Roc

Joined
Apr 12, 2007
Messages
604
Hi all,

After reading all that I can on the subject, I am ready to buy my first Sebenza, but I have question about something that I read about the Classic model.

Some mentioned that when closed, they could feel the edge of the blade on the Classic. How close is the edge of the blade to the handle when closed? If the knife were carried clipped to the front pants pocket, would you actually get cut if you were to put your hand in to get something? Is feeling the edge when closed a deal breaker, or has it been exaggerated?

Thanks.
 
With my classic in hand, the point comes the closest to the frame. That being said I would have to try really really hard to get my finger anywhere close to getting cut. I have a tanto Seb where the point is even closer to the frame and it is possible for me to feel the tip of the blade but that's only if I try really hard. IMO getting cut while reaching in your pocket is a very unlikely event. Go for it! Welcome to the maddness!:thumbup:
 
This comes up from time to time.

Some of us have managed to get a cut from a closed Sebenza. It happened to me a couple of years ago on a small classic (IIRC). It was pretty superficial at the side of my pinky tip. I guess it depends on the size of your fingers if you are able to squeeze in a part deep enough to touch the edge.
 
Thanks for the info, I figured one would really have to try and get a finger cut from the closed blade, but wanted to ask those who had one.

I guess I am off to the TNK website. At the moment, I have my eye on a large classic.

Thanks again.
 
I bit the bullet and ordered a Large Classic. I will post some feedback after I have had a chance to play with it.
 
I've managed it with my large classic, like aquina said it was pretty shallow, but annoying. Not that it stopped me from liking or edc'ing the knife, I just had a minor cut on my index finger for a couple days.
 
J_Roc said:
I bit the bullet and ordered a Large Classic. I will post some feedback after I have had a chance to play with it.
Click to expand...

Hi J Roc...

Enjoy the Sebbie. The classic series is my fav of the two. My large dog paw Sebbie is a classic (that's the only way they come) and I have a micarta set (large and small). Those two are really my fav Sebenzas, but the dog paw Sebbie has the sentimental edge. I have all my dogs' identity disks attached to the lanyard.

I have not been cut with either size classic. I did notice when I was checking that very thing that the small classic edge comes closer to the edge of the handle when closed than the large classic edge. So if you've ordered a large, I don't think that's going to be a problem.

BTW, thanks again for the Sng-CC. I just can't get over the difference in the two SnG variants.
 
I carry a large classic a lot, and used to carry a small classic. If you try hard enough (or if you have really thin finger tips) I guess you can cut yourself with the closed blade. I could cut my pinky if I wanted to. IMHO this issue is less than minor.
 
My Large Classic arrived last night. Keep in mind I have had it less than 24hrs., but for now, I do not see myself getting cut but the edge when closed. I tried to get my thumb or one of my fingers in there, but I could not. Now that I have one, I can says that it is a non-issue. I may post a review once I have used it for a while, but I can say that is it smooth to open.

Dale, no problem, glad you like it...
 
To clear this up a little....

It's not the finger tip which gets cut, Its the meat between the two knuckles when the finger in bent (as in holding the knife when closed) the meat on the inside of the finger slides inside the handle slabs and thats when you get cut.
 
I think it depend on how small your fingers are.I can not get my finger to touch the blade even by pressing hard.Now if you had small thin fingers I could see how you could get into the edge.
 
So thats why I was bleeding a few weeks ago!

I was talking with a friend of mine with my hands in my pocket. Took out my hand and noticed I had blood on it. Only thing in my pocket was my Sebenza but I still couldn't figure how I got cut with it.
 
I've been cut by a closed large classic sebenza. Of course I did it on purpose to see if it was possible and it is.:eek:
 
This topic seems to come up here on a regular basis and it seems that it is quite possible for a Sebenza user to get cut by the knife in a closed position. Sure it won't be a life threatening injury but I know from experience cuts like that can hurt way more than the level of injury would suggest. Also in a wilderness or survival situation a cut like that could lead to a nasty infection. Designing and manufacturing a knife clearly requires lots of compromises in order to optimize it for a specific task or range of tasks. Not being a Sebenza owner, I'm curious what specific knife features get amplified by not correcting this "problem"? Simplicity of disassembly/reassembly for cleaning purposes? Ability to rinse and clean without disassembly? If the blade was just a tad narrower so this wasn't possible would it ruin the overall effectiveness of the knife?
 
theonew said:
If the blade was just a tad narrower so this wasn't possible would it ruin the overall effectiveness of the knife?
Click to expand...

I think the main issue is the concave top of the Classic's handle, vs. the Regular's convex top. That's where most of the tolerance is.

For some people the Classic's configuration wouldn't be a problem at all. For those who tend to like to handle things compulsively (such as myself) it might be. If you have very short fingernails, it's pretty easy to push the pads of your fingers between the Classic's slabs and contact the blade. Much less so with the Regular.

Proponents of the Classic often cite that concavity as a desirable ergonomic and compositional feature, so I expect the handle shape would be deemed more important than proximity of fingers to blade, at least by most.

I guess it's also true that the Regular offers a little more protection for the edge in the closed position. Particularly with a large 'Benza, I try to keep other items out of the pocket my knife is in. Change, for example, could enter the handle vent and degrade the edge.

I would much rather have the full-vented handle than not (as compared to a Lochsa, for example). Given that, I prefer to have a little more clearance back there. This is one reason I favor the Regular Sebenza profile.
 
I have been using my new Large Classic for a few days now (prepared a meal or two over the weekend) and so far no BandAids on any of my fingers.
 
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