Finally picked up a 25...

din · Nov 10, 2015

...and I need some coaching. I had (and foolishly sold) a couple of classics and a 21. I still have my Umnumzaan. The action on the new 25 is hard as hell to actuate. I'm pretty sure none of my other Sebbies murdered my thumb like the new kid, but I haven't handled one in years now. Is this attributable to the new pivot? Do I just need to loosen it up a little? Sorry if this has been beaten to death before, I didn't see anything during a cursory search.

R.palace · Nov 10, 2015

The 25 shares the pivot with the Zaan and so yes you can adjust it to loosen or tighten the action to your liking. That being said, the 25 did tear my thumb up more than any Zaan or 21 I've owned

kwackster · Nov 11, 2015

The grease CRK uses is very good stuff, but it also can make the blade a bit too hydraulic or difficult to open, especially when it has dried a bit.
I use Nano-Oil products, so when people send me their Sebenza's for sharpening and/or a bit of TLC, i always ask them how they would like the action to be on their knives when i re-assemble them again.
To keep that rather heavy hydraulic opening i use Nano Grease, for a noticeable easier but still hydraulic feel when opening i use 85 weight Nano-Oil, and for an even easier & especially faster opening i use 10 weight Nano-Oil or 5 weight Nano-Oil.

tuica · Nov 11, 2015

Plus, there is much less space below the thumb stud on the 25. Took me a long time to adjust to that, and prefer the 21's ease of opening. We need a new Sebenza with the benefits of the 21 and the 25. How about the Sebenza 23?...;-)

din · Nov 13, 2015

I tweaked the lock bar a little bit; it wasn't really the lube so much as the pressure on the detent was pretty burly. It's a lot better now, but still not as smooth as a 21 or 'zaan. C'est la vie, I reckon, but I do wish I'd just gone ahead with another 21.

whp · Nov 13, 2015

My 25 was stiff to open when I first got it. I ve now opened it a couple of hundred times over a two year period and it now opens easily with the perfect amount of resistance. Work with it.

jmclfrsh · Nov 14, 2015

With my 25s, I've been slightly flicking them open since day one. Easiest way to open them and after a while you get the pressure down where they open with a very small "click" that hasn't hurt a thing in almost two years.

Saves your thumb tip, too. I'm not talking a slammed open flick, just a nice easy one and it works like a charm.

Ajack60 · Nov 14, 2015

Sounds like you've been spoiled to the ease of he Classics. If you're opening it lie the Umnumzaan, you'll keep a sore thumb. It's more of a arcing method for the 25. I've set mine loose, to the point of having to make sure I didn't lose the pivot screw. That helped, but it was time that eased the detent.
I have several that I rotate, if they sit too long, the first few times opening it is stiff. After that, smooth as butter.