First Sebenza, few questions

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Lennyo3034

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Nov 27, 2012
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490
I got my first CRK yesterday, a Sebenza 21. I had a few questions about it from messing with it. My thumb has a sore spot on it from opening and closing it. I know this is from pushing on the stud and the lock. My other knives are mostly Axis lock so I don't have this issue. Is this normal, or do I just need to man up and keep flipping it until I can't feel it anymore? I find it difficult to flip open without the use of my wrist due to the frame lock, I assume that's normal and something I have to get used to. My other question is that there seems to be a detent right before the blade locks open. When opening the blade slowly, it sounds like it clicks twice as it goes over the detent and then the actual lock. Is that normal?
 
The double click is from the blade first rolling over the detent ball on the lock bar then dropping down a step then the second click is obviously the lock engaging. Normal.
Mine is a bit difficult to open as well. I'll just have to get accustomed to it I guess.
 
The Sebenza is not really meant to be flicked open, but you can adjust the action to suit your needs better by removing the grease and lubricate with a less viscous oil.

If your thumb hurts from repeated openings... well, either stop or man up. :)

When opening slowly, the first click you hear will be the ball detent in the lockbar falling off of the blade tang. It is very normal. Just look into the knife and observe what is happening. You can always follow the disassembly instructions to get a better understanding of how the knife works. It's not a complicated mechanism.
 
Ouch. There are two ways to thumb it open. One is to push forward on the thumblug. The other is to sweep the blade outward. Try both and see which one doesn't hurt. :)
 
Ive noticed on my umnumzan that you have to push upon the stud, not outwards. Weird to think it works but it does.
 
Give it a few days. It will stop hurting. It's like learning a guitar. Hurts.
 
It will get easier, you need to figure out the method of opening which is easiest. Crk advises against wrist flicking, but I believe thumb flicking is acceptable. I think wrist flicking voids warranty (if they see any evidence of this), but don't quote me. I'm sure someone else will be along to let you know.
 
On my 25 , I pinch between the thumb lug and the frame, and with my ring finger on the opposite side. This gets it open that little bit, then I use the swooping motion with my thumb on the lug. If that makes sense, work very well for me.
 
The Umnumzaan requires a different opening technique. Sebenzas, at least the 21 and previous models open easiest, IMO, if you insert your thumbnail between the thumbstud and the frame and kinda pry it open. Very little actual flesh comes in contact with the stud. Some Sebenzas (including the last small 21 I bought) are very stiff from the factory. In my case I sent it back to CRK. They had it back to me within a week, no charge, smooth opening and perfect. There are threads you can search about polishing the washers for a super smooth action. Often times just taking it apart, cleaning and lubricating will smooth out the action considerably.
 
I'm guessing you got a small 21, they seem to be a little harder opening because of the scaled down geometry doesn't seem to open as easily the large 21 has bigger fittings and because the blade had more mass the momentum carries out through the opening arc.

Try giving it open like your trying to open a bic lighter the jimping on the thumb ramp makes it easy to open that way
 
Krav said:
On my 25 , I pinch between the thumb lug and the frame, and with my ring finger on the opposite side. This gets it open that little bit, then I use the swooping motion with my thumb on the lug. If that makes sense, work very well for me.
Click to expand...

I pinch the blade between the thumb lug and the frame, and with my middle finger on the opposite side.
Just wanted to clarify that mitake
 
They tend to start out a little stiff, but will loosen up and get smoother as you use it more and more. Keep the pivot clean and man up, it won't hurt after a while.
 
Sebenzas glide open; Axis locks flip open. I love both, but they're different critters. Fastest way to open my 21 is two-handed. My Grippy, Mini-Rukus and 710 snick open one-handed. Sebenzas do break in after a bit, but they are not flippers.
 
It's getting easier now. The day I made this post, I kept flipping it until I couldn't anymore. I then took a few days off and now I hardly feel it. I find it opens easier if I flick upwards instead of outwards like I do my axis locks. I did not like using my thumbnail at the bottom of the stud because if the blade didn't open all the way, my thumb ended up running into it.
 
Out and up for smooth and slow. Thumb nail flick right at the edge of you nail. Same way all the way thru. Takes some practice.
 
From Post #1
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/730951-Some-words-from-Chris

· Any of our folding knives, assembled correctly, will open and close smoothly. Remember that they are intended as robust, working knives and they will not feel the same as many other folding knives. When opening a Sebenza or Mnandi, use a sideways, sweeping motion with the side of your thumb against the lug. The Umnumzaan opens by pushing the lug forward, parallel with the handle, with the top of your thumb.

· The lock should engage at between 50% and 75% of travel. With the Umnumzaan, because the interface between the blade and the lock bar is a ceramic ball, it is the ball that must be at 50 – 75%. This will give the visual that the lock bar is further over than with a Sebenza.

· The tension on the lock bar of every knife is set at our workshop. There should be no need to reset that tension.
 
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