Has anyone else needed time to "warm up" to their Umnumzaan?

jracingbean

jracingbean

Joined
Dec 29, 2010
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Hi all!

I ask this question because I bought an Umnumzaan that just arrived today, and I can't say that I like it very much. It has a November 2011 B-day, so it has the old style pivot with the plain LBS. I actually have it posted in the trade forum for a large Sebbie. But I digress...

My problem is this: this thing is a bugger to open. I think I'm the third owner of the knife, but I'm pretty sure the previous owners didn't use it much if at all, because it's such a b**** to open. So I went ahead and disassembled it with the takedown kit, cleaned it, put in some new grease, and messed with the pivot tension for a good while, and now it's okay. I can open it with with one hand, but it doesn't fly open like some YouTube videos I've seen. But the thing is, the more I play with it, the better it gets. Maybe. Will more time opening it help matters? Or should I trade it for a large Sebbie?

I already have a small, plain jane Sebbie that I love as my main EDC. The 'Zaan doesn't feel anything like that, though. And it kinda makes me sad.

So I sorta like it. Gah, here's another question - can anyone else twist their pivot screws with their hands? What I mean is this: I used loctite as instructed, but I can pinch the pivot with my hand and move it. The screws don't loosen, but I can move the entire assembly. Did I do something wrong?
 
Make sure you are using the proper method to opening the zaan. Push straight up on the thumbstud rather than pushing out to the side like you would on the sebenza. I have had 4 different zaans and they all flew open and were much smoother than any of my sebenzas. Maybe it needs to be broken in a bit but I have never had any smoothness issues with my two brand new zaans and two lightly used zaans I've owned.

As for your second question, its pretty much 100% normal to have the pivot spin from what I've seen. Especially if you loctited the pivot.
 
^^^ thanks for the info. I think I'll give it a little time to get used to it, because I'm really impressed by the beefiness of this knife.
 
They were. The older ones had a shallower hole for the detent ball. I prefer the newer ones since I like a strong closed detent. Never had a problem opening Umnumzaans. I do find the lock very difficult to close though because of the sharp tab.
 
I've had my 'Zaan for a few months now, and it's still the hardest knife I own to open. Very strong detent and slick thumbstuds aren't a good combination. I like the knife a whole lot, but it doesn't get carried very often because of how difficult it is to open one handed.
 
I don't have one, but I handled one the year they debuted at Blade, and didn't warm up to it enough to buy one. I didn't like the cross cuts on the handle, and much prefer the straight handle of the Sebenza.
 
Loc-tite the area between the outer part of the pivot and the frame, not just the threads. Might help.
 
It'll definitely smooth out with a little time, don't worry about that.
I have three of them and carried one for two years as my edc, none of the pivots twist in the slightest on mine.
You could try what Blackend said and see if it helps, I think that it'll do the trick.

Oh, I didn't like the knife that much when I bought it either, sat in a drawer for a while but once I gave it some pocket time it quickly became my favorite. No other knife was able to knock it out of my pocket fir a very long time until I bought a Seb 25, which I didn't like much either. Turns out that the 25 is now my go to and the umnum is in the drawer fo now. Trust me, you'll warm up to it nicely.
 
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Only problem I have with Sebenzas etc is the left hand versions seem to be harder to find (by a lot) and with me being a lefty, well you get the idea. *Insert incoherent grumbling here*
 
I have a lefty zaan and I love it! (although i do love my cocobolo mnandi that i just received from lone wolfe alot better right now! :D) It took a few openings to break it in but it definately warmed up, just give it time! It is definately different in the ways of opening as the sebbie but a great work horse!!!
 
I think the older ones were much esier to open and now you'll have to open them a couple of times until it goes much smoother...lefty and righty knifes ;) but anyway I love them very much!
 
I'm now able to flick it open if I use a little wrist action to help it along. I sent it out to richard j for a nice sharpening, so I can't practice opening it for a few days. It's good to hear that it will get better with use, thanks guys.
 
I actually had one of the early Umnus and didn't really like it, so it moved on...but about a year ago I gave one another try and now own two, and they're both keepers. :thumbup:
 
My first Umnumzaan i got rid of because i did not warm up to it as much as i did to my large sebenza, at least that's what i thought at the time. Later i actually really missed the Umnum and got another one, that one was one of the later versions with the disc. I liked it but not nearly as much as the first one i had; it was harder to open with the detent being stronger due to the hole, and it was uncomfortable to close it because the lock bar lip extended up more and pinched my thumb. I still liked it though but i also eventually got rid of that one. Later i had the opportunity to get one of the first versions of the knife and it was just like the very first one i had, very easy to open and close and i grew to like it more than the large sebenza which i had previously prefered, i like how on the Umnum you can get your fingers closer to the blade when you grip the handle, I've heard people compare it to a regular sebenza. I also like the spine of the Umnum and putting my thumb on top of it, i feel like it is a great design for more control of the knife.

It did take a little for me to warm up to it, but i'm glad i realized how good a knife it is, and that i liked the first version best, some people might like the new ones more, it's all about finding what works best for you. Preferences with knives change too, like before i preferred the grip of the sebenza more, then i changed preference for the more narrow handle of the umnumzaan. I recently sent in my Umnumzaan to get spa treatment too, i really miss it and can't wait to get it back.
 
I have an '08 zaan that is very easy to open. My '12 zaan was very stiff to open close at first (as you described), but after using it and opening and closing the blade a lot (5-6 months of use) it is much much better. Still a big fan of the ergos of the Umnumzaan and it is easily one of my favorite knives, so it wasn't hard for me to 'stick with it' and give the knife time to break in.

As others have said, it gets better as the knife is used.
 
I just got a Umnumzaan Startac and i dont have any problem opening the knife but i do at times find myself struggling to move the lockbar over to get it closed.not complaining at all theres just not much real estate there to push.Im sure its just something i have to get use to but i really like the knife.
 
Mine was a PITA to open at first. One day of sore thumb, and I was second guessing the purchase. The next day it opened considerably easier, abd by day three it opens like a dream. Proper technique and a little break in is all it needs.
 
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