Have you ever changed blades in a CRK

C

clockman

Joined
Jan 14, 2009
Messages
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I'm thinking about changing blades in 2 large 21's. Has anyone ever done a blade swap, how did the lockup

and centering look after the change. Any problems ?

I'm thinking about doing a Damascus and plain blade swap. Comments.




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If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
 
clockman said:
I'm thinking about changing blades in 2 large 21's. Has anyone ever done a blade swap, how did the lockup

and centering look after the change.

I'm 'just thinking' about doing a Damascus and plain blade swap. Comments.




.........................................................................................................................................


If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
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The problem with that is each blade and lockface are mated at CRK. I'm sure you know that, just saying. I'm sure you can do it. It will look OK but you could possible get the lockface to wear different or have lock slip.
 
I bought a Zaan once that had a blade swap done previously. It was not disclosed when I purchased but I should have known because the birth card said "tanto" and it most certainly was not.

I eventually ended up sending the knife to CRK to fix the lockup and blade play. They informed me that they thought the blade was not original to the knife and ended up doing a blade replacement to fix the issues.

Never again for me, but if you are going to do it, keep the washers and pivot bushing with its respective blade.
 
I've had very good luck swapping similar aged blades into the same knife.... Sent a regular tanto blade to CRK,,,, they said no go in the 21 I sent for them to swap...
 
I had considered swapping an Insingo blade into my starbenza frame but decided against it do to the knowledgeable advice of the members here. Although some have done it successfully as mentioned, with my luck, I'd find a way to screw it all up so I left well enough alone. :)

Would still like an Insingo starbenza tho'.
 
Post I did last year and maintain my current position.

marthinus said:
Please dont.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/760849-Can-I-swap-blades-out-in-my-Sebenza

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1011943-Sebenza-21-Exchanging-blades

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-are-not-swappable-etc-etc-but-i-can-t-resist

The list goes on.

Each blade's lock face is cut to meet the lock bar, each washer is sanded by hand for a smooth action. It has to match the blade's with + washers' with.

At the end the choice is yours but I do believe it will void your warranty.

Years ago there was a guy that swapped blades in his Sebenza's, tried to sell one as the real deal but people noticed it. I believe this has left a bad taste in peoples mouths with regards to swapping blades.
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I'd like an Insingo with wood inlay, please.
One could change the front scale only.
red mag
 
It can be done, but at the potential cost of sacrificing many of the reasons we buy CRK knives.

Simply put, numerous people swap blades without proper understanding of the actual process CRK uses. There is a bit more to proper blade fit than "lookinng" right. And the long term implications are an unpleasant thought for those of us that purchase a CRK for not only the looks, but the performance offered by a fanstastic fit offered by a company that has been doing it right (and developed the entire process) over the past 25+ years.

Just remeber the addage, "confidence often preceeds full understanding of the problem"
 
IMG_20150725_113051_zpswnokk5dx.jpg

I swapped out blades on my 25, it worked out great. I wouldn't do it with the 21 lockbar without sending it in.
 
I swapped in an Insingo blade to the starbenza handle, works perfect.

CRK hand sands the washers to adjust fit, but that's it. All other parts are the same. So I just swap blade, washers, bushing and stop pin for good measure.

Lockup is rock solid and didn't change a bit. Just don't do a literal blade swap, change the entire assembly.
 
TTTis said:
CRK hand sands the washers to adjust fit, but that's it. All other parts are the same.
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Well....and they sand the bushing. And fit the blade to the lock.

But yeah, apart from those three critical things, it's exactly the same.
 
blade man said:
Well....and they sand the bushing. And fit the blade to the lock.

But yeah, apart from those three critical things, it's exactly the same.
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After watching the exquisite blade series, it seemed they only hand sanded the washers (and the scales but has no relevance here).

Never saw them sand the bushing at all or any other tweaks to the lock bar. They sanded the washers, checked lockup, sanded, checked
lockup. This was in the final stage of the build before it was "OKed" to be sold.

Maybe there was a step they didn't show or my memory is foggy.
 
TTTis said:
After watching the exquisite blade series, it seemed they only hand sanded the washers (and the scales but has no relevance here).

Never saw them sand the bushing at all or any other tweaks to the lock bar. They sanded the washers, checked lockup, sanded, checked
lockup. This was in the final stage of the build before it was "OKed" to be sold.

Maybe there was a step they didn't show or my memory is foggy.
Click to expand...

Regardless of whether they show it or whether you remember it, they do it. Sanding the washers means that at some point the bushing needs to be hit as well to match everything up.

Plus Chris Reeve did it to my Sebenza at Blade. 😉
 
^^^ unit :thumbup: :thumbup:

If a swap is done, I would say disclosure when selling is a MUST. Like I said, I went through this before.

FWIW, I think i remember that the guy did sand the bushing in The Exquisite Blade. It was when he was fitting the blade. He used a fine ceramic stone (brown). Mr. Reeve commented that he only took a thousandth off; or something like that.
 
I will add this thought:

CRK has no problem with people taking their knives apart and servicing them (heck, it is encouraged), yet they explicitly discourage swapping blades. Why might that be?

Further, they show various components of finishing these knives in the videos referenced above. What in the world makes anyone presume that these videos are meant to demonstrate the complete process? Further, watcing someone do something....well...let me say it like this...I have seen lots of procedures done, what do you do for a living? Were you able to observe it in a video a few times to achieve the expertise necessary to do the job?

I am merely suggesting that it is potentially dangerous to assume that you can comprehend all aspects of this procedure from watching a couple videos on youtube...I mean, look at the struggles people have with sharpening and yet there are SCADS of videos offering instruciton for the sole purpose of learning the task. NOW, imagine watching a few of those videos, then sharpening ONE blade before presuming you are as good at it as CRK...
 
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