how hard is it to fit a blade to a sebenza?

V

=Voodoo=

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Sep 6, 2003
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i have a blade from a sebenza that I would like fitted to a different sebenza. is this possible? would crk do it? I am thinking its just sanding stuff down to get fitment(bushing/blade).

thoughts?
 
=Voodoo= said:
i have a blade from a sebenza that I would like fitted to a different sebenza. is this possible? would crk do it? I am thinking its just sanding stuff down to get fitment(bushing/blade).

thoughts?
Click to expand...

I would suggest that you let CRK do it. I may seem simple and they are the ones that have done it so many times. Go with the pros it is a wonderful knife that is built to very close tolerances so no reason to short change it in any way. IMOP
 
I don't think CRK will do a mix and match for you. If you were buying a new blade things would be different, but sending them bits to put together is not something I see them entertaining. It's not impossible they will help you out though....

What is the reason for the swap ? Is it a damascus blade or something ?
 
I have a friend that CLAIMS that he bought bits and pieces off another forum from a couple differnt sales and had 95% of a classic with a BG-42 blade when he was all done. He told me he sent it to CRK and they made it whole and charged him for the needed parts. He said it was a blade from several years before the slabs were made...I guess he could be putting me on, but I cannot imagine why he would lie.

So it seems like it might be a possiblity to have CRK help this fellow out. Really there is only one way to know for sure (call them directly and tell them what you have/need).

I would NOT recommend trying to fit anything yourself, especially if the job seems to warrant sanding things down. Polishing washers is debatable by some, but sanding, I think, would be unanimously agreed upon as something that no one should attempt on one of these.
 
CRK has never recommend this, but several forum members over the years have tried it and stated it worked. I personally tried the experiment and neither one fit the other correctly. Neither had the same lockup%. One would either be super early like a Hinderer, and the other would have the lock-bar touching the opposite scale. As stated many times, if a person wants to do this with their own knife, they can as its their knife. What has happened though is that individuals have sold them off being 1/2 of this and 1/2 of that and it ended up being an issue. If there has ever been any gripe about it, its been that in itself.

This has been discussed before in a prior post and it got pretty heated at times. Chris himself chimed in after the dust had cleared and just simply stated..........
" Interesting ".
 
If they're sebenzas, the space between the titanium slabs is the only issue right?

So wouldn't it work if you switched out the spacers with the blade as well? Essentially switching out the handles, not the blade.
 
From what I understand, the lock bar and blade marry each other. So, in a well used knife, the wear is such that if you put a new blade on it there May be issues with lock up. I would guess a new knife would not have the wear and be successful in changing the blade
 
omgomgyouguys said:
If they're sebenzas, the space between the titanium slabs is the only issue right?

So wouldn't it work if you switched out the spacers with the blade as well? Essentially switching out the handles, not the blade.
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You are solving for fit in three dimensions, and the very tight Sebenza tolerances are not the same as zero tolerances.

Side to side fit depends on spacers and washers, but will affect lockup.

The stop pin will affect lockup.

The lock bar face length and angle will both affect lockup.

The tang face will affect lockup.

Unlike every other Reeve-type lock knife I've owned, my Sebenzas all seem to have essentially 100% contact between the lock bar face and the tang, which makes blade fitting a good deal more complex (assuming you want it to lock up the same way after you swap blades).

If mix and match parts don't bolt up and lock up correctly as they are (without fitting), getting all of this to work properly, as Sebenzas do from the factory, is not a shade-tree project.
 
For what it's worth , I have had very good luck "marrying" blades to non original Sebenzas. I would assemble it , and see how it goes, being extra cautious as those boogers tend to be sharp! If no bueno, call CRK
 
bart1 said:
For what it's worth , I have had very good luck "marrying" blades to non original Sebenzas. I would assemble it , and see how it goes, being extra cautious as those boogers tend to be sharp! If no bueno, call CRK
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Please do not take offense to this, but it is this sort of sentiment that concerns some (or me at least). It would appear that you are suggesting that any average guy (which we have to assume that you are, in that we do not know your true skill set and background) can put a knife together and "see how it goes" and make a solid determination that is on par with CRK and what they deem to be necessary fit metrics (in the interest of safety, etc.)

Simply put, there may be critical aspects of the fit that you/we do not entirely understand. Some may, but I'd suggest that the number of people that THINK they do, VASTLY exceeds the number that actually does.

Are we (you, me, the guy reading this) really qualified to determine if a lock is properly fit? Can we guarantee that the componenets will wear at the same (safe) rate throughout the lfe of the piece?

It is just something to consider. Personally, I feel like I know quite a bit about the subject, and that knowledge compells me NOT to attempt such a transformation.

As they say, it is your knife/knives, but if you ever sell them, I think it is unscrupulous to omit such details...and the fact that it will scare away a HUGE percentage of your potential buyers ought to indicate something;)
 
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thanks for the great insight. I have a blued damascas blade from one sebenza that I think looks better on a different sebenza. debating on what i should do.
 
=Voodoo= said:
thanks for the great insight. I have a blued damascas blade from one sebenza that I think looks better on a different sebenza. debating on what i should do.
Click to expand...

I have the world's best, and cheapest, first-round suggestion: call CRK and ask them. It'll cost you only the cost of the phone call. You don't have to stop there (though if it were me, I probably would ;) ), but you'd be crazy not to start there. :thumbup:
 
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