Is it normal for a lockbar to dent like this?

[STR]

The top of the dent is about where the part of the tang touching the lock bar ends. It appears to sit right in the innermost part of the dent, but I can't really tell with the other scale in the way. I don't really see any gaps between the lock bar and tang, except at the corner where it's dented (because of the dent) and very slightly on the side where the lock bar is cut from rest of the handle (which is like the Boker pictured but the gap between tang and lock bar can't be more than .5 mm). Overall, the contact appears uniform between lock bar and tang.

I can tell it still contacts the dented area when the blade is traveling between the locked position and riding along the detent ball.

I've accidentally started to close it before the lock bar was completely out of the way (being in a rush and not thinking), but it's not my standard way to close it, and it hasn't happened more than a couple times. I don't think that can explain it; while it makes sense that the top and corner could dent because of that, the dent continues all the way to the detent ball, and that area would take sideways pressure, not the downward pressure of the tang, I think.

Anyway, I'll call tomorrow and see what they say.

Apparently you've done it enough to roll the corner some. Its an amazing amount of damage for just rubbing. Anyway, I finally got smart and tracked down some pictures of Sebenzas posted by users. I can tell from this picture here, especially when I zoom in after saving it to my hard drive, that the blade appears to be connecting to the lock at about the same spot the damage is showing up on yours so it does appear at least for the Sebenza model that the lock overhangs the blade some instead of the blade overhanging the lock or being flush with the lock. Since this is the case it creates a situation where the lock connection is going to be more toward the middle location of the width of the lock. I should have tried to find a picture in one of the image only threads first off but it never dawned on me to do that until after my other posts.
STR

 

[Socom Elite]

Mine did the exact same thing. I sent it back and they thought I had been wrist flicking it open and said it looked hammered. They did replace the lock side scale on mine with a Idaho made one. I think the problem is that the lock bar was so stiff to disengage that I was not making sure the lock was open all the way before I closed the blade

 

[kreole]

Apparently you've done it enough to roll the corner some. Its an amazing amount of damage for just rubbing. Anyway, I finally got smart and tracked down some pictures of Sebenzas posted by users. I can tell from this picture here, especially when I zoom in after saving it to my hard drive, that the blade appears to be connecting to the lock at about the same spot the damage is showing up on yours so it does appear at least for the Sebenza model that the lock overhangs the blade some instead of the blade overhanging the lock or being flush with the lock. Since this is the case it creates a situation where the lock connection is going to be more toward the middle location of the width of the lock. I should have tried to find a picture in one of the image only threads first off but it never dawned on me to do that until after my other posts.
STR

The thing is it hasn't happened more than a couple times, and I know my older one has had it happen a few more, being six months old rather than three weeks old (more time in use = more accidents). And when it has happened...well, to close it, I push the lock bar over with my thumb, lightly tap the blade with my index to get it started (lightly because otherwise it'd close on my thumb), reposition my hand, and finally close it the rest of the way. So, even when it has happened, it's only suffered that light tap. Has anyone who uses a Seb regularly absolutely never done it? It seems like an easy-to-do mistake, but maybe I'm just a ham fisted idiot .

Besides, it started before either of those times occurred--while I was opening and closing it a lot with two hands when I first got it to try to break it in. The lube got really dirty right away, so I was changing it twice a day for awhile, and I noticed it immediately when it was apart.

Thanks for all of your explanations, by the way . Whatever happens with the knife, it's been a good learning experience because this has made me think about how exactly the lock bar contacts the blade tang to a degree further than I had before.

Mine did the exact same thing. I sent it back and they thought I had been wrist flicking it open and said it looked hammered. They did replace the lock side scale on mine with a Idaho made one. I think the problem is that the lock bar was so stiff to disengage that I was not making sure the lock was open all the way before I closed the blade

Well, if I have to send it in, they'll see for themselves the detent basically makes it impossible to flick, so the damage couldn't be from that, and it hasn't seen more than a couple packages, so it certainly hasn't been hammered. I hope they don't have to replace the scale because it was only a few days ago I sanded off the coating :grumpy:

 

[misterjuiceman]

I'd definitely call CRK for a definitive answer.

 

[frontline29]

While we are on the subject.

I took a few pic's of the wear on my 9 day old large 21's lock bar face.

Is this normal wear? can one of you guys please post a picture of a well use older sebenza lock bar face please?

 

[frontline29]

Double post

 

[marthinus]

Well I dont know if this is relevant, but here are pictures of my old sebenza I EDCed for more then a year, this was the last cleaning it had in my hands before it was taken.

I had no issues with the knife. Locked up solidly, no blade play, just kept on going. From my experience the wear you see is the sharp corner of the blade over the edge of the lockbar. Nothing more.

I rethought this for a while. On a new knife as in the original posted images I think it is a bit excessive.

frontline29.

I think yours is normal.

 

[Incahiker]

I have accidently started pushing on the blade many of times before the lock bar was disengaged and do not even have the start of what looks to be your problem. My lockbar has no scratches on it at all, much less metal being removed from the corner of the lock bar.

 

[DallasSTB]

From what I can tell from the condition of the locktab in these pictures, I can only see two probable causes for this damage - 1) an improperly heat-treated tip on the lock tab, or 2) forcible attempts to cause the lock to fail, i.e. spine whacking. In either case, you should send the knife back to CR as it appears that there is now less contact area on the tab for the blade tang to rest upon. Conceivably this could cause lock failure. CR will probably raise questions about your treatment of the knife, but they should still fix it for you in any event.

There are other indications of abuse will be evident if the knife has been mauled, so I wouldn't worry to much if you are the original owner and you've treated properly as you've described. Since these knives have a great deal of handwork involved in their manufacture, and with heat treating the locktab being a general PITA, there is always the possibility of human error. Please let us know what the follow-up is.

 

[frontline29]

Well abuse is out of the question. Were still in the honey moons phase. Much less got to the point were I've actually wanted to start using this knife like I would a Spyderco or something similar.

Here is the email I sent to the holy land last night:

Hello there,

I bought this Large 21 ten days ago from ( ) I have noticed, what to me seems like significant wear on the lock bar face.
Like I said this knife is only ten days old now, and has not been abused in anyways whatsoever. The only time I have ever gently wrist flicked was after the two time's I have reassembled the knife just after cleaning to set the parts again.
Is this just normal wear that happens during the break in period that will stop after it has broken? or is this something I can expect to get worse over time?.
Right now there is no noticeable blade play at all. But with continued use of the knife I'm worried that it may develop blade play/unreliable lock do to the lock face wear.

I have enclosed some close up photo's the the lock face.

I would love to get hear you opinion on this, as it has me quite worried that it has developed that much wear in such a short amount of time.
On the other hand, I really hope that this is just normal wear that happens during the first week or so of the knives life.

Other then I find your products to be of superior quality to anything I have ever purchased in the past.


Thank you

From my experience the wear you see is the sharp corner of the blade over the edge of the lockbar. Nothing more.

^^ This is what I personally think is happening.

 

[STR]

I have to ask but how many of you guys posting these damaged looking lock faces have spine whacked or spine tapped your folders? The damage looks to be something that could only be achieved by just such a shock trauma to the lock face to me other than the slightly rounded off edges where the blade would rub it as its approaching the detent ball in rotation. Some of the indenting and what looks to be chip outs of the titanium I really have to question. I'm not saying you did anything but I have seen spine taps and particularly "whacks" do that in testing locks at times. Its the only way I know of that you can seriously indent a lock face or chip out material like some of these pictures show. Again, though I'm not saying you did that. Just saying its what would enter my mind to look at it if it were sent back to me after it was purchased.

STR

 

[frontline29]

I just wanted to add that my panties are not in a bunch about it!
I'm just more curious about it then anything.

Heck I paid how much for this knife? and I'm sure as heck not gonna send it in any time soon. I think depending on what they say about it I might just use then darn thing until it wears out. And when it does, I'll send it in to have a new lock scale put in it right?.

I have never in the past squawked about maintaining my tools why should I start now.


STR with all due respect, I would never spine whack a 450$ knife. I have other much cheaper knives I can do that too if I truly indeed felt like abusing/destroying a folder.

 

[Kuso]

I used and abused (and constantly flicked) my previous small regular sebenza for 4 years, and I had no "denting" on the lock bar face as seen in some of these pictures.

Frontline29, I think that your Sebenza must have a bad heat-treatment. It looks like part of the metal has been chipped away. My old sebenza looked nothing like that. I also took a look at my month-old small sebenza 21 and it has no wear at all on the lock bar face.

 

[frontline29]

Okay so if for whatever reason it did indeed have a bad heat treat. What about all the other ti frame locks out there that have lasted for years even with out this heat treat.
I guess what I'm saying is that even with a bad heat treat the lock up should still last for quite a while right? I just don't want to send in a 10 day old Sebenza for work when I can still get a good year out of it before it needs to go in right?

 

[Josh K]

Okay so if for whatever reason it did indeed have a bad heat treat. What about all the other ti frame locks out there that have lasted for years even with out this heat treat.
I guess what I'm saying is that even with a bad heat treat the lock up should still last for quite a while right? I just don't want to send in a 10 day old Sebenza for work when I can still get a good year out of it before it needs to go in right?

Steps to resolving a problem with a CRK product:

1. Call (or email) CRK with your issue.
2. Wait for a response.
3. Follow their recommendations
4. Post about how happy you are that your problem is fixed.

These things will typically not resolve your problem:

1. Ranting
2. Polling
3. Discussion

We cannot tell you what's wrong with your knife. We can speculate and offer opinions, but these are opinionated speculations and speculative opinions which may or may not be correct.

Several people have stated it looks find. Others have stated you might have a bad heat treatment. Still others (any myself) say it looks like abuse. Your best course of action is to contact CRK (you have) and follow what they believe is the best course of action (probably send it in).

If you buy a new BMW but one of the wheels wiggles a bit, are you just going to let it wiggle right off?

 

[frontline29]

LOL true. It's just so darn nice I don't wanna part with it. Like I said there's no play at all. I just wanted to really use it before it needed to go in for an over haul. It's still brand new for shocks sakes.

But like you said this is all speculation.

Thanks for the opinion's and hearing me out guy's.

We'll see what happens.

 

[marthinus]

I wish I still had the Small Reg in my mits to give another look, but no such luck for me. My Insingo has the same wear as the small Reg where the corner of the blade would slide over the corner of the Ti. But I have no other marks on the lock face. Only the same as the Small Reg pictured. Took the knife apart yesterday for a full cleaning and lubing. Lockup is still where it was after the knife fell from 3meters when I was using it and lockup is still solid.

STR you know from our discussion we had about framelocks that I wont do a spine whack to a knife.

 

[Incahiker]

I don't see a problem with someone posting about a problem with the knife. If he sends it back to Idaho and it is resolved then he is happy as are we. What problem is it for members to see what his lockbar looks like before he sends it in to Idaho. Doesn't make me think any less of CRK knives... I have 4 and will most certainly purchase more in the future. It is an odd problem he is having, but I don't see why he can't talk about it before he sends it in. He isn't whining or complaining.. he is just curious. I am curious too..

 

[Josh K]

I don't see a problem with someone posting about a problem with the knife. If he sends it back to Idaho and it is resolved then he is happy as are we. What problem is it for members to see what his lockbar looks like before he sends it in to Idaho. Doesn't make me think any less of CRK knives... I have 4 and will most certainly purchase more in the future. It is an odd problem he is having, but I don't see why he can't talk about it before he sends it in. He isn't whining or complaining.. he is just curious. I am curious too..

I'm not saying it's a problem or an issue. I'm saying it won't fix the problem with the knife.

We are not in a position to say "Oh that's normal you're fine." We are also not in a position to say "That's abuse it won't be cheap." We are in a position to speculate. As long as he realizes that it's not a problem.

 

[Incahiker]

I'm not saying it's a problem or an issue. I'm saying it won't fix the problem with the knife.

We are not in a position to say "Oh that's normal you're fine." We are also not in a position to say "That's abuse it won't be cheap." We are in a position to speculate. As long as he realizes that it's not a problem.

Yup.. you are right. We are not in a position to say what exactly is the problem with the knife is or assume he has been beating it to death. Definitely call CRK to get that fixed. Though I will say I was right about the problem the guy had with the umnumzaan and the tension on the lock bar.... .. but that is common sense and it is nothing like the problem this guy has.