Knives with Pivot Bushing Construction: Sebenza Alternatives?

J85909266

J85909266

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Jun 6, 2005
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I ran a few searches and found little on this specific topic other than why most companies don't use the bushing construction.

I recently bought my first Sebenza, and have been absolutely delighted with it. It just pretty much eliminates everything that has given me headaches about my various folders I've owned over time.

Most of this is due to the pivot bushing and the tight tolerances.

My question is: Are there any other companies making knives with this kind of bushing system and superior quality aside from CRK?

I like design variety, and there isn't much of it in the CRK folder line. Not that I blame them. The Sebenza is an excellent design and I'm sure they have there hands full pumping those out.

I know that Surefire makes their Delta folder with the same bushing method. Do they do that with all their folders, and does anybody know if they live up to the same quality and execution as a Sebenza? The price range is certainly similar.

Are there any others for me to consider?
 
Buck 110 supposedly has a bushing, but that's probably not what you're looking for.

Kevin Wlkins models have a bushing.
 
Both of the Benchmades I have (551 and 710) use a phophor bronze washer which is what I believe is used on the Sebenza. The tolerances probably aren't as tight as a Sebenza but the quality is excellent.
 
bronze wahsers aren't what he's talking about. He's talking about the cylinder that goes through the blade so that the pivot it tightened all the way. it removes pivot tension as a factor in lockup and blade play.

Here's a simple test to determine if you have a bushing, tighten the pivot as much as you can without stripping it. Does the blade still open exactly as it had before? If no, then you don't have a bushing.

Caution: If you do the above test, you'll probably never get the tension set right again to get rid of blade play.

Pix from the sebenza cleaning thread:

3-parts.jpg


No bushing in place yet:

5-oil-blade.jpg


Bushing in place with bronze washers:

6-pivot-washer.jpg
 
DaveH said:
bronze wahsers aren't what he's talking about. He's talking about the cylinder that goes through the blade so that the pivot it tightened all the way. it removes pivot tension as a factor in lockup and blade play.
Click to expand...

Interesting, thanks for the info.
 
DaveH said:
Buck 110 supposedly has a bushing, but that's probably not what you're looking for.

Kevin Wlkins models have a bushing.
Click to expand...
You're right about the 110. I read the thread about it in my searches. The pinned construction kind of the defeats the purpose, for me.

Kevin Wilkins using the bushing is excellent news, as I love his designs. Perhaps it's time to start saving money for my first custom.
 
Theonew,
that doesnt apply to sebenzas. The sebenza was designed with the bushing so that you can tighten it down everytime and get no blad play. The sebeza wasnt designed to whip out like and axis lock bm but it is designed to get a buttery smooth opening without blade play consistently thoughout the life of the knife. that is due to being able to tighten down on the busing instead of the blade. Its what makes a sebenza a sebenza.
 
There are few other than Sebbies that have them. W.R. Clark used them way back in the late 80's early 90's in his folders and they were butter smooth. MOD uses them, MT uses them in most of the M/A's and I belive there autos. There was another prod folder, ah yes right here in my hot little hand the Genesis EDI first edition. Well good luck and keepem sharp
 
Can't remember, but I thought RJ Martin did it. Might have remembered incorrectly due to confusion with the roller bearing pivot he uses
 
DaveH said:
Does the blade still open exactly as it had before? If no, then you don't have a bushing.
Click to expand...

This is a little misleading. If you tighten up a non-bushing knife as much as you can, you probably can't get the blade open. Do the same with your CRK and it will still open, but it will be tight.
 
There may be a little more to consider than whether it has a bushing or not. The original poster is wise to consider overall build quality too.

The disadvantage from a manufacturing perspective is that the inclusion of the bushing introduces an additional hole-to-pin tolerance. Both have to be pretty tight or they add up to side-to-side blade movement unless you crank it down--then the blade is hard to open).

My thought is that what you like about the bushed knives might be more the result of good overall build, more than the fact that it happens to have a bushing.

--Just a thought.
(I don't think you could go wrong with CRK or Kevin, BTW:thumbup:)
 
Matt Cucciara makes a sweet custom alternative that is very similar to the Sebenza. His prices are roughly comparable as well. Same materials too. I pretty much dumped most of my other folders after carrying a Small Sebenza. My Small Classic BG-42 is probably my favorite folder of all time. I don't need a larger folder 99% of the time. When I DO need a larger knife I've got a fixed blade handy that's a hell of a lot tougher than a Sebbie :D.
 
JCaswell said:
There may be a little more to consider than whether it has a bushing or not. The original poster is wise to consider overall build quality too.

The disadvantage from a manufacturing perspective is that the inclusion of the bushing introduces an additional hole-to-pin tolerance. Both have to be pretty tight or they add up to side-to-side blade movement unless you crank it down--then the blade is hard to open).

My thought is that what you like about the bushed knives might be more the result of good overall build, more than the fact that it happens to have a bushing.

--Just a thought.
(I don't think you could go wrong with CRK or Kevin, BTW:thumbup:)
Click to expand...

I mentioned quality and execution in my topic post, actually. I realize that if the execution isn't as flawless, or at least nearly as flawless as the Sebenza, then the bushing won't really matter. I was just wondering if there are any other folders out there that are on par with the Sebenza quality, as well as using the bushing construction, as I really like it.
 
J85909266 said:
I mentioned quality and execution in my topic post, actually. I realize that if the execution isn't as flawless, or at least nearly as flawless as the Sebenza, then the bushing won't really matter. I was just wondering if there are any other folders out there that are on par with the Sebenza quality, as well as using the bushing construction, as I really like it.
Click to expand...

I know you were aware of it. That's why I said:

"The original poster is wise to consider overall build quality too."

Just emphasizing the importance of overall build quality since a marginal knife with bushing probably wouldn't do what you are after. :o

I'd also look at Todd Begg's work. High quality, novel designs and I predict a good investment.

There's always Hinderer as well, if you're into that style.

I don't know if either are using bushing, but if I was looking in this category of folder, I'd check 'em out! Maybe they do:thumbup:
 
The Sebenza is a great knife and very well built by all opinions.

Strider Knives use bushings even larger than the Sebenza, and many owners are quite satisfied with their performance. They are much different in details to the CRK knife, for those who look beyond the blade steel, titanium framelock, and price. Quite dissimilar in most other respects, and a very uncompromising design focused on hard use by military and LEO's.

IIRC (and I will be corrected if not,) ZT and Hinderer also use bushings.
 
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