Large 21 a little stiff

[lonewolf411]

I just purchased a large 21 with bloodwood inlays and I have to say, it is my favorite knife by far. It is perfect in every way but is a little stiff on the opening. I know its not a flipper and you should not wrist flick it but I would like to thumb flick it. I wouldn't go as far to say its gritty but its not smooth enough to flick open without a little "muscle" I have gun oil but heard the Chris Reeve grease is great. Only problem its used and didnt come with it, just the allen wrench. Maybe if someone has an extra tube I would buy it off you

 

[ebidis]

You can buy it from the Chris Reeve website.

You can also get Finishline grease at Amazon, which is basically the same stuff, just a little cheaper.

I've been using Shooters Choice High Tech gun grease, which has been working really well.

 

[The Aflac Duck]

I just purchased a large 21 with bloodwood inlays and I have to say, it is my favorite knife by far. It is perfect in every way but is a little stiff on the opening. I know its not a flipper and you should not wrist flick it but I would like to thumb flick it. I wouldn't go as far to say its gritty but its not smooth enough to flick open without a little "muscle" I have gun oil but heard the Chris Reeve grease is great. Only problem its used and didnt come with it, just the allen wrench. Maybe if someone has an extra tube I would buy it off you

The lockbar on the Sebenza is rather strong, and contributes to the "stiffness", but also ensures great lockup. This can be carefully adjusted, but I would strongly recommend you don't. The detent isn't designed so that it builds up enough pressure to be "flicked/flipped" open. You could use wrist action, but I wouldn't recommend that either.

It's just meant to be opened with your thumb in an 180 degree motion. Also, CRK can sell you grease directly, or some dealers have it too.

 

[mwally]

GPK sells the grease. It shouldn't be stiff like you describe.

Buy the grease direct from CRK, or thru GPK. Follow the instructions on the CRK website, and within 5 minutes you'll have a very smooth folder.

 

[EChoil]

I just purchased a large 21 with bloodwood inlays and I have to say, it is my favorite knife by far. It is perfect in every way but is a little stiff on the opening. I know its not a flipper and you should not wrist flick it but I would like to thumb flick it. I wouldn't go as far to say its gritty but its not smooth enough to flick open without a little "muscle" I have gun oil but heard the Chris Reeve grease is great. Only problem its used and didnt come with it, just the allen wrench. Maybe if someone has an extra tube I would buy it off you

Have you taken it apart, cleaned and re-assembled it? I would do that first, then see if you can't tweak it to your liking. You don't have to lube it you know...you have PB washers. I mean, you can do that before your lube gets there just to see if you can adjust it like you want.

 

[Krissig12]

Stiff in what way? Sebenzas have a 'hydraulic' feel to them because of the tolerences that may be mistaken for being 'stiff'. When you're opening it, it almost feels like you're fighting it a little. Some people like it, some don't. It should still be smooth, just not fast.

 

[NJBillK]

Look at the knife with the blade open, the first finger notch/choil encountered after the blade is what I am referring to, note the shoulder that starts the choil and the second one that finishes/creates the choil and draw a straight line between them.
If you push the thumb stud in the direction from the second to the first shoulder on the foremost finger groove, that is the line that seems to run along the pivot angle. Also, don't exert any pressure on the lock bar.

That helped me with mine, well, I had this issue with my DPx Heat and that is how I managed it, I pushed the thumb stud in the path around the pivot. On the large 21, there just so happens to be two points that coincide with that line of travel.

 

[ebidis]

Have you taken it apart, cleaned and re-assembled it? I would do that first, then see if you can't tweak it to your liking. You don't have to lube it you know...you have PB washers. I mean, you can do that before your lube gets there just to see if you can adjust it like you want.

The 21 uses a very precisely fitted pivot bushing that is meant to be tightened down with no adjustment. Occasionally the Pb washers may be slightly I'll fitted, and need polishing. This has to be done very carefully so as to not mess up the precise fitting of the pivot bushing and washers.

Jdavis882 on you tube has a good video showing how to do this.

Or you can just use the knife and let it break in.

I would recommend greasing the pivot, it does make a noticeable difference.

 

[EChoil]

The 21 uses a very precisely fitted pivot bushing that is meant to be tightened down with no adjustment. Occasionally the Pb washers may be slightly I'll fitted, and need polishing. This has to be done very carefully so as to not mess up the precise fitting of the pivot bushing and washers.

Jdavis882 on you tube has a good video showing how to do this.

Or you can just use the knife and let it break in.

I would recommend greasing the pivot, it does make a noticeable difference.

Right, but on the Sebs I've owned you can still tweak the feel of the open a bit...and a take apart and cleaning can help. Actually it seems unusual to hear such a complaint on one.

I never lube good PB washers, it's just something to attract lint and gunk, even when applied in the smallest amounts. I understand the goals of those who do lube them though....it probably does make it ultimate smooth.

When mine get gritty or tight I just flush them with water then a quick straw blast of WD-40 to dry it well.

Come to think of it, as I'm down to my last Sebenza and haven't handled it in a year or so I probably should do that this weekend.