Large regular, Large classic BLADE SWAP

Joined
Dec 13, 2005
Messages
39
Hello,

I've always liked the look of the regular's handle but liked the pointier blade of the classic..... so when my large regular came in today I swapped the blades. I'm not even sure why I tried it, I read that it couldn't be done and I really didnt think it could be done. I knew there was no way it would lock up, and I had a feeling the ball detente wouldnt match up either! There was no way.....

Well, it works. Detente is perfect, lock up is perfect, closed blade positioning is perfect, open blade position is perfect. You can see that both lock up at exactly 45% (although my pictures may not do it justice). No lateral play, no vertical play. All I can say is, except for the shape of the handle and blade, the critical dimensions are identical between the classic and regular.... further, I think if it hasn't worked before, its probably because the tolarances at chris reeve have reached its zenith recently (my classic is 2007, the regular is 2008).... so previous attempts probably involved older models or models mismatched in manufacture year.

Now all I need is to find someone that likes the classic handle with the stout regular blade...

Edit: I swapped out the entire BLADE+BUSHING+WASHERS as a set.... as xcel stated in another thread, the tolerances between the bushing and washers and blade is extremely tight (if you polish your washers even ever so slightly you will see blade play, and if you polish the edge of the bushing every so slightly, it will remove the blade play).... a true testament to the manufacturing perfection at chris reeve.

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I know, it just looks sooo strange.... like a horse's head on a human body standing next to a horse with a human head or something.... I'm not sure if I like it or detest it at this point.
 
I like it a lot. :D
really, it ain't bad, and I'm sure some folks out there are happy that the experiment worked out.
 
Funny, I measured the washers today and both came to .012". Plus, I took some other measurements which included the bushings and blade. Anyway long story short. I'm getting the getting (just by looking at the measurements) that one can swap out the blade on any of the Sebenza and it will work. I feel they maybe more production then custom in the way of handmade. Parts are more production but CRK adds in the quality of attention to detail making them more of a semi-custom.

jjk1285: If you have the tools measure the washers, pivot bushing, blade and spacer bushings on both knives. I bet they are almost the same.

I'm liking the regular blade on the classic but not the other way around. I think the classic clip point blade doesn't go with modern wave of the regular.
 
So the question is who is willing to do the swap on the smalls? Not that there is much difference in shape but still. I would but I don't own a small regular.
 
Xcel---Here's your chance to experiment with the small Sebs!!

I know! I never really thought about buying the regular but I may have to start thinking about it.

On a side note, I do like that small regular with custom S90V blade with the oval thumbhole.
 
interesting, i thought i had read that the blades were not interchangeable.


i dont mind it, i like both blade profiles and both handle shapes. so the switcheroo is fine.
 
The picture makes me like the regular handle even more now. I don't care for the Classic blade in it though. Cool that it worked! Wonder how the smalls would do?
 
jjk1285: I forgot to ask. How is the clearance when the blade is closed at the tip? How close is it to the back of the handle and the lanyyard hole?
 
the classic blade is longer than the regular....

so I would say the tip of the classic blade sits about 0.5mm below regular's the handles... I tried my hardest to cut myself by jabbing my finger into it... doesn't seem to be a problem although I can feel the tip ever so slightly against my skin.

Most people dont seem to like the classic blade on the regular handle. Funny, that was the reason I did the swap in the first place, I think my classic handle w/ regular blade is going to just be sittin in my closet or maybe I'll let it go at auction.
 
here's the classic blade in regular handle... of course the regular blade in the classic handle sits much deeper.... It looks like it may be a problem, but it really isn't (and even if it is, I imagine one could sharpen the blade a few times and reduce the tip by a mm or so)

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xcel: I do not have tools to measure the washers or bushings, I'm a student and you can see where my excess funds go to.

but, I imagine they would not measure out the same, because I polished the washers on my classic... and after polishing there was some blade play... at which point I removed a little bit from the edges of the bushing to remove the blade play. This process took me a while though, because I would remove too much from the edge of the bushing and had to repolish the washers and so forth. It was like getting a seesaw to balance at the middle, and this was 1000 grit paper I was working with!
 
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