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Recommendation? My first CRK with blade play
- Thread starter SuzukiGS750EZ
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One last thing... I'm not being nit picky, right? If the blade is in the locked position and I disengage the lock, I can feel side to side play (minute) like a semi loose pivot screw. At 90 degrees to the handle, if I push the blade towards the top of the knife (up and down) i can feel slight movement as well. I don't want to send it in and have them send it back saying it's fine, but if it can be fit better, I'm all for it.
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The bushing has play by design and this is a function of that play. Is the knife solid while locked? If so, it sounds fine. Just don't want to see someone send their knife off for 8 weeks to get the same knife back lol. I'm just guessing at the 8 weeks, but I don't see it being a quick turnaround, they're pretty busy.
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Yes, it's solid on lockup. I don't remember my other Sebenza having any play with the lock not engaged. I was under the assumption the bushing was to fit the blade without any play as well as the pivot bolt. I'm OK sending my knife in if they can get rid of the play, if that's normal...
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Dry, the knife has some play. With a decent amount of grease, there's almost zero play. Do they factor this grease space or no? I tried my best to measure with a digital caliper and came up with a difference of .002" between the pivot bushing ID and pivot pin OD. Also same between blade pivot ID and bushing OD. Just trying to get all the information I can before I send it in...
Last edited:
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A phone call to CRK would probably put you at ease. I really think you're over reacting. Grease it, lock it, use it.
Gizler00
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Every crk 21 I have owned had this. My current small 21 does exactly what you describe. And is also solid when locked up. Did you send the knife in? I was under the impression that the knife had side to side and up and down okay when the blade was locked open. I'm afraid to say..... But the knife is probably in spec and will be sent back to you the same. It just seems to be a characteristic of the bushing design. Slight movement when unlocked, but solid when lock is engaged.
Edit.... I went back and reread your post. Mine has the play when at 90degrees unlocked. But no side to side.
Edit.... I went back and reread your post. Mine has the play when at 90degrees unlocked. But no side to side.
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I'm just gonna run it as is. It's currently in my pocket at work. I'll send it in after a while of carrying for a tune if I still think it's needed. It flicks open, my other one did not at all. It was very tight but not unusable
Gizler00
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I wouldn't say it's a shame. I asked the same question many years ago when I bought my first CRK and was told it's normal. I think this has always been known that they exhibit this "play" when unlocked. It's so minimal and hard to even feel.
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I've had 3 CRKs pass through my hands. My first example, a knife art CF. Large 21 had a pivot that was tight enough to not want to dock but still very fluid. It never wore in. I sold it. I got back into CRK in the last year (its been 7 or so since I sold the first knife off) and bought a large inkosi. It's solid. Love the knife, missed the 21 and have been wanting to try Damascus. Bought this knife and having remembered how tight the previous one was, I was concerned that a little play could turn into something more. Hence the question.
I'm not a nit picky guy. I use all the gear I purchase. But since CRK and the sebenza line are synonymous with tight tolerances, wiggle is something that puts up a red flag.
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So in summation:
Play side by side locked: no bueno
Play side to side unlocked: can be normal, but never experienced with the 21s I have. My NIB 1999 regular has a tiny bit.
Play up and down locked: no bueno
Play up and down unlocked: it's pretty normal to have a tiny vertical "clicky click" when unlocked. My 21s have that.
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You sure it's 2 thou? sounds like a lot. should be more along the lines of half a thou or 0.0005 shown in this thread:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/absolute-proof-sebenza-fit-and-finish.807347/
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Hmm... I may have forgotten a zero
Hyesouljah
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Is it the all CF scale model? I have the KnifeArt cf Sebenza 21 and that knife had side to side play, but I realized I wasn’t tightening the pivot down all the way, and the reason I wasn’t was because the action would be way too super stiff when I would.
But now I crank it down all the way and lube the pivot with grease+KPL and I have a nice smooth action without the stiffness. Hope your issue gets resolved
But now I crank it down all the way and lube the pivot with grease+KPL and I have a nice smooth action without the stiffness. Hope your issue gets resolved
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I had the same issue when I owned my cf. But I did tighten down the screw all the way. I miss that knife!
Hyesouljah
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Yeah I stopped carrying it for about a year+ because the blade play really frustrated me but now that I’ve solved that issue and it’s really smooth it definitely sees much more pocket time. It’s honestly such a great and lightweight knife, I’m glad I still have it.
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I wanted to update you all, die hards, prepare to vomit.
I measured the blade, both washers and bushing separate from one another. Added blade and washers and subtracted from bushing. I had BARELY anything to play with for fitting, but it was enough. I ran the bushing one pass up and down an 800, 1000 and 1500 grit wicked edge stone. Refit. Still a slight bit of play but better. One more time. bingo. It can still be thumb flicked open but no play. Grease fits great in there and all is well. It bothered me so I only carried it when I wanted a nice knife. Now I'll etc.
What I think was happening was either there was a burr on one side of the bushing or it was slightly higher on one side than the other. I put no pressure on it to remove material so that's my only guess. I didn't want to risk it in the mail with the issues shipments have been having and I knew I could do it myself.
I measured the blade, both washers and bushing separate from one another. Added blade and washers and subtracted from bushing. I had BARELY anything to play with for fitting, but it was enough. I ran the bushing one pass up and down an 800, 1000 and 1500 grit wicked edge stone. Refit. Still a slight bit of play but better. One more time. bingo. It can still be thumb flicked open but no play. Grease fits great in there and all is well. It bothered me so I only carried it when I wanted a nice knife. Now I'll etc.
What I think was happening was either there was a burr on one side of the bushing or it was slightly higher on one side than the other. I put no pressure on it to remove material so that's my only guess. I didn't want to risk it in the mail with the issues shipments have been having and I knew I could do it myself.