Off hand Sebenza opening.

Joined
Sep 19, 2002
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591
I'd like to hear how you go about one hand opening your Sebenza with your off hand. I am right handed and have the large regular righty. I have practiced some with my left hand but I have not yet found a technique that I like.

Also, is there such a thing as an ambidextrous thumb stud for these knives? If so how much are they and do you have any photos?

Jon
 
You can send the knife back for double thumb studs for about $30 or so. Personally, I think it's stupid that they even make a knife with only one thumb stud, but that is JMNSHO.

Mike
 
I'll start the blade open w/ my index finger (trigger finger) and then use my thumb on the side of the blade to finish opening it. It only works well if your thumb can maintain friction on the blade. It's not the most effective way to open it but it works in a pinch if you do not have double thumbstuds.
 
Medic1201- - I am not sure I would go as far as to say it was stupid only to put one thumb stud on - after all the unique graphicd I have on order may get put to the back of the cue :D

However I think the knife looks much more balanced with double studs on it. My large sebie has double studs and it looks much beter than my small with just one. I cant bear to send it back for double studs as yet though as I dont want to be without my baby ;)

p.s. the way V-1 described is the only way I have found to open my sebie weak handed and I do it real slow to stop my thumb sliding onto the edge.
 
Here ya go

topstud.jpg
 
They also put a small bevel on the locking scale to allow easy access to the stud.

cutout.jpg
 
My large Sebbie only has one thumbstud and it's a right handed model, but I always open it with the left hand. It was a bit clumsy at first, but it's pretty smooth and natural now.

Sooner or later I will probably send it in to have dual thumbstuds installed, but I'm in no hurry.

Like everything else, if you just practice at it a bit, it will become quite easy & natural, much sooner than you might expect.
 
Sorry for the confusion.

It was address to mikemck as to why he would allways open a right handed knife with his left hand.


BTW I found a new way (to me anyway) to open my sebenza this weekend with either hand

If you apply quite a bit of pressure to the very end of the small amount of the back of the blade that protrudes from the pivot end when closed with your thumb you can overcome the ball detent and start opening the blade. You can then carry on the pressure with your thumb on the ridged part of the blade behind the thumb stud and bring the blade round to lock it open.

It is a bit fiddly with a small regluar but much easier with a large classic as it has more of the back portion of the blade protruding to put pressure on to start it off.

You can also do it by putting your thumb nail into the one of the rearmost grooves and levering it open that way.

Shows you how sad I am at weekends

:D

If this has been comented on oads of times before please forgive my long windedness as I have not seen it.
 
bagman,

Carrying a "right handed" Sebenza only makes sense, for a lefty.
I would much rather pull my thumb out of the path of the closing blade, as opposed to pushing my thumb across the path of the blade, if you see what I mean.
Manipulating a "right handed" knife with the left hand requires no more dexterity, and is actually safer.

Also, "right handed" knives are more readily available, so again, it only makes sense to adapt to using a "right handed" knife.

If you think about it, the designation is arbitrary anyway. Michael Walker could have just as easily designed the liner lock completely opposite, in which case I would be using a left handed knife...see what I mean?

Of course, dual thumbstuds would be nice, but are by no means required..
 
mikemck - I see what you are saying as I used right handed knives for many years (mostly spydies) before I found a suitable ambi/lefthanded one.

Hpwever if you cant swap the clip over to the other side of the handle you are allways going to have to change it round in your hand or on the draw to open easily, in my experiance anyway.
 
bagman,

Even if I could, I would not switch the clip.
The reason being, I carry my Sebenza in my back pocket, and with the clip the way it is, the blade cannot come open because it is up against the edge of my pocket, if you see what I mean.

A reversible clip is nice I guess, but for the most part, I prefer "right handed" clips as well.

It's important to remember, terms like "right handed" and "left handed" are, when applied to knives, totally arbitrary terms.

Right handed knives and clips are safer and easier for me.
 
mikemck - I understand about the not being able to open easily.

I carry my sebenza IWB and it has bitten me 3 times now but only one of then has drawn much blood.

I try and remember to feel through the trouser cloth to check it has not opened before I try and draw the knife but I do not allways remember.

The stud tends to get caught on your shirt material and can pull the blade open slightly as it is acrried. I would much prefer tip down carry for thi reason but you cant have everything.
 
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