opening vector for Sebenza

[Fooj]

I know that most of you have arrived at the most comfortable way to open your Sebenza. At the request of a new friend from the Blade Show, I'm posting on how I open mine. Althought it's non-intuitive, I apply force on the thumb lug on a vector of only about 20-30 degrees off of center, as shown in the image (as opposed to 90 degrees, as basic intuition propose). If you find that you're developing a "sore thumb" opening your Sebenza, give this a shot.

Hope that helps,

Fooj

 

[WhitleyStu]

Isn't it actually an arc rather than a linear movement???

 

[waker26]

I open the sebenza in just about the same manner. PS that is my favorite Sebenza, what is it called and is there anywhere I could still find one. Now my seconf favorite is the Echo, both very nice knives

 

[knifetester]

Forget about vectors, holy smoke what a nice graphic on the Sebbie! Gorgeous.

 

[powernoodle]

Isn't it actually an arc rather than a linear movement???

The force is applied in a linear vector, but the blade's fulcrum converts the linear motion to that of an arc.

Caveat: I don't know what I'm talking about. :thumbup:

 

[Fooj]

Isn't it actually an arc rather than a linear movement???

Thanks for the clarification, WhitleyStu. Indeed, the motion is an arc; however, I explained it as a vector because I apply force with my thumb in that single direction, with no thought of trying to trace an arc. In response to my single direction "push", the knife mechanics dictate the resulting arc that is followed.

Regarding the graphic -- it's a unique, not likely to ever be reproduced. Many years ago, when CRK used to entertain more complex custom jobs, I sketched it (rather poorly, I might add) on the back of a napkin for Lisa. The mitsudomoe symbol in the middle is part of my Taiko group's logo, and the machining left and right represent the dynamic nature of our music. I was extremely pleased with Lisa's interpretation of my drawing.

The particular machining method to form the mitsudomoe was a pain-in-the-butt to execute. It's hard to see in the image -- a very small cutter was used to make a way-cool pattern inside of the "commas". My name for the graphic is "Nozomi Taiko".

 

[redsst]

To open mine, I push straight toward center (zero degrees, if you will). When I hand someone the knife for the first time and I see them having trouble opening it, I tell them to "push straight up". As soon as I do, the blade pops open for them with no trouble at all and the common response from them after that is "wow".