Popped my CRK cherry. Hate the thumb stud.

recon0317

recon0317

BANNED
Joined
May 28, 2015
Messages
541
So I got my first Sebenza today. Got a large 21 with the Riddled CGG. It's a user, but the blade looks new. Love the look, feel, and build of the knife. Except for this volcanic thorn of thumb torture that I'm supposed to use to open it. It's like that pokey "glass breaker" on the butt of my Troodon. I love this knife, but I can't be the only one that has issues with the stud. Do they make a milder version? Is it something I can get swapped out?
 
I had problems with the thumb stud at first, but now it is a breeze to use it, try using your thumb nail instead of the flesh on your thumb and see if that helps. Give it some time, it will grow on you and then you will change your mind about it ; I did and now I like it a lot.
 
You aren't the only one that has said they didn't like the thumb stud on their first Sebenza. What I can say is that I have found the majority of us who initially disliked the stud grew to absolutely love it. That includes me. I hated it as well at first, but once I grew to truly understand the knife, details like the thumb stud started to make complete sense. Now, my opinion is that it is perfect. Just like the clip, the bushing, the grind, the detent, the jimping, the....

While you may or may not agree with me in the end, I guess my point is to give it a fair shake.

There are also a few stories of some who have taken off the last point of the stud, polished it and then loved it.

BTW, congrats on your first Sebenza!
 
I'd say what the 2 gents above me said, but they said it better than I could.
 
Corskin said:
You aren't the only one that has said they didn't like the thumb stud on their first Sebenza. What I can say is that I have found the majority of us who initially disliked the stud grew to absolutely love it. That includes me. I hated it as well at first, but once I grew to truly understand the knife, details like the thumb stud started to make complete sense. Now, my opinion is that it is perfect. Just like the clip, the bushing, the grind, the detent, the jimping, the....

While you may or may not agree with me in the end, I guess my point is to give it a fair shake.

There are also a few stories of some who have taken off the last point of the stud, polished it and then loved it.

BTW, congrats on your first Sebenza!
Click to expand...

As with every knife I receive (that I intend to use) I sharpened the Sebenza, and after sharpening, disassembled it for cleaning and lubrication. I have to admit, that bushing pivot is simply the best pivot design I've ever seen on a knife. I understand why most manufacturers don't implement it however, the tolerances have to be perfect for it to work. I'm an engineer, albeit my field of study is aeronautical engineering, but nine the less, the Sebenza is an (effing) masterpiece of engineering and flawless tolerances. From the use of female steel screws on the frame and pivot (tapping titanium is just stupid) to the lubricant holes in the bronze pivot washers, it's obvious that this knife has been well thought out, brilliantly designed, and perfectly implimented. I see now why the Sebenza has for so long been the "yard stick" by which all other folding knives are measured. So with all that being said, I believe you when you say I will come to love it as much as I do the rest of the knife. Now if only I could find one with a tanto blade and carbon fiber inserts. Yep. I'm hooked. The ZT'S and Microtech's are going up for sale, no point going back to "decent" when you've got "amazing" in your hand. Thanks for the words of wisdom guys.
 
You know, I thought about everything you mentioned above about the knife as I was writing about the thumb stud, I'm glad you have discovered what I love about it; it takes an engineer to see the beauty of the design, at least a mechanically inclined mind; of course any one with common sense can obviously perceive their excellent construction. I guess that at this point the thumb stud is a mute issue:)
 
makariotes said:
You know, I thought about everything you mentioned above about the knife as I was writing about the thumb stud, I'm glad you have discovered what I love about it; it takes an engineer to see the beauty of the design, at least a mechanically inclined mind; of course any one with common sense can obviously perceive their excellent construction. I guess that at this point the thumb stud is a mute issue:)
Click to expand...

Yeah, kinda talked myself into suckling it up.
 
Lone_Wolfe said:
Just a little practice, refining how you do it, you'll forget you ever hated the stud. Plus the knife will get even more broken in.
Click to expand...

The guy I got it from said it had been carried a lot, but hardly used at all, and the condition of the blade certainly supports that. I'm going to have to find some sort of instruction as to how and where CRK recommends lubrication. It's pretty consistent right now, but still a bit sticky.
 
Corskin said:
You aren't the only one that has said they didn't like the thumb stud on their first Sebenza. What I can say is that I have found the majority of us who initially disliked the stud grew to absolutely love it. That includes me. I hated it as well at first, but once I grew to truly understand the knife, details like the thumb stud started to make complete sense. Now, my opinion is that it is perfect. Just like the clip, the bushing, the grind, the detent, the jimping, the....

While you may or may not agree with me in the end, I guess my point is to give it a fair shake.

There are also a few stories of some who have taken off the last point of the stud, polished it and then loved it.

BTW, congrats on your first Sebenza!
Click to expand...

Absolutely this! ^ I've been carrying my Umnumzaan for a couple weeks (barrel studs), and today picked up a Sebenza and said ahhhhh.....so nice to be home with the Sebbie thumbstud. I would not change anything about it. Refined perfection, but you gotta give it time to understand. It's like that song you hated on that album that ended up being your favourite over time. Design genius is not always obvious at first inspection. Nuff said.
 
Do not open the Sebenza by placing your thumb on the stud. It was not designed like that.

Place your thumb on the blade itself next to the thumbstud and push as indicated.

Sebenza_opening_vector.jpg
 
Congratulations getting your first CRK!!!!!
I think most everyone has had issues with their first sebenza, once you get the hang of it, you'll love the thumb lugs.
Here's what works for me, I place my thumb at the 7:00 pm(5:00pm for RH) and then use an arcing motion to deploy the blade. I've learned not to push straight up.
It will wear in and get smoother. I've gotten some that were smooth to open and some, like yours that were stiff.
Hope your next one is one of the smooth ones.
 
recon0317 said:
Now if only I could find one with a tanto blade and carbon fiber inserts. Yep. I'm hooked. The ZT'S and Microtech's are going up for sale, no point going back to "decent" when you've got "amazing" in your hand.
Click to expand...

. . . and so another falls to the sickness . . .
 
marthinus said:
Do not open the Sebenza by placing your thumb on the stud. It was not designed like that.

Place your thumb on the blade itself next to the thumbstud and push as indicated.

Sebenza_opening_vector.jpg
Click to expand...

Does this mean more of a nail flick or push ??
 
I have had close to 100 sebenzas and never ever even noticed an issue with the thumbstud. It's has never hurt my thumb, wether the sebenzas were new or used.
 
Great looking knife. I was disappointed at first with the thumb stud too. I have since gotten used to it after a few weeks. CRK's are not super fast for deployment like others are. I can get my small sebenza to flip open with a little help from the wrist. It is a different knife so I started treating it differently and open it normally. When I want to flick one open and closed I pickup a Benchmade or Spydie.
 
I will go against the grain a little bit here and say that like many, I had an issue with the thumb stud. However, instead of acclimating to the thumb stud, I had the thumb stud acclimate to me.:D That is, I took off that top nub slowly with a dremel. The thumb stud on mine is a silver thumb stud like yours. Unless you look very, very closely at it, you would never know it. It sure felt like instant relief though and I have no regrets about doing it.
 
Late night of no sleep, and a lot of boredom, has resulted in me applying some of my self adhesive gun grip to my Sebby. I think I am going to refine it a bit, make it look a little nicer, but I really like the way it helps me grip the handle.
 
I have had mine over a year and still have trouble with the thumb stud. I don't like it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top