Question about bevel on jimping by thumb lug

C

CoffeeCat2112

Gold Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2007
Messages
2,339
So I recently received a new small 21 micarta from a reputable dealer, and I noticed something about it today that seems a little off, but was wondering if it's just me. The beveling on the sides of the spine jimping is much more pronounced than on my other Sebenzas, so much so that a small amount of the thumb lug sticks up above it. From watching a video about CRK, I know they grind these bevels by hand, and there is a small amount of variance on my other Sebs, but this one seems kind of extreme. It doesn't affect performance, so maybe I shouldn't fuss, but it does look a bit odd. Before I called in to CRK about it, I was thought I'd ask if other people had seen this before.

I apologize for not having a pic handy, but it's currently dark and I have no good indoor light setup for photography. I can get one up tomorrow, though.
 
CRK has changed the jimping several times over the years. Some is very course and deep, while others is shallower and smoother. The sides of the jimping has also changed with each style. This is normal. Some styles seem to last several years, while others seem short-lived. This is all perfectly normal, so no worries. I am sure Mr. Reeve is just simply trying to find the "Best Overall" jimping imaginable........................The thumbstuds themselves have changed also over the years.
 
nyefmaker,

I appreciate your thoughts; I know you've had more than a few Sebenzas to have seen any variations. I've only had about a dozen Sebenzas, and currently have 8, so my experience is more limited. I'm aware of the different styles of jimping, but all mine are recent production, and none of the others look like this one. And again, I know that this part of the process is done by hand, so I guess I'm more just wondering if this is something that people just see happen every once in a while or if it is really an "oops".

I took a few pics this morning to show what I mean.

Here you can see the thumb lug sticking up above the bevel:


The next two show how you can see the back of the thumb lug because of how big the bevel is:


 
Last edited:
Okay, now I follow. Pics helped a lot. Looks like it was just rounded more than normal. I will have to go through mine and see if I have any like this.
 
... Scratch that. Mine WAS like that on my Large. My Large Micarta was the knife I sent in to have double blue lugs installed and it no longer has that gap. I had forgotten all about it until this thread. I pulled out my knife and the gap is gone. SO it would appear that either they replaced the blade for me or found a way to make the new lugs fit (I could not imagine how though).

I will try and find my before pics.

Untitled by BiggestJon, on Flickr
 
See how the edge of your bevel is level with the bottom of the jimping teeth? That's how all the rest of mine are, as well. On this one, that edge is about as far again down from the bottom of the teeth as the teeth are tall, if that makes sense, and that last flat, angled part right over the lug is a lot bigger than the others, due to the size of the bevel. Does that seem like how yours was, too?
 
Last edited:
Now that I am really thinking about it, I think they changed my blade for me. Your blade looks like how mine did. It actually looks like you have my old blade. :o
 
Mine's a small, though. If they changed it without you asking for it, maybe they feel it is outside of tolerances, even though it's not a functional flaw.
 
I'm too picky so take this with a grain of salt.

I've had around 25 -30 CRK's of various sorts, fixed and folders. I pay the premium because I like that they get the details right and I find the designs VERY useful. The reason I like the details right is why I don't carry a BM,Kershaw, etc( I know they all make great knives for the money lately-don't bust on me guys ) and if I received that one as new from a retailer I'd send it into CRK to have the studs or blade replaced. I don't care about scratches and scuffs, some even remind me of fond memories and that's what happens when you carry something every day and use it but the thumb stud doesn't happen from use, it's a manufacturing oops from the bevel being ground too deep on the spine and that'd bug me.
I also use my Seb to field dress deer while hunting and I wouldn't want another exposed crevice to clean the gunk out of.

Like I said, I'm picky, but that's why I love Chris Reeve Knives; 99.5% of the time they get it perfect and even when they don't it's usually nothing more than what you have on your knife.
 
The backside of the thumb stud looks odd. I have not seen one that is flush and flat like that...though I have not really paid that close attention to most of them.
 
I have several that are and several that aren't. My small Starbenza and small KnifeArt carbon fiber 21 both have flat backed lugs, too.
 
Well, I went ahead and sent it in this morning. Like a vendor over in the traditional section said one time, there's no point having a knife that makes you mad every time you look at it. I know it's only cosmetic, and I'm not mad about it, but it's one of those things that I will frown a little about every time I see it. First world problems...
 
UPDATE:

I just received an email from Angela at CRK stating that they have looked at the knife and are going to replace the blade.
 
bwperdue said:
Well, I went ahead and sent it in this morning. Like a vendor over in the traditional section said one time, there's no point having a knife that makes you mad every time you look at it. I know it's only cosmetic, and I'm not mad about it, but it's one of those things that I will frown a little about every time I see it. First world problems...
Click to expand...


First world problem indeed but there's no reason that one of your finer things shouldn't bring you joy everytime you use it instead of frustration.

It's very nice to hear that CRK would go to such lengths to satisfy their customer.
 
UPDATE:

I received my Sebenza yesterday from CRK. It now has a new, correctly beveled blade. It looks perfect. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top