question on small 21 sebenza lockup percentage

send it in, you aren't going to get the issue resolved by talking to anyone other than a CRK employee. The product you have is not the one you want, get it exchanged or modified by the maker. Sebs with 50% lock up exist, so if that is what you want, get it.
 
hardheart said:
send it in, you aren't going to get the issue resolved by talking to anyone other than a CRK employee. The product you have is not the one you want, get it exchanged or modified by the maker. Sebs with 50% lock up exist, so if that is what you want, get it.
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Very true :thumbup:
 
colubrid said:
Actually a pic or handling this knife would not have helped as the lockup was at about 60% a week ago. It looks to be down to 80% now.
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You understand that these things are hand-fit, right? They start with an off-the-shelf backslab and blade, and mate them - like scribing trim.

If you want a particular sort of wine, or compression ratio, or to be able to do 150 chin-ups... or whatever - if you are *particular* about things, you have to do a little homework. In this case, what I would do is shop around and buy a used knife in the format you want. That will establish the preferred blade/backslab relationship. Then find the topslab you want. Maybe get a custom top. Maybe make your own.

If you want a special result, put in a little effort. Don't whine about product that's delivered in-spec. You are complaining about a problem that has yet to even occur. And... your basis for the complaint is premised largely on misuse of the product. "Gee... I like to unzip and re-zip my pants a lot - like 7,000 times a day. Hey Mr. Strauss, are my jeans gonna blow out? I know some guy who undoes his pants 6,999 times a day. He's got Wranglers, and his zipper's okay." Lol.

If you want to play with your knife, maybe go cut something... or sharpen it. Or maybe just use it as it was intended to be used.
 
I would imagine someone spending $450 on the most engineered and precisely hand fit production knife on the planet should be particular and want a special result. Maybe more special than he expected at first.

This is why I go custom above $150, and I don't buy framelocks at any price. I get what I want in my made to order slipjoints, and don't worry about wear on my axis lock folders. C'est la vie.
 
No, it's still a usable product. You just broke it in, it's set, and now you don't like the results.

Next time buy used.

As for "I've spent $450 and I'm gonna get what I want," well, ok. Lots of folks here demand that. BUT - complaining it's a defect, no. You have a odds on example that what you got from CRK is EXACTLY what he intended - within spec. Those that whine it doesn't meet THEIR standards are basically saying Chris makes crap, and they are so much better at upholding the holy writ.

Go make 1000's of knives a year to .00005 tolerances, come back, and tell us all about it. Otherwise, you have zip credibility.

Spending $450 for a knife just proves you might have disposable cash, not the experience, education, training, and reputation to say "CRK's knives don't lock up right." In my retail experience, half of warranty returns are for customer satisfaction, not because the product is defective.

The buyers expectations were most often hurt because they are uninformed and unrealistic.
 
In my opinion, the knife is within specs. If you don't like it, You bought the wrong knife. The following is from the CRK forum:
My problem is that the lock travels and hits the opposing liner when a firm grip is applied. I disassembled it and cleaned it thoroughly but the problem persists.

There is nothing to fix!! The lock will move over toward the back of the front handle slab if you press hard on it. After all, it is a spring that has a natural position and can move further if pushed. The spec position for the lock is to cover 75% of the blade. If it falls naturally further than that, we will adjust it.
A difference between the Sebenza and other liner locks is that you can get in behind the lock of a Sebenza and push it over. With the others, you can only push from the top of the liner which is a less effective movement.

We know that a lot of owners of Sebenzas like to adjust the lock and the pivot etc. but we DO discourage this. When we ship the knives, they work the way they are intended and modifications usually end up with something not working right!

- Anne Reeve, 11/03/98
 
pvicenzi said:
In my opinion, the knife is within specs. If you don't like it, You bought the wrong knife. The following is from the CRK forum:
My problem is that the lock travels and hits the opposing liner when a firm grip is applied. I disassembled it and cleaned it thoroughly but the problem persists.

There is nothing to fix!! The lock will move over toward the back of the front handle slab if you press hard on it. After all, it is a spring that has a natural position and can move further if pushed. The spec position for the lock is to cover 75% of the blade. If it falls naturally further than that, we will adjust it.
A difference between the Sebenza and other liner locks is that you can get in behind the lock of a Sebenza and push it over. With the others, you can only push from the top of the liner which is a less effective movement.

We know that a lot of owners of Sebenzas like to adjust the lock and the pivot etc. but we DO discourage this. When we ship the knives, they work the way they are intended and modifications usually end up with something not working right!

- Anne Reeve, 11/03/98
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Well since the lockup now is 80%+ I guess it IS out of specs.

Surprised this would not bother anyone else since I have seen pictures of very used sebenzas with only 50-60% lockup. Guess I prefer not pushing on the lock to slide it over that distance. This is a small seb so that does make it harder to use.
 
Have you tried taking it apart and putting it back together as has been recommended in one of these threads as a possible fix? One of the cool things about the Sebenza is the simplicity of the design, if I had one, the first thing I'd do is disassemble it if only to appreciate the design and engineering.
 
I had one (a regular Sebenza) that was at 90%. I emailed pics to CRK, and they said so long as there is no blade play and the lock up is tight, no worries. But they still offered to have a look at it in case I wasn't satisfied. They have top notch service.
 
coolhand68 said:
I had one (a regular Sebenza) that was at 90%. I emailed pics to CRK, and they said so long as there is no blade play and the lock up is tight, no worries. .
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That sounds more like an answer from Strider and not the precision of what Chris Reeve is known for.

I am beginning to think the resale on Sebenzas have more to do with an individual lockup percent much like Strider SNG's are known for "off-center blades". When a Strider blade is centered it sells fast. And people always ask if the blade is centered. . I just expected more from sebenza since it does not have the rep for "so long as there is no blade play and the lock up is tight, no worries" type answer.
 
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It's a KNIFE. The blade is LOCKED. There is no MOVEMENT or PLAY. It's guaranteed FOREVER.

So, just use it, enjoy it and stop worrying about it so much.

And I doubt you "wore out" a Strider.

I would suggest that, if you can't get over this framelock fear, sell it, buy an Axis lock and carry on. Even if an Axis wears, you can't see it, so it won't bug you.

Have a wonderful day :D
 
Colubrid... I'm definitely soakin' up what yer spillin'... I might be less than psyched about it as well... I mean... this is what is supposed to set CRK apart from the "rest" right??? The difference between the Seb and a Bradley Alias is "REFINEMENT." That should (and usually does) cover even what the most meticulous eye would appreciate.

That said, man I have carried a few sebs in my day, and EDCd a single one for a looooong time. The ammount of simply playing with the knife/opening and closing should be consdered AB-use under anyone's book. I wore the ball detent almost completely flat in such toying around. The lock bar did not travel even the tiniest bit on me. The sebenza is an incredible piece of work, really, and IMO worth its asking price.

If I owned that knife, I would not be worried until there was a "problem." The worst thing I can see happening is if the lockbar actually traveled far enough where the ball touched the opposing scale. ...now THAT would bother me.

What I would do is take the knife apart... check if there is ANY spot on the sleeve/spacer that is the stop pin and rotate it (regardless). I reckon this MAY solve the "issue." This quick fix is one of the things that I LOVE about the Sebenza...it is simple and it WORKS! After you reassemble, use a pencil to rub graphite on the tang of the blade where the lock bar contacts it... this will reslove the "sticking" issue. If it does not, rub MORE graphite onto BOTH contact points...

Oh... and... ENJOY YER SEBENZA!!!!
 
I have a Small acoustic sebenza that locks up like that one. I was a little worried about it for about ten minutes. I realized if it ever becomes a problem it will be taken care of.

It seems to me that the more lockbar covered the stronger the lock up would be. You would have to move the bar over further while cutting to accidentally disengage it and cut yourself.

The glass is half FULL!
:D
 
colubrid said:
That sounds more like an answer from Strider and not the precision of what Chris Reeve is known for.

I am beginning to think the resale on Sebenzas have more to do with an individual lockup percent much like Strider SNG's are known for "off-center blades". When a Strider blade is centered it sells fast. And people always ask if the blade is centered. . I just expected more from sebenza since it does not have the rep for "so long as there is no blade play and the lock up is tight, no worries" type answer.
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Is there any blade play? is the lock up tight? - if no is the answer to both these questions, and your lockbar takes up 75% of the tang you have what QC considers to be a saleable knife.
Enjoy it, use it, look at it, open it and close it - if and when you feel there is a noticeable problem, the good folks at CRK WILL and DO fix their products without fail.
 
colubrid said:
Well since the lockup now is 80%+ I guess it IS out of specs.

Surprised this would not bother anyone else since I have seen pictures of very used sebenzas with only 50-60% lockup. Guess I prefer not pushing on the lock to slide it over that distance. This is a small seb so that does make it harder to use.
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You have communicated your opinion well. We understand your standard of performance is higher and stricter than a well established maker like CRK.

I would like to buy a knife from YOU that meets YOUR exacting standards. Please post pics of this exciting, highly precise, and virtually flawless knife. I'm sure you can charge what you like as it will become the clear standard of perfection that will remain unchallenged for decades.

I plan to open cardboard boxes and trim my fingernails with it, so I can't accept anything less than perfect in my lifetime search of the Holy Grail knife.

When will your knife be available? Or do you have to learn the skills, buy the equipment, train the operators, and junk 99.999% of your production first? After all, it has to be absolutely flawless.

It better be.
 
tirod3 said:
You have communicated your opinion well. We understand your standard of performance is higher and stricter than a well established maker like CRK.

I would like to buy a knife from YOU that meets YOUR exacting standards. Please post pics of this exciting, highly precise, and virtually flawless knife. I'm sure you can charge what you like as it will become the clear standard of perfection that will remain unchallenged for decades.

I plan to open cardboard boxes and trim my fingernails with it, so I can't accept anything less than perfect in my lifetime search of the Holy Grail knife.

When will your knife be available? Or do you have to learn the skills, buy the equipment, train the operators, and junk 99.999% of your production first? After all, it has to be absolutely flawless.

It better be.
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Com'on man, no reason to deride the guy.

He paid $450 for a framelock pocket knife. One that supposedly sets the bar for any others.

Would "I" be concerned? if it continued to move, yes I would.


Send it back in OP. Have them fix it. You paid top dollar for a high-end knife and it doesn't suit you.


FWIW, I think some here take it a little too personally when they perceive that their "golden ox" is being gored.
 
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