question on your USER Seb...

G

Geoff in Philly

Joined
Mar 7, 2000
Messages
458
OK, here is the deal...I have owned many sebs in my days- including 2 of the original handmades, so I know the quality of their execution, but I have never really put any *one* to long term/continuous use. Bear with me for the question...

I have this mid-tech framelock that had a drum tight lock up for about 6 months, then developed vertical blade play. (During the 6 months, the knife cut only paper, card board, tape, cord, and carved a few "fuzz sticks".) A trip back to the maker resulted in increased the lock bar tension and added "material" to the tang...a fix that lasted only a short while, with only "cycling" of the blade, no use.

Additionally, 2 other seemingly well constructed frame locks I have used have developed vertical play...enough that the lock bar "moves" on the tang...it is really disconcerting as I really like the bare bones simplicity of a framelock, especially with the demands of summer...sand/moisture/grit.

I know that Chris and Ann offer top shelf support, but I don't want to need it, ya know? I don't want to keep sending my framelocks in for tuning up when they lose that "factory fresh" security....

So, for those of you who use your seb, or even cycled it a lot... and have done so for a while, do you experience this issue (vertical play/lock slippage)?

Is it inherent in all framelocks or am I just not using the right framelock?

What are your long term experiences?

I am asking this here as CRK has nailed the QC on production framelocks...I just haven't used one long enough to answer my own question.
 
I've used my Sebbie now for more then two years. No blade play and the lock up is still in the same position as when I bought it (it was new).
:)
 
I have some of info for you.

I've had a small ATS-34 sebenza since 1996, it's no longer an EDC, but still gets carried. No Problems.

Lock tension has increased in recent years so I think you will have even less chance of a problem.

There was one incident of a lock problem in the forum, due to user bending the lock bar, I think CRK made a new lock side or blade.

When the first passaround with the sebenza was over and it came back to me, there was a problem with the action and lockup. It literally looked like the it had been sanded or filed both in the pivot area and lockbar. We don't know what happened, but CRK fitted a completely new lock side.

My feeling is you won't have a problem, but if you do, it will be fixed right.
 
You don't "flick" the blade open, do you? Sometimes that can contribute to vertical blade play. Also, I have a fairly strong grip, so when my index finger has wrapped itself around the lock bar, the lock bar is being held against the tang of the blade, thereby eliminating any possible play that may exist. I've also found that vertical play is also associated with the stop pin being slightly undersized(or deformed)--your blade is rocking between the stop pin and the lock bar.

FWIW, I have owned numerous Sebenzas and never had any vertical play at all.

Good luck!

Barry H
 
Never had any vertical blade play in either my Sebbies or Mnandis. Lots of use, opening and closing.

It seems any play would be due to either the lockbar not engaging the base of the blade properly, or the stop pin having worn, or both.
 
I have had my sebenza since '98 and its been my EDC since. Its been cycled probably an average of 20 times a day everyday since I got it, and I am not the first owner. The lock has moved maybe from 75 percent when I got it over to about 85 percent now. There is a very very small bit of vertical blade play now. The newer sebenzas have an area cut out on the tang that puts the lock up more towards the front of the blade so this may not even occur on those, if the lock ever got worn to that point. I expected this lock to wear out a LONG time ago but its still fine.
 
mine's been edc for only three or four months, but i have no doubt it'll be edc for as many years easily. everybody i know who edc's a benz is more than happy to tell you how much long term use and abuse they can take and keep trooping.

there's no substitute for first hand experience. put your's to the test and see what happens.
 
I got my large Sebenza used about 3-4 years ago and only learned about 6 months ago that one wasn't supposed to flick it open. That being said, there is no blade play and I expect it to last at least my lifetime. ;)
 
I used my seb as my primary knife when I worked in a bookstore's receiving department. It cut up 65-120 boxes a day (that's 65-120 open/close cycles), 5 days a week, for about a year. I'm pretty sure I even dropped it on the concrete floor once or twice. :o Never did develop any blade play, though. :)
 
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