Questions for those who have swapped blades

au5t3n5

au5t3n5

Joined
Dec 13, 2009
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Disclaimer: If you don't know, you are not supposed to swap blades or even hardware (maybe the screws are okay though as I believe CRK will mail you new ones if you purchase them if the originals get stripped), as each knife is hand fitted to perfection...

Anyway, for those who have swapped blades:

Which parts did you swap? All the hardware (stop pin, blade, spacer, washers, etc)? Or just the blade? Blade and blade stop?

Did your lock up change? If so, what percentage is it now? I feel like since each knife is different, it might be a crapshoot, and there will be some instances of early and some of late....so might just be luck on getting a good lock up?

I am in no way promoting blade swaps or anything, just wanted to ask those who have swapped blades for a little more information on what to expect, results, etc.
 
Blade and washers. Lockup and detent changed, and the frankenbenza I'm using over here has a bit og sticky-lock.
 
I tried it once. I put a small 21 ladder damascus blade on a small starbenza and while it looked cool the lockup was at about -5, as in it didn't even lock! These knives are individually fit and I have come to appreciate and respect that. I don't swap anything now (except lanyard/pin). If I ever want a new blade on one of mine, I'll send it off to the shop and have them do it.
 
humblerodent said:
I tried it once. I put a small 21 ladder damascus blade on a small starbenza and while it looked cool the lockup was at about -5, as in it didn't even lock! These knives are individually fit and I have come to appreciate and respect that. I don't swap anything now (except lanyard/pin). If I ever want a new blade on one of mine, I'll send it off to the shop and have them do it.
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I agree, however I swear by the classic models and CRK will not put an insingo blade on them for whatever reason. So I'm stuck with the original blade shape (not a bad shape, I just want to try new the other blade design). So my only chance to get an insingo blade on a classic handle is to do it myself - my lock up is about 80–90%... So it locks but it's a bit late for my taste. Swapped everything but the screws, maybe I can tinker with different combinations to get the right fit....
 
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I have tried on several occasions to swap blades JUST for the pure experimentation of it. When I did, I swapped the blade with the matching bronze bushings. I have tried it on large and small regulars, and small 21's. When I did, the lockup was Always off. On some, the lock-bar would go all the way over and hit the opposite scale and since there was a small gap, lock-rock would occur. Other times the blade would only lockup maybe 10-20%. Never have I tried this experiment and the lockup was 50-60% like a CRK should be. I will note that when I did this experiment, there was never any side to side play, so the blade and matching bronze bushings never caused an issue with other scales. Also, I will add that I have swapped scales ( Plain Non-Locking scale only ) and the knife was perfect. This is a non issue as you can buy a plain scale from CRK and have custom designs done on a scale only, which you can swap between models of the same. As for this date, I am pretty sure your limited to Only 21 scales now............Like stated above, this was for experimentation purposes and is Not recommended.
 
If you do choose to swap parts for some reason, please do not sell it like that.

That is just asking for trouble and headaches, and the new owner is going to expect CRK to stand behind it, and they should NOT have to.
 
Tripton said:
If you do choose to swap parts for some reason, please do not sell it like that.

That is just asking for trouble and headaches, and the new owner is going to expect CRK to stand behind it, and they should NOT have to.
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I'd never resell a frankenseb, and sure hope no one else does either. If I ever commit to a swap I'd keep both.
 
I threw a Tanto into my Damascus reg, and it worked fine, original bushings. I realize I was lucky, but dang I didn't think I'd like the Tanto, but I did, Bart
 
Tripton said:
If you do choose to swap parts for some reason, please do not sell it like that.

That is just asking for trouble and headaches, and the new owner is going to expect CRK to stand behind it, and they should NOT have to.
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There's no way I'd sell either the franken or the donor knife. If I wanted to sell them I'd put them back like they came. But I made the franken to carry, and carry I do. That flag graphic waves proudly over here.
 
got a small 21 with front scale swap (now gone), rest was from the first knife

finish on the 2 slabs was different (one coarse one fine, different colour), was a bit sticky and no tinkering worked

not to do IMHO
 
Mad_Maxx said:
got a small 21 with front scale swap (now gone), rest was from the first knife

finish on the 2 slabs was different (one coarse one fine, different colour), was a bit sticky and no tinkering worked

not to do IMHO
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From what I've heard front scale swaps should be fine?
 
Lone_Wolfe said:
There's no way I'd sell either the franken or the donor knife. If I wanted to sell them I'd put them back like they came. But I made the franken to carry, and carry I do. That flag graphic waves proudly over here.
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I wasn't insinuating that anyone was going to sell a swapped Sebenza. Just stating the obvious. :D
 
I recently got a large reg with a Metor Shower scale that was scratched, not too bad tho. I also got a nib Cross Hair scale included with the same knife.

I got this knife in trade from another member who just got the knife from the spa when we traded. He had CRK fix a sticky lock with the Metor Shower scale on the

knife. I changed the scales about 2 weeks after I got the knife. The lock is a little sticky with the CH scale. I'm just going to put up with the lock the way it is now for

a while. The BF member I traded with had to wait 9 weeks to get this knife back from the spa with the Metor Shower scale on it.

Changing a scale is possible, but don't expect the knife to function the same with a different scale on it.
 
au5t3n5 said:
From what I've heard front scale swaps should be fine?
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theoretically "yes" but imo, if the pivot hole isn't in the exact same point, scales would be slightly off to each other and it might affect lockup, we're talking CRK like precision and tolerances
think about the "get early lockup" trick where you loose the screws, push the scales "one up one down" and then refasten the screw, lockup changes for a few times

Max
 
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