Replacing the Lock/scale on a Sebenza

bobusx

bobusx

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Sep 29, 2009
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I got a warranty/service/maintenance question. I keep hearing about how titanium frame locks wear out faster than Stainless Steel ones. That got me to thinking, if your Sebenza's frame lock wears enough to cause blade play/weak lockup, what are your options. I understand that most warranties don't cover wear, so I assume this one would not either. Can you pay for a new scale/lock from CRK? Can you get an aftermarket replacement? Or do you just have to buy a whole new Sebenza, and junk that one or save it for parts?
 
Titanium can be softer than stainless steel. However, the titanium on the lock bar side is heat treated to make it a lot harder than the steel of the blade.
In the chris reeve dvd that is out there somewhere this process can be clearly seen.

Two things rubbing against each other, something's gotta give.
Either your blade side wears out faster, or the lockbar side. But play is inevitable for any folding knife just because it's used and will wear.

How CR deals with this I don't know, but I guess you could get a new/replacement part for a knife, whatever part it is.
 
CRK can replace the lock side on your knife for less then the cost of a new knife.

I will say that unless you are incredibly abusive, the knife will last you a lifetime without problems.
 
I have only had one lock face on a sebbie need to get replaced in the 12 years I have been carrying one. I bought it second hand, and when I sent it in for a refurb, CRK said it was out of spec so they replaced it. This knife to this day has been carried and used like it should be. No worries, if it needs to be replaced I am sure CRK will replace it.
 
When CRK heat treats the lock, it develops a carbide coating. After awhile, this may wear down and cause a 100% lock-up, blade play, or other problems. If this happens, CRK re-heat treats the lock and its as good as new. If other issues arise and there are issues with the lock hat was not done by the owner, CRK will replace it I am sure under warranty. They re-heat treated a lock for me on my small regular sebenza and its as good as new. My issue was from a previous owner that assembled the knife incorrectly and used it for awhile wearing the lock abnormally. But under normal use & proper assembly, the lockbar should last a lifetime. CRK warranty is simply the best !!!, so you can own your sebenza worry free. As long as you dont tinker with it ( let the pros at CRK fix it ), it will last you your lifetime for sure and someone elses as well.
 
Well the main reason I worry, is cus I have a minor OCD with knives, where I open and close them alot, specially if they have a smooth action. I just like how it feels. So I prolly put more wear on a lock than just normal use would cause. The heat treat thing is good to hear. I am EDC'n this Sebbie, and I don't want to have to lock it up for fear of damaging it with my little habit.
 
I have a bit of the same knife-related OCD, but I never never never worry about the locktab "relaxing", so to speak. Mainly because -

1 - I flick mine open often, but don't wrist slam it or POP it open forcefully time and time again. If you do that compulsively, I'd recommend a Strider.

2 - I've recently seen CR take a knife that had obviously been abused and offer to repair it for about $150. Not bad.

Flick away, don't "slam", and don't worry. These are not fragile instruments.
 
They recently repaired mine with a lock side that they had in "old stock". It was covered under warranty and is back in tolerance, cant beat the service from CRK. The knife was over 10 years old, I never wrist flicked it, but it was worn to the point that it had developed some blade play
 
Well, I don't flick any of my knives really. I try to keep my thumb on the stud/hole all the way till the knife is open. I like how it feels better that way. So really it would just be basic open close wear, but reading the rest of the posts makes me think it will take a good long time for it to wear out that way, and when/if it does, it will be replaced easy enough. Now my only question would be if I would have to give up on the wood inlay on that scale. I assume I would, since I doubt there are many wood inlay "old stock" scales lying around.
 
worst case senario you pay $150 every 12-15 years and you carry the best folder made. I dont know how you can go wrong with that. Mine is a bg-42, regular large Sebenza and I carry it and use it everyday, I do open and close it a lot, because I love how smooth it opens and how it locks up. Just use it and dont worry about it, CRK will take care of you
 
Bob45 said:
worst case senario you pay $150 every 12-15 years and you carry the best folder made. I dont know how you can go wrong with that. Mine is a bg-42, regular large Sebenza and I carry it and use it everyday, I do open and close it a lot, because I love how smooth it opens and how it locks up. Just use it and dont worry about it, CRK will take care of you
Click to expand...

now this right here is a damn fine testimonial, as someone who was hesitating on pulling the trigger on his first sebenza... rest assured, trigger has been pulled
 
I have a 1996 Regular that developed lock rock. I sent it to CRK. Whether they rehardened the lock bar face or not, I don't know - they didn't say so and it wasn't on the repair order. They did replace the stop pin. The only parts or labor I paid for were the new washers, less than $5. I sent it back a couple of years ago, so figure it was 15 years old or so when I did.

Pretty good service, don't you think? :thumbup:
 
DBH said:
I have only had one lock face on a sebbie need to get replaced in the 12 years I have been carrying one. I bought it second hand, and when I sent it in for a refurb, CRK said it was out of spec so they replaced it. This knife to this day has been carried and used like it should be. No worries, if it needs to be replaced I am sure CRK will replace it.
Click to expand...
Did you have to pay for it? I have a 21 with bad wear to the lock face and they aren't covering it under warranty based on their guess of how it was caused.
 
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