Sebenza 31, have the bugs been worked out?

S

stewey1

Gold Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2010
Messages
397
Hey Team,

Tragedy has struck me and I've unfortunately lost my large 21 Sebenza.

Life happens so I thought I would just buy a new one and call it a lesson learnt.

I soon discovered it was discontinued and replaced by the current Sebenza 31.
I have no experience with the 31 but due to my travels and memories with the 21 I had hoped to find another. I reached out to a few dealers and posted a WTB advert here and on another forum in the hopes a new 21 would find it's way to me.

In preparation for my impending doom of not being able to find a 21 I started to research the 31 as they are readily available in all the Left handed configurations I'm interested in. This journey of reading has led me to believe that there "were " or "are " some issues with the 31 specifically the screws backing out on the pivot and blade stop and the flex in the lock bar.

My question to you gentlemen is...... Now the 31 has been on the market for nearly five years, have these bugs been ironed out by Chris Reeve knives? Would you have any concerns purchasing a current production Sebenza 31?

Apologies for the long winded post.

Kind regards,

Stew
 
I’ve got several 31’s and haven’t had any issues. They’re at least a year old, maybe a little older.
I’ve learned that I don’t believe everything I read. Yes, it’s still a blessing to be left handed because there is a good selection of left handed CRK’s available.
What left handed configuration are you looking for in a 21/31 ?
 
rest assured, i too have had the same disappointment when i discovered the 21s were cancelled as I had to let my user small insingo go some time back due to bills. switched it up with a standard drop point 31 small. can tell ya besides the clip angle difference, i can barely tell there were any significant changes
 
Agree with these other gentlemen, the 31 is still a great knife. That said you can still find 21’s at a decent price (depending on your view of that I suppose). I think posting a WTB thread was a good call, you would be surprised you might not have to wait all that long for someone to reach out. Sorry to hear you lost yours I hope it turns up some day.
 
yup, i was able to get a nice small user insingo in the unlikeliest of places, a traditionals knife fb group at that for a very decent price. so dont lose hope!
 
21s are popping up for sale everyday, I don't think you'd have to wait too long to find the one you want. While I do prefer the 21 I think the 31 is a perfectly solid knife. My biggest gripe was increased lockbar tension as compared to my 21s, but it also leads to very satisfying acoustics upon lockup and it's not necessarily problematic, I just prefer the lighter tension on the old gen Sebenzas.
 
Both 31s I've owned had lock movement, but I understand how it's inherent to the design, so it doesn't bother me.

I'm a bit more concerned that both had significantly different levels of lock bar tension and smoothness in the pivot, to the point where the knives felt radically different to operate. I don't know if that's normal for CRK nowadays but it really shouldn't be.
 
Thank you for the replies Gentleman,

This is putting my mind at ease, It would seem I can't lose either way.
 
Ajack60 said:
I’ve got several 31’s and haven’t had any issues. They’re at least a year old, maybe a little older.
I’ve learned that I don’t believe everything I read. Yes, it’s still a blessing to be left handed because there is a good selection of left handed CRK’s available.
What left handed configuration are you looking for in a 21/31 ?
Click to expand...

I think at this stage I will go plain Jane but..... The more I look at photos the micarta or timber inlays are starting to speak to me, cost isn't my primary concern as I consider the Sebenza a lifetime tool investment and I really do use them. My last Sebenza 21 even gutted my son's first deer!
 
stewey1 said:
I think at this stage I will go plain Jane but..... The more I look at photos the micarta or timber inlays are starting to speak to me
Click to expand...
It's not apples to apples, but I've owned a PJ 31 and currently own an Inkosi with micarta inlays, and for my hand the inlays make for a more pleasing and secure grip that's worth the added expense and slightly increased thickness.
 
I trust my small 31 enough to take it on 7-day backpacking trips. They're pretty good knives if you ask me.

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