Sebenza 31 Lock Rock?!

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brownshoe said:
FB and IG is more contolled thus you get the Ann&Tim show, that's why they left Bladeforums. Ann&Tim never answered my call or email, but customer service did.
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Did you ask to speak to either one of them? They pay people to handle customer service issues so I would expect customer service to deal with your issues unless you specifically ask for Tim or Anne.
 
BeaverTail_Hunter said:
Did you ask to speak to either one of them? They pay people to handle customer service issues so I would expect customer service to deal with your issues unless you specifically ask for Tim or Anne.
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No. I've never had a need to speak to the managers of a knife factory. Why did you?
 
brownshoe said:
No. I've never had a need to speak to the managers of a knife factory. Why did you?
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That's between me and them.

My point is that if you ever to, they are more than willing to COMMUNICATE with their customers which was called into question earlier in this thread.

Just because they choose not to participate on Bladeforums, doesn't mean that they communication less or less effectively.
 
Anne gave me a nice tour of the factory one morning, totally unexpected, when I went in to pick up an Impinda. And she was quite accessible at the recent knife show here in town. And all the "customer service" folks I've talked to down there are pretty friendly and forthcoming as well. I wish all the companies I dealt with were as good, and I'm sorry some of you have not had the great service I've had.
 
BeaverTail_Hunter said:
That's between me and them.

My point is that if you ever to, they are more than willing to COMMUNICATE with their customers which was called into question earlier in this thread.

Just because they choose not to participate on Bladeforums, doesn't mean that they communication less or less effectively.
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They used to be here all the time, one of the big forum supporters. Then they had some problems of their own making and stopped. If you don't communicate at all after being a big presence, then it sends a message of "get lost"...kind of like when you get the silent treatment it is a sure end to a friendship.
 
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I've been following this thread with some interest for a long time. This issue of lock rock, I admit, cooled my Sebenza fever after the initial excitement about the 31. I've owned and enjoyed an Inkosi for about two and a half years, but when I bought a 21 late last year I realized that I'm a Sebenza guy.

Tomorrow I'm scheduled to take delivery of my first large Sebenza 31. I've delayed the purchase because I wanted resolution on the lock rock issue. I'm not sure there's a clear answer, but I'm hoping that my specimen will be solid. Second, I wanted the new steel. Third, I want a PJ Sebenza. My 21 has wood inlays and I baby it too much. I'm planning to put my new 31 to work! Fingers crossed!
 
I had a problem with a brand new Seb years ago. Posted here about it, and a rep here (don't remember who) said to call up. Ended up going to Chris himself. It was not a great experience in content, but I don't know many companies where you can speak with the dude (or now, people) in charge of it all when you have an issue.

Even though there are issues, it's good knowing the company all the way to the top believes in their products and actively address problems with customers, even if it isn't on Bladeforums anymore. Shows they aren't trying just to put out crap and make a dollar
 
My 31 landed today. I was so nervous about quality issues that I set the box down on my workbench and danced disquietedly around for a moment before opening it.
Unsure that I would keep it, I put on rubber gloves for the initial inspection. I even pinched the blade open to avoid besmirching the blue thumb stud. The blade is perfectly centered. The action is smooth. There is no left to right blade play, even with the lock disengaged. I noticed that the inner part of the locking scale is labeled A-21 and that the lock bar relief scallops have been relocated slightly toward the pivot when compared to my Sebenza 21.

I grasp the knife in a hammer grip and timidly press on the spine with my thumb. No up and down movement. A bit harder still, but nothing. The moment of truth! I stage the knife on the edge of my workbench with the blade hanging off like a diving board and press down with the palm of my hand. Quite an unnatural thing to do with a folding knife. I detect very slight movement with pressure, but am relieved when I compare my Inkosi and my 21. They all do the same thing, which is to say, virtually nothing.

My verdict is that the quality control is excellent, even though the edge bevels are a bit asymmetrical. We'll see if I need to add thread locker to the the stop pin or the pivot.

20211028-183214.jpg
 
Modernflame said:
I detect very slight movement with pressure, but am relieved when I compare my Inkosi and my 21. They all do the same thing, which is to say, virtually nothing.
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Seems like you tested it well and the result is perfect.

Congrats on a flawless 31. :cool: :thumbsup:

Is it S45VN?
 
cmfkdragoon said:
My experience with a recently purchased small 31 in S45VN fits with your description, specifically, that the lock bar will flex (even though I called it "lock rock" in a previous post) so badly that it compares to some of the more outrageous videos on YouTube. For example:

I can place my knife on a flat surface, open and blade down.... While the knife rests on the handle scales facing blade down, I can place force on the back of the blade and see it bend all the way to the surface below.

This experience has been rather disheartening - I would have never imagined a CRK, which as a newer collector I have strived for, has less integrity than a gas station knife.
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Despite such a fiery and impassioned post when I received my less-than-perfect Small Seb 31 (I was quite disappointed), I changed my mind on returning the knife and decided to give it a try. I started carrying the small sebenza 31 regularly, and tried to ignore the lock flex as much as possible.

After several weeks of use, the lock flex remains but has improved markedly. Perhaps the suggestion of a break-in period is valid. Most importantly, the lock flex is completely imperceptible in normal use. It turns out I love this knife so much for all of its others qualities that I hardly care. As well, it gives me a reason not to fuss over imperfections from use.
 
Modernflame said:
If it's not too much trouble, would you be willing to snap a photo of the blade tang? Curious to see the track of the ceramic ball.
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I'm curious to know if you see anything interesting. I think it's cool that the detent ball rides right along the edge - I find that is makes disengaging the lock very smooth.
 

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cmfkdragoon said:
I'm curious to know if you see anything interesting. I think it's cool that the detent ball rides right along the edge - I find that is makes disengaging the lock very smooth.
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I think M Modernflame means where the ceramic ball interface with the tang when the blade is locked. How the lock has worn in.

That's what I'd like to see anyways.

:)
 
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