sebenza blade retention

E

eah990

Joined
Aug 3, 2009
Messages
74
So I just got my first sebenza 2 weeks ago and have been opening and closing it like crazy. The one thing I have noticed is the blade retention is so strong, to initiate opening the knife it takes way too much pressure. I made sure my index finger is no where near the frame lock (thus pushing the ceramic ball further into the blade) and still its a pain in the butt. Any suggestions on how to fix this, or is it just normal.

thanks
 
Im sure after a while it will break in more.

Have a lot of blade retention is not a bad thing, as it prevents a folder to open in your pocket.
 
All normal. Your thumb will get used to it, like if you were just starting to play guitar or something. Eventually you'll have a thick enough callous there that even beating off will feel weird.

Hate to mention the obvious, but pushing exactly in the direction of the pivot's arc will make it exponentially easier to open.... Just saying.
 
Greetings: Sebenzas can take a while longer to "Break in" than some other frame locks. Their tolerances are very tight. The pocket clip which helps limit over travel of the lock bar when opening can contribute to the feeling of an overly strong blade retention. To test for this, try pulling the clip SLIGHTLY away from the lock bar with your other hand while you open the blade normally. This will indicate if and how much the tension of the clip is contributing to holding the ceramic ball against the recess in the blade. The clip tension can be adjusted. CAUTION-- Inadequate clip tension can result in the knife dislodging too easily from your pocket. In time the ball detent will polish the surface where it rides on the blade further reducing friction. Once broken in, (both the knife and your thumb) clean and lube the knife. OldDude1
 
Yeah it turns out OldDude is right my pocket clip was applying alot of pressure to the frame lock. Thanks for the help. This should fix its self with carrying right? I dont feel like tweeking my pocket clip and ruining it lol. I think I will let the natural course of action take place
 
My sebenza has a lot of blade retention and I love it exactly this way. :)
 
Sorry to be a spoiler - I mean this in the nicest most respectful way - but in my humble opinion - OldDude1 is wrong and you eah990 don't really know how to properly open your knife (yet). The clip exerts no additional pressure on the lockbar (it doesn't need it, the titanium is extremely stiff all by itself).

I'm guessing that you're pushing down and away with your thumb, on the thumbstud. If your thumb is ON the thumbstud, you'll be putting additional pressure on the clip with your fingers. This adds compression to the scales and makes the knife more difficult to open. This slight but added compression makes it more difficult for the ball to move out of the detent.

Instead, try putting your thumb BEHIND (and not on) the thumbstud, and move it out and away in an arc. The blade will open far more easily because by opening the knife this way, your grip won't be as tight and your hand will be putting less pressure on the scales. The ball will move right out of the detent.

If you don't believe me... try removing the clip. If you put your thumb on the thumbstud pressing down and away to open the knife, it will be just as tough to open. It's designed to be opened with the thumb pushing from behind the stud. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. ;)
 
RobME said:
The clip exerts no additional pressure on the lockbar (it doesn't need it, the titanium is extremely stiff all by itself).
Click to expand...

A properly adjusted clip does in fact add to the pressure on the lockbar in the closed position. In the closed position you should be able to flick the end of the clip with your thumbnail and you can see by doing this how it springs back to hit the lockbar...this is the pressure on the lockbar, especially with a new knife.
 
Kdarmy said:
A properly adjusted clip does in fact add to the pressure on the lockbar in the closed position. In the closed position you should be able to flick the end of the clip with your thumbnail and you can see by doing this how it springs back to hit the lockbar...this is the pressure on the lockbar, especially with a new knife.
Click to expand...

Sorry, you're just plain wrong, and your example is a poor one. Do you understand he's opening the knife by pushing down on the stud? Do you understand how opening the blade this way make's it more difficult to open? Open a Sebenza by pushing from behind the stud and it'll glide open with minimal resistance.

There's spring tension in the bend of the titanium clip. You bend it out and it springs back. Period. Get it? The clip installed on the frame adds minimal and insignificant pressure to the lockbar. Remove the clip and you won't feel a difference in opening the knife, whether you open it the right or the wrong way.
 
CRK has been installing way too much pressure on lockbar pocket clips for years now. I usually take the clip off and bend it out immediately upon receipt of a new knife.
 
The required clip pressure also varies quite a bit, as a function of the construction of your pants. If you're only going to use it with jeans, much less pressure is needed than with light amphibious pants. Heavier pocket hems will last much longer with less clip pressure.

It's very easy to adjust the clip.
 
First of all calm down, no need for personal attacks etc...I'm sorry you think my "example is a poor one" its easy to miss-communicate, were all just here to talk knives and have fun.

All I was trying to say is what you just said yourself...
RobME said:
The clip installed on the frame adds minimal and insignificant pressure to the lockbar.
Click to expand...
The fact is... the clip does indeed add pressure to the lockbar in the closed position. This is all I was trying to clarify...period.

this vs your earlier statement of...
RobME said:
The clip exerts no additional pressure on the lockbar
Click to expand...


I never once said anything about his method or technique regarding opening the knife... I agree with you comments regarding that part, I only brought up the issue of the pocket clip tension on the lockbar.


Hope this clarifies things...
 
I just called CRK. Heather was kind enough to answer my question regarding if in fact the pocket clip as installed by the factory exerts pressure on the lock bar. She stated the clip is designed to only hold the knife in the pocket. She also stated that it does exert some minimal pressure on the lock bar.



The question of whether Eah990 is opening his knife by pushing down or pushing from behind can probably be best answered by Eah990.

OldDude1
 
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Kdarmy said:
First of all calm down, no need for personal attacks etc...I'm sorry you think my "example is a poor one"
Click to expand...
If I was any calmer, I'd be catatonic. There was never any personal attack. That you perceived my comment as one is unfortunate, and a reason why I don't post much - everyone is so sensitive. I am truly sorry that I ever stepped in with facts to correct poor logic and bad assumptions.

Minimal pressure from the clip is insignificant, and the OP just wasn't opening his knife properly. Also, I'm sorry if it seems like I'm coming off with an attitude. I'm not. I guess I have to work on my people / writing skills...
 
No, I have been opening the knife by placing my thumb in the space in between the stud and the frame and following the blade arc. I understand what RobME is saying but I am 100% sure it is the clip. Why? Because I opened the knife by pinching the spine of the blade with two fingers and pulled it directly out, with and without the pocket clip. The pocket clip definitely adds a substantial amount of pressure which on a new knife makes it difficult to open. I would agree though on a well broken in knife the pressure caused by the pocket clip is insignificant.

PS Sorry I didnt mean to start a war lol. Lets just say Im a retard and forget about it
 
eah990 said:
No, I have been opening the knife by placing my thumb in the space in between the stud and the frame and following the blade arc.
Click to expand...

Your method of opening the Sebenza, while it seems to make sense, is tough on your thumb. As they say, a picture . . .

Sebenza_opening_vector.jpg


Unless I miss my guess, this is what RobME was suggesting re: the direction of force when opening a Sebenza. It's not intuitive (at least it wasn't for me), but it works exceedingly well. Applying pressure on the thumbstud almost directly towards the pivot (and NOT following the arc of thumbstud travel) makes opening easy -- no calluses required :)
 
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one thing I noticed is it kind of hurts my thumb.

By the way- thats a nice sebenza!
 
From the FAQ..

- The clip is designed and installed so that there is no pressure against the blade. When the blade is closed the clip should barely touch the handle and when the blade is open, there should be a small gap between the clip and the handle..
-Anne

One can also pull the lockbar outward slightly to reduce tension
a little, but I agree with the others to give it a chance to break in..

I backed off my lockbar on my old BG42 lg Seb a few years ago to
about 60% , it's been there ever since. I like to thumb flick it
open and one-hand it closed..

(Chris Reeve approves of thumb flicking open a Seb without moving your wrist..)

-Ron

sf1.jpg
 
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