Sebenza edge retention problem...

Severance

Severance

Joined
Feb 4, 2006
Messages
261
I have been collecting production knives for years- Spyderco, Benchmade, SOG, MOD, etc. and in recent months decided to look into something a little closer to a custom in terms of overall quality. This led me to the purchase of a small classic Sebenza. First of all, the overall quality is amazing. Fit and finish is flawless and the lock-up is the best i have ever seen( Zero blade play in any direction). Out of the box the knife would shave arm hair easily just as most of my NIB Spydercos would do. Then came the mysterious findings. I used the sebenza to cut open several cardboard boxes, sever a couple pieces of string, and cut some packing tape: - overall what i would consider to be light work. Afterwards, the knife would not in any way remove arm hair, which i didnt think was a big deal(afterall, cardboard can dull a knife pretty quickly) so i put the sebenza on my sharp maker. Medium to fine to ultra fine then a quick stropping and it was back to hair popping sharp. The next and only thing i cut with it was a 1/2 inch thick piece of partially dry rotted nylon rope only to find that once again it would not remover any arm hair AND i could actually see the edge surface in some spots under the right light. Now, given CRK's incredible rep and the general quality of S30V, i am wondering what is causing my knife to dull so quickly?? Is it at all possible that my blade got through without proper heat treat? Any thoughts would be appreciated. :)
 
Did you buy the knife new? If you bought it used, it may have been improperly sharpened. You mentioned that you went through 3 different sharpening rods, in my very limited experience, I have only had to use the white fine rod. I just bought a brand new Seb and it wouldn't shave hair out of the box but after about 15 or so strokes on the fine rod in my Sharpmaker, it is shaving sharp.
 
Yes, the knife i bought was new. And its not really that i am having trouble putting a shaving sharp edge on it, but rather how quickly that edge seems to fade. In my experience with most of my S30V spydercos, the hair popping edge seems to last longer before needing a touch up.
 
I'm relatively new to Sebenzas but I've been carrying a small Sebenza for six weeks now and using it almost daily to open boxes, cut paper, etc. and I have yet to even need to really touch it up. Either you're getting a wire edge when you sharpen it or there is a serious problem with the blade.

My suggestion would be to send it back and ask them to check the hardness of the blade or resharpen it under the warranty.
 
I agree with what iamsmiling said. Rather then wonder about it, just send it back. My guess is the edge angle doesn't match the sharpmaker.
 
The Sebenza rates a little lower on the hardness scale compared to Spyderco. The downside is, the edge will deform quicker. The upside is, it won't chip as fast. It's a trade off.
 
Try the marker trick first. Use black marker on the edge and then hit it with the Sharpmaker. This will show you if you are getting the very edge and how thoroughly.

Depending what angle you're using, you may be barely touching the cutting edge, or leaving a bit of a wire.

When I need to rework a Sebenza edge, I use the 40 degree and then the 30. It's the 40 that does the edge and the 30 does the back bevel. Remember, the Sebenza is hollow ground but the secondary bevel is convex.
 
It sounds like you got a bad blade. The s30v on my CRKs have been superb, the same with my spydercos. My friend does have a kershaw leek with one of their early s30v blades and the edge holding on that blade is horrible. It dulls very quickly and the dulling method is chipping. It is also a pain to sharpen. Contact CRK and see what they say.
 
Did the rope have sand in it?

I would re profile it and if that didn't work send it in.
I haven't run across a bad blade from Reeve myself but any thing is possible.

Good luck
Helle
 
Thanks for the replies everybody. I think i might try reprofiling like Esav and Helle suggested and if that doesnt help, then back to CRK it goes. Either way, thanks again.:D

Off topic: I just got my second CRK today via the big brown truck. A mountaineer 2.(had to have a folder/fixed combo :) ) Once again, awesome quality- cant wait to see how A2 holds up;I dont have much experience with any tool steel other than D2. Either way, it will give me something to play with while (if) my Sebbie has to leave for the factory for a while.:o
 
Send it back. My first Seb was bought from a friend seven months ago. I use almost daily, nothing heavy just packing tape, boxes, etc. and it is still sharp.
 
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