Sebenza Frame Lock question

M

melotalk

Joined
Mar 14, 2013
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51
Hey guys,

I have seen many Sebenzas on the forum, and they have very deep frame locks. My concern is that do frame lock get worn down? will they ever touch the other side of scale and get stuck? A lot of other knives have very shallow locks so that's why I have this question. Please help me out =)

Thanks,

Jersey
 
My 21 large started with 80% lock, and after a year of use and some OCD opening and closing watching TV, it is still at 80% lock. The lock face shows minimal or no apparent wear, other than a slight rounding of the very edge, that does not affect lock-up on my knife. My understanding is if it were to go to 100% that CRK would repair the knife under warranty, if it showed no signs of abuse. They can always put in a slightly larger stop pin bushing, or replace the lock-side scale to repair the knife.
 
Yes sebenza's have later lockups then other makers. And I have not had any issues with not working properly.

And as kidcongo has stated CRK has one of the best warranties in the business.

You can also count on tight tolerances to keep the knife working solidly and properly for a longtime if not a lifetime of use :)
 
Sebenzas generally have a later lockup than most blades. Most blades need an earlier lockup, because they do tend to "wear in". Chris Reeve's tend to wear very, very slow (if at all), so it is not a concern. A later lockup is a secure lockup.
 
Tripton said:
Sebenzas generally have a later lockup than most blades. Most blades need an earlier lockup, because they do tend to "wear in". Chris Reeve's tend to wear very, very slow (if at all), so it is not a concern. A later lockup is a secure lockup.
Click to expand...

+1. I have a couple (Large Insigno and a 25) lockup on both is the same as when new.
 
I have ~.75 dozen Sebenzas and the only one I've had go to 100% engagement was a 1996 or 1995 Regular user that went back for service a year ago or so (fixed for free). So - I don't think you need to worry. :thumbup:
 
U have a 1/2 million dollars worth of sebenzas? Or close too that!!! That is crazy. : 0
 
Is .75 Dozen= 9 Sebenzas? I think with the Lockbar being Titanium, and the blade SS , the wear will be extremely limited. Bart
 
Chris Reeve did invent the frame lock too, i think he know's what he is doing, so i wouldn't worry about it too much.
 
There are many things to worry about in the world. Chris Reeve knives' reliability is not one of them.
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
There are many things to worry about in the world. Chris Reeve knives' reliability is not one of them.
Click to expand...

Yep. People are always so concerned about having early lock up so the knife will last a long time because of lock wear...but CRK is ahead of the game and prevents the lock wear so even though its 75% to begin with it'll never change. The knife you buy is going to be the same knife years from now. I'd rather have 75% lock up forever than early lock up that moves over time and causes more headaches in the long run...

For what its worth, framelocks feel safer with more material backing up the blade, not sure how safe you feel like the lock bar barely engaging. That said, I have to admit that early lock up looks nice though. (:
 
I just went through my list and I have owned 43 sebenzas over the years. I will subtract 1 because the 25 has a different lockbar design. So 42 sebenzas with the traditional framelock bar. I am somewhat kinda picky and usually look for sebenzas in the 50-60% range, which is pretty much CRK's normal anyways. I do feel safer with CRK's deeper lockup, while some other makers rave about only having 10-20% early lockup. When a sebenza is locked open, I feel like I have a fixed blade in my hand and thats great piece of mind when using them heavily. Through heavy use on some occasions, I have had the lockbar go to the other side and touch the plain scale, 100% lockup. When disengaging and then locking open again, it would go back to the normal 50-60%. I have personally asked CRK about this and they have replied that I have nothing to worry about. This is normal with the CRK lockup as I have seen time and again as well. With all these sebenzas, I have never had to send one in because of a lockbar issue. I did send one in years ago that I bought used that had a pinched washer, and since the previous owner continued to use the small sebenza with the washer pinched, it developed some abnormal wear to the lockbar face as well as abnormal wear to the bronze washers. CRK re-heatreated the lockbar face, replaced the damaged washers and it was good as new. This is just to state the importance of Properly reassembling the sebenza.
For those of you that know me and have read my many posts on the CRK forum, you know that I USE my CRK's, mainly sebenzas. I also know I will never wear one out. The materials CRK uses in its knives will surely outlast any of us.
 
I would bet that most everybody goes through that initial late lock up worry...I know I did. But like the above, I've never had an issue develop!
 
I've had two Regulars and two 21's through the years, NONE of them have moved after a short break in. I don't have a problem with late lock up(though non of them are late).

I do have a question though. Why is a late lockup a stronger lockup?
 
gull wing said:
I've had two Regulars and two 21's through the years, NONE of them have moved after a short break in. I don't have a problem with late lock up(though non of them are late).

I do have a question though. Why is a late lockup a stronger lockup?
Click to expand...

gull wing

This can be a lengthy answer, however, to sum it up, the main cause for a liner/framelock design to fail is because of poor lock/lock face design/mating resulting in the lock to slip. If one takes into consideration the initial design aspects of Michael Walker the same principles are applicable to the framelock the lock is designed to actually 'jam' in the open position.

http://www.knife-expert.com/liners.txt

"What's more, when Walker's Locker did finally fail, it

failed in the open position. Instead of closing suddenly upon

failure, as all the other knives did, it seized up and became a

"fixed" blade.

Giving a liner/framelock a later lockup means you minimise the chances of the lock slipping or any sudden lock fail.

I have done some long posts on liner/framelock design drawing from various sources and discussing with makers. If you are interested I can probably repost it.
 
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