Sebenza smooth

M

mcg4248

Gold Member
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Nov 21, 2012
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So I have been collecting for about 5 years, and this week I finally got my first sebenza. Prior to that purchase my two big "quality" knives were my 0801cf and my 392bwbrz. I finally just got my first full-time job though after graduating college and figured a nice graduation present would be a sebenza. So I decided to go for the Knife Art titanium/cf large 21 edition because I am on a major CF kick right now (as many others are as well) and figured they will not always be producing this variation so I should get it now while I can. So I was at work on Tuesday when it was supposed to arrive and the same day I gained my sebenza, I lost my PM2 while changing an ATM (I work for Brinks). It was sad because it was a terrific work knife, but I was also happy since I had gained a sebenza.

When I arrived home I tore open the box like an overgrown child unwrapping presents Christmas morning. It looked beautiful, and felt wonderful. But then I opened it. It was nice, but I felt resistance. I always thought sebenza's were overhyped and this unboxing made me think just that. I always strip my knives down and clean them and lube/oil them but I was afraid that by tinkering with a sebenza I would ruin the integrity of it (sounds silly, I know). But I said screw it and took it down anyway. I wiped clean the washer and the scales and put some lube on it and put it back together (by fully tightening all of the screws). My sebenza now free falls and feels like glass. This is sebenza smooth. This was the hype. Man oh man is it smooth. No play, the screws are fully tightened and it free falls, I could not believe it. This is not just a tool, but this is a piece of art.

When I got it, i opened it incessantly, don't get me wrong but the fire just wasn't there for me until I took it apart and reassembled it, but now I cannot put it down! I am certainly happy with my purchase, but now I need an Umnum.
 
On a side note, the same thing happened with the new Spyderco PPT. I got it and it was really nice and built beautifully, but after taking it apart and cleaning it up, its now a joy to open and carry.
 
Sebbies are really smooth but I find to get that drop the blade guillotine effect you need a lighter and thinner lubrication. They use grease. Probably on purpose to prevent exactly that, a knife being "too smooth" for some.
 
I like the Sebenza 21 action. It's a different kind of smooth. Doesn't fall shut like a ZT but it feels nice.
 
PURPLEDC said:
Sebbies are really smooth but I find to get that drop the blade guillotine effect you need a lighter and thinner lubrication. They use grease. Probably on purpose to prevent exactly that, a knife being "too smooth" for some.
Click to expand...

I've used many of different lubes, and the only thing that give my CRK's a "guillotine effect" is decreasing the pressure of the lockbar.

Personally, I like the hydraulic feel of a Sebenza. It inspires confidence when using it in a fast-paced situation, like making a quick cut at work. I have a few flippers that have said guillotine effect. However, when closing the knife, the flipper tab falls onto my thumb nail, allowing me to gain control of the blade.

I tried out a front-flipper, and I felt that the lack of a flipper tab would be sort of alarming for fast-paced cutting chores. I'd depress the Lockbar, and the blade would nearly fall onto the flesh of my thumb. If my Sebenza closed the same way, I wouldn't appreciate it the way I do now.

I can understand the pursuit of smoothness, but the Sebenza wasn't meant for such a thing in my opinion. It's meant to work, and when I'm working, I open and close my knife a lot. That said, I don't have time to close my knife diligently. To me, a Sebenza blade that falls freely is a (slightly) unsafe knife.
 
Blues Bender said:
I've used many of different lubes, and the only thing that give my CRK's a "guillotine effect" is decreasing the pressure of the lockbar.

Personally, I like the hydraulic feel of a Sebenza. It inspires confidence when using it in a fast-paced situation, like making a quick cut at work. I have a few flippers that have said guillotine effect. However, when closing the knife, the flipper tab falls onto my thumb nail, allowing me to gain control of the blade.

I tried out a front-flipper, and I felt that the lack of a flipper tab would be sort of alarming for fast-paced cutting chores. I'd depress the Lockbar, and the blade would nearly fall onto the flesh of my thumb. If my Sebenza closed the same way, I wouldn't appreciate it the way I do now.

I can understand the pursuit of smoothness, but the Sebenza wasn't meant for such a thing in my opinion. It's meant to work, and when I'm working, I open and close my knife a lot. That said, I don't have time to close my knife diligently. To me, a Sebenza blade that falls freely is a (slightly) unsafe knife.
Click to expand...

I wasn't saying that I wanted, or even need it, to free fall. What I should've stayed more clearly was that when I got it, it did not seem all that smooth to open. There was definitely quite a lot of resistance and tightness as though there was no lubrication on the pivot or washers at all. But once I added a bit of my own when taking down the knife and reassembled it certainly was a guillotine!

I do see what you're saying about it being kind of unsafe, the knife is stupid short and if you aren't paying attention and don't catch that part correctly on your nail, you're gonna need some stitches!
 
I recently purchased a Startac. The first 24 hours were humbling. I could not open it, the blade motion was stiff and non responsive, wasn't pleased to say the least. Almost magically the knife settled in. It now opens beautifully and is smooth. I went and got a few of my other high end folders and really started to compared the various brands. I noticed all the little things Chris Reeve knives accomplish wonderfully in such a subtle manner. I get it now. They get better with age.
 
Blues Bender said:
I've used many of different lubes, and the only thing that give my CRK's a "guillotine effect" is decreasing the pressure of the lockbar.

Personally, I like the hydraulic feel of a Sebenza. It inspires confidence when using it in a fast-paced situation, like making a quick cut at work. I have a few flippers that have said guillotine effect. However, when closing the knife, the flipper tab falls onto my thumb nail, allowing me to gain control of the blade.

I tried out a front-flipper, and I felt that the lack of a flipper tab would be sort of alarming for fast-paced cutting chores. I'd depress the Lockbar, and the blade would nearly fall onto the flesh of my thumb. If my Sebenza closed the same way, I wouldn't appreciate it the way I do now.

I can understand the pursuit of smoothness, but the Sebenza wasn't meant for such a thing in my opinion. It's meant to work, and when I'm working, I open and close my knife a lot. That said, I don't have time to close my knife diligently. To me, a Sebenza blade that falls freely is a (slightly) unsafe knife.
Click to expand...

Yeah I hear what you are saying. I have only had one sebenza so I cant speak to how the majority of them will be effected by a change in lubrication. Either way as cool as a free falling blade is I actually prefer a bit of resistance on my carry knives. Especially if it is a short flipper or non flipper.
 
A free falling blade isn't necessarily an indicator of a smooth knife. If the blade happens to not be contacting the detent ball at all when the lock is disengaged, for example, the blade will drop. I've owned folders whose blades dropped free that were not as smooth as other knives whose blades didn't.

Even some Triad locked knives' blades drop free when the lock's disengaged.
 
Smooth and easy are two different things.

To make my sebbies a touch easier, I sand the washers with 2000 grit lightly. Just a little. This removes some of the extra material and makes them easier (and a little smother). Also, as someone said, oil will be easier than grease. And don't over tighten the pivot. Just a touch is perfect. The finish combined with the bevel will hold it tight perfectly.
 
Sebenzas need to wear the parts into each other..this happens naturally with use. If you want to, you can take it down, clean it, lube it up with the flourinated grease and re-assemble. Some people cycle them to help them wear in faster...Some people polish the washers and others are just not satisfied with all this and sell them off.
They do wear in, but it usually takes a bit of work.
 
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