Sebenza Tuning

[Brian_T]

Wow! I just disassembled and cleaned my Sebenza (Large Lefty BG-42 with tons and tons of use) and decided to try the action "tuning" I've read about here and have to say that it does work.

Here's what I did:

1. Fully disassemble the knife
2. Remove the non-lockbar side washer
3. Using a circular motion, make a few passes over a leather strop on each side
4. Repeat with the lockbar side washer
5. Using the same strop loaded with Flitz, give the pivot end of the blade the same treatment
6. Reassemble the knife
7. Feel that silky-smooth action

This all took me less than five minutes and I can feel a noticeable difference. Maybe it was just dirty from lots of use and pocket carry but maybe I just put a slightly higher polish on all the moving parts.

I don't know for sure that I changed anything but the action is really smooooooooth now.

I'm curious to see if it stays that way.

B

 

[DBH]

Brian, good to see you on the forums It should stay that way for sometime, with some light maintenance every month(air clean and lube). That is what I do and it has worked well.

 

[Brian_T]

Thanks Dan.

The part I forgot, lubing the pivot, I actually forgot.

I had to disassemble the knife again, lube the blade-side of the washers, and reassemble.

If it was smooth before now it's amazingly smooth.

Great stuff.

 

[DBH]

Good deal Brian. It should stay that way for a good while.

 

[rpttrsn]

Thanks for the tip Brian. Polished the washers and inside the frame on my new Small Classic Sebbie. Went one step more by putting a slight chamfer in the detente in the blade. (Area that ball leaves the detente only) Blade still locks up well when closed, yet about half the pressure is required when starting to open. Used a small round ceramic rod. Don't think it can get much smoother. Thanks again.
Ron

 

[proguide]

You have to be careful when polishing parts on the Sebbie. They are made to exact tolerances, a small change could be destructive.

 

[DaveH]

Having done this myself on some occasions I doubt if reasonably careful any damage would be done. It more just accelerating what would normally take months to do with regular use.

 

[iamsmiling]

I haven't had to polish the washers on any of mine nor do I think polishing the handle at the washer would help much. I think the concept is for the washer to bear and turn only on the blade, not rotate against the handle.

What has happened to me is I inadvertently "flip" one or both of the washers over so the blade was bearing against the side roughened by the handles. This can make the action rougher.

I am more careful now to orient both washers the same way after cleaning.

 

[rpttrsn]

In my opinion removing any high spots on the surface will only improve its performance. Always use care not to remove stock from the metal thereby changing the tolerance. I don't want to be concerned if I flip the washer or not. With a knife of this quality I feel it shouldn't matter which side the washer is against the blade. It does matter which side of the blade you have the washers on. Always do what works best for you. I don't have all the answers-- only sharing what works for me. Great knife forum. Great input.

 

[Sigifrith]

I'm bringing this back from the dead with a question.

Does it really matter if you flip the washers? I never considered this before, so didn't pay attention to orientation.
If it matters on the solid washers, what about the perforated ones?

 

[u812]

It seems to me that the washers tarnish over time.I have wiped them with flitz to shine them up.Flitz is non abrasive and should not remove any metal if just lightly polished.I have noticed that doing this smooths the action alot.

 

[u812]

I'm bringing this back from the dead with a question.

Does it really matter if you flip the washers? I never considered this before, so didn't pay attention to orientation.
If it matters on the solid washers, what about the perforated ones?

I am sure it does not as I never notice what direction the washers are in or what side is what when I clean mine and have never had an issue.

 

[cziv]

I'd have no problem with sanding (or stropping) a problem washer. I've owned several CRK Sebenzas and have yet to run into an example that I believed needed such treatment. They all feel pretty close to each other. If it ain't broke don't fix it!