Sebenza washers, non OEM

sharp_edge said:
It's a pocket knife not a spaceship. I'm also confused that if the knife is made with extremely high precision (by machines), doesn't it mean parts should be interchangeable among knives of the same model without any fitting issues? Or is every Sebenza hand-made?
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Like many of the early mid tech's it is hand fitted and tuned.
Not sending out washers for the Sebenza has always been their policy. They do send them out for some other models that don't need fitting. Likely has to do with reputation of product, warranty and legal liability. Many companies don't want anyone else to tinker with their product.
May not be that hard to do, but if the person can't figure it out, they may not be qualified.
I don' t know of anyone that markets washers for the sebenza, so the answer is measure and search.
Always been a problem for non US owners.
 
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Peter Hartwig said:
Like many of the early mid tech's it is hand fitted and tuned.
Not sending out washers for the Sebenza has always been their policy. They do send them out for some other models that don't need fitting. Likely has to do with reputation of product, warranty and legal liability. Many companies don't want anyone else to tinker with their product.
May not be that hard to do, but if the person can't figure it out, they may not be qualified.
I don' t know of anyone that markets washers for the sebenza, so the answer is measure and search.
Always been a problem for non US owners.
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Thanks Peter. Sorry that I did not state my question more clearly. I was referring to brand new knives, like CRKs with very high manufacture precision, and wonder why they need to be hand fitted and tuned. For used knives, obviously at least some parts are no longer the same as the factory ones and hence the need of hand fitting (which in the case of washers I think can be done safely by (most) users).
 
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I’ll say that at least CRK is up front about it on their website. Also, I have a 18 year old Sebenza running on original washers
with no issues. I doubt a second set would ever be needed.

I can also see where they’d not want to make any exceptions to the policy. Once to make one, it’s a slippery slope.

Also, while I suspect many could do whatever hand fitting is needed, many would also butcher it and try to make it CRK’s problem. They have a two year waiting list and get why they wouldn’t want to dedicate any resource to resolve those issues.

I also get the OPs concern about the cost and risk of mailing the knife. If it were me, I’d at least hold off until I could take advantage of the free spa services. That said, I have 4 CRKs and have never sent one back yet.
 
My take.

I'm all for trying to do things yourself! Hell i would try this my self.

But a good pair of calipers with repeatability or a good mic will set you back almost the cost of a new sebenza.. or a middle of the road mic or caliper will at least be the price of shipping.

Take what I am saying with a grain of salt. But if you do not possess the tools to measure the parts accurately then what's the point of buying the tools you would only need for this singular instance?

Matt
 
Well, I'm not concerned about loosing a washer. Wearing out? I dunno, guess it could happen, but not likely.

One of my sebbies has been a little ruff in the action i.e. not drop shut when lock bar is released like my oldest one. So I figured I might try some modding on the washers and that is why I wanted a set of spares; in case I completely f'ed it up.

I took the "problem knife" down a couple of days ago, just cleaned it with WD-40(man that stuff smells goooood..), relubed with the OEM grease and put it back together. Tightened the pivot snug and after some open/close, hey presto!, the knife now drops shut!!

I have NO IDEA what was the issue, but now it's really perfect, as perfect as a Sebenza can be I guess.
 
The other side of the coin-sometimes the adjustment needed could be a slightly thicker washer, than the standard. ?
 
Peter Hartwig said:
The other side of the coin-sometimes the adjustment needed could be a slightly thicker washer, than the standard. ?
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Or just take some of the bushing. In the factory vid you actually only see them adjusting the bushing, maybe they never really do anything to the washers?
 
Fixall said:
Tim Reeve is a wiener and I stand by that.

I was in the process of having a custom Damacore blade made for a small Sebenza 21, and I was told (by the makers) that Tim went out of his way to specifically tell makers not to do the job. My Small 21 will be the only CRK I own.

It’s my knife Tim. I’ll do what I want with it.
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I don't understand why he'd go so far just to be petty. Like, a simple "Sorry, that will void your warranty, have a great day." should have been it. It's your knife, he should have just let it be. In similar fashion, there's a guy in Russia that was doing reblades for Emerson knives*, and he got banned from both Emerson FB pages over it because all the diehard Emerson fanbags cried foul. Last I saw, the guy still gets a ton of business on IG though, so their ire accomplished bupkis.

* Awesome work too. Nath something or other
 
Quiet said:
I don't understand why he'd go so far just to be petty. Like, a simple "Sorry, that will void your warranty, have a great day." should have been it. It's your knife, he should have just let it be. In similar fashion, there's a guy in Russia that was doing reblades for Emerson knives*, and he got banned from both Emerson FB pages over it because all the diehard Emerson fanbags cried foul. Last I saw, the guy still gets a ton of business on IG though, so their ire accomplished bupkis.

* Awesome work too. Nath something or other
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I want to rebladed my inkosi... I want some damacore..
 
353 said:
So no other knife company sends out washers?
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That's not what I said. If a company uses the same width washers on all of the knives in a specific model there is no issue. That is obviously not the case with CRK.
 
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I get it if the maker contacted CRK and requested information on lock geometry, the blade grind, thumb stud and other CRK know how. I would get someone being cautious of things that go into making a CRK.

Just some dude making a blade. Wish them good luck and send pics when they are finished for giggles.
 
snuffle said:
I'm surprised and disappointed with their reaction to this.

I had been on the lookout for a left-handed Mnandi, but if CRK has decided they're Apple, I don't think I am anymore.
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I don't think this should stop you from getting your Mnandi. If you are carefull when you put together the knife after cleaning/lubing you should be fine and washers last a looong time.

I just wanted a spare set for my absolute favourite CRK, but that turned out to be a problem. I actually hoped some guys in here had gone this route before me, but no. That also maybe indicate how long they last and I guess the "lucky" US customers just send their knife in if they screw up a washer...

You should get a Mnandi, remember; they are now the last knife in the CRK line-up that has Chris Reeve's original Reeve Integral Lock(RIL).
 
Fixall said:
Tim Reeve is a wiener and I stand by that.

I was in the process of having a custom Damacore blade made for a small Sebenza 21, and I was told (by the makers) that Tim went out of his way to specifically tell makers not to do the job. My Small 21 will be the only CRK I own.

It’s my knife Tim. I’ll do what I want with it.
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Did you get to finnish this knife? If so; pics?

🤪 🍿
 
I love my Sebenzas but they aren’t always perfectly tuned from the factory either so yeah I don’t exactly get this. My fav large 21 Insingo can only be snugged up not tightened completely or it cannot be opened. The pivot bushing is supposed to make this impossible, where you can just crank it down, but not always. I guess my washers didn’t get rubbed enough during hand fitment. Not a huge deal.. a periodic check or dab of purple loctite does the trick but it illustrates the point.
 
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nbp said:
I love my Sebenzas but they aren’t always perfectly tuned from the factory either so yeah I don’t exactly get this. My fav large 21 Insingo can only be snugged up not tightened completely or it cannot be opened. The pivot bushing is supposed to make this impossible, where you can just crank it down, but not always. I guess my washers didn’t get rubbed enough during hand fitment. Not a huge deal.. a periodic check or dab of purple loctite does the trick but it illustrates the point.
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That will wear in over time most likely, but I would imagine a few swirls on a fine ceramic stone or a strop with some light compoud on would fix it fast if it's really bad.

My small insingo was a bit like that, well I could tighten it pretty snug, but not all the way like on the two body screws. It took a while, but now all the parts are perfectly mated together.
 
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