sebie gripes

knifelife

knifelife

Joined
Jan 17, 2002
Messages
66
ok i have had my small sebenza for around 3 wks,i have posted my first impressions and now after using the knife here is what i now think;
1 i to have had small chips apear in the upswept part of the blade, the knife has been used on cardboard,wood(dead,treated,and living),fruit and some other food stuff.nothing that could chip the blade:mad:
2 i cannot get a good spark from my fire stick off any part of the blade:grumpy:
3 i find it quite a long task to get ths blade hair popin sharp(ok i am using a lansky system)but for a prelonged field trip i would be using a eze lap sharpener :(
apart from the 3 points above the knife seems a good performer although i am wondering about bg42 steel over s30v.also this is the first blade i have had"chip"on me and all the others have gone thru this type of test.
thoughts
cheers
 
I've got the BG-42 on both my Larg and Small Sebby and really like it. I use the recommended Syderco Sharpmaker. Sometimes a blade comes with a wire edge that you have to polish off and becomes more durable. I have used mine on hard wood with no problem but at first it seemed to dull quicker than now. That sort of says wire edge to me but I don't really know without looking at yours. I just know it holds an edge very good now that it has been sharped a few times. I stop at the medium grey/brown stones too and do not strop much at all. Try sharpening it up and then strop it, steel it some and pass it over the medium stone lightly again and you should have a super edge. That will get rid of the wire edge if it does have one. Once you are rid of a wire edge, the edge will be very strong. Look at the edge with a good magnifying glass if you can.

I don't strike ferrocium rods with mine though. That is not cutting and I reserve my Sebbies for cutting only.

I don't baby mine and they perform very nicely.
 
Those chips didn't appear after trying to strike that Fire Stiker did they?

I've had excellent luck with all the Sebenzas I've owned and have used them extensively, sorry to hear of your situation. I've not tried to spark from my blade though, so that's why I wondered about that?

Lansky can take quite a bit of metal off, so take care using that system, the Sharpmaker...I call it the Sharpkeeper as I don't find that it puts an initial bevel on very well, but it does Keep an edge maintained nicely!

G2
 
I'd send it in. its a bummer, but there is only one place that can make any determination, and that's the Reeve shop. I seriously doubt that it left the shiop that way. If it were mine, I'd want it fixed right.

I can't say that I recommend using anything that you prize as a cutting tool on the firestarter... I've cut a LOT of things with my seb, and I've been around several magnesium and other firestarters. I'd look for hours for something else to use before even considefing reaching for my seb. Even in a wilderness/survival situation... I dont think I would dull up my knife like that. There are other ways. ITs not even a question of a TOUGH knife ready to take whatever you throw at it. THe question is not "what is this knife made for?"... it is "What is this knife NOT made for?" dig?
 
This is weird. Your thread and this thread:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=224094

are both from England. That's just an observation, NOT an accusation. FWIW, I've seen the symptons you're describing on another brand of knife with a S30V blade. I'm guessing your small Sebbie is S30V. Nobody else has noted the easily chipped S30V blades, on Sebenzas anyway.

I think BoyNhisDog is right regarding the wire edge. I'm seeing that on a (S30V) knife as we speak...
 
Hey L. O. - SPOOKY perhaps coming over the atlantic does something to them :D

I have emailed CRK with my concern but no reply as yet (I dont know how many hours behind they are however so must allow them at least another day for replies I guess)
 
bagman, it could be you Brits are seeing this problem because you actually USE your S30V Sebenzas. IMHO, most Americans that buy S30V Sebenzas are buying their second or third Sebenza. They're not buying them in S30V to USE, they're buying them to look at. No condemnation there, just my opinion.

I don't think the problem is with the steel. Like I said, I think BoyNhisDog is right regarding the wire edge. I think it's (for me, anyway) learning the best way to sharpen it. I spent some time with my S30V knife (Strider AR) last night on my Edge Pro. ATS-34 & BG-42 are a breeze to sharpen. I think I've still got a lot to learn about sharpening S30V...
 
L.O.

I am looking at/feeling the blade now and I dont think I have a wire edge on it.

After I had sharpened it at 40 degrees (cant finfd the right symbol on my keyboard :-) ) i gave it a couple of very light swipes at 30 which I thought would have got rid of a wire edge but I am not the worlds best when it comes to sharpening

The blade was not as sharp out of the box as I had expected, no where near as sharp as the last couple of Spydies I have had in my hand???
 
as another Brit who has owned a S30V sebbie for the last month i've experinced no problems at all. Obviously I would say a month is too soon to evaluate the knife really but as you've been having problems in a similar time span I just thought I would add my experience.

I've been using the knife daily for, cutting wood (green and seasoned), light carving, field dressing game, aswell as the usual cardboard, rope and paper stuff.

The knife has been sharpened twice on my crock sticks and is producing a great edge.

Certainly I would say it's not suited for striking a fire stick as the spine is too rounded and I personaly prefer to use metal strikers for that job or a fixed blade with a flatter spine.
 
To get rid of the wire edge by changing the angle would require you to increase the over all angle for a couple of passess, not decrease it.

As to using S30V as a fire steel, wrong temper and type of steel for the job. It just can't work, period. The steel needs to be a lot softer (low 50's I think) also the combo of elements like Vanadium just is not suitable for a flint and steel type thing.

Wrong tool for the wrong task.
 
See told you I did not know much about sharpening ;)

I also strop the edge on a piece of cardboard when I have finished, this seems to do the trick
 
Thats ok!

Get a Sharpmaker and a leather strop...:p !!!

Please read my Sebenza satisfaction thread on how I sharpen.:cool:
 
firstly thanks for the reply's.i have already ground the chips out of the blade so i wont be sending it back,i'll see how it goes over the next couple of weeks.
the steel is s30v and also was'nt that sharp out of the box as other brands,the chips appered after use,i use the spine of the blade to strike the fire stick(well i tried).as for the right tool for the right job,i agree totaly but i was planing on getting a sheath made to carry this knife,fire steel and sharpenner so that when i went into the hills this would be my last resort if a survival situation came up(say,losing my back pack).
i thought that this knife,after what i had read would be the perfect companion,able to cut cardboard,food etc,but in the right(wrong?)situation help keep me alive.i do fell a little let down,not by the knife its self just the blade as the lock,build quality and handling of this knife are great.i just did'nt think this would be a light duty knife more of an allrounder.
anyway again thanks for the reply's and i hope this dos'nt put others off,it is a great knife just not what i thought.
my quest goes on
cheers
 
The Benza is NOT a light duty knife, but you have the small one right? How much can you expect from a 3" blade?

Also its a folder, not a fixed blade knife. Oh and its a knife...not a light sabre.

I don't want to be overly critical, but with respect,I think you want one tool to do the job of several. May I suggest a Leatherman Super Tool and a Gerber axe for the rough stuff

Or perhaps you aught to have gone for the large model or better still a Project 1?

The Sebenza is an amazing product, but it is no replacent for a fixed blade for chopping etc or total last ditch emergency knife.

I LOVE the Benza and use my large camping all the time, but a Small is too small IMHO and a large barely enough. I always use a FIXED blade for the serious stuff. Perhaps a Strider folder would be rather more suited? Tank boy it is, the Sebi is rather more eligant and very very tough also. The Benza is a cutting tool, 1st and foremost, high performance slicing and dicing. Its the best I have ever seen in this respect for a folder.

A folder in the wild is never going to be the ideal allrounder as you put it. There are plenty of blades for just what you describe, the small sebi just ain't that knife.

If I had to have one knife in a survival situ, it would be my CPM10V custom 10" Spearpoint or my M2 Nimravious (until I get a better medium fixed blade)

Not looking to flame, but I think you overestimate what any one knife aught to do?:confused:
 
Originally posted by The General

Or perhaps you aught to have gone for the large model or better still a Project 1?

The Sebenza is an amazing product, but it is no replacent for a fixed blade for chopping etc or total last ditch emergency knife.

Click to expand...

The General is right. Pick a One Piece for your last ditch knife but keep the Sebbie close for the fine work. The large Sebbie has a much more robust feel to it. There is only 1/2" difference in blade length but a world of difference in feel. I prefer the Sable or the Mountaineer for a fixed blade but that is a personal preference.

The Sebbie is not a knife to chop wood with but I would chop with a one piece and baton it with no problem. They are built for that.

Cut yourself off a short piece of hacksaw blade for a stryker when it come to your ferro rod. You can use the tooth side or the other side to scrape off the sparks.
 
general,i have read a lot of your post's,you know what you are on about,but i put the small sebenza through a light test and the blade chipped.i carry a fallkinven f1 and a leatherman wave/sak in my pack and they work fine.but,and i'm sure you'll agree,you have to know that your kit is up to the job and the time may come when you will ask it to go beyond its original use(im sure the sebie will,this is not a assination of the knife just what i have found).
i picked the small seby because i want to carry it day to day and if stopped by the police was not breaking the 3in law as well as not having to change knives when it came to leisure time,just grab my pack and go.when i first got the knife i thought "i'll only use it now and again"but it kept finding its way into my pocket because it is a great knife!.perhaps you are right,i do want a lot from a knife,if that knife is called "work" then this i want it to do,if that work is starting a fire this i want it to do,prying limpets off rocks,cutting thick rope,cutting a replacement tent peg,skinning a rabbit,cutting small grade wire,i have done thease tasks and more with other blades at or around the 3in mark.
i would love the luxury of knowing when a survuval situation is going to happen but i dont,i sometimes work in some out of the way places(with out knowing from day to day) and if i started to carry fixed blades/axes every day i doudt i would have a job for long,all i want is a hard working knife that,should the time arise will perform is that a lot to ask from a £280 knife called "work"?

now about thease light sabres you talk of,leather inlay handles?:)
 
I have lightly chipped my blade before... but I use my Sebenza hard. From mail all the way to eating steaks back to cutting open tuna fish cans :)

Then I just send it back to Chris and he sharpens it back to hair poppin'! I never have to do a thing :)

I should probably learn how to sharpen myself, but I think I'll mess it up. heh.
 
BAHDOG's comments are 100 percent on target, as always.
The spine of the Sebbie is nicely rounded, it increases strength (reduces stress) and comfort level. It is not suited for striking ferro rods.

FWIW I have used both my small and large Sebbies pretty hard, not abused but not babied either.

I have a ton of faith in them

Chad
 
"i picked the small seby because i want to carry it day to day and if stopped by the police was not breaking the 3in law"

With regret, as it has a lock, the size is irrelevent as its treated as a fixed blade knife in the eyes of the law.



this i want it to do,prying limpets off rocks,cutting thick rope,cutting a replacement tent peg,skinning a rabbit,cutting small grade wire,i have done thease tasks and more with other blades at or around the 3in mark.

Hmmmm, all things the Small Sebi can and aught to handle with ease? I think so, I would expect slight damage from the prying limpets! But the rest aught to be fine with S30V which is supposed to be very tough.

As this knife came without a very sharp edge, I feel perhaps this knife has been used before it came to you?

What single light task, do you think caused the edge damage and how bad was it? I would be concened with the extra detail you have now provided. I assumed that you mush have been using the edge as a fire striker or chopping hardwoods to get that kind of damage. One Formite who I won't name;) uses his BG-42 Large to disect starfish! No damage, just dulled edges.

Perhaps a convex edge is a little to fine for the type of work you want to do? Or perhaps this is a bad heat treat knife? Happens to all companies, even the best, and esp with a new steel.

I suggest a little more scientific testing at home and if chipping still results, send it back.

Bare in mind modern steels are often laser bar stock cut and this can result in a loss of carbon at the edge. This explains why modern steels seem to hold an edge better, the more you sharpen and use them. Perhaps this is the case here?

Best,

Wayne:cool:

P.S. I don't like the look of the leather inlays that much, but a wood lightsabre is heaven!:D
 
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