Sending a Sebenza in for warranty after 10-15 years. Norm or exception?

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parkourdude

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Mar 15, 2013
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Hey guys.

I've been reading around to see how often Sebenzas' get sent in for warranty. Honestly there weren't very many at all for the sheer amount of posts I went through.

However when they did get sent in, it was usually at the 10-15 year mark(which is pretty damn solid) mainly due to the locks.


So my questions is - Is sending in a Sebenza after a while the norm or exception? How many of you have kept a Sebbie for as much or more years without ever sending it back?
 
While there certainly are members that fall into your group of 15+ year owners, I think the majority are newer owners or own a 15year old knife but aren't original owners. On a nearer term (say 5 years)-I have never sent in a knife for warranty issue. It has always been spa/ cosmetic issues like bead blasts and double lugs., that sort of thing. I know there are a few active members in your group-hopefully you get some good answers, but I doubt they had many issues or they wouldn't be CRK loyal for 15 years. From my knowledge most issues are new washers, maybe a stop pin or replacing a worn out blade.
 
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What Peter Hartwig said, Exactly. I have 2 large regulars from 03' and 05'(users) that I carry 85% of the time. My Favorites! They've only been sent back for cosmetic issues.
 
I don't think you can answer the question without somehow getting amount/type of use into the equation, which is probably impossible. I am sure my small 1996ish (might be '97) Regular is one of your data points. It went back for a loose lock. I think that's very uncommon, but I also think that using Sebenzas much is fairly uncommon.
 
I am the original owner of my large '99. I have carried this knife probably 75% of the time since new. It has never been back to CRK although the lockbar is nearing full travel, got a few good years left before it may need to be looked at. Of course this tune-up would be free of charge amazingly. I'm afraid I'll have to pass on the free sharpening, cleaning and blasting. After all I've spent the last 15 yrs working on that character :D
 
I sent in a 1998 Large regular in 2010 for some refurb work due to the lock over travel. I carried that knife daily for approximately 10 years (spent sometime in the safe). It handles and works like a champ. After the refurb, it was put in the safe due to sentimental value. I wouldn't be using CRK products now for over 20 years (carried a fixed blade in the early 90's in the Army) with fear of them not supporting their warranty. I still carry a Sebenza daily, and would never think of doing anything to change that.
 
The way I think is along the lines of this; 15 years from now my Sebenza goes down for whatever reason I'm gonna retire it and disay her proudly and buy a new one of whatever the current version it, the "Sebenza 40" with S40VNF steel or whatever. It will have cost me about $20 a year at that point, I got my money's worth. If it breaks in ~5, maybe 10 years yea I'll send it in for service but at 15 years lifetime warranty or not I'll be pretty proud of it and I'd rather put it in a nice little display box and have a conversation piece than a aging, put back together knife (regardless of how serviceable/good-as-new the repair is).
 
DBH said:
I sent in a 1998 Large regular in 2010 for some refurb work due to the lock over travel. I carried that knife daily for approximately 10 years (spent sometime in the safe). It handles and works like a champ. After the refurb, it was put in the safe due to sentimental value. I wouldn't be using CRK products now for over 20 years (carried a fixed blade in the early 90's in the Army) with fear of them not supporting their warranty. I still carry a Sebenza daily, and would never think of doing anything to change that.
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DBH, can I asK how they fixed the over-travel? Do they put it a slightly larger stop pin bushing or something, or do the give you a new lock-slab?
 
I've carried my small Sebenza daily for around 14 years and given it a great deal of use. It shows a lot of finish wear, but works as well as it did when new. I have kept it lubricated regularly with Tri-Flow or Tetra Gun.

I'm looking forward to many more years of use.
 
kidcongo said:
DBH, can I asK how they fixed the over-travel? Do they put it a slightly larger stop pin bushing or something, or do the give you a new lock-slab?
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My small Regular had overtravel and my understanding was that a slightly larger stop pin bushing was used. It doesn't take much to put the lockup back into the proper range. The lock-side scale was not replaced and are still marked with its original date range.
 
I have only sent one in for work (sticky lock) it came back so quick I hardly knew it was gone. Oh and it was perfect. The others I have sent in just to have her nails, hair and a bikini wax.
 
kidcongo said:
DBH, can I asK how they fixed the over-travel? Do they put it a slightly larger stop pin bushing or something, or do the give you a new lock-slab?
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Cody, it is my understanding that the locking side scale was replaced. Looking over the paper work did not say anything about the stop pin. The stop pin is the exact same as other sebenzas from the timeframe in my collection. I hope that answers your question. The knife locks up like a vault now, and is in the 30-50% in the lock category.

This knife is the only CRK product that I have used the warranty on, and own quite a few that have never been back with the exception of adding double thumb lugs.
 
DBH said:
Cody, it is my understanding that the locking side scale was replaced. Looking over the paper work did not say anything about the stop pin. The stop pin is the exact same as other sebenzas from the timeframe in my collection. I hope that answers your question. The knife locks up like a vault now, and is in the 30-50% in the lock category.

This knife is the only CRK product that I have used the warranty on, and own quite a few that have never been back with the exception of adding double thumb lugs.
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Interesting - did you confirm by checking the date code on the scale? Mine was not replaced. (For perfect clarity, I am not disagreeing with your post in the least. :) )
 
^^^
They may have found something they didn't like with the lockside when he sent it in. In that case they would replace it. I do agree with you that replacing the stop pin with a slightly larger one is the normal solution for excessive lockbar travel. No matter what you send the knife in for, they seem to look over the whole knife for any problems, then ask if you would like them to take care of it. At least that has been my experience.
this did remind me that they once when I sent a knife to them for spa treatment, they did want to re-do the heat treat on the lock. I believe that was my only warranty work.
 
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Yeah...one of the knives I sent in for a re-lug prompted a request (or statement, I forget which :) ) that they were going to replace the steel detent ball with a ceramic ball. I would have sworn it was OK, but they obviously looked at the knife with a magnifying glass. I don't think they charged me anything for the detent replacement.
 
Jnewell, my paper work indicated new locking scale replaced, it is handwritten on the original bill of sale by me when I talked to CRK. My understanding was that it was replaced and why I wrote it down. There was nothing charged to me, so that is the only record that I have.
 
I see. The responses I got from you guys were very helpful, thank you.

I'm basically after folders that will last more long term use rather than hard-use. In this sense I guess a huge number of knives fit the bill, but I have other preferences like aesthetics (slim/elegant) to fill in as well and limited options to import.

The Sebenza fits quite nicely.
It's just that I can't fully make use of that legendary crk warranty(without risking the knife) due to our customs so I was kicking the idea of getting a sebbie.

I'll still probably get one though (maybe get a few backups :p)
 
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