Small Reg Stiff when room temperature

S

spidyman

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I've got a 2007 production Small Regular Sebenza that I purchased new in april of this year. Its a great knife and I love its simple understated elegance. Now to the point, when ever its at room temperature or cooler it is extremely hard to open, it will not open one handed with the stud I must use two hands. Yet if its carried or held in the hand a let warm up to approx 80* or warmer its butter smooth and will open lighting fast with the stud.

Now I have taken it apart twice and cleaned it up and have lubed it with militec-1 synthetic metal conditioner oil- not the grease, which I've used on all of my knives for quite some time with out incident, now with my sebbie I'm befuddled as to why its hard to open at room temperature or cooler, but is butter smooth when warm. Blade is dead center as expected, and I only carry it as a dress knife so I know its not clogging up with pocket lint.

What say the experts.
 
This is a strange one. Only thing I thought of was that heat expands metal, but I don't think that explains your problem. Have you tried different lubes?
 
Strange. I was sure it was a lube thickening until I read you hade cleaned it and tried different lube. I can't think of any possible explanations.
 
Have you tried playing with the pivot to see if that makes any difference when it stiffens up ?
Its fantasticly unlikely to be temperature thats causing the problem, I get the feeling it might well be the pivot bushing is a bit off or something.
I cant think of any other reasonable explination if its not the lube or gunk gloging things up :confused:
 
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I'd double-check the washers and pivot bushing to see if there's any deformities. As careful as I am during re-assembly, I've been known to accidentally pinch a washer between the bushing and handlle, though I'll catch myself before tightening the screws down.

Check and see if perhaps you might've pinched a washer and created an inward/outward bend in the center of the washer. This would create the drag necessary to cause similar symptoms to what you're experiencing.

If no deformities, I'd get experimental with your lubes. Could be simply a break-in issue with either the washers, bushing, and even your ceramic ball detente against your blade causing the drag.

Professor.
 
I have had that kind of problem. IME it just needs more break in time.
 
Thanks guys, I've double checked the washers and nothing irregular there, but I will try another lube too. It seems to have broken in fairly well, but I'll give it some more time.
 
Try applying lube right smack on the ceramic detente ball. I find that the interface with the blade can impact smoothness-of-action as much if not more sometimes than the washers/bushing.

Professor.
 
Professor said:
Try applying lube right smack on the ceramic detente ball. I find that the interface with the blade can impact smoothness-of-action as much if not more sometimes than the washers/bushing.

Professor.
Click to expand...

I'll be sure to try that too.
 
I had the same problem with my seb when using teflon grease. Switched to BM Bluelube and the problem went away. Butter all the time :)
 
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