small seb hard to open

Mad_Maxx

Mad_Maxx

Joined
Nov 29, 2007
Messages
2,519
received my lovely new small sebenza 21 today, man it is cool!

only issue I have is that it hurts a lot to open it, even pushing sideways it's hard to pass the detent
I've red I have to push sideways, I'm pressing in the direction the blade opens and I'm not pressing on the lock bar but it's still hard to pass the detent and to start open the blade
it's painful to open it!

it's a lot harder than the umnum, too much harder, wil eventually get used to so I'm wondering
is that normal? just have to break it in?

maxx
 
How old is it per the manufacture date? It shouldn't be painful to open. The only thing I can think of is maybe it's an older manufacture date and maybe the lube has degraded.
Try taking it apart, cleaning and lubing it. It will probably make a world of difference.
 
I have found that the small one is more difficult in opening than the large one for me. I also have found that they are both more difficult when new to open until you get used to them or they become easier to open-I have not figured out which it is!

If you have never used a Sebenza, you have to determine the method of opening it with the thumb stud. You also have to build up your thumb! It gets easier.
 
I just got my first small 21 a couple days ago. She glides open super easy and smooth. I guess I got a good one... Born Sept. 21st. I don't have the large 21..... Yet! I agree with Paradiggum. Strip it down and re-lube it.
 
The smalls are def harder to get a good technique to open especially the newer ones with the hole drilled through for the Detent instead of just a dimple.

It gets easier over time as you gain a good technique.

If it is still hard to open if you try opening the blade with two handed with two fingers like a friction folder and its rough through the action than it most likely is a pinched washer or needs a cleaning bad.

If its easier to open two handed than it's just the technique.
 
For me, the small sebenza is tougher to open than the large. I prefer the older regular profile, but it's still the same. I can open the large 21/regular easier than the small. The sebenza opens different than the umnumzaan also, so when switching between them, you can forget. With the sebenza ( large or small ), push up on the stud and around like a rainbow arch. This will make it the easiest to open. The umnumzaan on the otherhand, you must push the stud towards the blade to open. Both take some getting used too and your thumb will be sore until you get the hand of it...... As for tightness, if it was made sometime ago, I think the lube kinda solidifies slightly. When mine tightens up after use and non cleaning for awhile, I simply take it apart and clean thoroughly and lube. Then it's as good as new again.
 
You can't flick it open doing this push to the side first motion you guys are talking about.

Push straight up with some force and that baby will flick open quickly... unless you have weak thumbs.
 
Bluesummers said:
You can't flick it open doing this push to the side first motion you guys are talking about.

Push straight up with some force and that baby will flick open quickly... unless you have weak thumbs.
Click to expand...

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Chris Reeve rail against people flicking his knives open? Or is he just talking about flicking your wrist? Never have been sure. Heck, William Henry even has a tutorial video on how to flick their knives open. I haven't even tried with my sebenza. I don't mind opening her slow though.
 
Make sure your thumb placement is in the correct spot. Under the stud so your lifting the blade out of the detent.
The smalls thumb studs are smaller and if you put pressure directly on top its gonna dig into your thumb.
 
it's a oct 28 2010 idaho made s30v one

gonna take it apart, lube it (only have oil, camelia oil..) and check the detent hole (seems to have a scratch where the ball enters)

gonna post pics soon
Maxx
 
It's not normal, I have no trouble opening small or large Sebenzas. Can you open it with two hands and is it still difficult?
 
draggat said:
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Chris Reeve rail against people flicking his knives open? Or is he just talking about flicking your wrist? Never have been sure. Heck, William Henry even has a tutorial video on how to flick their knives open. I haven't even tried with my sebenza. I don't mind opening her slow though.
Click to expand...

He doesn't like any type of flicking except when you put the knife back together. This is to get the lockbar to travel to its original position. Only had my regular Sebenza need to be flicked after putting the knife back together so that the lockbar was back to its original position. If I did not flick the knife then the lockbar was barely keeping it locked.

The scratch by the ball detent is most likely the ball detent groove. All of them have this.

I think you just have weak thumbs. Or you are opening and closing your knife so much that your thumb is worn and you haven't let it heal. I think this is the most likely case.

I sort of see why Chris Reeve doesn't want you to flick his knives. This could also be the reason he made the thumb studs so damn pointy. You open your knife to use and then put it away. Wonder if he designed it for people to open the knife, close the knife, open the knife, close the knife, open the knife, close the knife, open the knife, close the knife... well, how long are you going to keep doing that?
 
I've taken it apart, celaned , lubed and screwed it back, carefully
it's still hard to open both with one or two hands

it's less smooth than before, needs some more breack in maybe
 
It could easily be the lock bar tension. I have 2 small Regulars both made in 08. One is smooth and silky and the other is rather stiff and "blocky" feeling to open (by blocky I mean that it feels like there are 2 or 3 stages to opening the knife from closed to open rather than one smooth action). If I push the lock bar off the blade it will swing freely and smoothly. Don't try and mess with the lock bar because you are just going to piss CRK off and may be even cause more problems with the knife. The other thing it could be is that the bushing is a spot out of spec. and the washers are pressing on the blade more than they should. That will also make the action on the knife feel stiffer than is should be.

Does loosening off the pivot a tiny amount make any difference at all ?
 
Haze said:
Does loosening off the pivot a tiny amount make any difference at all ?
Click to expand...

not at all, maybe just sllightly on opening smoothness but no change in difficulty
it's probably as you say, the lockbar wich is a bit too stiff, not going to touch it

HURTS...but works and it's safe..right?

only thing I HATE is that damn thumbstud, the round one of the umnum is much better, the on on the seb is way too tippy
why not makeing one that grips better?
 
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My small Regular user has Benchamde mini grip thumb studs. ;) I don't mind the standard studs on the large Sebenza though and the Umnumzaan is just fine, as you say. :thumbup:
 
I may "round" the stud a bit with some light sandpaper

hope it gets better, really dig it I see why many like it

hoped to feel the "reevness" of the benza as I read a lot here, didn't disappoint me but hoped it to be smoother or easier, it feels like a tank all over and around!
well may have to get a 2011 S35VN one to see the difference :p
 
Make sure that when you are opening the knife that you are not putting pressure on the clip. That causes increased pressure on the lock bar which can make it difficult to open.
 
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