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small seb hard to open

I had the same problem with my small sebenza 21 early on as well. The detent was very strong. I was not pushing on the lockbar area/clip and I was pushing out with a sweeping motion. I sanded down the thumb stud, that helped. Eventually the action got smoother on it's own :) I have added two small sebenzas since, and they were much smoother out of box.
 
I'm not pressing on the clip or down with the thumb
the "motion" is outwards and curved like suggested

I've cleaned, lubed it and taken it apart 5 times today (tried thread grease and oil, camelia oil works the best!)
no change, it's definitively either the spring or the detent ball (can't send it to the factory, takes way too long and is costly)

I'm now used to it a "bit" more, will for sure be using it a lot so hope it gets smoother now
to open it I have to force my thumb between the stud and the handles, then it pops out of the detent and I can open it, hurts but should hurt less in time

Maxx
 
Im green to CR knives as well and just ended with 2 new larges here this past week and I swear they felt stiff and hurt my finger last week and after "break in" opening and closing em alot for the past five days they really feel as though though they became easier and smoother to operate since arriving.

Could be that my thumbs gotten used to it as well as some mention or both but as you said still nice to have the Sebenza feeling as you can tell its like a tank at first, I had the same feeling being happy though it made my thumb ache and felt stiff.
 
Let your thumb heal a bit before using it some more. It'll take a little getting used to. That'll make a big difference. Another thing that helped on my small 21 was to clean out the detent and oil it. I got mine in the Exchange and it felt a little sticky opening up right at the detent. When I took it apart I found some gunk had built up. It was much better after the cleaning (and my thumb healing up a bit)
 
detent hole is clean and the ball oiled
it's getting a bit better now that I'm used to it

but I can't still open it with the stud, have to press between the scale and the stud so it pops out but using only the stud is still very hard and painful
Maxx
 
I like the fact that it is "hard" to open a sebenza. With a tip up knife a strong detent is a safety feature. Without the clip and the knife floating around in the bottom of your pocket, the pointy cone shaped recessed thumb stud (plus strong detent) assures you that the knife won't accidently open in your pocket. What some see as a "problem" is a feature for others. My small sebenza bites a little when opened, but it's not a problem.
 
I'm not quite sure what you all identify as "hard to open". I just got my second CRK today (a large 21 with snakewood!!), and it opens just as silky smooth as my small. If anything, the large feels like it has a stronger detent. Maybe I have tougher skin, but these don't tear my thumb up at all and I personally like the stronger detents too. I'd say if it takes two hands to open, you should send it in and have it examined. Me, I'm lovin mine!
 
I mean I canno topen it with the stud directly, have to apply pressure between stud and handles to make the blade pop out or to "divide them" and then it opens
now that it has been oiled the walk is smooth, the initial part is the "harder" one

Maxx
 
No you need to push up, not in the direction the knife opens. Wedge your thumb in between the frame and the thumbstud and push up! Try it.
 
draggat said:
I'm not quite sure what you all identify as "hard to open". I just got my second CRK today (a large 21 with snakewood!!), and it opens just as silky smooth as my small. If anything, the large feels like it has a stronger detent. Maybe I have tougher skin, but these don't tear my thumb up at all and I personally like the stronger detents too. I'd say if it takes two hands to open, you should send it in and have it examined. Me, I'm lovin mine!
Click to expand...
+1
All of my sebs have a solid detent, but open easily when I want them to.
 
Scott Dog said:
No you need to push up, not in the direction the knife opens. Wedge your thumb in between the frame and the thumbstud and push up! Try it.
Click to expand...

that's what I do! and it's still a bit hard, hard enough to hurt
works better now but IMO the detent is not recessed enough OR the spring is hard (not that bad actually)
 
I know this thread's about a week old, but I was showing a friend of mine both of my Sebenzas. He could not open either one of them one handed, even after I showed him how to. For me, they open like warm butter, but he had to use two hands. Then we compared hand sizes. I guess I've got some pretty large paws. Maybe smaller hands have a harder time? It's hard for me to say if it's technique though because my friend isn't a knife knut. At any rate I hope you got this worked out!
 
Remember that the thumbstuds on sebenzas are pointy for a reason. You're not supposed to put the pad of your thumb directly onto it. Your thumb goes to the side of it and sweeps it around. So placing the thumb between the stud and the frame is how I always do it.
 
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