Got my first Sebenza, a small one. Overall, the fit and finish live up to the reputation. I love the blade geometry and the finish on the blade and the frame lock is solid. Clearly much more solid than a liner lock. There is no wobble in the blade under any conditions and the movement of the blade is silky smooth.
Now for the bad part. I find the knife hard to open and close. I'm not sure why the thumbstud is pyramid shaped. I guess it's because your thumb is curved, but I usually open a thumb stud blade with my thumbnail held parallel to the stud. It's a challenge to do this with the small sebenza. I originally ordered a classic but since the wait was extended, I settled for the regular. I think the classic would give me more room for my thumb for opening but I don't really know.
Anyway, just about the only way I can get the blade moving open is to turn my thumb sideways and wedge it between the scale and stud. I think the pressure of the frame lock on the blade is significant so it needs a good nudge to open. If I place my thumb on top of the stud and push, it's somewhat painful due to the pyramid shape of the stud. I can get the blade open this way but it's no fun.
Closing the blade is even more difficult. The frame lock is very solid but my thumbnail is so mashed down now from trying to push the framelock sideways that I have to use my left hand to move the framelock over.
Eventually I'm sure I will adjust to the knife (my thuumbnail will grow back
)and the close tolerances will wear and opening and closing will become easier.
Overall impression is that it really is an outstanding knife. Fit and finish I imagine are about as good as it gets. Not as easy to open or close as my small wegner or axis lock but I will just have to give it more time. Both the wegner and axis have some play around the pivot so I'm sure that contributes to the ease of opening although I still think you can't beat the spydie hole for ease of opening. And I prefer the axis lock to the frame lock. But clearly this frame lock is solid and dependable and this is one heckuva knife.
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Hoodoo
The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stonethe light-pressd blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkles from the wheel.
Walt Whitman
Now for the bad part. I find the knife hard to open and close. I'm not sure why the thumbstud is pyramid shaped. I guess it's because your thumb is curved, but I usually open a thumb stud blade with my thumbnail held parallel to the stud. It's a challenge to do this with the small sebenza. I originally ordered a classic but since the wait was extended, I settled for the regular. I think the classic would give me more room for my thumb for opening but I don't really know.
Anyway, just about the only way I can get the blade moving open is to turn my thumb sideways and wedge it between the scale and stud. I think the pressure of the frame lock on the blade is significant so it needs a good nudge to open. If I place my thumb on top of the stud and push, it's somewhat painful due to the pyramid shape of the stud. I can get the blade open this way but it's no fun.
Closing the blade is even more difficult. The frame lock is very solid but my thumbnail is so mashed down now from trying to push the framelock sideways that I have to use my left hand to move the framelock over.
Eventually I'm sure I will adjust to the knife (my thuumbnail will grow back

Overall impression is that it really is an outstanding knife. Fit and finish I imagine are about as good as it gets. Not as easy to open or close as my small wegner or axis lock but I will just have to give it more time. Both the wegner and axis have some play around the pivot so I'm sure that contributes to the ease of opening although I still think you can't beat the spydie hole for ease of opening. And I prefer the axis lock to the frame lock. But clearly this frame lock is solid and dependable and this is one heckuva knife.
------------------
Hoodoo
The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stonethe light-pressd blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkles from the wheel.
Walt Whitman