So... got my new small sebenza today...

A

Applejacks

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initial thoughts, it looks great. Like a real tank. I am super happy with the size, clip, and overall thickness of the handle (hate bulk in my pocket). Then, I opened it. Well, to say I am disappointed is an understatement. Like many have mentioned lately, I too am having a problem with the blade being SUPER tough to open. I mean, I have my thumb on an all HGH diet, and I can barely get this thing open. The further into the open position it is, the tougher it gets. $330-, and its tougher to open than a bank vault.

I am not sending it back to be fixed, as I don't want something that I have to be annoyed with having the same issue down the road. So its either going back for a refund, or I am going to open it, void the warranty by doing so, and try to clean it like the good people of this forum recommended. So what does everyone think I should do? Is there a tutorial for a noob on how to dismantle this thing? Or am I better off not trying?

Thanks all.
 
Yeah, why else would it come with a wrench?

I also had the same problem, so I took it apart and put some good lube on it, and it was 10 times easier to open. They either don't put enough of that CRK grease on it, or the CRK grease sucks.
 
RedSox said:
Yeah, why else would it come with a wrench?

I also had the same problem, so I took it apart and put some good lube on it, and it was 10 times easier to open. They either don't put enough of that CRK grease on it, or the CRK grease sucks.
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Can you recommend a good knife lube please? I have none and wanted to go pick some up if possible.
 
Can I use WD-40 as a temporary solution?

Just opened up the knife, found alot of green gunk by the washers, cleaned it off.
 
I don't know about WD40, but I'm sure it wouldn't hurt.

I use Tuff Glide, but I hear Miltech is pretty good too.
 
Neil Ostroff said:
Send it back and get another one.

I have never had of "green gunk" in washers of any CRK, or any other new knife before.
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I may have not conveyed it properly... on a clean white rag, it came off like oil... had a greenish tint.

And I think you may be right. I just took it apart, and it is a bit better. But I don't think I can judge properly without a good lubricant.
 
I wonder if before you got it someone (store employee maybe?) took it apart, either to demo it for a customer or to try it themselves and just didn't put it back together properly.

Misaligned washers seem to cause this specific issue and installing them correctly completely solves it.

Good luck.
 
Thanks Tortoise. I just took it apart and reassembled three times now, using a healthy amount of WD-40 for a temporary solution. It is much better now. Far from silky, but can be flipped open with a bit of a wrist flicker.

Washers seemed a bit dirtier than anything else. It seems all the right parts are here, and like it was put together. Just looks real dirty.

And at the locked open position, it is super tough to disengage as well. Two handed movement. Perhaps it will loosen.
 
I'd suggest you send it backto where you bought it, it sounds like it either needs adjustment or was modified before you bought it.

It could be you're experiencing the pocket clip lock bar pressure issue, I'm not going to attempt to explain it, I've done it too many times.

WD-40 will last only a couple days until it dries out and truns into a gummy mess. You'll need a quality lube.
 
Applejacks said:
Can I use WD-40 as a temporary solution?

Just opened up the knife, found alot of green gunk by the washers, cleaned it off.
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If anyone ever experiences this sort of thing with a new CRK knife, PLEASE call us -- we will want to know where and when you purchased it, and will want to have you send it back to us so we can examine it and make it right!

Applejacks -- please accept my apologies for your bad experience with your Sebenza. Would you mind sending me your phone number so I can call you and ask you some questions about this green gunk, and this lock issue? If that is okay with you, you can send me your contact information at crkinfo@chrisreeve.com. Please mark it "To Dave" so that it is routed to me. I'm currently out of the country, but will be back in the office late next week.

I'd like you to send your knife back to CRK so we can make 100% -- you don't need to wait for me to get back to do this. You can call CRK at (208) 375-0367 to get specific instruction on shipping.

Thanks,

Dave
 
Applejacks, I know where you are coming from and I think all is normal. I took the plunge and bought a small classic (new) sight unseen and expected butter in my hand. The most I had spent on any knife before that was less than $100. I got a knife I could barely open or close. I even took it in my local Sportsman Warehouse and showed it off to the knife guy. He had never seen one and was very unimpressed.

I got the courage to disassemble and clean. It made a HUGE difference. It is very, very smooth now. I lubed with a teflon spray. One thing I did that I have not seen elsewhere is after I cleaned and tightened I spread the liners with a piece of wood. I pushed the corner of a piece of hardwood into the front of the liners with the blade closed causing them to spread ever so slightly. Made a huge difference. I hope I described that alright. It is all I carry now. As for the flicking, I have heard that Chris did not design the knife for that. I can flick mine just fine now, but I won't tell him:) .
 
"I can flick mine just fine now, but I won't tell him:) .

Looks like I just did:( . That is too cool to get a response from the Co. That is why I love this place.
 
DaveH said:
I'd suggest you send it backto where you bought it, it sounds like it either needs adjustment or was modified before you bought it.

It could be you're experiencing the pocket clip lock bar pressure issue, I'm not going to attempt to explain it, I've done it too many times.

WD-40 will last only a couple days until it dries out and truns into a gummy mess. You'll need a quality lube.
Click to expand...

Send it back, really? Dang.

I tried to search for the lock bar pressure issue you mentioned but I yield no results with the use of "Sebenza". But I assume it is in fact an "issue" and not me just being too whiny? Is there any solution? Thanks.

Will look for a good lube, but my one and only local shop that has knives doesn't carry any lube.
 
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