Strange Observation. Any explanation?

CrimsonTideShooter

CrimsonTideShooter

Joined
Oct 23, 2010
Messages
3,196
In short, the blade on my large micarta sebenza sits noticeable deeper in the handle than my plain large 21.

If you hold the knives vertically, with the pivot at the bottom, this anomaly makes the blade on the micarta appear shorter when it really isn't.

Is there just some natural variance in how deep the blades ride in the handle?

Thanks in advance.



PS: I have made the decision. I am going to trade out my Strider knives for some more Sebs and Umnums. I am obsessed with CRK.
 
I have no idea why that looks different, but I have an used umnumzaan I'll swap you for that Strider. :)
 
Are you sure its not just an optical illusion ?? Is the micarta a 21 micarta or a classic micarta ?? The 21 is more tapered than the classic, so if your comparing the classic and a 21, it will appear different. If its a 21 micarta and a plain 21, I just dont see it as sebenzas are the most precision knives made today in the world and a huge variance is just not possible. As always pics would help.

PS. Trading/Selling Striders for CRK Is Always A Good Investment.
 
nyefmaker said:
Are you sure its not just an optical illusion ?? Is the micarta a 21 micarta or a classic micarta ?? The 21 is more tapered than the classic, so if your comparing the classic and a 21, it will appear different. If its a 21 micarta and a plain 21, I just dont see it as sebenzas are the most precision knives made today in the world and a huge variance is just not possible. As always pics would help.

PS. Trading/Selling Striders for CRK Is Always A Good Investment.
Click to expand...


No it's definitely not an illusion, as I've measured it. And I am comparing two Large 21s, one is just a micarta inlay. I didn't say it was a huge variance, but it is definitely noticeable to the naked eye.

I will make a YouTube video showing what I am talking about.
 
Just some simple pictures would probably be better than a vid. I believe you're talking about when the blades are closed and sitting in the handle, aye ? .......
 
Haze said:
Just some simple pictures would probably be better than a vid. I believe you're talking about when the blades are closed and sitting in the handle, aye ? .......
Click to expand...

Yep!

I will try and get some pics also, but vid is easier for me at the moment.
 
Well I guess it could vary a little depending on slight differences in the depth of where blade stop rests in that little channel of the blade.
Or it could be the blade stop.Does your two sebenzs have the same blade stop? I know CRK came out with the new blade stop with the
two lines in them. They could vary a little in thickness.
 
Here's the vid. Sorry for the crappy quality, it's just a quick phone vid.


Well shit, the video is oriented the wrong way for some reason. I will take a more detailed vid tomorrow.

[video=youtube;qIj6gEA4Q08]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIj6gEA4Q08[/video]
 
How close is the edge of the blade to the back of the handle on that knife ? It's quite close enough on the Classic/21 knives when closed already IMO......

It might be an idea to check if the position of the detent has been changed a little by having a look at the blades out of the handles. The new stop pin sleeve as mentioned may well by a touch smaller so that could be it, if those knives have the difference in parts of course. There may also be a slight difference in blade shape where the stop pin would contact the blade in the closed position.
 
I think it is just due to the hand grinding process when rounding the spine. How broad are the two blades? Not a real issue I believe, just a small cosmetic difference.
 
marthinus said:
I think it is just due to the hand grinding process when rounding the spine. How broad are the two blades? Not a real issue I believe, just a small cosmetic difference.
Click to expand...

This was my thought after watching the video as well. CRK's blades are hand finished and I've noticed very slight differences for years in the blades on my Sebenzas. Sometimes on the belly, sometimes on the spine, sometimes actually on the length. But we're talking very minor differences... just about what you'd expect for something that has a bit of hand work involved in the finishing.

I actually like it better than having a thousand items all the same from a machine's cookie-cutter precision. Lets me know that a live person had some "hands-on" input in the process.
 
Last edited:
I've got Spyderco knives with similar noticeable differences in blade profile size/shape, so I'd chalk it up to normal variations in production.
 
Things I worry about with sebenzas....

I can tighten the pivot and the blade has no play but opens and closes smoothly.
The blade is centered the length of the handle.
The detent engages as the blade rests on the stop pin in the closed position.
The lock bar engages the tang of the knife securely before hitting the opposing handle slab.

What you compared between those two is nothing I have ever considered. Now, if the blade was sitting so much lower that you could run your fingers or thumb along the back side of the handle slabs and cut yourself, I would consider that a safety issue. Or if it in any way affected the function of the knife, then I might have a concern.
 
I appreciate your input, but I never really voiced any concern over this. It was just an observation. I have a very curious mind, so when I see disparities I try to understand why. :)


Oh, and I did cut myself. My left index finger, by running it across the back of the handle. That's how I discovered this.


richstag said:
Things I worry about with sebenzas....

I can tighten the pivot and the blade has no play but opens and closes smoothly.
The blade is centered the length of the handle.
The detent engages as the blade rests on the stop pin in the closed position.
The lock bar engages the tang of the knife securely before hitting the opposing handle slab.

What you compared between those two is nothing I have ever considered. Now, if the blade was sitting so much lower that you could run your fingers or thumb along the back side of the handle slabs and cut yourself, I would consider that a safety issue. Or if it in any way affected the function of the knife, then I might have a concern.
Click to expand...
 
CrimsonTideShooter said:
I appreciate your input, but I never really voiced any concern over this. It was just an observation. I have a very curious mind, so when I see disparities I try to understand why. :)


Oh, and I did cut myself. My left index finger, by running it across the back of the handle. That's how I discovered this.
Click to expand...

Im not trying to be a jerk you know :)

I think you DO have a concern. If you cut yourself, then thats not good and as sharp as you keep your knives...well, we both know thats just dangerous.

I would send that one back.
 
CrimsonTideShooter said:
Oh, and I did cut myself. My left index finger, by running it across the back of the handle. That's how I discovered this.
Click to expand...

Were you running it across lightly, or pressing your finger down into the frame?

Either way, it shouldn't have done that unless your finger would fit between the slabs,lol.

Never seen one that was, but If the edge is to close to the back of handle send it back. You know they will take care of you.
 
I doubt he's going to mail it in. I wonder how CRK would fix this problem though? I actually remember older posts where this was a concern but I think it was on the Regular models.
 
mongomondo said:
I doubt he's going to mail it in. I wonder how CRK would fix this problem though? I actually remember older posts where this was a concern but I think it was on the Regular models.
Click to expand...

I remember those posts as well. IIRC, I think it was the classic frames that were the expressed concern. The regulars were much straighter along the back of the frame than the classics and a couple of people did post that they had cut themselves when running the meaty part of a finger along the slot between the scales, but I think they said they were pressing pretty firmly. I've never compared my classic dog paw with my small micarta 21 to see whether or not CRK has modified the back of the 21 scales. I just assumed the 21s were the same outline shape as the classics.
 
mongomondo said:
I doubt he's going to mail it in.
Click to expand...

It would make little sense to me if he doesn't. If it is re-sold as is, I hope it is done so at a discounted price with a warning.

I see nothing wrong with having concerns, especially at the price of a Sebenza.

To be a friendly Jerk to you for a minute John...If you were not concerned when you cut yourself and realized there is a possible problem, I don't see why you made a video and this thread? If I cut myself handling my knife and I was not concerned I would just put it back in my pocket, get used to bloody hands and go on my way.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top