Super stiff Umnum

M

mcg4248

Joined
Nov 21, 2012
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Hey guys, so within the last month I have made some pretty costly purchases. My first sebby (large CF Knife Art) variant and an Umnum (also from knife art). I love the sebby, but this thread is about the Umnum. I don't know if it is generally harder to open because of the handle/stud design or what, but I am having a hard time opening it. It may just be that it is also really stiff. I took it apart and used some oil, but it wasn't the CRK grease, whihc I may take it down again and use the grease and see how it works with that. I guess what I am asking is did any of you guys/gals experience this too? Will the umnum break in or will it remain a little more stiff than a sebenza? Thanks!
 
If you're feeling tension on the blade between the open and closed position that is because of the pivot. It will need to be backed off a little to find that spot where you feel it's about right. If the knife is hard to get moving from the closed position try changing the angle you attack the thumbstud at. I personally find the Umnumzaan to be one of the easiest to open knives I have ever used, it makes my 25 seem positively awkward. :)
 
Zaans open a bit differently than other knives. Push the lug parallel to the handle and not in a sweeping motion.

If you hold the lockbar off of the blade and move the blade, you should get a good idea if the pivot is tensioned properly. The lockbar/detent ball will put pressure on the blade, making the pivot feel stiffer that it actually is. Yes, it should smooth out in due time.

The way I set my pivot tension is to watch the centering. The moment it gets to the center, I stop tightening. I then test it once or twice, do a final adjustment if necessary, and let it sit for a couple of hours to let the loctite cure properly before putting in service.
 
A few tips:
- back a tad off the pivot
- work the detent by opening/closing/using the knife
- as much as you are fighting the knife, apply pressure up not out (out only further strengthens the hold of that detent)
- reiterating the above, it's push, not press

My Umnumzaan is one of the smoothest and fastest opening knives I own.
 
The first one I ever experienced had a very strong detent which put a beating on my thumb. The one I have now which I bought new earlier this year is much better.
 
My umnumzaan is perfect the way it is. I don't want it to free fall when disengage the lock. It's smooth, silent, and looking for work. Awesome knife I must say.💪
 
I've had to make minor adjustments to almost all my non-pivot bearing CRK's - Umnumzaan's, Sebenza 25, and the Ti-Lock - to get them just right. Just follow the steps, watch the video, and make sure you use the Locktite they give you correctly (meaning - give it time to set up and don't rush to check the action). You'll be fine.
 
My first CKK was an old model Zaan that I bought from New Graham in November of 09'. I had a terrible time breaking it in.

Very hard to open and close. I opened and closed it several hundred times to break it in. I didn't have a pivot tool so I couldn't

adjust the pivot. It took a Long time to break it in.

My 2 old model Zaans are by far the smoothest CRK's I have. I have a drop point blade on 1 of my Zaans.....I screwed up the

tanto point of my TNK Zaan. Richard j of BF made the tanto point into a drop point tip for me. The blade is about .25 shorter

than a regular Zaan blade.
 
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I just recently got my first CR, an Umnumzaan, as well. Initially it was pretty stiff, but after opening and closing it for about a week it has really smoothed out. I found that I need to 1) keep my fingers off the lock bar, 2) push straight up to deploy, and it opens quickly, smoothly, and with authority.
 
So I can flick it out no problem, but it's hard to open slowly. I think the detent is a little too strong. Are you guys flicking it open or just normally opening it slowly?
 
My new one also has the exact same operation. I would like for it to ease off the detent a little easier. It opens easily after you get past the detent.
 
Of the four Zaan's I've had there has be some variation in the detent stiffness, but not nearly as much as in the 3 Sebenza 25's I've had. With the Zaan, I think its all about technique, particularly on the stiffer detent one's. Instead of focusing on moving the thumbstud, try thinking about trying to squeeze your thumb between the stud and the frame, mainly focusing on the frame. Works for me anyway. I also use the heal of my thumb (first joint) instead of the tip of my thumb.
 
I received mine yesterday and it was super stiff. Had to use both hands to open the blade safely without dropping. And then I saw the advisory note that came with the folder and I practised on the technique. Today I am happy to report that it is significantly less stiff than yesterday however maintaining the smoothness and the lovely sound of the ball engaging the stops.
 
mcg4248 said:
So I can flick it out no problem, but it's hard to open slowly. I think the detent is a little too strong. Are you guys flicking it open or just normally opening it slowly?
Click to expand...

In the words of Chris Reeve himself (in a sticky at the top of the forum), his knives are not meant to be flicked open. In fact, if I recall correctly, he said it's not good for the knife. I flick open Spydercos and some Benchmades, but not Chris Reeve's.
 
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