Take apart your Seb

Geode

Geode

Joined
May 12, 2001
Messages
2,948
With some trepidation, I took apart my small Seb because the action was feeling a bit sluggish. Came apart easier than I thought, and goes back together withougt a problem. An easy way to keep the washers straight is to look at the lock side first to see why the smaller washer goes on that side of the blade. The teflon grease bought from the CRK shop works great. One tube should last a long time.

If you have never taken apart your Seb, I highly recommend you do it. Only then did I realize the amazing machining that goes into these knives and how marvelously simple the design is. The Seb is even more impressive to me now that I have looked under the hood.

Occasionally, I see threads asking what is so great about the Sebenza?". Beyond cutting well and having a tank-like lockup, I would say to anyone asking, open one up and see.

Geode
 
I think that it should be mandatory that Sebbie Knuts have to break down their blades at least quarterly. . .if not monthly. :D

Every Sebenza that I've ever owned has received a break down, cleaning and re-lube within 24 hours of hitting my door step !

Such a sweet knife. Makes ya wanna do nothing but sit around. . .opening and closing it !

Drags a huge :D from me ! :D :D
 
I strip down and clean/relube my small seb every month. Both because lint collects where I can't reach it, and because I use it a lot on food and somehow washing it with soap and water (without taking it apart) causes the action to get stiffer.

The Sebenza has a total of 13 parts, everything included (clip, screws, pins, bearings, bushings, detent ball, etc). I won't even consider folding knives that can't be taken apart anymore. I've had too many bad experiences with lock-backs that get "gritty" and then stay that way forever.
 
You got me thinking about it. 19 parts actually on my double-thumblugged small Seb.

Yeah, a little too much time on my hands.

Professor.
 
1. blade
2. thumb stud
3. front handle slab
4. lock handle slab
5. clip (or replacement)
6. clip screw
7. pivot screw, male
8. pivot screw, female
9. pivot spacer
10 stop pin screw, male
11 stop pin screw, female
12 stop pin spacer
13 back spacer screw, male
14 back spacer screw, female
15 back spacer spacer
16 front side washer (large)
17 lock side washer (small)
18 detent ball
19 lanyard!

Edited to add #18 - except for the detent and lanyard, it's all metal.

Add a dual thumb stud, if you like. Anything else?

When I disassemble mine, I rub everything down with Tuf-cloth, which removes any grit and protects the steel parts until the next cleaning -- it keeps gunk from sticking to everything.

I've gotten two new, and two from forumites. One of them really needed cleaning, but it only needed a routine cleaning, and I enjoyed, for once, having a reason for fondling my personal, umm, knife parts. :D
 
Excuse the moron question but....

...where the heck is this dentent ball? I've disassembled and reassembled a small Sebbie a few times, but never have seen a ball-shaped object...

Matthew
 
At the front end of the locking bar is a tiny bump, which is a ceramic (I think) ball bearing that engages a similarly tiny hollow on the tang in front of the small washer.

When you close the blade, just after you disengage the lock, there is a slight hesitation as the blade begins to rotate back into the handle.

This is a safety device commonly found on folding knives, to keep the blade from swinging down too quickly and nipping your finger.

'Scuse my French ... :D

detent A catch or lever that locks the movement of one part of a mechanism.

[French détente, a loosening, from Old French destente, from feminine past participle of destendre, to release : des-, de- + tendre, to stretch (from Latin tendere)]
 
Esav answered the question well. I would just point out one other thing, look on your blade, lock side, on the ricasso or base. You will see a small round indentation. This is where the detent ball nestles into the blade to keep it closed.

You do not have to dissemble your knife to see it. Just look very carefully through the slot between the handle and lock bar when you are slowly opening the blade.
 
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