The Sebenza and the Mnandi like to be updated too

bhyde said:
That metal tube is one of the most tightly toleranced parts of the whole knife along with the mating parts. When they are setup and running they typically run pretty well for a while. (around .0002in)
If there is a lag in the machine running and the machine cools down or the environmental conditions change, then the parts change..typically out of tolerance, then off to the scrap bin.
There isn't anyone that is going to show them how to do it..it's a common theme in the industry and it just takes time.
Click to expand...

There is a hint of sarcasm in my post. My point being that they obviously can make these parts without much trouble, which by definition must be of equal tolerance to the pivot screw on the Inkosi, which has to fit the same blade hole. The pivot screw is obviously far more complex, but granted doesn't require the guy in the BHQ shop tour to take 65 seconds to adjust the washers to account for any width issues.

What I am trying to communicate, is I don't think the making of these high tolerance metal
tubes is the most difficult or impressive thing CRK does. It's just part of the overall build, and isn't the difference between them staying in business due to its manufacturing burden. If they keep making pivot bushing knives, people will keep buying them.

For the record, my PM2, which also uses a bushing system that is non-adjustable, snugs down all the way and gives me a blade with nice action and no play, so the Golden shop seems to be able to make such parts as well. Maybe the tolerances are not as tight, but I notice no difference.
 
I think the big thing with the 21 is it has to be tuned in the shop, and requires some time hand assembling and fitting. A bushing is not a manufacturing marvel like a mechanical watch, but it's not as efficient as a pivot from the shops end. I think they are working on design changes that reduce the number of knives coming back.
 
kidcongo said:
There is a hint of sarcasm in my post. My point being that they obviously can make these parts without much trouble, which by definition must be of equal tolerance to the pivot screw on the Inkosi, which has to fit the same blade hole. The pivot screw is obviously far more complex, but granted doesn't require the guy in the BHQ shop tour to take 65 seconds to adjust the washers to account for any width issues.

What I am trying to communicate, is I don't think the making of these high tolerance metal
tubes is the most difficult or impressive thing CRK does. It's just part of the overall build, and isn't the difference between them staying in business due to its manufacturing burden. If they keep making pivot bushing knives, people will keep buying them.

For the record, my PM2, which also uses a bushing system that is non-adjustable, snugs down all the way and gives me a blade with nice action and no play, so the Golden shop seems to be able to make such parts as well. Maybe the tolerances are not as tight, but I notice no difference.
Click to expand...
You have to consider their manufacturing process from a larger perspective. Making the actual pivot bushing isn't that difficult necessarily, if they were just making pivot bushings. But they make knives, and the bushing is just one component in a pretty complex series of machining and hand work. The time it takes to fit the bushing correctly, even if it is only a minute, is still time. And it is not a low skill task. It has to be done by someone with experience. So as part of the whole manufacturing process, i am sure that the bushing adds complexity and time, which ultimately costs them money. The Inkosi pivot on the other hand, requires very little set up, comparatively speaking. If the bushing system were truly less expensive and easier to make than the Inkosi pivot, then I bet you the Inkosi and Umnumzaan would have a bushing. I think they are trying to slowly move towards knives more like the Inkosi, in the hopes of one day doing away with the PB. So in short: the pivot bushing isn't so expensive that they are losing money on it, but I would wager that they would be making a lot more money if they didn't make it. Hence, why very few other knife companies use pivot bushings.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
 
Ianmorrow21 said:
You have to consider their manufacturing process from a larger perspective. Making the actual pivot bushing isn't that difficult necessarily, if they were just making pivot bushings. But they make knives, and the bushing is just one component in a pretty complex series of machining and hand work. The time it takes to fit the bushing correctly, even if it is only a minute, is still time. And it is not a low skill task. It has to be done by someone with experience. So as part of the whole manufacturing process, i am sure that the bushing adds complexity and time, which ultimately costs them money. The Inkosi pivot on the other hand, requires very little set up, comparatively speaking. If the bushing system were truly less expensive and easier to make than the Inkosi pivot, then I bet you the Inkosi and Umnumzaan would have a bushing. I think they are trying to slowly move towards knives more like the Inkosi, in the hopes of one day doing away with the PB. So in short: the pivot bushing isn't so expensive that they are losing money on it, but I would wager that they would be making a lot more money if they didn't make it. Hence, why very few other knife companies use pivot bushings.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I agree with many of your points for sure, I just don't necessarily agree CRK is involved in a race to the bottom in an effort to produce more knives for less effort. If making bushings keeps them at a level of quality, and brand loyalty, and good functionality, why not?? I don't think CRK wants to become Cold Steel, so a little effort to make a nice steel tube bushing seems just part of the business plan from my perspective at least.

Anyways......time will tell.....!
 
kidcongo said:
I agree with many of your points for sure, I just don't necessarily agree CRK is involved in a race to the bottom in an effort to produce more knives for less effort. If making bushings keeps them at a level of quality, and brand loyalty, and good functionality, why not?? I don't think CRK wants to become Cold Steel, so a little effort to make a nice steel tube bushing seems just part of the business plan from my perspective at least.

Anyways......time will tell.....!
Click to expand...
Well I have to say I do agree with you there as well. That bushing pivot was at least partially responsible for the reputation they have earned over the life span of the Sebenza. I am excited to see where they take things, either way.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
 
I'd say keep the sebenza 21 as it is, and the mnandi could use a big brother, which is otherwise a perfect knife, just a tad small.
 
My small Inkosi is smoother out of the box in both blade and locking action then any Sebenza I have owned. After they have both had time to polish their washers its still smoother. I would be happy if they put the changes from the Inkosi into the Sebenza and would buy a new one if they did.
 
No holes in the washers would certainly be an upgrade. All they do is keep in grit and moisture [emoji1304][emoji1304].
 
Sorry to open an older thread, my question was bugging me so I had to ask...

With the pivot bushing needing fine tuning on every 21 during manufacture would changing the bushing over to a say bronze instead of steel help? When setting desired preload normally something like a crush nut is used (such as in a cars ring & pinion in a diff) but by swapping out the steel for brass or say berrilium copper the bushing could be made to a slightly lower tolerance... As long as the bushing is slightly longer than the space between the titanium slabs tension and minute crush on the bushing would eliminate all the adjustment issues... Once the knife "breaks in" if any further adjustment is needed such as when a knife is in for a spa treatment all that would be needed is a slight tweek of the preload 😃

Sorry for the long winded post, hope my question make's sense!

Chad
 
Last edited:
Noooooo !
Leave them be !

If anything, go the other way and bring back the Regular and Classics !!!
Really would love to see the Regular brought back just as it was. Yeah, I know I'm dreaming big:p
 
In my opinion, the 21 is a classic that doesn't need changing. It's just an icon, and it continues to make CRK money...so why change it? I bought a small and large Inkosi because I wanted to experience the evolution of CRK knives, but I still buy Sebenzas (two on the way as we speak, actually).

As far as the Mnandi goes, I'd love to see one with carbon fiber inlays. Or a larger version. Or a larger version with carbon fiber inlays. :)
 
Is there anyplace in the US that produces beryllium copper? My favorite golf clubs ever are made of it, but Ping stopped working with it because of pollution issues. I wonder if that would preclude its use by CRK.
 
Last edited:
Not sure about supply & pollution risks of beryllium copper, I've used tooling made from it for its non sparking properties but relative toughness. Beryllium copper is able to be machined easier compared to some other copper alloys because its more resistant to galling.

The other area I've used it is in higher quality TIG welding consumables, it can be heat cycled over and over without galling and distorting threads, sorry to be so long winded in my post! It's just these properties popped into my mind as a perfect solution to all the Sebenza 21 bushing/washer interface issues 😃

Chad
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top