- Joined
- May 25, 2005
- Messages
- 2,362
Ok, so I've had my Umnum for 1 week now and figured I post a review about it. When it first arrived, I was slightly underwhelmed due to the sharpened swedge, and it seemed less ambi-friendly than the Sebenza. Both of those concerns were quickly dispatched. When I ran a ceramic rod over the swedge a couple times, that dulled it down enough not to cut me. Also, I found that by pressing the glass breaker, I could open the knife quite well lefty if my right hand was compromised in some way.
Now, after carrying it exclusively for a week, here's what I've found:
It is a little heavy, but carries extremely well in the pocket due to the design. I don't find myself having to push it out of the way when reaching in my pocket like I do with other "wider" knives like a Spyderco Paramilitary for instance. Also, since there is nothing on the backside to snag on, it makes it pretty friendly to reach into your pocket and not scrape your hand on anything.
At first, I didn't like the milling on the handles, but after using the knife, I've found them to be super comfortable and very useful. I'm glad it's offered with the milling in it's standard configuration, and not just smooth handles.
I also removed the clip to try it out for belt carry with a sheath, but this is where I ran into a slight problem. On my knife in particular, I had a hard time removing the clip screw, which I later found out was because a few of the threads were flattened. Unfortunately, it bound up on the way out and I ended up stripping the head. I eventually got it removed, but the screw was unusable so I used one from a sebbie for now, until I hear back from CRK about a replacement.
Sheath carry was fine, but since I already carry a multitool, I went back to pocket carry. (Which I perfer)
Since CRK does not supply or offer a takedown tool at this time, I opted to get one from Bhyde. It is a well thought out and well made item. I used the tool to disassemble the Umnum and see how user friendly it is to dismantle. While it is different than the Sebenza, I found it to be quite easy to disassemble.
Upon disassembly, I found there to be a trace of low strength (?) locktite on the pivot, and CRK's fluorintated grease around the washers. After carrying it for a few days, I found the grease to have been a little gritty, and had pocket lint mixed in with it. It worked well and opening and closing was smooth, but I cleaned it out and applied Militec since that is my perferred lube.
The easiest way to assemble, I found was to basicly "stack" it back together in the following order:
1. Start with the lockbar side, inside facing up.
2. Push female side of the pivot, and the female spacer screw through the backside of the handle.
3. Place one washer and the backspacer over the appropriate posts.
4. Place the blade over the washer and pivot, and slide it down while holding the lockbar open so the knife ends up in the "locked open" position
5. Place the second washer over pivot, followed by the logo side handle
6.Thread the male side screws into place and adjust the pivot tension.
Now while I did this, I also lubed the washers and the pivot area, and re-applied a dab of low strength locktite to the pivot. A little tip I also found, was that when the blade is not quite fully open, you can see the ball detent in the blade. I added a drop of oil to the detent and then closed the blade, allowing the ceramic ball to drop into the detent/lube.
The knife opens and closes extremely smooth! :thumbup:
There are 2 things I've found that I don't really care for on the Umnumzaan, but neither are deal breakers.
1. I really like the lockbar cutout on the Sebenza as opposed to how it's done on the Umnum. I find the lockbar point on the Umnum to be a kind of "hot spot" on the thumb when closing.
2. The pivot. While I like the beefy pivot design, I'm not keen on the idea of needing a special tool for dissassembly/ adjusting the tension. I would've preferred a Torx or hex, as they are at least commercially available.
All in all, the Umnumzaan is a superb knife and I will continue to carry it almost exclusively (Can't forget about my Sebs!). I'll probably review it again after 1 month of carry, but I feel like it can only get a better review. Chris has done a great job in the design of the Umnumzaan. It's one of those knives that truly needs to be held to be appreciated.
-Dan
Now, after carrying it exclusively for a week, here's what I've found:
It is a little heavy, but carries extremely well in the pocket due to the design. I don't find myself having to push it out of the way when reaching in my pocket like I do with other "wider" knives like a Spyderco Paramilitary for instance. Also, since there is nothing on the backside to snag on, it makes it pretty friendly to reach into your pocket and not scrape your hand on anything.
At first, I didn't like the milling on the handles, but after using the knife, I've found them to be super comfortable and very useful. I'm glad it's offered with the milling in it's standard configuration, and not just smooth handles.
I also removed the clip to try it out for belt carry with a sheath, but this is where I ran into a slight problem. On my knife in particular, I had a hard time removing the clip screw, which I later found out was because a few of the threads were flattened. Unfortunately, it bound up on the way out and I ended up stripping the head. I eventually got it removed, but the screw was unusable so I used one from a sebbie for now, until I hear back from CRK about a replacement.
Sheath carry was fine, but since I already carry a multitool, I went back to pocket carry. (Which I perfer)
Since CRK does not supply or offer a takedown tool at this time, I opted to get one from Bhyde. It is a well thought out and well made item. I used the tool to disassemble the Umnum and see how user friendly it is to dismantle. While it is different than the Sebenza, I found it to be quite easy to disassemble.
Upon disassembly, I found there to be a trace of low strength (?) locktite on the pivot, and CRK's fluorintated grease around the washers. After carrying it for a few days, I found the grease to have been a little gritty, and had pocket lint mixed in with it. It worked well and opening and closing was smooth, but I cleaned it out and applied Militec since that is my perferred lube.
The easiest way to assemble, I found was to basicly "stack" it back together in the following order:
1. Start with the lockbar side, inside facing up.
2. Push female side of the pivot, and the female spacer screw through the backside of the handle.
3. Place one washer and the backspacer over the appropriate posts.
4. Place the blade over the washer and pivot, and slide it down while holding the lockbar open so the knife ends up in the "locked open" position
5. Place the second washer over pivot, followed by the logo side handle
6.Thread the male side screws into place and adjust the pivot tension.
Now while I did this, I also lubed the washers and the pivot area, and re-applied a dab of low strength locktite to the pivot. A little tip I also found, was that when the blade is not quite fully open, you can see the ball detent in the blade. I added a drop of oil to the detent and then closed the blade, allowing the ceramic ball to drop into the detent/lube.
The knife opens and closes extremely smooth! :thumbup:
There are 2 things I've found that I don't really care for on the Umnumzaan, but neither are deal breakers.
1. I really like the lockbar cutout on the Sebenza as opposed to how it's done on the Umnum. I find the lockbar point on the Umnum to be a kind of "hot spot" on the thumb when closing.
2. The pivot. While I like the beefy pivot design, I'm not keen on the idea of needing a special tool for dissassembly/ adjusting the tension. I would've preferred a Torx or hex, as they are at least commercially available.
All in all, the Umnumzaan is a superb knife and I will continue to carry it almost exclusively (Can't forget about my Sebs!). I'll probably review it again after 1 month of carry, but I feel like it can only get a better review. Chris has done a great job in the design of the Umnumzaan. It's one of those knives that truly needs to be held to be appreciated.
-Dan
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