(Update) Umnumzaan problem

n2wilderness

n2wilderness

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Sep 6, 2010
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Picked up a nice Umnumzaan from a member on this form and have had a difficult time putting it down. While I was opening and closing it today I decided to apply light pressure to the lockbar by trying to close the knife. When I say light pressure I mean light pressure...I was only holding it in my hands to try and close it like a slippy. The thing up and closed on me :eek: I opened it again (slowly) and then it closed again with very light pressure. When I open the blade with any speed at all the lockbar closes and stays engaged every time. The problem seems to be when I open it slowly in that it only seems to lock in place maybe half the time.

I put it in the mail to CRK today...I have faith in Chris Reeve to fix whatever the issue is so this is not a CRK bash. In fact, Chris Reeve is by far my favorite blade to date.

The reason for the post is to see if any of you have run into this issue on the Umnumzaan.
 
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I just received a used umnumzaan this past saturday and am trying to do what you say. I open it as slowly as possible with my other hand and make the lock engage painfully slow. Then I try to press the blade forward, and it is locked in place. I then tried to slap the back of the blade a couple of times with my hand (definitely enough to make any slippie close) still locked just fine. Luckily I am having no problem. Maybe the person before over extended the lock bar and it is not locking when engaged slow. I would have simply taken the knife apart and just bent the lockbar a little to see if that worked. Then if it didn't it would have taken a ride back to Idaho.
 
Incahiker said:
I just received a used umnumzaan this past saturday and am trying to do what you say. I open it as slowly as possible with my other hand and make the lock engage painfully slow. Then I try to press the blade forward, and it is locked in place. I then tried to slap the back of the blade a couple of times with my hand (definitely enough to make any slippie close) still locked just fine. Luckily I am having no problem. Maybe the person before over extended the lock bar and it is not locking when engaged slow. I would have simply taken the knife apart and just bent the lockbar a little to see if that worked. Then if it didn't it would have taken a ride back to Idaho.
Click to expand...

When I called CRK they said that may be the issue but to send it in for inspection. I don't have the tool to take it apart so I figured sending it in would be the best thing to do...+ I'll get a maintenance job which it hasn't had in a while.
 
hmmm I'm curious as to why thats happening.I've only had mine a few months and the lockbar engages nearly 90% at all times.

Doesn't Chris make his knives so they are already broken in?
 
The lockbar does not have enough bend in it if this is happening. I've never seen this on a CRK knife before, and I've had a few. Always a first time for everything.

It is actually a relatively easy fix IF you can get the knife apart, and only involves giving the lockbar some more bend. I have performed this operation on framelocks (never a sebenza) and some thick liner locks. I do it to get a very stiff/firm lock. I like a tight pivot and I like a very firm lock and I am definately OCD! :D:)
 
My guess would be the o-rings on the thumbstud (blade stop). When you open the knife slowly and gently, the o-rings don't get "smashed" so the lockbar sometimes doesn't travel to it's proper location. In essence, the knife isn't fully opened.

Try taking the o-rings off the studs then see if the knife still closes on you.

I didn't like the random lockup caused by the o-rings so I bought new o-rings a size smaller so they don't contact the frame when you open the knife.
 
Naaaahh.. the o rings don't hinder the lock up on mine at all. Though maybe there could be oversized o rings, who knows, lol. I just think the lockbar was over extended. There wasn't enough tension in the spring. But it could have been something else
 
With the stock o-rings, I could clearly see the lock locking up in different places depending how hard I opened the knife. It's a definite possibility.
 
I think '08 was the intro year on the 'zaan. I wonder how many hands your used knife had been through before you got it - therein may lie the problem. I did get the maintenance 'kit' from CRK - I may need the special dissection tool and more grease - one day - in the future. You did the right thing shipping it back - it'll come back 'right'.

My 'zaan, actually a new Wilson Combat StarTac Umnumzaan, see it pg 3 entry of 'Sebenza Overated?' thread, has been perfect since it arrived here just over a month ago.

Stainz
 
o-rings or lockbar? The lockbar does have inconsistencies with how far it comes over depending on how fast the knife is opened. That makes me think the o-rings could be issue although I had never thought of that before.

Not sure how long it takes once CRK gets the blade but I'll let everyone know what they said the problem was...good thing is the creator knows his creation better than any of us so I trust it's in good hands.
 
Maybe Im way off base on this but Why are you opening you Zaan so

Slowly :confused::jerkit:

Mine is only a year old and locks at 85-90% and smooooth as can be.

If you're using your normally you Wouldnt open it Slowly.
 
Incahiker said:
I just received a used umnumzaan this past saturday and am trying to do what you say. I open it as slowly as possible with my other hand and make the lock engage painfully slow. Then I try to press the blade forward, and it is locked in place. I then tried to slap the back of the blade a couple of times with my hand (definitely enough to make any slippie close) still locked just fine. Luckily I am having no problem. Maybe the person before over extended the lock bar and it is not locking when engaged slow. I would have simply taken the knife apart and just bent the lockbar a little to see if that worked. Then if it didn't it would have taken a ride back to Idaho.
Click to expand...

cutter17 said:
The lockbar does not have enough bend in it if this is happening. I've never seen this on a CRK knife before, and I've had a few. Always a first time for everything.

It is actually a relatively easy fix IF you can get the knife apart, and only involves giving the lockbar some more bend. I have performed this operation on framelocks (never a sebenza) and some thick liner locks. I do it to get a very stiff/firm lock. I like a tight pivot and I like a very firm lock and I am definately OCD! :D:)
Click to expand...

Your OCD would be putting the knife out of spec. I don't understand people who think that the knife needs to be adjusted.

If there is an issue, send it in. They don't sell snake oil, they sell quite honestly perfect knives.

I had an Umnumzaan that was doing a similar thing with a light tap on the spine. I sent it in, it was fixed, and I have zero issues with it. It's my EDC knife.
 
clockman said:
Maybe Im way off base on this but Why are you opening you Zaan so

Slowly :confused::jerkit:

Mine is only a year old and locks at 85-90% and smooooth as can be.

If you're using your normally you Wouldnt open it Slowly.
Click to expand...

The short answer is because it's my knife :cool:

To explain, I'm not opening it painstakingly slow just to see the lockbar mess up. I'm slowly guiding it with my thumb as opposed to pushing/"flicking" it open quickly (without wrist action). Regardless, it is not normal for the lock bar to engage at all without a solid lock up unless I do not understand the mechanics of it all.
 
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