Want a Sebenza with a Centered Blade

mrpinkbullets said:
Actually, taking down and reassembling a Sebenza is very simple- much simpler than even the famously easy Emersons. The Seb has fewer parts and simpler construction than most knives, and it is in fact incredibly easy to maintain. If you think that it's "tricky" or complex, then I might accept that you had no intention to insult anyone with your apparently sexist comment. But given that maintaining my Seb really is simpler than maintaining any other knife I own, I do not feel very comfortable with your comment about women lacking the knowledge to do it. Surely you had no ill intent, and you merely assumed that- as is true in many cases- a woman selling a traditionally masculine product had more knowledge of sales than the product in question. Nonetheless, I don't think there was any reason for you to imply that a woman would be less knowledgeable than a man about the Sebenza. Whether it is or is not the case, it's not your place to make that assumption.
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Zzzzzzzz.......

"Surely you had no ill intent".

Exactly. I clearly clarified what I meant so spare us the lecture.

"I might accept" LOL Your dripping self-righteousness is nauseating. Let it go already.
 
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Jeebus....2nd thread in so many days to turn members somewhat hostile.
Not sure how anyone else feels, but personally speaking..I appreciate the individual forums hosted by knifemakers, be it handmade or production. I would not want to see any members go at it in my forum should I have one...

Anyway....The thought "you can please some of the people some of the time but not all the people all of the time" comes to mind about centered blades. In a perfect world, blades would be perfectly centered, the economy would not be in the toilet and OJ would not be innocent. This is what tolerances on part blueprints are all about. Even CRK has a tolerance that they hold.

Again, I have had several 'benzas, I can't remember a single one off of center and I am a machinist. (Calibrated eye all ;) )
 
I agree with you Bill, I am just about ready to lock this thread.

Lets play nice guys !!
 
NDJeep said:
Well, the OP did say, "I went through the display case with a nearby dealer this morning, and we agreed there wasn't a plain Sebenza with a centered blade to be found, but she assures me that they do exist."

Not saying a woman can't handle a Sebs set-up....but well, I'm just saying...I dont know one.:D
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One good example is the poster right above you, I’m sure she knows how to handle a Sebenza.
 
swe said:
Interesting. I have had two large plain Regular Sebenza, two large annual, one small and one large classic, one Mnandi, one Insingo and one Umnumzaan (proto). The Insingo, the Umnumzan and one of the regular (sold) are pretty much off center - the other are perfect!

I love when my knives are perfect, but off centered blades sometimes are not a deal breaker for me (not too much of course). I have knives from a lot of very respected custom makers with the blades off center.
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Some buyers place a high value on inlays, some value graphics more, I value a well centered blade over other forms of embellishment.
 
gwlee said:
Some buyers place a high value on inlays, some value graphics more, I value a well centered blade over other forms of embellishment.
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Ok, we all understand that a CRK blade can be off center, as with any other knife maker....i have been collecting knives for over 30 years...i have owned knives off all types and many at more than double the price of CRK's and have encountered off center blades and worse.

Your point has been taken and there are many dealers out there that i am sure can help you in your quest.
 
I had a chance to go through 10 Ti Mil spyderco's today...every single one had a off center blade and a loose pivot causing side play....i'm sure the side play is causing the off center.

It's no big deal and i now own one....little off topic as far a maker here but just wanted report what i seen.
 
bigmark408 said:
I had a chance to go through 10 Ti Mil spyderco's today...every single one had a off center blade and a loose pivot causing side play....i'm sure the side play is causing the off center.

It's no big deal and i now own one....little off topic as far a maker here but just wanted report what i seen.
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Many people don't mind loose pivots, off-center blades, blades with uneven grind lines, or dull blades, so manufacturers make many of them.
 
Well, I got an off center sebbie right now, just got it yesterday, but its not really bad, so I will get over it, and try to fix it the when I take it apart for the first time. Not touching the scale, so atm I can get over it. But I did think that the part of the whole Sebbie mystique was that you wouldn't get an offcenter blade.


Hmm, actually as I typed this I noticed that it might just be the lock bar bending in that makes me think its offcenter, gonna have to really look at it, maybe with a ruler lol.
 
About 30 years ago, I purchased a small folding knife that’s still sold today and costs about $35 retail. The blade is some unknown steel. It’s not well centered, the grind isn’t all that even, and it’s seldom sharp. Despite these defects, I have carried it on four continents and used it to field dress game from rabbits to deer, clean fish from trout to blue marlin, and spread lots and lots of peanut butter. It’s still a perfectly functional knife, works as good as new after 30 years, and it has never failed me. Most of us own similar knives.

So, IMO, there’s no need to pay more than $35 for a knife, unless it comes sharp, evenly ground, well centered, and made of good steel. In my experience, these minimum requirements can be met at about the $100 street price point with some selective shopping.

Most of the knives that I own cost between $110 and $220, and they all have sharp, well-centered blades with even grinds, and two made of unobtainium. So, any knife that I buy that costs more than about $220 must be the “epitome of high quality and attention to detail,” or it’s not a keeper.
 
I think folks must be reasonable in understanding why a frame lock blade may be off centered....there are threads that explain it.... i posted the measurements earlier...sebenza's don't have much room between the blade and the frames, some knives have much wider gaps and not exaggerate the off center as much.
 
Fooj said:
As for me, I've seen literally thousands of new/clean CRK folders, and of them have never run across a blade that's not met my criteria for "centered".
.
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I'm going to have to give it to Fooj. I'm sure he has seen more CRK products then any one of us could ever imagine. ;)

Regarding the whole inventory being off centered, which retailer is selling these? A simple call to the store from several of us or even CRK themselves will surely get to the bottom of this. Maybe this retailer is not an authorized CRK dealer? Maybe fakes? :thumbup:

When you think about it, 1 is very unlikely but we all know things slip through the cracks. However, if all the sebs are off centered something doesn't sound right at all.

FYI:
I own 2 small sebs. A CGG and a plain 21. Both are centered. I have also been to 3 of the local authorized dealers here in WA state, all of which had perfectly centered sebs.

One retailer allowed me into their stock room and I looked through every single small 21 (plain inlays etc) and several Zans/Mnandi/Large Seb (all of which had centered blades) to find the smoothest one. (The deal with this is they only let me back there if I promised to buy one :p) I walked out with a plain ole small 21 :D
 
I only have 4 and they are all DEAD CENTER and I am as picky as it gets...trust me on that.
 
richstag said:
I only have 4 and they are all DEAD CENTER and I am as picky as it gets...trust me on that.
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I Started Collecting Chris Reeve's Knives In 1995

I Have Owned Over 40 Sebenza's Over The Last 15 Years

I Have (NEVER) Had A Sebenza With A Blade That Wasn't Centered

I Have Owned Over 30 One Piece Straight Blades & Never Had one Issue

The Quality & Customer Service Is Second To None

I My Stray Away On Other Impulse Knife Buying But Alway Return To CRK

Once You Have The Best You Won't Be Happy With The Rest

Thats My 4 Cents Worth, Help Me Down Off My Soap-Box :D:D:D:D:D:D
 
RICKSTER said:

I Started Collecting Chris Reeve's Knives In 1995

I Have Owned Over 40 Sebenza's Over The Last 15 Years

I Have (NEVER) Had A Sebenza With A Blade That Wasn't Centered

I Have Owned Over 30 One Piece Straight Blades & Never Had one Issue

The Quality & Customer Service Is Second To None

I My Stray Away On Other Impulse Knife Buying But Alway Return To CRK

Once You Have The Best You Won't Be Happy With The Rest

Thats My 4 Cents Worth, Help Me Down Off My Soap-Box :D:D:D:D:D:D
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Get back down here:D We hear you:)
 
NDJeep said:
Well, the OP did say, "I went through the display case with a nearby dealer this morning, and we agreed there wasn't a plain Sebenza with a centered blade to be found, but she assures me that they do exist."

Not saying a woman can't handle a Sebs set-up....but well, I'm just saying...I don't know one.:D
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+1 ..... Well said..... :thumbup:

I don't personally know one either. ;)
I do, however; know personally: a few guys that can.......... :thumbup:
Just saying......... :D

And all eight at one shop being off center.
Was this the same shop and "she" dealer that almost 'stroked' over a lanyard being untied and retied?

PS/ I have never had a problem with any of mine...... new, use, or otherwise. ;)
 
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