What type of mechanism holds the sebenza closed?

R

RedSox

Joined
Oct 31, 2006
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124
I'm guessing there's some kind of ball bearing? If so, how does it hold up? Does it wear down over time? This is just the only thing I want to find out before I buy my first sebbie. Thanks
 
RedSox said:
I'm guessing there's some kind of ball bearing? If so, how does it hold up? Does it wear down over time? This is just the only thing I want to find out before I buy my first sebbie. Thanks
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There is a tiny small knob on the lock slab facing the blade, then the blade has this tiny hole that engages the knob when blade is locked or closed. Overall is pretty secure because the lock slab is applying pressure to the blade.
 
It's a ball, but it's still. It doesn't roll like a ball bearing. It's held in place so it could, potentially, develop a flat spot on the ball. I've seen those balls develop a flat spot or wear down to nearly nothing on high-end custom knives from famous big-shot custom knife makers but I've never had a Sebenza long enough to see if the same would happen. I assume, after a time, the ball would wear a flat spot.

I'm sure Reeve will replace it if and when it does wear and refurbish your Sebenza while they're at it.

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I believe they use (or used to use) a ceramic ball. If it's black and shiny it's probably ceramic.
 
Suppose the ball wore all the way down or falls of or something. The pressure of the lock slab against the blade would still hold the blade in place when it's closed, wouldn't it?
 
I think you may be worrying about nothing, I've only once heard of the ball coming out, several years ago. Easy to fix by sending it in.
 
DaveH said:
I think you may be worrying about nothing, I've only once heard of the ball coming out, several years ago. Easy to fix by sending it in.
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I would agree with DaveH, this should be the last thing you worry about when buying a Sebenza, I've never seen one have a problem with the detent ball. Besides, if it did wear down in your lifetime or fall out, CRK would fix it! Thats the great thing about the Sebenza, if you cant get it adjusted, tweaked, put back together or just even lubed up to get the buttery smooth action it had when it came from the factory...you can send it into the pros:thumbup:
 
Out of curiosity though I wonder how many thousands of opening and closing cycles you'd have to go through in order for it to develop a flat spot.
 
Being the ball is ceramic, I doubt it will ware down very quickly. You will probably notice the steel detent hole on the blade wareing down before the ball itself. Again as others mentioned, if this occurs, just send it back to the CR factory for refurbishment.
 
BOK said:
Out of curiosity though I wonder how many thousands of opening and closing cycles you'd have to go through in order for it to develop a flat spot.
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I wonder. The knife I had from a famous maker looked fairly new and had NO blade wear and only slight carry marks on the handle.

There must be SOMETHING physics-wise that would go wrong with the knife geometry that would cause the ball to get flat like the one I saw. Mine wouldn't even stay closed.

I don't think it was a ceramic ball, though. I think it was just a steel bearing. Still, though...

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fulloflead said:
I wonder. The knife I had from a famous maker looked fairly new and had NO blade wear and only slight carry marks on the handle.

There must be SOMETHING physics-wise that would go wrong with the knife geometry that would cause the ball to get flat like the one I saw. Mine wouldn't even stay closed.

I don't think it was a ceramic ball, though. I think it was just a steel bearing. Still, though...

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Most likely the maker got a batch of steel balls that were NOT hardened. Sometimes you order a 440C hardened ball and it just isn't that.
 
JCaswell said:
Most likely the maker got a batch of steel balls that were NOT hardened. Sometimes you order a 440C hardened ball and it just isn't that.
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Maybe. He SURE wasn't interested in fixing it for me without charging me big $$$. Sometimes these famous makers get big heads.:rolleyes:

(Yet another reason to buy Reeves.):thumbup:

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fulloflead said:
Maybe. He SURE wasn't interested in fixing it for me without charging me big $$$. Sometimes these famous makers get big heads.:rolleyes:

(Yet another reason to buy Reeves.):thumbup:

.
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Wow,
I can't imagine why he'd charge a lot. The hole in which the detent ball is mounted should go all the way through which makes it a very simple matter of punching it out and popping in a new one.

Sometimes makers think they're being clean and tricky by mounting the detent ball in a blind hole, but I consider that a design flaw because the ball is then pretty much in there for good. Kind of like welding the lugnuts on your car.
 
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