Your F&F experiences with CRK

One thing that is often over looked with F&F on CRK's is how truly tight the tolerances are. Yes, they are tight--to the point that tightening or loosening a screw affects how early the lockup is. My Sebenza came at ~65%, and after I tightened the screws it became ~40%. A few wrist flicks later, and it hasn't moved from about 50%.

A similar thing happens with my Umnumzaan.
 
3 fixed blades that were all bought new. Each is excellent in the F&F dept. 1 large SEB bought used. It, too, is absolutely excellent. By far the best folder I ever owned. Took me years to decide it was worth spending that much cha ching on a folder. Never regretted it, though.
 
gentlenado said:
Several sebenzas I owned has problem with blade centering, if you think it's a problem. My best guess is 30% of them are not perfect centered. The bad thing is, normally it can not be fixed. Other than that, it's perfect.
Click to expand...

Quite possibly the dumbest thing I've ever heard. 30%? Really? FYI if you really do own a CRK you will know that even a slightly off centered blade in a Sebenza will cause it to rub the titanium scale because of how little space there is between the blade and scales.
 
kawr said:
Quite possibly the dumbest thing I've ever heard. 30%? Really? FYI if you really do own a CRK you will know that even a slightly off centered blade in a Sebenza will cause it to rub the titanium scale because of how little space there is between the blade and scales.
Click to expand...

Yep, not any room for error.
f1w6es.jpg
 
Mr. Clean said:
I dunno. I'd say there was nothing wrong with my Sebenza and Laconico framelock upon receipt.
Click to expand...

I basically agree based on quite a few CRK folders and FBs, but I was focusing on the OP's use of the word "tiniest." If you get tiny enough, you can probably find some flaw in just about anything. :rolleyes:
 
what i really like about sebenza are the bushing pivot, and how CRK hardens the face of the lockbar to minimize wear. they really consider everything when designing a folder. i don't think i ever find a titanium frame lock with non-sticky lock other than the sebenza. even the jimping is unique imho.
 
My massive sampling of two - my StarTac Umnumzaan (See Jill Jackson's post for one like it.) of 9/2010 and my Nyala (fb) of 12/2010 have set fit & finish standards that will be difficult to approach, much less equal, by anything but another CRK. My initial feeling was simple... "I'm not worthy.... I'm not worthy!".

Okay - a nit to pick... the 'zaan should have come with that oddball disassembly tool! That's it.

Stainz
 
Lenny said:
Not to hijack the thread here, but I have a question about the Umnumzaan.
Since the dual thumb studs with rubber O-rings are used as the blade stop, wouldn't the O-rings be a less than perfect seat for preventing vertical blade play? I mean, they've gotta flex and get flat spots in time, right?
I just don't understand this design.
Lenny
Click to expand...

id say the o rings are more of a way to minimize the eventual wear from metal thumbstuds coming into contact with ti. when its closed, the o rings are indeed bulging out a bit, so its not like the o rings are preventing the thumbstud from seating.
 
After having my Mnandi for about a month, there's very little that I can find in terms of F&F to bring up here... Only a couple of things I can think of off the top of my head (and I'm not sure if this is par for the course in Mnandis or not) is that there's very slight vertical blade play of a bit less than 1/16th of an inch when the blade is closed.

That is, when I begin to open the knife, it wiggles just a bit before I feel it catch and begin to actually open. Hope I've explained it clearly. Anyone else see that in their Mnandi?

Also, I've found the pocket clip to be very sharp where the screw is inserted to attach it to the knife. I can cut my fingernails with it.

Other than those two minor issues, I'm extremely happy with my CRK.
 
My standard isn't really perfection, it's "are the flaws so small that I could have missed them on the assembly line?"

I don't know why that is. I hate myself lately.

I'm not too worried about the rubber o-rings on the umnum. No doubt that they will wear in time, but they are, I imagine, easy to replace, even if CRK were to go out of business.

As per sticky lockbars, none of my Kershaw titanium framelocks had any "stick" in them, but I do see it in a lot of liner locks (maybe about 50% of mine). It might be a steel/titanium distinction...
 
CR knives are the only knives I have that I can take apart and reassemble back to perfect alignments with a blindfold on.

I just love that.
 
Last edited:
In fact, CRK knives are the only knives I know of in which the manufacturer has so much confidence in their product that they encourage you to disassemble and reassemble the knife. There may be others, but most companies take the position that if you do, the warranty is void. I think that tells us several things about Mr. Reeve, the company and the knives.
 
JNewell said:
In fact, CRK knives are the only knives I know of in which the manufacturer has so much confidence in their product that they encourage you to disassemble and reassemble the knife. There may be others, but most companies take the position that if you do, the warranty is void. I think that tells us several things about Mr. Reeve, the company and the knives.
Click to expand...

I do love this. I also love that I can, apparently, use the knife hard, make it hideous, mail it with $40 and get an effectively new knife back.

But man, that william henry EDC model is hauntingly beautiful...and cheaper.
 
F&F, you would have to go custom to get better results.
My sebenza is, as far as i can tell, flawless. and i am someone who expects every penny's worth of value out of my purchases. I believe i got what i payed for, if that says something.

My umnum had a few points of concern, however they were sorted out with little effort and the end result was very close to my sebenza.

I've handled about 7 different CRKs, and i can say that other than the umnum, the sebenzas have the level of F&F Where you can actually feel the difference.
 
Lenny said:
Not to hijack the thread here, but I have a question about the Umnumzaan.
Since the dual thumb studs with rubber O-rings are used as the blade stop, wouldn't the O-rings be a less than perfect seat for preventing vertical blade play? I mean, they've gotta flex and get flat spots in time, right?
I just don't understand this design.
Lenny
Click to expand...

From what I remembered, the O rings don't actually have a play in holding the blade in place. The thumb studs make full contact with the titanium handles, and it squishes the O rings. I remember that some people take off the O rings and it doesn't affect the locking or blade play. Additionally, it softens/suppresses the noise of when the blade opens and closes.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but that's how I remembered the topic.
 
I have a large and a small Sebenza. Both are flawless in fit and finish.

Someone earlier in this thread said that 30% of CRK have problems. Sorry, I don't believe this at all.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top