How To Clean Your Umnumzaan

Chris Reeve Knives
Official How To Clean Your Umnumzaan Video
chrisreeve.com
Here is an official guide from Chris Reeve Knives on how to do a quick disassemble, clean, and reassemble, as well as a few little things to look out for when servicing your Umnumzaan. You can follow this same process to care for old style 4-pin pivot Umnumzaan, just use a 4-pin pivot tool instead of an Allen key.
For more in-depth questions concerning nuances of the knife, lock up, fit, finish, etc., feel free to email us via our website chrisreeve.com. We will try to answer as many comments on the video as we can but do not rely solely on an answer to a comment. Thanks all!
Contact:
chrisreeve.com...
Replacement parts, wrenches, and 4-pin pivot tool:
shop.chrisreeve.com
Let us do the work! We can service your knife for you, just fill out a service form:
chrisreeve.com...
Song:
40 Miles Short
Tim Reeve
timreeve.bandcamp.com

[@rekozma]

Love my umnumzaan. It's my favorite CRK out of all of them I own. But I'd like to see a insingo umnumzaan in the future. That would make me really happy.

[@jr798]

I've had my Wilson Star-Tac for over eight years. Recently, I took it apart, cleaned it, sharpened it, and replaced the o-rings. I used Viton rings. Much, much nicer and they last longer.

[@crommy927]

Got my first Zaan in the mail right now. Love the simplicity. Thanks Tim for the disassembly videos.

[@skydiverbob1]

I was lucky to find an Umnumzaan and it should be in my mailbox in two days. I didn't want to wait three or four months for a Sebenza 31. It was the right choice for me, for sure. Thanks for the video. Simplicity!!! :-)

[@jmas2190]

one of my favorite and reliable knives in this life time will never that factor no matter how many knives I buy this will always be a knive that I hand down to my kids and there kids love this modal just for the simplicity of take down and how hard use it truly great video

[@megahurts2]

Worth mentioning, and idk if this has already been tried by you folks at Chris Reeve Knives, but VC3 is a more rubberized kind of loctite. The first time I ran across this was when people mounting RMR's to their Glocks had issues with their screws having a short service life when used in conjunction with Loctite. A lot of them switched to VC3 and found that nothing was backing out on them and they weren't having to buy new screws regularly. Now I realize the screws on a RMR are TINY compared to that beefy lock/pivot screw setup here, but might be a good alternative? Partially curious if others have tried it. I also realize this might not even matter as the knife either way likely will outlast me...but I do love taking care of stuff if I can help it. Also having used my Umnumzaan for almost 10 years, I can attest that this is a 1 and done purchase. It is solid, practical and always looks brand new when I get it back from you folks. Top notch craftsmanship and care. 👍

[@herbertblumel573]

Thank you for the Video! I love my Umnumzaan!

[@harf849]

Have the large Inkosi DP and I love it. I placed a preorder for an Umnumzaan 🤞hoping for an early dispatch 😆

[@telemarktumalo6978]

Thanks Tim. I have one ordered! Patiently waiting on summer.

[@MattH-wg7ou]

Make an Umnumzaan with the Sebenza pivot dude. I dont want to locktite and have to tune it and balance blade centering with action etc. I wanna tighten the pivot and be done and know its centered and the action is perfect. Please? 🙂

[@P1_M1ND]

I have the Inkosi. Same design aspects. Tolerances are unbelievable. The pivot mechanism on these is actually more for personalized adjustment capabilities. You can control how tight you want the action to be. Once reassembled, the blade is always centered. The locktite is for extra security in knowing the screw won’t come out of that pivot. You don’t know what you’re missing.

[@robgray_]

Thanks Tim. These videos are helpful and well done.

[@matthewp2209]

Still trying to find one

[@mmorgado1]

Thanks for the videos! 😀

[@eric21881]

Thanks for these videos!

[@JD-dc1eb]

I'm carrying mine right now

[@richardburns9772]

Sure wish they were available for purchase

[@johndings9917]

they are. just wait 6 years 😮 atm or check all official dealers frequently, like I did. Now I have one dp Zaan in the mail and I will have one tanto Zaan in magnacut in the future someday.

[@markcollins2704]

Love this knife.

[@protopiper5567]

How can you perfect blade Centering? It always seems to be off to one side slightly. Any advice, I’m not sure if it matters but I have a large 31. Thanks

[@jolness1]

Don't even have an Umnumzaan...yet but I am still watching this. Bought my first Sebenza 10 days ago and my second 7 days ago. Oops. Edit (9/2023): Now have my first Zaan (Monkey Edge Frag), rewatching this as i prepare to take it apart to swap the lanyard. Pretty simple but nice to not go in blind.

[@ToxicityAssured]

So many views (13,172) and so few likes (284). A thumbs up is a nice way to say thanks!

[@knflvr06]

Love my all crks

[@xderiwx]

Hi Tim, Do you ever apply any lube to the detent track, or is it unnecessary with the ceramic ball detent? Thanks!

[@GeraffelKiste]

Iam curious too

[@bladecollector7]

Very nice

[@antonssergejevs3205]

It’s much easier to spot a unicorn than to get hands on an Umnumzaan in Europe :/

[@reoo6806]

join a FB group

[@gubourn]

Damn that looks easier than a sebenza

[@twiggywolfedc]

I love my zaan but struggling with the action to open. I’ve cleaned it, greased it, and it’s still hard to open using zaan’s upward thumb motion. Do you have to buff the washers? People are flicking it open and i have to use two hands lol

[@andrewlopez8595]

Same here

[@DZNTZ]

I’ve got my action very smooth, so it flicks open quite nicely and will shut with a little shaking; I’ll share my “method” if you want to get there. (Remember, this knife isn’t a reverse flick and drop shut type action - the tighter fit and close tolerances make it fixed blade solid and always reassembles perfectly) Get a soft cloth for cleaning, some Qtips, SuperLube Grease (available on Amazon) and some 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper 1. Disassemble and clean thoroughly as per this video. Get all the factory grease out, clean the blade tang with the soft cloth getting inside the pivot hole, clean the washers completely removing all grease. Clean the scales near the pivot, etc. Be thorough. 2. Tape a small piece of 2000 grit sandpaper to a stone countertop or a piece of glass. Put a washer on the paper and LIGHTLY slide it back and forth while slowly spinning the washer continuously, so you’re polishing evenly. Maybe 10 times back and forth each side, no pressure except your fingertips. Repeat for other washer. 3. Assemble as shown, except using SuperLube grease - apply a little around the female pivot post and under/on the washers as shown. (Adding a drop or two of quality knife lube oil to the grease may achieve even better results, but don’t worry about it if not) 4. Using a little Loctite, snug up the male pivot and then give it a TINY fraction of a turn counterclockwise to loosen it a hair, just a tiny 1/128 of a turn or something (the Loctite will keep it secure, you’re not ‘loosening’ just un-tightening a teeny bit) So now your Zaan should be silly smooth, thumbstud flick open with just a bit of wrist snap, and shake closed. Still perfectly centered of course, and solid lockup with no play. Just reduced friction, while retaining all the incredible solidity of the knife.

[@TachankaUniversity]

Can you over tighten a zaan?

[@imawesome734]

Yes because theres no pivot bushing. Youll know when its overtightened because you wont be able to open it

[@abc456f]

Ordered an umnumzaan almost six months ago from knifecenter.com. Wait was supposed to be 1-3 months. Hey Tim...where's my knife?

[@yamkaw346]

You get it?

[@nick1226]

Where’s the “How to clean your Mnandi”?

[@jojojaykay]

In ur butt

[@CalebMcFadden]

@@jojojaykay that was so random haha

[@giantfatberg]

These are as rare as the dodo bird recently

[@813johnnfla]

Whats up with the quality control lately!? Been through 6 none of which meet my standards and those I’ve come to expect from crk… Things went downhill since chris left

[@sterlingcampbell2116]

These people have chosen not to honor existing orders and the price agreed to in those orders by upping their prices AFTER a lower price had already been accepted. They are hiding behind inflation as an excuse, but if the previous prices were unsustainable then they shouldn't have been offered and agreed upon during order placement. There are countless knife makers that don't participate in this type of disgusting behavior. Don't reward this behavior by giving them your business.

[@billcarey9184]

Which people are you referring to?

[@irishsavage8715]

Did Chris Reeves get deported?