Sabre I 170

[blackout 0]

I just bought a sabre I 170 since it was such a great deal I couldnt pass it up. However, I keep hearing this business about hard openings.

Is this really cause for concern or just irritating and occasionally painful?

[dragon2 2]

Did you test jump it before you bought it? Any canopy can open hard but some sabre's open hard all the time There are sabre's that always open perfectly well, there are sabre's that will always slam you and everything in between. I had a sabre 150 that actually sniveled as much as my spectre... If you have one of the "bad" ones there are mods you could do to slow the openings down but not 100% guarantee. Also if you have a "normal" (for a sabre) opening one you may not want to do camera jumps with it but some jumpers prefer a more brisk opening to the 800ft snivels you can get from more modern designs.

ciel bleu,
Saskia

[bigway 4]

A concern.

I dont know much about this as it was before my days but i think you need to make sure it had the bigger slider put on it.

Someone here will inform you more but you may need to learn to brance yourself on openning and also be very stable.

You say that you could not pass it up cause it was such a great deal... have you ever looked at it from the other side.. like he got a good deal being able to sell it? Or maybe have you thought about why it really was a good deal?

From stories i have heard from friends i would not go near one personally.

I hope when you say a good deal you mean like $200 or less. Sabre ones are so old and it must have a lot of jumps on it. Did you talk to your instructor first and get someone to look at it or just buy it yourself wth out having it checked?

.Karnage Krew Gear Store
.

[aardvarkeater 0]

I've got the exact same canopy. Yes it does open fast but if you learn to pack it right you'll get a fast but not hard opening. Mine has slammed me a few times, causing me to curse the day it was manufactured but overall it's a good canopy. The few times it did slam me, I was in a hurry and trash packed it. My own fault for the hard opening. Treat it right and it will treat you right. Good luck.

Muff Brother #4026
Loco Zapatos Rodriguez
SCR #14793

[blackout 0]

I dont mind brisk as long as I dont get whip lash or break lines or something....

[blackout 0]

It has less than 500 jumps on it supposedly and has 1 patch that is 3x3 inches on it. I kind of just need it to transition to a 150 then a 135

I only weigh 125 so I will out grow that pretty quick. I just figured it was a conservative downsize from the 200's and 210's that I have been jumping.

[monkycndo 0]

I have put 400 jumps on my 170 loaded at ~1.2:1. Never slammed once. I have brisk but not hard openings, which is just fine with me. Every canopy has a personality of its own. Find out what this yours is like. Have a packer show you some steps that can slow the opening. A well controlled slider is the key to the Sabre.

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You know you want to spank it
Jump an Infinity

[punkd 0]

I got a 100 jumps on a sabre1 170 loaded at 1.1:1

Best openings I get are when I don't play with the pack job (no rolling or stuffing anything) just keep the slider on the slider stops during the entire pack job.

Its slammed me once, sore back and leg bruises.. it was flat packed... i wouldn't recommend trying.

[monkycndo 0]

I agree. After trying lots of "tricks", now I just quarter the slider and lightly stuff the nose. I used to roll the nose, and would often have off heading openings. Stopped rolling the nose and my openings were more on heading and not any brisker then before. I just make sure the slider is tight against the stops before I close up the bag.

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[mnskydiver688 0]

Sabre1's stopped being manufactured in '01 so I wouldn't say "so old". I know that getting the larger slider helped with mine. Also packing is a issue with the sabre's. Learn how to pack 'em and it isn't too bad. Now just like every other canopy lemon's are out there and possibly this is one of them.

Sky Canyon Wingsuiters

[Skydivesg 7]

I put a couple thousand jumps on that very canopy and my son put about 500 on one.
I only got slammed (not bone crushing) a couple of times and my son never. And mine was definitley due to packing when I was in a hurry.
The key is packing.
After doing all your normal pro packing stuff just take the nose and push it straight into the middle of your pack (no rolling). the farther you push it in the slower it opens. I usually stuffed it in to about half way to my elbow.
Then make certain the slider is all the way to the stops. (This part is very important)
With your slight weight you shouldn't have any problem even with the original size slider which is what I had.

Be the canopy pilot you want that other guy to be.

[Elisha 1]

I sold my 150 to a packer at the Cloverdale (Skydive SF) DZ for his backup. It is mfg 3/91 with probably a little over 1000 jumps - can't get much old of a Sabre. My current main is a Sabre-120...7/95 mfg date, so much newer . I bought it from funjumper101 for $250 (who was selling it on behalf of some rigger who moved out east). It had about 500 jumps on it and is in great condition. I put a new lineset on it around 100 jumps ago (load it @1.3 and have about 140 total now). I watched Timmay (hookit) swoop it nice back in November. I think I'll keep it as a backup after I get something else hopefully early summer.

To the Original Poster:
Ask your local rigger to sew a pocket on the slider. That should give you some reassurance that you'll have nice snively openings.

[masterrigger1 2]

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To the Original Poster:
Ask your local rigger to sew a pocket on the slider. That should give you some reassurance that you'll have nice snively openings.

While sewing a pocket usued to be the thing to do years ago, installing a domed slider is a better solution.

Sewing a pocket on it requires a master rigger to do it (alteration) and the pocket if made improperly can lead to a cutaway.

We first made pocket sliders around 1992, but again I no longer recommend them to anyone.

The domed slider has a more consistent opening than the pocket slider.


Cheers,
MEL

Skyworks Parachute Service, LLC
www.Skyworksparachuteservice.com

[SkyTango 0]

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After doing all your normal pro packing stuff just take the nose and push it straight into the middle of your pack (no rolling). the farther you push it in the slower it opens.

I agree.
I only have a 100 jumps on the Sabre 170 (with a bigger/pocketed slider) but that trick slowed down the openings dramatically.

JC

If you woke up breathing, congratulations!
You get another chance.

[JohanW 0]

Quote

The key is packing.
After doing all your normal pro packing stuff just take the nose and push it straight into the middle of your pack (no rolling). the farther you push it in the slower it opens. I usually stuffed it in to about half way to my elbow.
Then make certain the slider is all the way to the stops. (This part is very important)

I remain unconvinced stuffing in the nose does anything to slow down openings; it may promote off-headings and goes against PD literature.
Making sure the slider is all the way to the stops, and *keeping* it there while cocooning the canopy, then making sure some more, again *keeping* the slider up while bagging the canopy, finally making sure still more the slider *still* is at the stops is what makes most any canopy open slow(er), while still on-heading. Even freepacked Lightnings and Triathlons.

Yes, a domed slider will help as well.

Johan.
I am. I think.

[buff 0]

I recently purchased a '97 Sabre I that had 50 jumps on it; still snot slick and have not had anything but sweet openings. I read all the negative stuff here before purchasing and decided to pay my monies and take my chances.

I think it has the larger non-modified slider on it and I don't think it even opens briskly. I pro-pack it the same way I always packed every canopy I've jumped; quarter the slider and make sure it is up against the stops. With the Sabre, I pull the slider out a bit over the nose but not so much that the rear clears any lines.

I've been playing with it a bit to get a 'brisker' opening but no luck so far. I've split the nose like PD says and rolled each side and I've just droped the nose and wrapped the tail. Same openings.

I have not dumped in a track-bad things I've heard. I always come out of my track and get big then deploy stable with my chin up and a little chest high. Good openings.

That's my experience thus far. I does open quicker than the Triathalon 190 I flew before downsizing. That thing would snivel forever. I'm loading my Sabre 170 at 1.16 right now. YMMV.

It's called the Hillbilly Hop N Pop dude.
If you're gonna be stupid, you better be tough.
That's fucked up. Watermelons do not grow on trees! ~Skymama

[tdog 0]

I have a friend with a 170 that has some "aftermarket" adjustments to the nose.

I jumped the DZ's 170 Sabre 1 on an AFF back to back - and was told it was a Spectre as I threw on the rig. It opened like a Sabre - nice and quick, so I counted cells under canopy and counted 9...

The very next jump I borrowed my friends 170 Sabre 1. I braced for impact and pitched. He did not tell me it was a modified canopy... It sniveled so long I had climbed up the front risers to get it to open (with some but not a lot of exaggeration).

It is the softest canopy I have ever jumped... And everyone that jumps it agrees... So, if your canopy slams you, let me know, and I can get pictures of the mod I think...

And on a side note - when you borrow gear to make quick turns, "life is like a box of chocolates".

[blackout 0]

appreciate the help thanks

[jee 0]

Quote

I put a couple thousand jumps on that very canopy and my son put about 500 on one.
I only got slammed (not bone crushing) a couple of times and my son never. And mine was definitley due to packing when I was in a hurry.
The key is packing.
After doing all your normal pro packing stuff just take the nose and push it straight into the middle of your pack (no rolling). the farther you push it in the slower it opens. I usually stuffed it in to about half way to my elbow.
Then make certain the slider is all the way to the stops. (This part is very important)
With your slight weight you shouldn't have any problem even with the original size slider which is what I had.

I can't figure out why a person would take to time to get all the lines nice and straight and the canopy flaked perfect only shove the nose in and mess it all up.
I was originally taught to pack like that but have since stopped at the urging of a wise old rigger. My openings have never been better since.

Go figure.

[shropshire 0]

I have a Sabre 1 150. She's a bit old now (I guess they all are) and only been slammed once (very lazy pack). I was told to look after the slider (All the way home and 1./4'd) and all will go well. I also leave the nose alone.

I LOVE this canopy.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[monkycndo 0]

Quote

I can't figure out why a person would take to time to get all the lines nice and straight and the canopy flaked perfect only shove the nose in and mess it all up.
I was originally taught to pack like that but have since stopped at the urging of a wise old rigger. My openings have never been better since.

Go figure.

I agree with you in one regard. I've seen some people forcefully shove the nose what looks like all the way through the pack job. It would be interesting to stop that pack job and see where the lines went. When I show people what I do, it is a "gentle push" to get the nose nested into the pack job just enough so the slider has a clear shot to catch the air.

YMMV

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You know you want to spank it
Jump an Infinity

[Skydivesg 7]

Jee, do you jump a Sabre?
I'm just trying to share how I've managed to put 2000 jumps on a Sabre and get nice straight on heading openings. You're just assuming I "mess it all up". The lines are still straight. It can be done.
I've been packing like this for the past 15 years with no canopy damage and no cutaways. I've only had 3 malfuntions and none in the last 4500 jumps. Two of those were in the 70's, one in the 80's and none on a Sabre.

A guy asked for help....... I threw it out there.

Be the canopy pilot you want that other guy to be.

[mnskydiver688 0]

I'd listen to Sandy he knows his stuff. Although someone who jumps with some cooks from ND I'm not so sure I guess.

Sky Canyon Wingsuiters

[Elisha 1]

Well, the DZO is a materrigger (Clay Bonavito) at my home DZ and has sewed pockets for those that wanted them. I didn't bother on my 150 or the 120 I have now. I like my 120. I plan on keeping it after whatever I happen to next.

[UDSkyJunkie 0]

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I dont know much about this as it was before my days but ... From stories i have heard from friends ... Sabre ones are so old ...

*BEGIN RANT*

please people... if you've never really jumped one, it's before you're time, and you're going off 2nd, 3rd, 4th hand info, ect... please refrain from trying to help. Not directed at this poster specifically, just a pet peeve of mine. Flame me if you want, I really don't care.

*END OF RANT*

Now, for useful information:

Yes, Sabre1's tend to open harder than many more modern canopies. In my EXPERIENCE, 170's and 150's specifically seem to have an even greater tendancy to do this.

Is it a concern? Yes, but not a huge one. The advice to have a rigger install a larger slider is good advice. Advice to learn to pack, ask for tricks, not to dump unstable/in a track/ect is also good. If you do these things, you'll be fine. Other canopies may allow you to get away with lazy packing and sloppy dumping, but that doesn't make it ok, it only teaches bad habits.

In my 500+ jumps on a Sabre1 135, I was smacked only occasionally (less than 1 out of 100 openings) and at least two of them I can attribute directly to dumping in a track. The rest of the openings ranged from soft to "brisk" (hard, but not painful).

In my experience, I have seen people get smacked HARD by Sabre's, Sabre2's, stiletto's, spectre's, velocities, crossfire's, diablo's, batwings, jedei's, Xaos's, FX/VX's, triathalons, sharpchuters, mantas, tandem 384's... well, you get the picture.

Sabre1's are not top of the line by far, however neither are they "so old" or necessarily have "lots of jumps". Mine was mfr'd in 1997, has less than 1000 jumps on it, and is in EXCELLENT condition. As soon as I get a 2nd container, I will use it for my 2nd rig. It will never be for sale, as I believe it is worth more than then $400-$500 I would probably get for it.

Bottom line: IMO, Sabre1's are easily one of the best canopies you can buy for the money. There are hundreds of them in great shape available for under $500... try finding a spectre/Sabre2/safire/Pilot/ect with 500 jumps and a fresh reline for under $800 - $1000.

To those who hate Sabre's or refuse to jump them, thank you! I love to see new jumpers get them for a steal!

"Some people follow their dreams, others hunt them down and beat them mercilessly into submission."