Unofficial Sebenza FAQ (Long)

[stjames]

Sebenzas History!!

We introduced the large Sebenza in 1990. These early Sebenzas were pretty much hand made - in so far as each handle and blade was cut out individually and profiled by hand on the grinder. They were all marked H followed by a serial number.

In mid-1991, we entered the rather scary world of computer controlled machines and bought a CNC machining center. At the time, it was a major step financially and we were not sure whether it would do what we wanted it to do! The rationale behind this was to enable us to produce more knives (and keep the cost reasonable) and to ensure that our tolerances were kept very tight. Machining on the mill ensures that the holes are in exactly the right place, the profile is exactly how we want it.

We reduced the thickness of the titanium for the handle and altered the blade shape slightly. These knives were marked P as in production to distinguish them from H as in handmade. There has been quite a bit of misrepresentation that the P stands for prototype.

The blades were then, and are still today, hand ground, even though the outline (or profile) is machined on the CNC. Two years ago, we progressed to a larger machining center and are constantly reducing our tolerances!

The "H" or "P" is engraved into the titanium handle next to our CR logo.

– Anne Reeve, 10/26/98

We stopped putting the P onto the handles because it had little significance any longer. And it did prevent the misconception that the knife was a prototype.

– Anne Reeve, 10/28/98

Small Sebenza was introduced in the later part of 1993.

We started to change over to the new profile around April/May 1996. The first time the new profile had a bunch of publicity was the front cover of Tactical Knives issue of Fall 1996 which was available in July that year.

The intention was that the new profile should be available with BG42 but we experienced problems getting BG42 in time. So for a very short time, we made new profile Sebenzas with ATS 34 blades.

Once we got the BG42 in, all the blades of the regular models were stonewashed, unless requested otherwise. Decorated and specials continue to be finished with a polished hollow grind.

Along the way there have been crossovers so the above dates are not absolute.

The in-house batching numbers - eg A99 - indicate simply when that run of handles was done. You could have a 98 batch "born" or completed in 1999. But that's really getting technical!

- Anne Reeve, 09/10/99


"Almost every "new" thing in life has "probably been done before". There have been claims that knives with an integral type of lock were made before the Sebenza but to date, I have not seen any of them. I made the first Sebenza in 1987 and all I know about prior knives with a similar lock is hearsay. At the 1987 show of the Knifemaker’s Guild of Southern Africa, the Sebenza won the award for best folding knife.

At Chris Reeve Knives, we have popularized and perfected the Sebenza Integral Lock© and it is this for which our company is best known. Chris Reeve Knives owns a copyright on the name "Sebenza Integral Lock©". In the same vein, the Liner Lock© was not invented by Michael Walker but he did perfect it. Schrade have used that mechanism on their Electricians Knife for many years

To address the comments on the different type of cut out on the small and large wood inlay Sebenzas. This is something that we tried in order to see if there was any advantage. I did not feel that there was any so we reverted to what we were doing before. Only 60 pieces in each size have been made like that.

-Chris Reeve, 12/15/99



Additions to the Chris Reeve Line of Integral Lock Folding Knives


Special Edition Wood Inlay Sebenza introduced in 1999

A pocket is cut into the handle of the Sebenza and a thin section of wood is inlaid into the pocket. The tolerance of this inlay is so close that you can hear a snap as the wood is pressed into the pocket. The wood is cut just thick enough that it remains raised approximately 0.06" above the surface of the titanium and it is shaped to slope gently down to create a contrast of warmth against the polished metal. For the first time, Sebenza handles are decorated on the lock side.

Production of these Special Edition Wood Inlay Sebenzas will be limited to 60 large and 60 small Sebenzas annually. Although not individually numbered, each edition will be marked with the relevant year. Most of the pieces will be made with polished BG42 blades, but a limited number will be made with damascus blades.

-From theChris Reeve Knives Website


The Classic 2000 Sebenza introduced in 2000

This new addition to the Chris Reeve gallery of knives brings back the Sebenza profile that was made prior to 1996. We have had many customers express the opinion that they preferred the original profile, so with a few minor improvements, we are proud to introduce the Classic 2000 Sebenza as part of our regular product line.

The Classic is offered in all the options currently available for regular Sebenzas, with the exception of the Computer Generated Graphics. At this time, we are unable to reproduce the CGG designs on the Classic handle profile.

From the Chris Reeve Knives Website



The Mnandi introduced in 2001

The Mnandi continues the tradition of high quality that you have come to expect from Chris Reeve Knives. An elegant, functional gentleman’s (or gentlewoman’s!) pocket knife, the Mnandi (pronounced mm-nun-dee) is accurately named from the Zulu word meaning "very nice".

• The titanium handles are inlaid (not overlaid!) front and back with Ziricote, (a hardwood from South America).
  
• The locking mechanism is the Integral Lock©, popularized on the Sebenza.
  
• The BG42 blade is machined on both sides with an enlarged thumbnail recess for easy opening.
  
• The versatile pocket clip is machined from solid titanium and can be placed on either side of the knife or removed completely.
  
• Available in dedicated left or right hand models.
  
  Specifications:
• Handle length: 3.60"
• Blade length: 2.75"
• Overall width: 0.4"
• Weight: 1.25 oz.

-From the Chris Reeve Knives Website

[Bucky]

I thought I would try this here one more time and hopefully stjames or other Sebbie freaks can help me out. I posted this on the "Show off your Unique Graphic Sebenza's" thread as well, but didn't get much help.

Custom same as Unique?

This is my first post in this forum as I lust over the Sebenzas that I hope to one day have; anyway, cut me some slack if this has already been addressed.

Can I get a truly customized graphic on a Sebenza like Doug Ritter of equipped.org has on his small sebbie (http://www.equipped.org/pp/pic107.htm)? I am thinking of saving my pennies and going all out for a customized small sebbie with my alma mater's logo on it. Is this possible for the rest of us too, or did Doug just get a fantastic favor?

Bucky

[stjames]

Bucky, call or email Bridget at CRK, only they can tell you if the design you want is possible. Lot's of good info on the forums, but some things can only be answered by the maker.

[Bucky]

I appreciate your response very much stjames. I will email them and ask them exactly what can be done. I thought maybe I was asking a fairly simple question that may have been addressed here many times - I guess not .

Thanks again,

Bucky

[stjames]

Guess I'll have to update the steel information soon!

[Professor]

I read and re-read this information for weekly affirmation. Because I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggonit, people like me! Well, I'm good and smart enough anyway...



Professor.

[Warriorsociologist]

Can someone refresh my memory as to what the "MM" stands for on some of the Leather classics? I thought it had something to do with it being a "first-run" or earlier model (1-50???)

Thanks.

[stjames]

The "MM" stands for the year 2000, as in "The Classic 2000 Sebenza".

[Warriorsociologist]

Originally posted by stjames
The "MM" stands for the year 2000, as in "The Classic 2000 Sebenza".

Oh... Thanks!

[alelser]

bttt for the new Sebbie knuts

[fcondron]

Excellent FAQ, and great reading for me since my first Sebenza (small regular) should arrive today. Since this got pretty buried, I'm bumping it back up.

[Larry S.]

BTTT for the new Sebenzaholics!!

Larry S.

[Larry S.]

For the newbies............. :-)

Larry S.

[stjames]

I really need to update this, nothing on the Mnandi, S30V steel or the classic inlays!

[Larry S.]

After all, the Reeve kids may need new shoes soon! :-)

Larry S.

[Gary W. Graley]

Anne, with the recent change in Search permissions this thread would not be able to easily be discovered and perhaps you might want to Tack it to the top of your Forum for all the new guys/gals that venture into our realm? I know I had trouble even with my Search rights to find this thread! but if it were at the start of the forum people would have some easily answered questions right at hand...

Not sure what or how that is accomplished, Spark might help,
G2

[Chris Reeve Knives]

Good idea, Gary, let me see what I can accomplish!

Anne

[Erasmus]

Now I'm a Sebenza user.

I got the small, classic plain one. I wasted a half hour of the guy's time over at Advanced Cutlery in Arcadia, fingering his knives, but I got the best knife in his store.

You make good stuff, Mr. CR. My hat is off to you.

[savantuk]

x

[u812]

Got to give a big THANK YOU to Ted.I followed the thread you posted and took her apart,clean lubed and rotated the stop pin a little.Put it back together and BOOM the frame lock engages perfectly,looks just like the lock up in the pic.