1998 Sebenza Question

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ffblades

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Feb 22, 2025
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Hello I am new here and I have recently acquired a 1998 Chris Reeve Sebenza regular with a BG 42 blade

I know I should be asking CRK website but I thought I would ask here as well.

I feel really lucky to get this knife

I am planning to send it to CRK for a spa service.
My question is it is engraved on the locking side scale. Would they replace the scale with the spa session?

Also I am left handed so would they swap the thumb stud to the other side of the blade?

I welcome the comments good and bad.
 
A spa treatment is just that. The original knife will refurbished to its original condition. Expect a blade refinish and sharpening. Frame and other metal parts re-blasted and re-finished. Washers and screws may be replaced if they are worn or otherwise damaged.
This isn't a Rolex rebuild where they replace stuff unnecessarily.

My personal opinion is if your knife is functionally ok, just leave it.
The spa can always be done and many collectors want original knives in original condition. I'm not a Sebenza collector but I am a collector, and I can tell you for the most part original wins every time.
 
I don’t believe it has ever been touched in its life.
It is stiff to open so it could need a cleaning and an oil.

So you suggest leaving it alone.
 
You can request what services you wish them to perform, i.e. sharpen but not re-finish the handles. Be aware that there is a slim chance of cracking the blade when replacing the stud and a replacement BG-42 one probably will not be available (assuming they’re even willing to perform the swap on such an old model.) Also, if you wish to replace the lock side handle with one that isn’t engraved, that may not be possible either.

In all honesty I’d recommend leaving it as is and seeking out a newer lefty one for a user as they’re not all that difficult to come by.
 
ffblades said:
I don’t believe it has ever been touched in its life.
It is stiff to open so it could need a cleaning and an oil.

So you suggest leaving it alone.
Click to expand...
Yes, you might want to clean an lube it. A very easy job for you to do.
If you want parts changed out, you shoul call them and discuss it.
 
First and foremost, Congrats! If you plan on carrying and using for a while, sending it in for changes you mentioned sounds like a good plan. If you ever plan on selling it, I wouldn’t change anything and learn to use it right handed. 🤣🤣🤣. Just joking with you , I write left handed but do almost everything else right handed. Weird, I know.

For collectibility purposes, once you send it in to make all the changes, it’ll immediately lose 25-35% of its value in my opinion. However, if you never plan on selling it one day, it doesn’t matter what you lose on value, and enjoy the hell out of it!!!
 
On the thumb stud I am not sure they will work on that blade, but if they will. They usually go to a double thumb stud , and I believe on that knife they would need to grind out a recess, so you can get to it on the lock side.
 
I can give it a tear down and lube it for sure

As I stated there is an inscription in the lock side scale that I don’t really want but I can certainly live with it.

Right hand it I have many knives with right hand thumb studs

I will just have to learn the smooth way to do it with out hurting my thumb.

Maybe once it is lubed up it will open easier.

Thanks
 
John Phillips said:
First and foremost, Congrats! If you plan on carrying and using for a while, sending it in for changes you mentioned sounds like a good plan. If you ever plan on selling it, I wouldn’t change anything and learn to use it right handed. 🤣🤣🤣. Just joking with you , I write left handed but do almost everything else right handed. Weird, I know.

For collectibility purposes, once you send it in to make all the changes, it’ll immediately lose 25-35% of its value in my opinion. However, if you never plan on selling it one day, it doesn’t matter what you lose on value, and enjoy the hell out of it!!!
Click to expand...
Hi John
So you feel like if it goes in for a spa treatment it looses value?

Is that because the original parts get replaced?
 
ffblades said:
I don’t believe it has ever been touched in its life.
It is stiff to open so it could need a cleaning and an oil.

So you suggest leaving it alone.
Click to expand...
There are multiple youtube videos on how to strip and clean them. If it's never been touched that is really all it needs and that is all that CRK will do in the spa anyway. You will probably find that the previous lubricant has hardened.

If it's in mint condition carrying it or messing with it will only reduce its value. For around $450 you should easily find a modern left handed example which you can carry and beat on. It's the equivalent of finding an original unrestored late '60's muscle car. The moment you start trying to "improve" it the value plummets. You scored a really nice collector's piece, don't mess with it.
 
I bought this small Sebenza with a BG42 blade dated B 98 last July, it has “Paul” engraved on the lock side. My first name isn’t Paul, but I didn’t care. I live in the Boise, Idaho area, so I took the knife into CRK and Ann said that the engraved “Paul” was most likely done originally by CRK. The blade looks unused and not sharpened, the scales have natural looking patina/use on them, but nothing abused about them. To me, the knife is in perfect original condition and I would do nothing to it, but use it. Now, I don’t have the conflict of wanting the knife to be able to be used left handed, so I can’t comment on that.

IMG_3738.jpegIMG_3737.jpeg
 
randucci said:
I bought this small Sebenza with a BG42 blade dated B 98 last July, it has “Paul” engraved on the lock side. My first name isn’t Paul, but I didn’t care. I live in the Boise, Idaho area, so I took the knife into CRK and Ann said that the engraved “Paul” was most likely done originally by CRK. The blade looks unused and not sharpened, the scales have natural looking patina/use on them, but nothing abused about them. To me, the knife is in perfect original condition and I would do nothing to it, but use it. Now, I don’t have the conflict of wanting the knife to be able to be used left handed, so I can’t comment on that.

View attachment 2806591View attachment 2806593
Click to expand...


The blade does look sharpened and stropped.
 
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