Advice on finding a beautiful pattern?

[cmd]

A little background first - my grandfather Frank passed away about 6 months ago and left each of his grandchildren a little money. Not much, but I want to use some of it on something that will always remind me of him.

I have always liked the shape of a large regular sebenza and in my mind the very best is when it has wood inlays. That's just me, I like good wood with a good knife.

Grandpa Frank lived most of his live in northern California and raised my father there, and that is where he courted and married my Grandmother Rose, and where my father courted and married my mother.

I never saw a forest of sequoia redwoods in person before the age of 13, but the trees and wood will always reminded me of him.

You can probably see where this is going - a Large Regular Annual Limited Edition Sebenza with Redwood Burl Inlays!

The problem is that I've searched the internet and only found one available so far, on truenorthknives, and to me the wood on that one is just ... well ... not very good. Don't get me wrong, it is nice stripey redwood, but redwood burls in my experience have more interesting figures and patterns. And other pictures of other CRK's with redwood burl inlays all have a certain beauty and character that is not to be found in this one.

I know: they are very rare, be patient and persistent, keep looking ...

Anyway, I would very much appreciate any advice on how to best find a nice NIB large regular sebenza annual limited edition with redwood burl inlays.

Chris

 

[DaveH]

I think that is a great way to honor your grandfather.

I've been on the look out for a few years for a redwood burl myself. There have been 1 or 2 exceptional ones change hands on BF the last couple of years, but I missed them. I did finally pick one up that was good but not exceptional. Sometimes they are not very red and muddy brown, so you're right to hold out for a good one.

There's one on bladeart now, well, maybe since they listings are always 1 year out of date. Also hard to tell as the pic is not good:

http://www.bladeart.com/production/chris_reeve/chris_reeve.htm

You could always post a "wanted" ad here. I've done it a few times and it's usually worked out real well.

 

[DaveH]

Let see if I can upload this, a pic of the one I picked up:

 

[DaveH]

Ok better pix, not mine, but like the other above, from the previous owner:

 

[cmd]

DaveH, that one of your's is a real beauty. It is exceptional in my opinion.

Thank you for the bladeart link. Hard to really get a good idea of it other than the pattern is more "burly", which is good. Their photo is bright and it seems to have washed out some of the details. I'll probably send them an email to find out more.

 

[DaveH]

There's a small on truenorthknives that looks pretty good

 

[cmd]

There's a small on truenorthknives that looks pretty good

I'm 6'4" and 230 lbs so since this is going to be THE knive above all others for me it has to be a large.

Those are some real beauties in your Best of the Best thread, BTW.

 

[cmd]

I think that is a great way to honor your grandfather.

I've been on the look out for a few years for a redwood burl myself. There have been 1 or 2 exceptional ones change hands on BF the last couple of years, but I missed them. I did finally pick one up that was good but not exceptional. Sometimes they are not very red and muddy brown, so you're right to hold out for a good one.

There's one on bladeart now, well, maybe since they listings are always 1 year out of date. Also hard to tell as the pic is not good:

http://www.bladeart.com/production/chris_reeve/chris_reeve.htm

You could always post a "wanted" ad here. I've done it a few times and it's usually worked out real well.

I just got of the phone with Seth at Bladeart, very nice and helpful guy by the way. They still had the large 2003 limited edition redwood burl sebenza in stock. Their camera is unavailable to send any additional pictures but he was able to provide a very good description over the phone.

I ordered it and it should be in my hands sometime Thursday

Thanks again for the advice.

 

[fred44]

Hey good deal you wont be sorry.And a nice thing you do not have to wait, if you had gone through CRK chances are you would be on a waiting list , in my case i had to wait a year, but my small box elder was worth the wait.

 

[trane fan]

Congrats on a great score Chris!! Post some pics when it arrives.

 

[cmd]

Congrats on a great score Chris!! Post some pics when it arrives.

Hey Trane, I'm holding my breath until it gets here.

It was a little leap of faith, but if it needs to be returned after careful examination there should be no problem.

I might even ask for your help on taking some pics.

Chris

 

[trane fan]

Hey Trane, I'm holding my breath until it gets here.

It was a little leap of faith, but if it needs to be returned after careful examination there should be no problem.

I might even ask for your help on taking some pics.

Chris

Just let me know.

 

[cmd]

It arrived this afternoon.

I'm happy

 

[rodmeister]

My Large Redwood Burl Sebenza is the most gorgeous knife I've ever seen, with fantastic swirling figure. I'm a Californian, so the Redwood was the only logical choice, though the Maple also looks great and would be okay for an easterner.
Check out the comments about it and other Redwood Burls on this thread.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=225934&highlight=redwood

 

[cmd]

My Large Redwood Burl Sebenza is the most gorgeous knife I've ever seen, with fantastic swirling figure. I'm a Californian, so the Redwood was the only logical choice, though the Maple also looks great and would be okay for an easterner.
Check out the comments about it and other Redwood Burls on this thread.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=225934&highlight=redwood

Nice! I knew there had to be a few others.

 

[cmd]

Here it is...