Bringing Regulars back...

kunc · Mar 13, 2012

What do you think the chances are that CRK will ever bring back the regular Sebenza? It seems like it would sell very well with all the demand there is for them, but also thought that maybe Chris Reeve likes to discontinue styles to add a "collector" feel to his knives.
On a related note I read on CRK website that the Umfaan was being redesigned...will be cool to see what they will look like, if and when they become available.
Thoughts ...ideas....commmentary.....?

Fooj · Mar 13, 2012

As a standard offering outside of the LEs? Exceedingly unlikely . . . Factors that come to mind:

Capacity can't keep up with demand as it is.
Functionally, the regular is a duplication of the 21.
Part of the allure of the LEs is that new regulars are limited production.
New product permutations (both design effort and production capacity) are probably best spent on new products that broaden the product portfolio.

None of these factors support the re-introduction of the regular design.

Haze · Mar 13, 2012

I would be all over any plain Regulars that were put out but it's not going to happen. They are now very much an anual thing. As for the Umfaan that has been way way back on the back burner for a long time now and will probbaly not be back any time soon. I also have little interest in it as it's is absolutely miniscule and of little use to me other than for a collection.

:thumbup:

kunc · Mar 13, 2012

agreed... the Unfaan is a neat collector piece, for me not very practical but do know people that EDC micro knives for opening packaging ie boxes letters.

lemmuhj · Mar 13, 2012

Yeah, never understood the Umfaan, other than a baby sebenza for collecting.

As for the Regulars? I'd love to see them manufacture the line again, but understand why they wont. I'm still looking for a pristine one.

JNewell · Mar 13, 2012

kunc said:
What do you think the chances are that CRK will ever bring back the regular Sebenza? It seems like it would sell very well with all the demand there is for them, but also thought that maybe Chris Reeve likes to discontinue styles to add a "collector" feel to his knives.

Nil, according to CRK...

kunc said:
On a related note I read on CRK website that the Umfaan was being redesigned...will be cool to see what they will look like, if and when they become available.
Thoughts ...ideas....commmentary.....?

Nil again, per CRK...that mention on the CRK website is older than some people posting here

and really oughta be deleted!

pvicenzi · Mar 13, 2012

Not likely. While a lot of people prefer the regulars, the 21's sell out quickly.

red mag · Mar 13, 2012

I concur with the above post on the chances of bringing back the regular.
Maybe this community is not representative for the average CRK buyer.
Not that we do not try to pick up as many as possible.....

red mag

harleyguy02 · Mar 13, 2012

I just picked up 2 pristine regulars a couple weeks ago..both were CGG and brand spanking new..

Sold my 21's and picked up these.. I love the drop point blade!

One is in my rotation, and one is in the safe..

JNewell · Mar 13, 2012

red mag said:
I concur with the above post on the chances of bringing back the regular.
Maybe this community is not representative for the average CRK buyer.Not that we do not try to pick up as many as possible.....

red mag

I think that may very well be true!

lemmuhj · Mar 13, 2012

How about a carbon fiber annual inlaid on a plain jane slab? stone washed blade....

nyefmaker · Mar 13, 2012

For those that know me, KNOW I Love the regular. I would gladly own 10 regulars to just 1 - 21. I just don't like the 21 at all. I HATE the pointy blade shape. The handle does not bother me as much as its easier to unlock. The regular was all rounded and felt good in hand, while the 21 has sharped edges and if just not comfortable to me. The regular to me also has a superior blade shape while in my experience the 21 blade shape is not sheople friendly, especially the large 21.

But, the regular will never be back and will only ever be available new again with the annuals. And even then when CRK uses up supplies, the annuals will either be no more or they will be 21 styled

To me, the P style sebenzas are a pure HIT, the Regulars were the Best of the bunch, the classics were nice as they still had that blocky solid feel and there is something about that classic XX that I like, but its still 21 styled..., and the 21 was the foul ball of the bunch IMHO.

I personally am looking forward to what the next generation of sebenzas will look like. You know its coming...!!!

richstag · Mar 13, 2012

I stopped carrying my Regular when they stopped making them. I got a 21. I ended up not carrying that after a while because it just didn't do it for me in the long run. I just recently started carrying my Regular again. Regular Large Sebenzas trump all others IMO. I wish they would bring them back, no doubt about it.

The thing with the annuals is they are always dolled up from what I have seen. Plain Jane thank you

flipe8 · Mar 13, 2012

I carry my Small Regular a fair amount of time, but am in the process of trying to either get another Regular as a back-up, considering an Umnumzaan as a replacement for it, or buying another brand that almosts meets the "wants" in a folders that the Regular met very well(for me). While I know there are still plenty of them out there, many of us Regular fans are in the same boat trolling the waters for them, so it's not something any of us can think about long when one pops up.

nyefmaker · Mar 13, 2012

richstag said:
I stopped carrying my Regular when they stopped making them. I got a 21. I ended up not carrying that after a while because it just didn't do it for me in the long run. I just recently started carrying my Regular again. Regular Large Sebenzas trump all others IMO. I wish they would bring them back, no doubt about it.

The thing with the annuals is they are always dolled up from what I have seen. Plain Jane thank you

I hear ya, regulars all the way.

I so want an annual and goofed on one recently when I fell asleep...lol. Other than that one, they are all pretty highly priced. I would like to see one with say just a micarta or carbon fiber inlay so it can be more of a user than a collector.

I have a small classic and a large 21 eyes, all the others are large regulars in some form ( plain, cgg, lisa's )

richstag · Mar 13, 2012

A micarta regular would be pretty awesome IMO

lemmuhj · Mar 13, 2012

richstag said:
A micarta regular would be pretty awesome IMO

That would be awesome as well, kinda like nyfemaker said, a "user"

I'd even pay the premium they fetch

richstag · Mar 13, 2012

I was talking to my brother the other day. He conducts shark research all around the globe and really uses his knives. When he graduated with his masters I bought him a large plain regular. He has carried it everyday since 2008. Just the other day I called him and asked if he still uses it. He said every damn day. He told me sebenzas don't like to sit unused...they like to cut. I had to laugh.

What I'm saying is user all the way.

bladeCraft124 · Mar 13, 2012

I love regulars. I think they look a lot better than the 21s. For use, I like regular sebenzas in the small variety and prefer 21s in the large variety. I do wish you could order whatever variant desired.

I dont think chris reeve will ever bring back the regular. All though we all love it, most of the demand is probably driven by the fact that they are no longer produced. It might not be cost effective for CRK to bring them back. However, I do think there is a business case to be made for more expensive customizable sebenzas....

Dear chris reeve, here is $700. please build me a H styled sebenza. Love Dan

DallasSTB · Mar 15, 2012

Fooj said:
As a standard offering outside of the LEs? Exceedingly unlikely . . . Factors that come to mind:

Capacity can't keep up with demand as it is.

Functionally, the regular is a duplication of the 21.

Part of the allure of the LEs is that new regulars are limited production.

New product permutations (both design effort and production capacity) are probably best spent on new products that broaden the product portfolio.

None of these factors support the re-introduction of the regular design.

A well reasoned and no-doubt accurate analysis of the question, brother. Good to see you around.

nyefmaker said:
To me, the P style sebenzas are a pure HIT, the Regulars were the Best of the bunch, the classics were nice as they still had that blocky solid feel and there is something about that classic XX that I like, but its still 21 styled..., and the 21 was the foul ball of the bunch IMHO.

I've read Chris (or Anne??) comment that the 21 is the original style blade. I just don't see it. The H/P style blade was about halfway between the Regular and 21, and just about the perfect blade shape (IMHO). I like the 21 blade in the small Sebenza though, as its pointier tip allow for easier insertion into envelopes/boxes/paper reams and other light office cutting tasks. For the large Seb, I haven't seen anything in current production knives that I like better than the Regular style shape.

bladeCraft124 said:
..... However, I do think there is a business case to be made for more expensive customizable sebenzas....

Dear chris reeve, here is $700. please build me a H styled sebenza. Love Dan

I imagine that the price for a new custom "H" would be closer that of a custom Hinderer at $1,500 +/-, but you're point is valid. He'd sell as many as he wants to make.