Can one buy Damascus Blade for their Sebenza?

Slider817

Slider817

Joined
Mar 26, 2010
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I just got a 2008 plain double lug Sebenza 21, I was curious can I send my knife to Chris Reeve and have them switch the Blade out with a Damascus one?
If so, how would it cost?
Would they give back the old blade, and would I be able to switch them out when I wanted?
Anyone ever done this?
 
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I don't think you can. Each blade is fitted to the knife.
Safetyman said it best. Give CRK a call.
 
BBQ BOY said:
I don't think you can. Each blade is fitted to the knife.
Click to expand...

OP indicated that he was prepared to send his knife in to Chris, so it may be possible.

Let us know what the good folks at CRK have to say. . . .
 
I had CRK fit a damascus blade to a large Classic a few yrs ago. I got to keep the old blade (and of course they won`t trade in old blades), and both blades just have an individual set of washers that you have to use when you switch blades. I also had them fit a partly serrated blade to another Sebenza, and it was the same thing there. I guess the secret to the tight tolerances lies in the matching washers.

The price for the damascus blade was about $300 back then, IIRC. Waiting time was rather short, about 3-4 months if I`m not mistaken. Even though typically it is about a year. :)
 
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akubra said:
I had CRK fit a damascus blade to a large Classic a few yrs ago. I got to keep the old blade (and of course they won`t trade in old blades), and both blades just have an individual set of washers that you have to use when you switch blades. I also had them fit a partly serrated blade to another Sebenza, and it was the same thing there. I guess the secret to the tight tolerances lies in the matching washers.

The price for the damascus blade was about $300 back then, IIRC. Waiting time was rather short, about 3-4 months if I`m not mistaken. Even though typically it is about a year. :)
Click to expand...

the pivot bushing should be very close to the thickness of the blade (at the pivot area) plus the two washers. this is what lets you tighten the pivot screw down and still have a smooth action.
 
akubra said:
I had CRK fit a damascus blade to a large Classic a few yrs ago. I got to keep the old blade (and of course they won`t trade in old blades), and both blades just have an individual set of washers that you have to use when you switch blades. I also had them fit a partly serrated blade to another Sebenza, and it was the same thing there. I guess the secret to the tight tolerances lies in the matching washers.

The price for the damascus blade was about $300 back then, IIRC. Waiting time was rather short, about 3-4 months if I`m not mistaken. Even though typically it is about a year. :)
Click to expand...

I'll send them an email. But for $300 I might as well buy a new Sebenza.
 
Just sent the question to Chris Reeve knives, I'll post the response when I receive it
 
Yes, you can. I recently emailed CRK about this and was told that you simply have to send in the knife and they'll do the rest. However, there's a lengthy wait time for damascus.
 
This was the response
Thank you for your email. We do offer damascus blades for the Sebenza 21 and
Sebenza Classic not the standard or regular profile. The cost is $270 for
Raindrop or Ladder and $295 for Spirograph. We are backordered approximately
12 months on all damascus. If you would like to place an order I will need
the information requested on the attached order form minus your payment
information. Once we have the blade available you will need to send your
knife to us for fitting. Please let me know if you need anything further.
 
Yep. I called in with this very same query over a year ago. They didn't forget me and got back to me well before the stated "wait time" was expired. The pricing was (as I recall) very close to the same. I took a pass as it turned out, and they didn't pressure me or make me feel like a burden. The nice lady simply said they had a list of interested folks and if I was no longer interested, someone else would be. I have a Bradley with the same damascus CRK gets (which is why I wasn't interested any longer) and that is some wicked blade steel. It's stainless but it gets sharp like carbon. And it WILL FREAKIN CUT YOU. As I found out (the hard way). Good blade steel. A snap to sharpen. Pretty too. Cheers.
 
misterjuiceman said:
the pivot bushing should be very close to the thickness of the blade (at the pivot area) plus the two washers. this is what lets you tighten the pivot screw down and still have a smooth action.
Click to expand...

You are right. Each blade comes with it`s own pivot bushing as well. I totally forgot about that. :)
 
Are there any performance differences with the Damascus options, or is it just aesthetic and they all perform the same?
 
I got a replacement blade, although not Damascus. I don't think it took very long--a few weeks?

In my experience, CRK is better than most companies about replying to emails. But in a case like this, I suggest you pick up the phone and talk to Heather. That way you can ask any follow up questions you may have after she explains the basics.
 
Yes, they will fit your existing Sebenza with a damascus blade and also return your existing blade so either can be used. I did this to my small EDC last year.

The downside is how long it will take for them to get suitable damascus blanks. I had to wait almost a year.

the good news . . . they won't ask you to ship the knife until they have the blade and are ready to fit it.

I had planned to swap back to the steel blade for "dirty jobs" but have yet to do so. The damascus blades works just as well for me as the S30V one.
 
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