Chris Reeve Sebenza

JediKnight86

JediKnight86

Joined
Jul 9, 2003
Messages
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I've been reading many reviews of the Chris Reeve Sebenza, and I've even had the opportunity to handle one at my local knife store. I'm seriously considering buying one. Does anyone have anything to say on the knife? Good or bad?
Thanks
 
the sebenza is a great knife, it's solid as a rock and the fit and finish are as good as it gets. I always knew the sebenza was a great knife but didn't realize just exactly how good the quality was until i took one apart, the fit is perfect, the washers and spacers fit perfectly together. There is absolutely no blade play.
 
You can use the search feature. Most good feedbacks are at the Chris Reeves forum. Some dissenting ones are at the Blade Discussion Forum.
 
If you do a search, you'll turn up many, many threads on the Sebenza. Personally, I'm a confirmed Sebenza - holic. ;)
 
Seeing as you've handled one, you already know what level the quality is. Now the question is...Is it what you are looking for?

Paul
 
I'll play devil's advocate here, I have several and just ordered another sebenza. There are a couple of issues that for me personally I wish where different or better. These are purely subjective, and not defects, but rather things that I think could be improved.

I don't like tip up carry. I've adapted but it means front pocket carry or keep it in the nylon/leather case carry.

The thumb stud is not the best. It works fine and I've adapted to using it, but it occasionally snags on the way out of the pocket. I don't think I'll ever see a spyder hole with cobra hood on a sebenza, but I'd like to.

It's less comfortable than a Ti salsa for example. The salsa has finger cutouts and a curved spine that really feels good.
 
Now for the flip side, no knife I've handled so far has the solidity of feel of a sebenza.

When I open it I feel and hear the precision, like a finely tuned engine, it speaks at a different level.

I would reccomend that if you are slightly unsure, keep an eye out on a used one, other than cosmetics it will be 99% the same as a new one and if it turns out you don't like it you'll need to recoup less money.
 
I got my large regular Sebenza about 9 months ago and it has become my main EDC, the one clipped to my RF pocket (I also carry multiple knives/tools as well). IMO it is the toughest and most solidly-built folder I own, and the precision is top of the line. I also love the S30V blade steel. It holds an edge very well, but when it needs resharpening it's fairly easy on my Sharpmaker.

I will mention that my new Sebenza, out of the box, required me to thin out the edge bevels, especially towards the belly and tip of the blade, which did initially require a bit of work. But since that was done, it's become an awesome cutter.

I personally prefer the tip-up carry position of the Sebenza. It clips solidly with that little extra dip/bend in the clip which secures it better, and I've never had mine snag or come partially open in pocket. The thumb stud on mine is one-sided but I find is far more comfortable compared to some other thumb studs (i.e., Cold Steel, etc.). And the Integral Lock design seems to me to be the strongest, most reliable type of lock, not only due to lack of small moving parts, but also in its execution.
Jim
 
Thanks for all the info people. Glad to hear everyones opinions. Dave: I read somewhere that a few sebenzas were made with thumbstuds that have too many ridges on them and that causes snagging. Could that possibly be the issue with yours?
 
I am not a Sebenza fan and a quick search will tell you why. However, I was at a knife show recently and decided to give the knife another chance. I knew I didn't like the large one, but I was looking for a pocket knife in the small size and looked at the small Sebenza. The feel of the knife was excellent; only complaint was it was relatively hard to unlock one handed compared to others I have. I'm sure that would have loosened up after awhile. But the knife had no sex appeal.

I walked through the show and found a hand made, one of a kind, mirror polished ATS-34 warncliffe with anodized titanium frame, with file work, and rosewood scales with stainless steel bolsters. The rosewood scales were gorgeous and perfectly matched. The titanium frame is beautiful, lockup and ball indent are perfect. This knife made the sebenza a lost cause. The knife felt alive and warm in my hand and has given me great service ever since I bought at $270, considerably less than the 310 for a small sebenza and still less than the 290 I would have paid at the show.

I admit I almost bought a small one, but was lead astray by beauty and a lower price.
 
I'm a little new to all the knife terminology. what is "file work"? anything to do with the term "file and wire tested" which i've seen everywhere?
 
Here's picture of Vine filework from Bruce Evan's great tutorial. It's often used on folders on spine of blade where your thumb would land for extra control. Gives grip for the thumb while looking MUCH nicer then regular notches that a factory folder might have there.

View13.jpg
 
haha, that's looking down on spine of blade, lemme find you the other one that's more from the side. Forget that while that's best to show pattern to someone who already knows what filework is, doesn't work as well for someone who doesn't understand filework.

View16.jpg


In case that picture still doesn't make it clear, the tutorial itself might help.

Filework Tutorial
 
Originally posted by JediKnight86
Does anyone have anything to say on the knife? Good or bad?
Thanks
Click to expand...

A better question would be: Does anyone NOT have anything to say about the Sebenza.
Personally, I dig them,
but I'm very turned off by all of the blind Sebenza fanaticism that goes on around here.
Is this an excellent knife? Of course. Are there other excellent knives out there?
Of course. Even for a comparable price.

BTW, I love the thumbstud, and I have no problem opening and closing the knife.
Brownshoe, you might be doing it wrong.
 
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