CRKT Sebenza?

hoodtube12 said:
Quick question. I just picked up a NOS CRKT Sebenza on that auction sight. I took a gamble because I thought the knife looked interesting and I haven't seen many of them. Is it collectable at all or mildly expensive paperweight? Thanks in advance

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If I were you I'd keep the knife. I've read some of the other threads and some are just stupid. 9/10ths of the world doesn't believe in patents, copyrights. Who the hell are we to make everyone else in the world do what we want, it's pretty much a joke.

As I said before, patents and copyrights last for far to many years, all they do is inflate prices for everyone for far to many years.
 
I watched a couple of the youtube videos and one of the guys was praising the fit and finish. The one I personally handled was not even on par with a cheap Gerber. I'm talking straight up Frost Cutlery flea market crap. I really did want it just as a collectible, but it was just too much of a disappointment once I picked it up.
 
Can we get a pick of the lock ar side? I am fascinated that an engineer/designer would have a zytel lock face. Or is there steel insert?
Thanks,
T
 
Crkt did redeem themselves with a reasonably pretty good budget category in their Drifter series. Solid little folder, the one I had gave one a pretty good idea of what a small Sebbie would feel like more or less.
 
clearytja said:
Can we get a pick of the lock ar side? I am fascinated that an engineer/designer would have a zytel lock face. Or is there steel insert?
Thanks,
T
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I don't have the knife in hand yet. You can see in some pics and at least one video that there is a steel insert in the lockbar. Ww'll see how that works lol.
 
There is one on eBay right now for $230 BIN :eek: Also, under this particular items description, it gives a more detailed/complete (factual???) story. There are also many pictures from many different angles including the back side.

If this has already been brought to this threads attention, I am sorry to have wasted your time.

While it is against the rules to link to this auction, I hope quoting the sellers description isn't against policy. BTW Seller doesn't have what I would consider good feedback.

CRKT 6513 Sebenza Historic Dealer Sample Zytel Framelock Knife Never Released for Production Circa Approx.1995 - 97?



In the mid-to-late 1990s, Chris Reeve was approached by Columbia River Knife and Tool to produce a lower-cost, mass produced version of his famous large Sebenza. CRKT would have the knives produced in Taiwan with AUS-6 steel, partially serrated blades and zytel handles. When the first production run was done, Mr. Reeve was extremely displeased with the knives and refused to allow them to be sold. As the result of the situation, the entire production run was apparently destroyed.


However, a few hundred of the original knives existed, mostly prototypes and salesman samples that left the factory well before the first production was finished and Mr. Reeve was able to examine them. This makes the CRKT Sebenza one of the rarest Sebenza models in existence and they come up for sale less often then just about any other model known. CRKT Sebenza, model 6513. This knife is not a forgery or a counterfeit, but a legitimate, rare, Chris Reeve designed Sebenza, although one that never went to market.

* Reviewed by CRKT's Design and Product Team for authenticity *

Never an official production knife, this Columbia River Knife and Tool Sebenza 6513 folder
Knife is new and has not been used, sharpened, carried, and is in an early print CRKT box.
It was produced by CRKT not CRK , it is extremely rare and maybe only about a hundred approx.exist now. From the research on hard to find, discontinued CRKT's and Sebenza knives, Chris Reeve apparently collaborated with CRKT in the mid/late 90's to produce a low budget Sebenza, it was "discontinued" in 1997. But Chris was not happy with the execution of the knife and all produced were destroyed and only a few survived. This knife would be a great addition for any enthusiastic Sebenza owner and/or knife collector due to the extreme rarity and unusual history of this knife.

- From Columbia River Knife and Tool, "The Ghost that never was". Blade-forum, Etc...

This was a collaboration between Chris Reeve and CRKT

This knife is new condition, unused, never sharpened, never carried.

A proto-type / dealer sample knife - one of very few that still exist

* Reviewed by CRKT's Design and Product Team for authenticity *

Overall Length:21 cm, 8.5"
Blade Length:9 cm, 3.5", rounded spine, tiered thumb stud and jimping
Steel: AUS-6M
Handle: Black Zytel,CRKT Logo, Beveled edges, security screws, Unknown process hole common to the Sebenza, Lanyard hole, other unknown cut-outs and protrusions under clip and in frame ( Reinforcement... )
Stainless Pocket Clip - Tip up
Overall length 8.5 "
Blade length 3.5 "
Weight: 2.6 oz
Closed: 4.75 "
Zytel framelock
Blade Type: Combo edge
Blade Shape: Sebenza Clip Point
Blade Finish: Satin/Brushed
Handle Material: Black Zytel
Lock Type: CRK Integral Lock Frame lock
Opening: Right hand thumb stud
Lanyard Hole
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craytab said:
I'm glad you posted this. I had no idea such a thing happened. And it confirms what I think about the two companies involved.
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Curious, what did it confirm Cray? Both companies have their own fans and they also have their own pros and cons. Much like many relationships these days, they were a poor marriage and it was a good thing they didn't have any children that survived.

Lapedog said:
From the pictures I saw I didn't see any metal insert on that Zytel lockbar. Even if there is that is still Fed up. The only other knives I have seen a plastic lockbar on were the worst flea market crap and I believe certain Frost Cutlery linerlocks.
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Back around the same time this was happening Schrade partnered with Lake and Walker to produce a similar collaboration using the same plastic frame lock with steel insert concept, this knife also was a failure. Let me restate that, there were 2 versions made by Schrade, one was much better than the other and woulda made a knice collectible, I had the cheaper version and wound up selling it at the flea market for $10 because it was a piece of junk. IIRC the differences between the two versions were the limited edition SLW1 had a plain edge serialized 1-1000 BG42 blade where as the SLW2 had a Schrade+ steel half serrated un serialized blade but like I mentioned they had the same plastic frame lock as the CRKT Sebenza, (even sayin' that made me throw up a little :barf:).

Peter Hartwig said:
While the knife may not be up to CRK standards, it still is a part of their history and can be kept for that reason IMO
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rycen said:
I feel the same way. If I had an opportunity to buy one at a reasonable price I would just for the sake of having it.
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For that reason and that reason alone, for the right price I'd own one but not carry it. It would become a historical piece and one of only a handful of knives that I'll never carry.

Peter Hartwig said:
Just making an educated(IMO) guess, but it may be due to Chris not authorizing the release of the product-he scraped the project before release, though some go out.
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Bingo!

cash71 said:
If I were you I'd keep the knife. I've read some of the other threads and some are just stupid. 9/10ths of the world doesn't believe in patents, copyrights. Who the hell are we to make everyone else in the world do what we want, it's pretty much a joke.
As I said before, patents and copyrights last for far to many years, all they do is inflate prices for everyone for far to many years.
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I'm so glad your arrogance and ignorance was recognized resulting in well deserved banning, good riddance to bad rubbish.
 
Interesting thread although reading this has caused my brain to lose magnetic North. Lol, what were they thinking ?
 
stabman said:
Thanks for posting this.

I was feeling kind of bummed out till I read about this. :)
A plastic frame-lock?
That's the greatest, most ridiculous thing I have heard of in years! :D

I instantly feel better about today, and all my knives. :thumbup:
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Until you have handled it, you don't know...

The amount of disinformation, and assumptions, in this thread is funny to see...

Not only is there a steel insert, but the clip is specifically designed to assist the pressure of the Zytel lockbar, which, in theory at least, makes the whole concept viable (which is why it was attempted in the first place)... How well did that work I don't know, but I'll take a steel-on-steel insert over Titanium-on-steel any day...

This video seems to suggest quality and function was actually quite good:

https://youtu.be/sUk5KwVri6Q

And given that at least once we have seen a Sebenza fold with less than fifty pounds, it's not like the Zytel construction here is being compared to an SOG Fatcat...

Gaston
 
T. Erdelyi said:
Curious, what did it confirm Cray? Both companies have their own fans and they also have their own pros and cons. Much like many relationships these days, they were a poor marriage and it was a good thing they didn't have any children that survived.
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Well, in general it has been my experience that CRKT has knives made for them that are substandard in quality, materials, and often exhibit fit finish/QC issues. I also feel they are overpriced given their price point. I could see them releasing such a knife knowing full well it was a bad idea. I see CRK as almost the exact opposite and the fact that they would not let this knife enter the market makes perfect sense.
 
craytab said:
Well, in general it has been my experience that CRKT has knives made for them that are substandard in quality, materials, and often exhibit fit finish/QC issues. I also feel they are overpriced given their price point. I could see them releasing such a knife knowing full well it was a bad idea. I see CRK as almost the exact opposite and the fact that they would not let this knife enter the market makes perfect sense.
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I see that, especially with knives today but there was a point in the beginning where they filled a void with a decent knife and a reasonable price point. I had/still have the very first knife they made called the "MAC" COMMANDER which later became the Summit Series as a box set in the early 90s, a heavy duty knife in the spirit of the Buck 110, maybe more like the Buck 186 in zinc alloy. ;)


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It's difficult to imagine what Chris Reeve was thinking. Why would he want a $26 Sebenza flooding the market and watering down the brand and reputation of his signature knife? He doesn't even put the name "Sebenza" on his own knife, just the ugly "rocking C" and "made in the potato state."
 
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