How to spot a fake or real sebenza?

F

FlyingBlades

Joined
Aug 13, 2013
Messages
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Ok so about an hour ago, I saw a guy that posted this picture on a trade and exchange page on facebook.
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He is selling his knife collection and in the contents and his comments you can clearly see he is only a kid that bought these knives because the look cool and not because of their quality.
But I know you saw the same thing as me: A FREAKING SEBENZA!?!?!
So I want to know some tricks so I can know for sure if it's not a fake and if it's a real, I bet you he has no idea of it's value and I'll get it for 25$

So please share your knowledge with me and wish me luck!

Also I might snag what seems like a couple leathermans :P
 
Also if you see anything interesting/valuable (apart from the sebenza ofc!) please let me know since I'm new to the knife world.
 
For 25 bucks I think it might be worth the risk. Not sure if anyone would be able to tell if it is fake from that photo.
 
Just remember.....Carma's a bitch
Maybe you should let him know what he has and offer him a fair price.
 
For 25 bucks I think it might be worth the risk. Not sure if anyone would be able to tell if it is fake from that photo.
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Yeah but the thing is I can send him messages! The guy is sleeping now but tomorrow I'll ask him to magnet test the, what is supposed to be, titanium but it could still be aluminium :/
 
FlyingBlades said:
Yeah but the thing is I can send him messages! The guy is sleeping now but tomorrow I'll ask him to magnet test the, what is supposed to be, titanium but it could still be aluminium :/
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Unless I am mistaken the good fakes are ti. There are some tell tale signs but you can't see any that I know of in that pic.
 
Wait, just noticed, that looks to be a screw in the lanyard hole. Can anyone confirm?
 
I think the clip is too long to be the real deal. I am looking at my sebe right now, and it just doesnt look the same.
 
dr_fosg8 said:
Wait, just noticed, that looks to be a screw in the lanyard hole. Can anyone confirm?
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Can't tell either but I'll ask him tomorrow, I'll also ask him if the back of the thumb stud is blue anodized too because it seems not, wich would confirm it is a fake :(
 
FlyingBlades said:
Yeah but the thing is I can send him messages! The guy is sleeping now but tomorrow I'll ask him to magnet test the, what is supposed to be, titanium but it could still be aluminium :/
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Seeing as how titanium is TITANIUM and contains no iron (a bit of vanadium and aluminum though), I don't see what a magnet test would prove or disprove.

There are ways to tell a real Sebenza from a fake. But not from that photo.
 
FlyingBlades said:
Can't tell either but I'll ask him tomorrow, I'll also ask him if the back of the thumb stud is blue anodized too because it seems not, wich would confirm it is a fake :(
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Not sure if that would confirm it. Some come with silver or gold (anodized) studs.
 
The more that I look at it, the more fake it looks. Look where the front of the scales are a tiny bit back from the plunge at the base of the grind on the blade. On an authentic sebe, the scales overlap that horizontal grind line by about .125". Of course that pic is a mess, so I may be wrong, but the hardware looks wrong too.
 
Planterz said:
Seeing as how titanium is TITANIUM and contains no iron (a bit of vanadium and aluminum though), I don't see what a magnet test would prove or disprove.

There are ways to tell a real Sebenza from a fake. But not from that photo.
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If it sticks it's stainless steel (fake), if it's not sticking, there's a chance it's real. But like I just said, the back of the thumbstud doesn't seem anodised, wich would mean it's fake.
 
NCCNC said:
The more that I look at it, the more fake it looks. Look where the front of the scales are a tiny bit back from the plunge at the base of the grind on the blade. On an authentic sebe, the scales overlap that horizontal grind line by about .125". Of course that pic is a mess, so I may be wrong, but the hardware looks wrong too.
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Yeah I need to ask him for more/better pics, if I get them I'll send them tomorrow.
 
NCCNC said:
On an authentic sebe, the scales overlap that horizontal grind line by about .125".
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That's not the case on all sebenzas, particularly the regulars. I agree that it looks fake though. The hardware looks wrong and the shape of the handle looks wrong. Hard to tell from such a fuzzy pic though.
 
FlyingBlades said:
Yeah I know but first I need to know if it's real
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You can email the person, and ask for close up detailed pictures of the knife in question. Considering they retail for over $400, the price is a big indicator of being legitimate. When you buy these kinds of items from trusted and proven retailers, there is little question about authenticity.
 
RevDevil said:
You can email the person, and ask for close up detailed pictures of the knife in question. Considering they retail for over $400, the price is a big indicator of being legitimate. When you buy these kinds of items from trusted and proven retailers, there is little question about authenticity.
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I sent him messages and he should send me better pics. The guy has no certificates since he says he sells them cheap (cheap for him means 20$) and probably don't know what's a sebenza in the first place. This is probably fake but maybe it was from someone in his family who passed away or something, I mean it's worth trying.
 
I am aware its not the case on all sebe's, just judging by the pic though, this one is suppose to be a 21. Thanks for bringing that up though. I should have been more clear.

humblerodent said:
That's not the case on all sebenzas, particularly the regulars. I agree that it looks fake though. The hardware looks wrong and the shape of the handle looks wrong. Hard to tell from such a fuzzy pic though.
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