Inlays as users? Yay or nay?

Kinagoo

Kinagoo

Joined
Jan 9, 2012
Messages
518
Hey guys and gals,
Over the past year I have acquired quite a few sebenzas. Sold some, kept some. Trying to find my ultimate edc. I own regulars, 21s, micarta inlay, starbenza and love them all.
What I don't own is a wood inlay... So my question is how do they compare in every day use? Does the polished blade scratch easily? What are your experiences with different types of wood? What ages well, not well?...etc
I am torn between lignum vitae or ebony...are those good choices?
Any input, opinion and advice would greatly appreciated. (excluding micarta, I have both small and large)
As always I really appreciate your help and love being here on the forum!
Thanks everyone!
 
I've EDCed a small mammoth ivory sebenza for almost a year and a half now. Granted I did keep it in the leather slip case when I carried it (to keep the mammoth inlays nice), I did use it for a lot of my cutting needs and the polished blade has taken a few hair line scratches here and there from EDC. Nothing major (since I didn't cut a lot of bricks of sand paper (lol), but the polished blades do take some wear and if you are worried about that you should stick with the stonewash blades. I can't say how the inlays held up with pocket carry since I keep it in a leather slip case (rather than throw it in a coin pocket), but I will say the white inlays have gotten a hint yellower from my finger oils. I think a lot of the inlays get slightly darker or hued as your finger oils penetrate it. It is just as natural as the leather slip case molding to the shape of your sebenza with use, and it doesn't bother me a bit. A used sebenza is a loved sebenza.
 
au5t3n5 said:
I've EDCed a small mammoth ivory sebenza for almost a year and a half now. Granted I did keep it in the leather slip case when I carried it (to keep the mammoth inlays nice), I did use it for a lot of my cutting needs and the polished blade has taken a few hair line scratches here and there from EDC. Nothing major (since I didn't cut a lot of bricks of sand paper (lol), but the polished blades do take some wear and if you are worried about that you should stick with the stonewash blades. I can't say how the inlays held up with pocket carry since I keep it in a leather slip case (rather than throw it in a coin pocket), but I will say the white inlays have gotten a hint yellower from my finger oils. I think a lot of the inlays get slightly darker or hued as your finger oils penetrate it. It is just as natural as the leather slip case molding to the shape of your sebenza with use, and it doesn't bother me a bit. A used sebenza is a loved sebenza.
Click to expand...

That's some great input! Really appreciate it!
Makes sense about the oils... Maybe a dark inlay would prevent that?
Do you have any pics of the blade to show the wear?
Thanks a lot!
 
A dark inlay like ebony would probably prevent that... but I remember one case of a knife being sold second hand as a snakewood that turned into almost ebony looking inlay from "hand oils." I didn't buy it... but I was most curious if the more red snakewood did indeed absorb all that finger oil after a while and turn into a dark brown shade. But take that with a grain of salt since I don't know the member who was selling it (not a huge member on this forum) and I have seen plenty of used snakewoods that still look like snakewood (instead of ebony like that one case) and other wood inlays that still looked very similar to what they are supposed to be. So maybe the seller got confused with an ebony knife or did something to the inlays. It don't think any inlay will change that drastically from normal use.

Inlays will absorb some finger oil no matter what (that is the nature of wood, even micarta/ivory) and change slightly. So I guess you just have to accept that. Granted you don't abuse your knife (like leave it in a bottle of coke or pepsi or something) the difference probably won't be that much and is unlikely to bother you.

As far as my polished blade, I can take pictures for you tonight. It doesn't look too bad, but it is noticeable when you hold it up to the light and move it around. Concerning the inlays, I have some pictures from the day I got it NIB and the change in the ivory is quite apparent (only because it went from a very clean white to a light white/yellow - I suspect the change in a brown wood to a slight shade browner will be less apparent).
 
I've been pocketing my mesquite mnandi for a few weeks in the pocket sleeve
used it for food, boxes and such, still new
 
My wife's EDC for the last 4 or 5 years has been a small dog paw Classic. It has a polished blade. It lives in the slip case (she's on her second one) and rattles around in her pocketbook with lipstick, keys, etc. The blade does show some scratches. When I had her double lugs added, I was specific that they should not mess with the blade except to add the lugs. That knife earned every one of those scratches.

Yes, you'll see 'em after a while.
 
All wood inlays are stabilized, mostly for strength, but in that process the air and moisture in the wood is removed and replaced with a polyester resin. This also increases the durability of the wood and thus it makes the wood last MUCH longer than normal. I would be concerned if CRK did not stabilize the wood but since they do, by whatever inlay you fancy and carry it proudly.
 
I think a stonewashed bladed micarta inlay sebbie would be the best "user" inlayed sebenza.

If you are considering ebony wood inlays then I would stick with black micarta instead. On the ebony knives I have handled the inlays looked mostly just plain black, not showing much pattern or texture. They carried the same visual impact of a plastic inlay if there was such a thing.

For a black hued inlay the micarta is much more visually appealing in my opinion since it shows more texture, and it also would probably hold up better in the long haul being a synthetic material.
 
Dane.Chichester said:
All wood inlays are stabilized, mostly for strength, but in that process the air and moisture in the wood is removed and replaced with a polyester resin. This also increases the durability of the wood and thus it makes the wood last MUCH longer than normal. I would be concerned if CRK did not stabilize the wood but since they do, by whatever inlay you fancy and carry it proudly.
Click to expand...

I think some of the inlays are not stabilized, such as the mammoth ivory/bark.
 
Biginboca said:
If you are considering ebony wood inlays then I would stick with black micarta instead. On the ebony knives I have handled the inlays looked mostly just plain black, not showing much pattern or texture. They carried the same visual impact of a plastic inlay if there was such a thing.

For a black hued inlay the micarta is much more visually appealing in my opinion since it shows more texture, and it also would probably hold up better in the long haul being a synthetic material.
Click to expand...

I have a Large Ebony Inlay and I was less than impressed. Plastic was my opinion as well. It is my first damascus (ladder) so due to the blade I will keep it. It was going to be my damascus user but I have something coming next week that I will share when I recieve it. I'm sure it will be the ultimate damascus user Large seb made.
 
I own three with inlays. A small 21 with African Blackwood w a serrated blade, a large 21 with Snakewood also with a serrated blade, A Large Spirograph Damascus with Gabon Ebony Inlays.

The small with African Blackwood has been carried for almost 9 months, It is in great shape. The leather case has an imprint of the knife, but the knife is in beautiful shape.

The Snakewood is beautiful and I have been reluctant to carry it and give it the edc treatment. My intentions were to carry it daily, but every time I look at the beauty that it is, I can't bring my self to do it. I have carried it and used it but always leave it in the leather pouch. The wood still looks great and has no discoloration from me handling it. I do handle it constantly at home while watching tv

The Damascus never leaves the box.

Both blades that are serrated are both tumbled and still look great.

I also picked up a Large Dog Paw (Silver) and it is holding up very nicely. The Silver is the Titanium polished and has been next to impossible to scratch with my keys or flashlight in my pocket. The other colors I hear don't hold up as well as they are annodized.

Hope this helps with decision.

I think the Snakewood holds up pretty well and it shows the difference in the colors nicely.

Good luck, you have some tough choices a head
 
I've gotten some scratches on my blade, but the only apparent ones are from wiping the blade off when there was stropping compound left on it, not from actual cutting. I haven't noticed whether or not the bocote has gotten darker. One thing that bugged me a little at first was how I'd get fingerprints on the polished titanium, but it gets better with time. I guess I've saturated the ti with my finger oils now :)

Edit: I've had it since Easter and I use it for EDC (city/office type stuff).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top