- Joined
- Jun 29, 1999
- Messages
- 9,889
OK, after much procrastination, I finally took the plunge and picked up what was probably the only large Sebenza 21 available in Calgary. At a horrendous price, too, but what the heck; it was my birthday month, and I didnt need any more excuses.
Id looked at a lot of framelocks, including a gorgeous Benchmade special run from some years ago with a Damascus blade (and an $800 price tag). I seriously considered the Bradley Alias (also made by Benchmade). Benchmades snazzy Ti-Monolock by Bob Lum was pretty appealing, but I didnt want another tanto blade.
First impression: Wow! This thing is a big scalpel! The attention to detail is simply exquisite, Id say comparable to my Dozier K1. Theres even a tiny bevel around the stop bar screws. The pocket clip is extremely well designed with an extra WOW to fit over the hem of a pocket. It glides open, rather than flicks, and locks with a subtle click. Solid throughout.
This 21 was made in January, 2011, with the S35VN blade, and the IDAHO MADE stamp, which doesnt bother me any more than the ARKANSAS MADE logo on my Dozier.
The S35VN steel is new to me. According to Crucible, CPM S35VN offers improved toughness over CPM S30V and is also easier to machine and polish. Its chemistry has been rebalanced so that it forms some niobium carbides along with vanadium and chromium carbides. Substituting niobium carbides (0.5%) for some of the vanadium carbides makes CPM S35VN about 15-20% tougher than CPM S30V without any loss of wear resistance. CPM S35VNs improved toughness gives it better resistance to edge chipping. Because both vanadium and niobium carbides are harder and more effective than chromium carbides in providing wear resistance, the CPM stainless blade steels offer improved edge retention over conventional high chromium steels such as 440C and D2. Crucible also notes that the transverse toughness of the CPM grades is four or more times that of 440C and 154CM. The higher transverse toughness results indicate that CPM S35VN and CPM S30V are much more resistant to chipping and breaking in applications which may encounter side loading. In knife-making, the higher transverse toughness makes CPM especially good for bigger blades.
Ok, I like S35VN already. The stonewashed blade came shaving sharp. I like the random pattern on the blade, so I wont have to worry about scratching. The frame is already showing minor scuff marks from pocket carry, but I plan to make a belt sheath as well as a smooth leather pocket sheath, once I get around to it. But Im in no hurry. This ones a user.
Id looked at a lot of framelocks, including a gorgeous Benchmade special run from some years ago with a Damascus blade (and an $800 price tag). I seriously considered the Bradley Alias (also made by Benchmade). Benchmades snazzy Ti-Monolock by Bob Lum was pretty appealing, but I didnt want another tanto blade.
First impression: Wow! This thing is a big scalpel! The attention to detail is simply exquisite, Id say comparable to my Dozier K1. Theres even a tiny bevel around the stop bar screws. The pocket clip is extremely well designed with an extra WOW to fit over the hem of a pocket. It glides open, rather than flicks, and locks with a subtle click. Solid throughout.
This 21 was made in January, 2011, with the S35VN blade, and the IDAHO MADE stamp, which doesnt bother me any more than the ARKANSAS MADE logo on my Dozier.
The S35VN steel is new to me. According to Crucible, CPM S35VN offers improved toughness over CPM S30V and is also easier to machine and polish. Its chemistry has been rebalanced so that it forms some niobium carbides along with vanadium and chromium carbides. Substituting niobium carbides (0.5%) for some of the vanadium carbides makes CPM S35VN about 15-20% tougher than CPM S30V without any loss of wear resistance. CPM S35VNs improved toughness gives it better resistance to edge chipping. Because both vanadium and niobium carbides are harder and more effective than chromium carbides in providing wear resistance, the CPM stainless blade steels offer improved edge retention over conventional high chromium steels such as 440C and D2. Crucible also notes that the transverse toughness of the CPM grades is four or more times that of 440C and 154CM. The higher transverse toughness results indicate that CPM S35VN and CPM S30V are much more resistant to chipping and breaking in applications which may encounter side loading. In knife-making, the higher transverse toughness makes CPM especially good for bigger blades.
Ok, I like S35VN already. The stonewashed blade came shaving sharp. I like the random pattern on the blade, so I wont have to worry about scratching. The frame is already showing minor scuff marks from pocket carry, but I plan to make a belt sheath as well as a smooth leather pocket sheath, once I get around to it. But Im in no hurry. This ones a user.
