Recent purchase - older large regular

double gun

double gun

Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
110
First off, let me say I am new to this forum and am excited about spending some time here reading.
I live in northern Alberta and recently started wishing I had a decent folder I could use in bow season when I didnt want a fixed blade strapped to my belt. I started looking around and saw a Chris Reeve large regular sebenza. So I started looking for a used one without much luck up here. Somehow I stumbled upon a guy who had one that he didnt use much anymore and he asked me to make an offer. So I did, and he accepted it. :) I know almost nothing about the CR folders but I understand its a early one(1998). The card says its BG42 but I am not sure if thats a good or bad thing - but it is what it is. Couple things do bother/worry me.
1) It doesnt have any lot number markings inside. This freaked me out after reading about all the fakes poping up, but when I called CRK the lady I spoke to said that some of the earlier ones didnt. And it did come with some paperwork. But the only way to be sure, is if I send it in. Really hoping I didnt get burned.
2) The rub mark just ahead of the lock. I understand CRK will refinish a knife - is it worth while, or will it look like this after a short time of carrying it around? Also, do they refinish the blade when you send one in? (I tried to call CRK today but they are closed) Sorry about the poor pictures, its snowing too hard to get better ones outside.
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First of all, Welcome to Bladeforums.com, and since your first post is in the CRK Forum page, its almost like your a long lost brother.....lol. Welcome Aboard.

My first sebenza was one just like you have. I still have it and will never part with it. I think mine is marked 98 or 99. I dont have it with me now to check. But its indeed BG-42. I have owned 73 CRK to date, i have had several large plain regulars and one was indeed unmarked just like yours. It was the real deal and BG-42 also. I believe the unmarked ones were made in the 96-97-98 area. I have also had sebenzas with an extra recess cut out around the lockbar, so there are differences, even within the same years of mfg..........I personally dont see tons of difference between BG42, S30V & S35VN. Some swear there is night and day differences, not me. I do know that BG-42 seems to hold a edge longer and is a little harder to sharpen, which means basically just a little more time at the sharpmaker is all, and even this is debatable because was it duller than the S30V i sharpened along side it....? The only drawback for me personally is that I like double studs and CRK will no longer put double studs on BG-42 blades. And thats even a minor point since only one of my large regulars has double studs and my edc for a long while now is a large regular CGG with a single stud.

Looking at your pics, it looks like the real deal to me. 21's are the main ones being coppied and are easy to pick out honestly when looking at a pic of a genuine CRK..........Use it and enjoy it unless you got it for safe queem purposes. I carried my first one for about 6 months before I got another with S30V and it was amazing. Every now and then, I will get it out for a tour.....lol. You will quickly find that the large regular sebenza is the best or one of the best folders ever designed. To me, its the best as many of my fellow CRK Brothers around here feel the same way.

BTW.......Since your new to the forum and kinda new to CRK, check out my CRK Timeline in the Sticky part of this page. You will find tons of CRK History there that will help you learn even more about the knife you have pictured. Look through all 3 pages ans there is lots to read.......its all just a few posts up....!!!

Enjoy...!!!
 
Wow - that's an awesome score! HIGHLY unlikely you got burned - everything looks factory correct.

Yes, CRK will re-blast the scales and stonewash (if that's what this one is) the blade if you send it in. And yes, little rub marks will show up all over the place in use; it's just the nature of the titanium. If you're going to use it, don't worry about it and give it a chance to develop come character. If you're inclined to keep it as a safe queen, this is an excellent model to do so with, although I still wouldn't have it re-finished.

Those are increasingly rare to find these days, especially in this configuration. A lot of people (including me) would call that one of their grails!
 
A surefire way to see if it's a fake or not is take it apart and if it doesn't have the heattreat coloring on the lockbar then it's a fake as non of the fakes out there are treating the lockface.

Also, to find out if it's BG42 or not, look at the blade and if it has no marking it's BG42 and if it has an "s" like mine then it is s30v which means the blade has been changed.

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Very nice first Sebenza. Indeed it is the real deal. You can send it in to get reblasted and to have the blade retumbled, but it will cost you. As for the blade not being marked, I think that process was introduced when CRK added S30V to the Sebenza lineup. Again congrats on an amazing score!
 
Thats a nice first Sebenza !

The Regular BG-42 is as good as it gets IMO. I've got a 1999 small Regular, and a large 2000 Pheasant Tail Regular, both with BG-42.
I've never used the Pheasant Tail, but have used the small often. Their BG-42 holds a good edge. I let it get very dull once to see if it would take much effort to get the edge back. It supprised me at how easy it was to sharpen, and I didn't have a problem with it at all.

If you plan to carry it I wouldn't worry about the mark. I haven't sent one in lately,but I don't think there will be a charge if you did want them to blast it.

Congrats, you've got a great one.
 
Thanks guys. I bought it to use - no safe queens here. I am primarily a fixed blade guy, but wanted a folder for something different. A part of me thinks I should send it in just for peace of mind. Real or fake.
 
My lock bar looks the same with the same different colored "triangle", but no markings on the blade itself. Are extra blades available for purchase?


Steel_Addiction said:
A surefire way to see if it's a fake or not is take it apart and if it doesn't have the heattreat coloring on the lockbar then it's a fake as non of the fakes out there are treating the lockface.

Also, to find out if it's BG42 or not, look at the blade and if it has no marking it's BG42 and if it has an "s" like mine then it is s30v which means the blade has been changed.

20130315_164038_zpse0a9072d.jpg



20130315_164319_zps804cc8b6.jpg
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double gun said:
My lock bar looks the same with the same different colored "triangle", but no markings on the blade itself. Are extra blades available for purchase?
Click to expand...

Glad to hear that, it's for sure a legit BG42 Regular!!

Congrats.

Unfortunately they no longer offer replacement blades for the Regular....

But no worries, that Seb with the BG steel should last you a lifetime!

Use it with out reserve!
 
You got a sweet score then my friend. It's BG-42 and real!
I would use it for years.
If you sent it in for a "Spa Treatment" they would likely re-blast the handles.
It doesn't matter if they reblast them or not, the handles will pick up marks through carry and use.

You picked up a great blade. I promise you'll want more lol.
 
You have what some people would think of as probably the best production folding knife of all time there, I'm one of those people. Congrats indeed on a very nice knife. :):thumbup:
 
Haze said:
You have what some people would think of as probably the best production folding knife of all time there
Click to expand...

I Am Definitely In That Group...!!! For Me, It's THE SEBENZA. I compare all others to the large regular...!!!
 
I personally consider the large & small plain regulars to be the man's best work to date. A veritable masterpiece (IMHO) & unequaled in fit & finish.

Great first CRK OP and i doubt it will be your last.
 
Thanks for all the comments guys/gals. Does anyone remember or know what these large regulars sold for new back in the late 90's?
 
double gun said:
Thanks for all the comments guys/gals. Does anyone remember or know what these large regulars sold for new back in the late 90's?
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Not sure exactly, I do know they were between $300-$400. I do remember seeing it somewhere in my CRK browsing and do believe it to be more in line between $300-$350.
 
Regs are very nice but I really don't think you can beat the fit and finsh or the Originals with their ats-34 blades, just my opinion of course, and that is a beautiful knife that you have. A Large Regular with bg42 is a close second.
 
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