Sebenza Hollow Grind

kawr

kawr

Joined
Jun 22, 2010
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Are there people out there that would prefer a FFG on the Sebenza rather than the hollow grind? I dont want to make this FFG vs hollow grind debate but I just dont see the point in using a hollow grind on a 385 dollar utility knife. Does Chris Reeve do it to save cost or does he actually prefer hollow grind and whats the reasoning behind it. Isn't a more robust edge preferable in a hard use knife? I'm only asking this because Strider knives are all FFG while Sebenzas are not. If Sebenza had a FFG it would make it an easy choice for me between Strider and Sebenza.
 
There is a purpose to every decision that Chris Reeve makes regarding any aspect of his knives, nothing he does is to cut costs thats why you pay the premium. In my own experience with my sebenza the hollow ground blade makes for an excellent cutting knife.
 
The hollow grind makes the Sebenza a very good slicer. While it is an extremely tough folder it excells at what it designed for, cutting.
 
kawr said:
Are there people out there that would prefer a FFG on the Sebenza rather than the hollow grind? I dont want to make this FFG vs hollow grind debate but I just dont see the point in using a hollow grind on a 385 dollar utility knife. Does Chris Reeve do it to save cost or does he actually prefer hollow grind and whats the reasoning behind it. Isn't a more robust edge preferable in a hard use knife? I'm only asking this because Strider knives are all FFG while Sebenzas are not. If Sebenza had a FFG it would make it an easy choice for me between Strider and Sebenza.
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A well done hollow grind can cut extremely well, and a FFG can sometimes not. Take for example the Gayle Bradley by Spyderco vs. a Strider SNG. The GB slices better than the SNG.

From what I've seen and cut with my buddy's regular sebenza the hollow grind works fine on it. Out of the Box the Sebenza will slice better than an SNG.

EDIT: I also like the aesthetics of the hollow grind on the sebenza, suits it well.
 
Buy the FFG Strider and see how it cuts compared to the hollow ground Seb... heheheheee.

Not a fan boy of either Strider or the Seb, just sayin' based on personal experience. The CRK knives I have are far better slicers.
 
Reeve decided upon a high, hollow ground for a couple of reasons 1) it makes a better slicer, and 2) it extends the life of the blade as it is sharpened over a lifetime :thumbup:
 
arjung said:
Take for example the Gayle Bradley by Spyderco vs. a Strider SNG. The GB slices better than the SNG.

Out of the Box the Sebenza will slice better than an SNG.
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Big_Red said:
Buy the FFG Strider and see how it cuts compared to the hollow ground Seb... heheheheee.
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It is not just hollow vs. flat. There is also the dependence on stock thickness, blade width, primary grind angle, thickness behind the edge, and edge angle. A comparison to Strider magnifies these differences. I do not think such a large difference would be noticed if compared to something like a Stretch II.
 
DallasSTB said:
Reeve decided upon a high, hollow ground for a couple of reasons 1) it makes a better slicer, and 2) it extends the life of the blade as it is sharpened over a lifetime :thumbup:
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Your first point is kind of moot because lots of people would argue an FFG can be a better slicer, especially when you have to cut completely through an object. Now if your second point is true then thats really cool and makes the hollow grind worth it just for that one reason :D. Just curious how exactly does a hollow grind extend the life a blade? Is it because of the extra steel a hollow grind has compared to the FFG?
 
kawr said:
Your first point is kind of moot because lots of people would argue an FFG can be a better slicer, especially when you have to cut completely through an object. Now if your second point is true then thats really cool and makes the hollow grind worth it just for that one reason :D. Just curious how exactly does a hollow grind extend the life a blade? Is it because of the extra steel a hollow grind has compared to the FFG?
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A high hollow grind means the blade is a uniform thickness over a sizeable portion of it's width (from the edge to spine). As the edge is repeatedly sharpened over time, the edge bevel will remain relatively the same width at the same edge angle, because the steel thickness stays more or less the same. This also requires less steel to be removed to maintain the same edge angle. Less steel removed per sharpening = longer blade life.

A FFG blade gets thicker as you move from edge towards the spine. To maintain the same edge angle, the bevel would have to get progressively wider with repeated sharpenings, meaning you'd be removing larger and larger amounts of steel, with each sharpening, to maintain the same edge angle. More steel removed per sharpening = shorter blade life.
 
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Though a Sebenza is hollow ground, it's like saying a Jeep Wrangler could be a family car. It is technically hollow ground, but it is so high and shallow that it is basically a FFG with a very thin edge for a long ways. I really like how my Sebenza slices, cuts, dices, etc. I would be disappointed if they ever changed it.

I for one have never been slicing anything and thought: "I sure do wish this blade was FFG". It seems to make difference theoretically, but when it comes down to actual use, I don't notice it. It's like the ergos on a knife, they are great/poor in a hammer grind, but look at your hand next time you're using a knife and it's usually a lot different than when you hold it in the store to check the "ergos".
 
There once was a large Flat Grind Sebenza in BG42. They made less than 200 (about 130?). If you search you should be able to see one. You may even find one you can buy.
 
Thank you to Obsessed with Edges for exactly the right explanation worded much better than I am able. And CR did experiment with a few flat grind Seb's early in this decade, but decided (in his opinion of course) the high hollow ground fit the Sebenza's intended purpose better.
 
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JB in SC said:
Tom Krein's Sebenza re-grinds are superb, puts it in another class.
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I agree. I love mine.

P1010034-1.jpg
 
Ookpik said:
There once was a large Flat Grind Sebenza in BG42. They made less than 200 (about 130?). If you search you should be able to see one. You may even find one you can buy.
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True. Here is one (not mine!)

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Chris Reeve did experiment with the flat grind but as far as I know was not to impressed with it for what he felt the Sebenza was designed and made for.

On a side note, not all Striders are Fully FG. you get 3/4 grinds, and others on different knives you just have to search to find them.

For what its worth, my first larger knife a kershaw 1044 was a hollow grind and since then and experimenting with multitude of grinds it is still my favorite grind.

See if you kind find a book called "The Complete Encyclopedia of Knives" by A. E. Hartink. There is a small portion on grinds in there and you can see the difference in hollow, flat, semi-hollow and straight v grind (or as I would call it fully flat grind). Many of Spydercos new Fully FG blades like on the Para and Military I would call a straight v grind with a secondary bevel based on pictures and descriptions of the book.

The Straight V grind reads as follows: "Unlike the 'flat grind' described above, the blade tapers from the back of the blade to the cutting edge in one angle and in a straght (but tapered) line on either side of the blade" (Hartink, 1999, p.23)
 
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