Sebenza or Spyderco??

[u812]

I wonder if South Africans quit buying Sebenzas when Chris moved to Idaho?

I am guessing they did as I think the band on trade with South Africa was still in place then.

 

[65535]

I see RIL thrown up a lot in this thread but I find it hard to believe he really designed that frame lock

 

[ExMachina]

I see RIL thrown up a lot in this thread but I find it hard to believe he really designed that frame lock

believe it or not, he invented the frame lock (think it was initially called the "monolock")

 

[Joshua J.]

All knives that use the concept of the lock bar being the same piece of metal as the handle scale use the Reeve Integral Lock. Chris Reeve came up the the idea, it's his invention and it should be called by it's inventors name.

Similar to the "Diesel" engine, or more fittingly the "Bowie" knife.

True, not all inventions are named after their makers. The knife industry is small enough that it's nice to be a little more personable about people's contributions.

 

[Josh K]

believe it or not, he invented the frame lock (think it was initially called the "monolock")

I'm pretty sure that "monolock" is just what Benchmade calls it, for whatever reason I have no idea.

 

[ExMachina]

I'm pretty sure that "monolock" is just what Benchmade calls it, for whatever reason I have no idea.

yeah, that sounds correct now that you mention it...CRK always refers to the lock as an (cough) "integral lock"

 

[JNewell]

[Spyderco Fanboy Shield]

Well spotted.

People pay premiums today to get cameras, watches and cars (among other things) that were made in Japan. The Seki City Spydercos are not only really well made, they are a great value. I'm having trouble thinking of anything significant the Taiwanese have done lately on a political, economic or ethnic front that would justify boycotting them, other than not being American. But sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Sometimes it's pretty hard to discern any kind of consistentlyy-applied principle when people get talking about what they will and won't do.

It'd be worth going back and searching for Sal's comments on their Tainwanese production.

In any case, the Sebenza vs Spyderco comparison is always going to have a big apples-to-oranges problem. CR's production volume is low enough that you probably can label it custom. Spyderco, obviously, is a large-scale production operation. Considered within their own context, both are superior knifemakers - just different markets.

 

[MORIMOTOM]

I see RIL thrown up a lot in this thread but I find it hard to believe he really designed that frame lock

if you can verify that anyone else was using a framelock at or before the time crk began using it, we'll listen.

 

[missin_hobo]

I have a Spyderco or two. I plan to buy more.
Want to try a Millie out with my own two hands.

I have a handful of Chris's knives. I plan to buy more.
Maybe something lavish when I can afford it.

The spydercos can easily compete on terms of day-to-day performance. They cannot compete on terms of fit and finish, however impeccable they are in their own right.

Few knives can.

The tolerances on a Sebenza are tight to within a few thousandths of an inch. They don't wear the same way as other knives do. Their designs are so simple, but with several very subtle innovations in exactly the right places. For the first few weeks of owning one, you'll notice something you didn't notice before every time you pick it up. This is the measure of a good knife. This is why it is considered a yardstick for folding knives. This where a lot of the price is justified. Personally, I think it's worth it.

Another note:
My Reeves and my Spydercos get more or less equal amounts of use, and I work on my feet so that's saying something. But y'know what? I intuit that in fifty years, I'm not even going to wonder where my Spydercos went, but the Reeves I'll be giving to my grandkids.

Maybe I'll save a few to be buried with what a dangerous zombie I could be...

 

[JNewell]

Back to the OP's original question, the answer IMO is no, Spyderco does not make anything that is strictly comparable to the Sebenza on the same level, but you might want to consider value. As everyone here would probably agree, knives (like many things) are subject to the law of diminishing returns. Smaller and smaller incremental improvements come at increasing and disproportionate cost. A Sage does not feel like a Sebenza.

While we're talking about country of origin, a question and a point.

The point is that I'm not sure we know what "Made in US" means? At what point should it say "Assembled in US from US and foreign components" or something like that?

The question is: how many people could pick up a Sage, a Delica, a Caly and a Native and (without looking or previously knowing) identify quality differences based on country of origin?

 

[Sal Glesser]

I see RIL thrown up a lot in this thread but I find it hard to believe he really designed that frame lock

Hi 65535,

I have a knife that Chris made prior to his making the "Integral lock". He called it his "lock 45" (late 70's). The integral lock evolved from the lock 45.

Chris had been refining and improving his knives for many years. I think that Chris Reeve Knives are in a class by themselves.

sal

 

[Lycosa]

And that's real talk. ^

 

[ExMachina]

Hi 65535,

I have a knife that Chris made prior to his making the "Integral lock". He called it his "lock 45" (late 70's). The integral lock evolved from the lock 45.

Chris had been refining and improving his knives for many years. I think that Chris Reeve Knives are in a class by themselves.

sal

would love to see a pic of this early Reeve knife/lock

 

[u812]

Guys I do have to say this,while not exactly there on the fit and finish Spyderco did make one knife that came VERY close to the Sebenza in fit,feel and look.If they remade that knife into a RIL,updated the pivot with bronze washers,maybe give a choice in blade styles and left everything else the same they would be about as close as you can get.
That knife was the Ti Lum Tanto.
See how close the designs are.Sorry that was the largest pic I could find of the Ti Lum.
I think the if Chris used the Lum scale shape on a Sebenza it would make for a great feeling knife.

 

[Sal Glesser]

would love to see a pic of this early Reeve knife/lock

Maybe I can send it off to Paul for some of his great shots?

(feel like you're being put on the spot? )

sal

 

[The Deacon]

Maybe I can send it off to Paul for some of his great shots?

(feel like you're being put on the spot? )

sal

Nope, it's always an honor and a pleasure Sal.

 

[Haze]

Guys I do have to say this,while not exactly there on the fit and finish Spyderco did make one knife that came VERY close to the Sebenza in fit,feel and look.If they remade that knife into a RIL,updated the pivot with bronze washers,maybe give a choice in blade styles and left everything else the same they would be about as close as you can get.
That knife was the Ti Lum Tanto.
See how close the designs are.Sorry that was the largest pic I could find of the Ti Lum.
I think the if Chris used the Lum scale shape on a Sebenza it would make for a great feeling knife.

The tanto Umnumzaan looks very much like the Lum tanto.

 

[wally@ferguson]

Sal;

Thanks for being the Spyderco" Myth Buster "

Not hard to believe any more.

 

[BlazenGem]

Sal,

Every post you make just adds integrity and even more future buyers of Spyderco.

 

[Geoff]

would love to see a pic of this early Reeve knife/lock

Here it is: