Sebenza Surprise? (Glass Blasted Sprint Run)

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Modernflame

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I received my large 31 tanto with the glass blasted scales recently. I'm surprised by it. Hard to be surprised by a Sebenza after having owned half a dozen, but the glass blasting feels like an upgrade to me. I don't mind the standard bead blasting but I've heard others complain about the chalky feel. None of that here. Also, the marriage of the american tanto shape with the hollow grind is majestic. The knife is thinner behind the edge at the corner than the drop point is at the corresponding point on the belly. What a cutting tool. I was expecting a reinforcing rib of steel behind the corner, like so many others. I'm delighted by its absence.

The factory knife sharpener dude did a fine job. Both edges are sharp and the bevels are symmetrical. Call me crazy but I still think that convex edges are out of place on a folder, but that's one person's opinion. Regardless, the convex sharpening job does mean that the two edges meet in something that's less of a corner and more of a bubble. Amusing. I'll fix it later.

I'm interested in the community's thoughts on this sprint run. What do you think?

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I think the Reeve Tantos are fantastic. I own a ‘Zaan and small 21.

One of the things I liked about the OG bead blasting was that, at least when fresh, it had an almost metal-flake appearance in certain lighting. Do the glass blasted scales do that?
 
BD_01 said:
I think the Reeve Tantos are fantastic. I own a ‘Zaan and small 21.

One of the things I liked about the OG bead blasting was that, at least when fresh, it had an almost metal-flake appearance in certain lighting. Do the glass blasted scales do that?
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Not as much. The glass blasted finish is flatter, smoother. You don't get the flakes, but you get remarkable consistency and something pleasant to touch. Seems to be somewhat more durable, which may not be spellbinding if you think of the scales as a canvass for snail trails. I like both finishes, but I think I prefer glass blasted.
 
I wish the interior of the handle was glass basted and the outside was standard sand blast. Interior wouldn’t attract anything and the exterior would have that amazing grip. Just me dreaming… Tim let’s do it!
 
The glass blasted finish looks brighter to me and I don't care for it as much at first glance. I'd probably have to see one in person to really know for sure. It almost looks half way between the other two previous options.
 
The overall difference in color and brightness doesn't amount to much unless you're holding them side by side. It's more about texture. The glass blasted finish is definitely smoother than the bead blasting, but even that distinction may fade with time. While I don't mind the chalky feeling of the sand blasting, I prefer the feeling of the new finish.
 
I like the glass blasted finish because it is smoother and it looked brighter in person. I passed on a large insingo at my local dealer last week then changed my mind and called him today, but it was already gone. I then spent most of the day today searching the interwebs for one and managed to get a large and a small Tanto 31. Other than those 2 and the overpriced ones on eBay, there is still a large insingo and a small Tanto out there at 2 different dealers.
 
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