Sebenza wood hard use reports/pics?

M

mcmc

Joined
Jul 27, 2006
Messages
328
Hi,

Just wondering if people could report in on Sebenza with wood inlays that they have, that they've used hard, and how they have held up? I've no doubt about the mechanical, but just wondering how the inlays have held up. And pics would be great too!

Anyone use an exotic inlay Sebenza as a daily driver/user?
 
I use my bloodwood large Sebenza 21 as my daily driver during the week. It rides in a calfskin pouch in my RF pocket.

I got it last fall - and have been carrying it on and off for a while now.

No real "hard" use - just my typical of mail, cardboard, some wood, etc.

CRK stabilizes their wood inlays - a process that makes the wood even more durable. Also - most of not all of their inlays are hard wood species.

Mine show no wear at all, and the only thing I can notice is the red has turned to more of a reddish-brown the more I handle the knife.

I had 3 sebenzas before I bought the bloodwood - two were plain jane that I sold, and the third is a cgg large 21. I like the inlaid model more as it gives you so much more grip.

I can't understand why people buy CRK knives and let them sit in a drawer - they were truly meant to be used. If you ever fouled the knife you can always send it back for spa treatment.
 
I've been edcing a small classic mammoth ivory seb for the past year and the inlays have gone from a clear white to a touch yellow, probably from my hand oils. Not a big deal, but they have changed a little.
 
It greatly depends on the wood, what amount of moisture etc.

Wood is a $material that deserves its own respect, knowing different wood and how it handles itself in different environments is an art in itself.

Given that, the wood is stabalised to stop any exsessive wear and there have been many carried by members here with years of carry. No problem.

A bit of oil now and then does any wood also good.
 
Minor note - I believe that not all are stabilized, but those that aren't don't need it.
 
i've carried a 1999 Large Annual Edition everyday since 1999 and the wood has held up exceptionally well. The inlays on mine are stablized black walnut and have not faded at all. The knife wasn't carried in a special pouch or babied in any way. For several years I worked in a composites factory where I would use the knife cut and scrape away excess material from freshly molded parts, open crates and boxes, strip wire, etc. In all of that use, the only damage that occured to the wood was a small gouge out of the piece on the back side. I recently sent the knife to CRK for the spa treatment and they were able to sand and polish the wood back to as new condition. The piece on the back does not stand quite as tall as it used too, but I am the only one who could tell.
 
Anyone know how the wood inlays are attached to the titanium scale? Do they get ever get loose/fall off?
 
Nightman, they are press fit with 2 sided 3M tape. I don't think they are going anywhere.
 
CRK machines a cavity for the slabs, then they are press fitted. In the CRK dvd you can actually hear a pop as the slab goes into place.
 
marthinus said:
CRK machines a cavity for the slabs, then they are press fitted. In the CRK dvd you can actually hear a pop as the slab goes into place.
Click to expand...

Yes, though there is a layer of 3M VHB double sided adhesive tape holding them in. There is a 3M promotional video on YouTube showing the performance of VHB tape. It ain't goin' nowhere, no time, no how. :D

Inlaid or Overlaid?

We offer three different styles of folders with wood or mammoth inlaid into the handle: The Annual Limited Edition Sebenza, the Classic Wood Inlay Sebenza and the Mnandi. The shapes are different for all these knives but the premise is the same – a pocket is machined into the handle and the wood or mammoth is inlaid into that pocket. The inlay is held in position by VHB double sided tape and the very close tolerance to which the pieces are machined. This technique results in a superior product, one that lasts far longer than one where the wood section was simply overlaid onto the titanium. Please see more detail here About Inlays.
Click to expand...
 
That is an interesting video.
I knew CRK used this tape for attaching inlays but I never really knew just what, or how good, it was. Now I do.
Thanks for sharing that.
 
marthinus said:
CRK machines a cavity for the slabs, then they are press fitted. In the CRK dvd you can actually hear a pop as the slab goes into place.
Click to expand...

Woah, didn't know such a thing as a CRK dvd existed. What do they talk about on there? Is it free, like a promo dvd of some sort?


au5t3n5 said:
I've been edcing a small classic mammoth ivory seb for the past year and the inlays have gone from a clear white to a touch yellow, probably from my hand oils. Not a big deal, but they have changed a little.
Click to expand...

Very cool. Would LOVE to see a pic of that! I think it's cool that it shift colors. Makes it more uniquely yours!


floyd said:
i've carried a 1999 Large Annual Edition everyday since 1999 and the wood has held up exceptionally well. The inlays on mine are stablized black walnut and have not faded at all. The knife wasn't carried in a special pouch or babied in any way. For several years I worked in a composites factory where I would use the knife cut and scrape away excess material from freshly molded parts, open crates and boxes, strip wire, etc. In all of that use, the only damage that occured to the wood was a small gouge out of the piece on the back side. I recently sent the knife to CRK for the spa treatment and they were able to sand and polish the wood back to as new condition. The piece on the back does not stand quite as tall as it used too, but I am the only one who could tell.
Click to expand...

Nice, thanks for that report in! That's mind-blowingly awesome that you've EDC'ed it for 13 years! Would love to see pics of that bad boy too =) What other knives does the Sebbie beat out in your daily rotation? It's good to know that the inlays don't take huge gouges or sustain other damage, even in daily use like that.


Toyz said:
I use my bloodwood large Sebenza 21 as my daily driver during the week. It rides in a calfskin pouch in my RF pocket.
...
Mine show no wear at all, and the only thing I can notice is the red has turned to more of a reddish-brown the more I handle the knife.
...
I can't understand why people buy CRK knives and let them sit in a drawer - they were truly meant to be used. If you ever fouled the knife you can always send it back for spa treatment.
Click to expand...

Cool. I did hear about the colors shifting to darker for the bloodwoods. That seems pretty cool, a nice "aging" process. You'll know my next q... any chance of sharing pics? =) Btw I totally agree about shelf-queening Sebbies. But, I guess people who can afford multiples, can't possibly carry them all.
 
And thanks for all the replies everybody! Further reports would definitely be cool. And pics would be phenomenal!
 
Chris Reeve DVD "The Exquisite Blade" The Legend of Chris Reeve Knives


If you google this and look at a knife (center) you can pick it up for $30. Covers the making of the original fixed blades and Pocket knives with some insight into what is going on. Well worth it IMO.
 
That 3M video is pretty amazing. I knew the inlays weren't coming loose, but it's cool to see it.
 
Worth every penny, IMHO. I waited for a long time to spring the cash for that - it has a few oddities, but it's well worth the coin.

marthinus said:
Chris Reeve DVD "The Exquisite Blade" The Legend of Chris Reeve Knives


If you google this and look at a knife (center) you can pick it up for $30. Covers the making of the original fixed blades and Pocket knives with some insight into what is going on. Well worth it IMO.
Click to expand...
 
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