Sebenzas, Old vs New

B

Bob45

Joined
Dec 20, 2003
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I have both a large and a small Sebenza that I got in the early 90's. I think they are BG-42. I like them both, but don't carry the small at all as I prefer larger knives. I have carried and used the large enough that it had to go back to the shop for a new lock side scale due to vertical blade play. I see lots of threads on here where people seem to prefer the older knives over the newer models. I really like the looks of the 25, and am thinking of trying to sell the small and put the money toward a 25. What are the differences between the older knives and the newer ones? Is the BG-42 a better steel than what is used now? Is there much of a market for a small BG-42 that is in good shape other than the usual stone wash pocket wear?
 
I would say if you have a small Regular with BG-42 steel that you could easily sell or find someone willing to trade for a 25.
 
My Lg Seb is a BG42 blade and has been my EDC for over 14 yrs.
Best 'pocket' knife that I have ever owned in my 63 years of life!
LG
 
I have most of them. P, Regular, Classic, 21, 25. All are great. My fav still remains the Large Regulars as I just personally feel its the greatest folding knife ever designed. Its nice and rounded, fits the hand like a custom made glove. I have them in BG-42 and S30V. For me, S30V has always been my favorite, but I have also had the most experience with it. BG-42 is amazing as well and they are highly sought after. Just as I love the Large Regulars, others love the Small's. I have a few smalls, just dont carry them is all. You should have NO Problem just selling a small BG-42 outright and be able to purchase a 25. You may even have a few $$ left over.
 
I prefer the slightly older models myself.
The Regulars are my favorites(carry a 1997 small and large BG-42), but I also love the Classics.
Regulars and Classics are all I have. One Regular is a 2011 annual, but my next newest is a 2006 Micarta Classic.
Bought a 21 once but sent it back. Didn't care for the screws, or the slightly heavier detent(since my thumb surgery).

I like the older highly polished screws, and especially the low profile clip screw. Small screw for the small, and a larger one for the large models. They now use the same clip screw(domed and not well polished) on all of the Sebenza's.
I also like the lines around the Ti scales on the pre 05 Regulars, and like the MM stamping, screws, slightly weaker detent, and slightly thicker tip on the Classics(over a 21).

I'm don't think I will ever buy a Sebenza without the pivot system, and kind of doubt I'll buy any more other than a Classic or Regular.
 
I have a large that I bought in 1995. It has no clip and birth date is august 1995. Would this be referred to as an 'original'? I'm not sure what steel it is on this one. I do love the knife though. It is still basically new though it has a few slight carry marks.
 
Like others have said, you should have no trouble selling a small BG-42. Personally, I never had experience with it but from what I can gather, S30V and S35V are step up in terms of performance. Though I can't argue the original "regular" sebenza's are IMHO the most beautiful hard use folder design ever, the Sebenza 25 does have some stark advantages. These stark advantages are so strong that I have yet to find a 3.5" folder which can hang with it in terms of combination of quality, ergonomics, weight, and carrying ability. I have narrowed it down to 3 and 3. 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages. Most all are subjective so take what you will and compare them to your personal preferences in a folder. Here they are.....

Sebenza 25 is King-


Disadvantages - 1. The pivot. Prefer the same size pivot to match the handle hardware and simplify disassembly
2. The bushings. The regular and Sebenza 21 bushing system is proven and perfect, why change what works so well?
3. The blade thickness and handle thickness. The regular and Sebenza 21 have the perfect thickness for a 3.5" folder to minimize weight, improve strength, and easiest cutting ability.


Advantages - 1. The ergonomics. In short, it is the most comfortable in-hand design of any folder for most medium sized hands.
2. The ceramic ball. This little ingenious invention took smoothness to a new level in the action department that bests any other frame lock folder.
3. The blade grind. This new grind all in itself combines the strength of a flat grind with slicing tendency of a hollow grind. Even though the blade stock is thicker, the knife cuts even better.
 
UrFrndlyNebrhoodS said:
Like others have said, you should have no trouble selling a small BG-42. Personally, I never had experience with it but from what I can gather, S30V and S35V are step up in terms of performance. Though I can't argue the original "regular" sebenza's are IMHO the most beautiful hard use folder design ever, the Sebenza 25 does have some stark advantages. These stark advantages are so strong that I have yet to find a 3.5" folder which can hang with it in terms of combination of quality, ergonomics, weight, and carrying ability. I have narrowed it down to 3 and 3. 3 advantages and 3 disadvantages. Most all are subjective so take what you will and compare them to your personal preferences in a folder. Here they are.....



Sebenza 25 is King-


Disadvantages - 1. The pivot. Prefer the same size pivot to match the handle hardware and simplify disassembly
2. The bushings. The regular and Sebenza 21 bushing system is proven and perfect, why change what works so well?
3. The blade thickness and handle thickness. The regular and Sebenza 21 have the perfect thickness for a 3.5" folder to minimize weight, improve strength, and easiest cutting ability.


Advantages - 1. The ergonomics. In short, it is the most comfortable in-hand design of any folder for most medium sized hands.
2. The ceramic ball. This little ingenious invention took smoothness to a new level in the action department that bests any other frame lock folder.
3. The blade grind. This new grind all in itself combines the strength of a flat grind with slicing tendency of a hollow grind. Even though the blade stock is thicker, the knife cuts even better.
Click to expand...

After you handle a Regular Seby BG42.
You'll re-write that list--:D
LG

PS-My reg Seby has the ceramic ball
 
25 is my favorite Sebenza, for the variety of things I cut, the 25 has been much better at edge retention/edge strength..The ceramic ball makes it much easier to open and close, lock up is vault like, everything just clicks in place with authority. ..And strong detent without sticky lock sore thumb syndrome. .
 
lumpy grits said:
Mine came with it.
Handle date stamp of C 00.
LG
Click to expand...

When the replaced the detent in the first one, they told me the approximate changeover period. I don't really remember it, but that sounds familiar. In the mid-90s the detent balls were steel.
 
The mid 90s featured ats34 steel, not bg42. I had a 95 small and it came with a polished ats blade. For the OP:

Do you have the birth cards somewhere? Can you post some pictures, I would like to see them:)
 
Do they have a date code inside?. I haven't had them apart in a long time. I'll take some pictures tomorrow. I should really sell the small. I haven't carried it in years.
 
Bob45 said:
Do they have a date code inside?. I haven't had them apart in a long time. I'll take some pictures tomorrow. I should really sell the small. I haven't carried it in years.
Click to expand...

The slabs should have a letter and year stamped. I don't know if ATS34 blades were stamped. I know that if the blade has no stamp, it is BG42. To get top dollar, you need to have the original box with paperwork. I'm sure you can get close to top dollar without the box/paperwork. If you decide to sell, include pics of the knife apart showing the slab stamps and blade to prove it's from that period, that's if you don't have the paperwork. I know I'll be looking out for it. :)

BG42 has a higher hardness than the S35VN, so it will hold an edge longer. I like the S35VN for toughness and ease of touch up. I currently have 5 25's, if that's any indication of how much I like the 25. The stop pin is a little tricky, it has a flat spot that has to be in the right position or the blade will not close. The washers have a tab on them, so you have to be careful not to bend them. You can over tighten the pivot, unlike the 21 with the bushing system.
you may want to read some other threads about the 25 to see how other folks view it. I might be a little bias toward the 25(or a lot)
 
Last edited:
Ernie1980 said:
The mid 90s featured ats34 steel, not bg42. I had a 95 small and it came with a polished ats blade. For the OP:

Do you have the birth cards somewhere? Can you post some pictures, I would like to see them:)
Click to expand...

Mine are BG-42 made in '96 and '97. I have the cards and the boxes and even the CRK post-its that came with the knives.
 
I took my small Sebenza apart and the date code is A97, so I guess I was wrong about when I purchased it. With that in mind, what is the steel on this knife? I don't have the box or the card.
 
Bob45 said:
I took my small Sebenza apart and the date code is A97, so I guess I was wrong about when I purchased it. With that in mind, what is the steel on this knife? I don't have the box or the card.
Click to expand...

BG-42. If no blade swap has been done that is. Unmarked blade will be BG-42.
They started using BG-42 in the last quarter of 1996.
The first date code used by CRK is A97(but you won't see many with A97), as yours is. I have one just like it.

Rarely hear of an A97.
 
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