small/large sebenza profile comparison info request

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Cliff Stamp

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For anyone who has handled or owned a small and large sebenza is the profile significantly different, specifically is the large ground thicker throughout the main grind with a heavier edge? What is the expected angle/thickness of the edge on each?

-Cliff
 
Cliff, I have both and I was dissappointed with the blade grind on the small sebbie. It more resembled a Classic profile (pointy and tapering) rather than a more spear point shaped blade of the Large Regular. I sent it back to CRK but I just got back the same blade.
This was a sore issue with me as the ads for the small sebbie show a more "large regular" shaped blade. I dislike the shape I have now.
I hope I have answered your question, let me know.
 
[small sebenza]

nuggett said:
It more resembled a Classic profile (pointy and tapering) rather than a more spear point shaped blade of the Large Regular.
Click to expand...
Yes, that is the same one I got. I thought the exact same thing when I open it, I remember the last Sebenza I had was more spear and this one is almost a clip point.

Is the hollow grind as deep on the large as it is on the small. The small is almost flat at the edge. Specifically the one I have is 0.012-0.014 at the edge and reaches 0.018" and 0.025" at 1/8 and 1/4" back from the edge.

This is really fine. I was curious if Reeve ground the large to a similar depth.

-Cliff
 
Well, I cant answer that now because I have chipped and used the blade so much, I had it reprofiled at Becks Cutlery, so it no longer is factory stock. I want to reblade it, but not with the dame clip pointed blade. FWIT, it is a very difficult knife to sharpen(S30V). I prefer my large with the older steel(something 42?)
 
The older ones were BG-42, the new ones are supposed to be easy to sharpen, that was one of the reasons Reeve used the lower hardness. However it tends to make little difference in machinability unless you go so far as to allow it to be filed and you just create a steel which is prone to burr formation and thus is harder to get a fine edge. How did you chip the edge?

Has Reeve changed the nature of the opening stud? The last one I used (years ago) had a way sharper lug. There used to be constant comments about it on the forum with people noting it was really abrasive. This one is really smooth, I can rub my finger across it with high pressure and it doesn't catch at all. The previous one I handled would have dug in deep even with slight pressure.

-Cliff
 
If this is the case (small Sebenza having more of a clip point style blade) I will forget about buying one.
 
I have no complaints about the stud, smooth an rounded, its fine as it is.
Check your email for some pics I found of my blades
 
Yeah, it works fine on this one, just have to get used to up and then out compared to the hole opening. I just recall a different lug on the previous one.

-Cliff
 
Can you tell me, specifically, the disadvantage of this profile for the small Sebenza? I have considered one and thought the large to be a bit, well, large. For EDC.
 
Cliff Stamp said:
For anyone who has handled or owned a small and large sebenza is the profile significantly different, specifically is the large ground thicker throughout the main grind with a heavier edge? What is the expected angle/thickness of the edge on each?

-Cliff
Click to expand...

Sorry, Cliff, I don't have a micrometer but can say the grind is simalarly thin in proportion to the small.

As for the blade profile on the regular models, both the large and small are slightly pointier than now than they were before Scott Cook left the company. I certainly would not consider it a clip point but the drop is just slightly steeper, again no micrometer to check an old model from a new.
 
josywales3 said:
Can you tell me, specifically, the disadvantage of this profile for the small Sebenza?
Click to expand...
The clip point removes more material from the tip making it more pointy and thus raises penetration and lowers tip strength. There is also a question of aesthetic appeal, some like the look of drops, some prefer clips. There are other issues such as back cuts which are not relevant here but will come up for clip vs drop in general.

stjames said:
I certainly would not consider it a clip point...
Click to expand...
The one I have is a clip point, a drop point forms the point by a convex arc, a clip point does so by a flat or concave arc, this one is flat. You can lay it on a flat surface and it makes contact for the entire tip.

-Cliff
 
Cliff, thanks. I, too, prefer the drop point and it was the mention of spear point in an early post that confused me a bit.

I have a Ritter Msk1 and believe it to be similar in size to a Large Sebenza, though the Sebie appears to have a slimmer grip and the Ritter a slightly smaller blade length. Still, the length might be a bit long and uncomfortable for our business and business casual dress at work.

The Ritter Mini is better suited for this. I guess I'm looking for a happy medium, without sacrificing quality. A slimmer grip on the Ritter Mk1 might do the trick. I understand the logic for the grip size on the current Ritter, but for EDC a slimmer grip profile would be nice. OR a small Sebie with it's advertised blade would be nice!
 
josywales3 said:
Cliff, thanks. I, too, prefer the drop point and it was the mention of spear point in an early post that confused me a bit.
Click to expand...
Yeah a spear point is just a drop point which is dropped so far the point is in the middle of the blade, usually the top is sharpened. As with most knife terms there is not always concrete support for any particular defination. Some will only call it a spear point unless the top is sharpened and just call it a drop point otherwise, while others find the tip placement enough to make it a spear.

A slimmer grip on the Ritter Mk1 might do the trick.
Click to expand...
This is one of the fundamental trade off points for folders. Ones with the really swelled grips like the Gerber Gator are obviously not functional for pocket carry, however really slim grips which slide in and out of the pocket well tend to be problematic in extended use due to ergonomic issues. These usually are not EDC concerns for most people though unless your work involves a lot of cutting.

-Cliff
 
Although there is no definitive authority, in some arenas a spearpoint is symetrical around the tip, while a drop point is not. A spearpoint does not have to be sharpened on both sides. A spearpoint sharpened on both sides may be called a dagger. Some knives called drop points are dropped to the center line, but the spine and blade edge are usually not symetrical. As far a clip points go, most knives called a clip point are concave, but some are straight. Usually a clip point has a longer drop from spine to tip than a drop point.
 
I have the Ritter mini, and the handle is not as thick as pictures would lead you to believe. Try it out, its an excellent pocket knife. I prefer it over the Sebenza which it somewhat emulates.
 
nuggett, thanks I have two Ritter Minis! One is yellow and came with a survival kit from the Ameridex? web site. Nice little kit and I can find the knife when I drop it. I then orderd another Mini in black for EDC. I just thought the Sebie would be a nice piece, which it is, but it might not be for me.
 
Cliff, I got the following measurements for a large and small BG42 Sebenza. The grind directly behind the edge is .012 on the large and .020 on the small. I checked my small regular S30V and small classic S30V and both were .020 . At least on the Large sebenza I own the hollow grind is thinner than any of my small Sebenza's. Larry
 
Thanks Larry, I checked with Reeve and they are suposed to be 0.020 and 0.023 respectively (small/large), so I actually got a knife ground thinner than normal for once.

-Cliff
 
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