Small Sebenza 21 Micarta with Polished Scales. Unusual Combination?

[DrakeWood]

I purchased my first CRK knife on the secondary market from a seller living in Japan. After the deal was done I learned that CRK does not offer the combination of micarta and polished scales in the Sebenza 21. (Should have done my research)

I instantly suspected a counterfeit and shipped the blade straight to CRK after it arrived from Japan.

Luckily for me it was genuine and CRK reissued a birth card (2012) and informed me that all parts and pieces are authentic CRK. The assumption is the previous owner had the scales polished on his own. I tend to think he switched inlays?

Has anyone come across this Sebenza 21 combination before?

Thank you!

Edit - Added pics with a large standard micarta and an original for comparison.

 

[Zeta33]

He did not switch the inlays. Those are just micarta inlay scales that have been polished. Looks good! Will you leave it as is, or have it reblasted by CRK? Did you have CRK install the gold stud and lanyard pin, or did the previous owner?

 

[DrakeWood]

I plan on leaving the scales polished. The knife came with the gold lanyard pin and thumb stud. I do not know if they are original or not. I had a lanyard added at CRK later. I'll attach a couple more pictures to the original post soon. Thank you for the input!

 

[Officer's Match]

I'd say you have good taste.

 

[stevelenti]

Very cool lighting and color on that last picture.

-Steve

 

[DrakeWood]

Thank you Officers Match!
I knew there would be others out there! Nice photos! Did you do the polishing?

 

[Ernie1980]

Interesting look! Officer's Match, did you polish the scales? If so, how did you do it??

 

[Officer's Match]

Thanks guys, I bought it that way with the intentions of doing my first blast job for myself, but once it landed I decided I love the look. I did wash the micarta as it was dark, but that too looked good IMHO:

 

[sutherland]

The Micarta Inlays look SO MUCH BETTER on the Polished Scales, IMHO.

 

[Officer's Match]

The Micarta Inlays look SO MUCH BETTER on the Polished Scales, IMHO.

I'd call mine more scotchbrite than polished, but yeah, I do like the look.