Stonewashing Sebenza Handles?

chadridv

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Dec 7, 2009
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prelude

I'd like to prelude this thread by mentioning i recently stumbled across a thread discussing and debating, the reasoning of reversing sebenza pins and screws.

I mention this thread because before i go onto my topic, i want to talk about a post in that thread that really stuck with me. Someone state their opinion as to why they leave their pins original and as is. It was very simply stated that, (forgive me for not quoting) he leaves his pins as is, because that is how Chris Reeve designed the knife, and who is he to challenge Chris Reeve.

I admit, i reversed the pins on my sebenza the first day i got it, but i really REALLY respect and agree with that author's post. i want to be clear that everything i mention wanting to try or do, is not to take away from my utmost respect and admiration for the design and finish of the sebenza, and more importantly Chris Reeve.

I mention all this as a prelude for 2 reasons...
1. It is worth mentioning.
2. I am not looking for a debate here, I'm just looking for advice, information and answers to some questions. If you don't agree with modifying your sebenza or changing the finish of the titanium, please start your own thread.

Let's begin...

It's pretty simple, I'm thinking of stonewashing my large regular sebenza handles. My full idea is to tumble the handles, and order bead-blasted screws and pins from CRK, as opposed to the standard polished ones.
(btw- i've never actually seen those pins, if you have them on your sebenza can you post a pic? - thanks!)

So a good friend of mine is just about finishing some early stages of becoming, IMO an extremely talented knife maker. He has some pretty cool gear and equipment to do so. My favorite thing is his tumbler. below is the result of my first idea in modification. pics of a stonewashed TAD Gear E-Key.

here are my questions...

has anyone does this before with a plain sebenza? if so, got any pics?

Is there any technical reason i should not attempt this modification?

Will it negatively affect the functionality of the knife in anyway?
(keep in mind the tumbler uses small triangular pieces of ceramic, which really do not compare in hardness to titanium, they're essentially just making thousands of tiny scratches)

Any other advice or info that may be useful for me while considering this modification, please share.

Thank you!

TAD Key before
tadskeyv20ekd16501.jpg

after
img0113version2.jpg
 
I say go ahead and do it! I tried this on my Benchmade Pinnacle handles, and it spent a long time in the tumbler. Granted, the tumbler I put it in was primarily used for aluminum, so it may have had a softer medium. I found that it helps to sand the titanium pretty smooth first, too. The bead blasted finish seemed to take forever to "fade" away from the tumbling of my Benchmade.
 
I like the stonewashed look, depending on the tumbling media. some are nicer than others. it helps when the original surface is smooth and prepped.
 
If you want a tumbled finish like the one you see on the CRK blades you will need to give the handles a clean satin finish first, or it will just look like a "dirty" beadblast finish. You also might want to mask the lock face and other contact points. I very much doubt a stone wash will remove enough material to cause things to go out of spec. but there is no harm in keeping things tight. (I used it for some parts done in the shop to clean them up and remove burrs etc. after machining).

While I realise you don't want or much care about my oppinion on the subject I will give it to you any way :p IMO a tumbled blade with tumbled handles will give the knife too much of the same finish, a satin or beadblasted blade would look much better with stone washed handles. If you feel you will like the full tumbled finish then of course that is a pluss for you. :):thumbup:
 
......
While I realise you don't want or much care about my oppinion on the subject I will give it to you any way :p IMO a tumbled blade with tumbled handles will give the knife too much of the same finish, a satin or beadblasted blade would look much better with stone washed handles. If you feel you will like the full tumbled finish then of course that is a pluss for you. :):thumbup:

agree 100%:thumbup:, but one way out of the total uniformity is to anodize the handle to a different colour.

personally I prefer to "melt" the handles, apply an orange peel finish and anodize it to a grey-brown.....

or my favourite...to texturise it.

here's a blast from my past:(:

bogie005.jpg


sebbie015.jpg
 
Those bead blasted screws and pins look great. I'd say stone wash all the way. Then anodize that shit purple and carbidize a dragon and some skulls on the face.
(foot in mouth)
 
Since it's your knife, your opinion is the only one that matters. If you like the look, go for it.
 
While I realise you don't want or much care about my oppinion on the subject I will give it to you any way :p IMO a tumbled blade with tumbled handles will give the knife too much of the same finish, a satin or beadblasted blade would look much better with stone washed handles. If you feel you will like the full tumbled finish then of course that is a pluss for you. :):thumbup:

no i very much appreciate your opinion on this, and i will take that into consideration. My whole rant in the beginning was to repel fanatics who think you're slapping CRK in the face by doing cosmetic mods. btw-I'm not saying loving your sebenza original and as is, makes you a fanatic.

anyway thanks.

and thanks everyone else too for the comments and advice!
 

Those bead blasted screws and pins look great. I'd say stone wash all the way. Then anodize that shit purple and carbidize a dragon and some skulls on the face.
(foot in mouth)

bead blasted screws and pins where? did i miss them? are they in this pic above? It's hard to tell being bead blasted metal in low light looks identical to the grain of high film speed.
 
Chad,
I think its a fantastic idea all the way, Go for it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:D:D:D Rick :D:D:D
 
Nice job Chad. I'm glad you took a shot at this. If CR offered it, my preferred combo would be a polished blade, double silver thumb lugs, and stonewashed slabs. Oh yeah!:thumbup:
 
Now that it has been brought up, I actually agree that there can be too much stonewash. Contrast, in my opinion, makes a knife more visually appealing.
 
Those stonewashed handles look good! but personally I think the simple rubdown method gives a more natural contrasted result, like the previous poster said
 
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