The Alan Aragon Sebenza Thread

A

anonymous

Joined
Aug 23, 2003
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yes, my name is alan aragon, hello everyone. i'm sure this thread's been done before, but indulge me.

i started a thread in the CRK forum, directing it to CRK personel to develop a sebenza with a more "inspired" & aggressive/tactical shape silouhette. this would be a badass piece of engineering. i feel that the current one is just OKAY-looking, but it has so much potential. i'm not talking about re-creating the emerson commander in sebenza form, i'm just suggesting they lengthen the blade a bit, make it a more piercing shape, and improve the handle contour beyond the 80's volvo box shape, all while maintaining its relative simplicity & all-business vibe. in other words it's just a little TOO plain & minimalistic...

i'd like to see these changes happen sometime in the future, because i really like the manufacturing quality of reeve knives, and i like his sense of design. i just think he hasn't quite fulfilled the design potential of the sebenza, especially from an aesthetic standpoint (i'm not talking about blade & handle material options like damascus & wood inlay - i'm referring to overall shape).

the sebenzites all chimed in with "they're already backlogged, the knife can't really be improved looks-wise, the knife is essentially perfect, blah blah blah, etc, etc, etc". a CRK rep hasn't yet dropped into the thread.

i know i'm not very politically correct.

what's your honest opinion?
 
My honest opinion is that the Sebenza, in drop point or clip point, hollow-ground or flat ground, ATS-34, BG-42, or S30V is for Sebenza lovers and that, were I to buy a folder from Mr. Reeve's company, it would be a Mnandi. The Sebenzanistas may feel that you've invalidated their opinions by paraphrasing them with "blah" and "etc". Perhaps what you wrote off may contain an answer to your question?

With hundreds of people making framelocked folders in most every conceivable style, why would you need your dream knife to be done by Chris Reeve Knives and called a Sebenza? Rick Hinderer and Tom Anderson probably already make several versions of what you want. R.W. Clark may be just about to make what you're looking for and Tom Mayo probably just shipped out the knife you're talking about to someone on his mailing list. Peter Atwood is probably envisioning your design, but only much better.

Too punchy from Thanksgiving to formulate my dishonest opinion.
 
I wouldn't have purchased my Sebenza if I didn't like the product. My parents thought I was crazy for spending $120 on a Benchmade 941BC1BL...but they understood why I spent $300 on the Sebenza.
 
Originally posted by thombrogan
The Sebenzanistas may feel that you've invalidated their opinions by paraphrasing them with "blah" and "etc". Perhaps what you wrote off may contain an answer to your question?

With hundreds of people making framelocked folders in most every conceivable style, why would you need your dream knife to be done by Chris Reeve Knives and called a Sebenza? Rick Hinderer and Tom Anderson probably already make several versions of what you want. R.W. Clark may be just about to make what you're looking for and Tom Mayo probably just shipped out the knife you're talking about to someone on his mailing list. Peter Atwood is probably envisioning your design, but only much better.

Too punchy from Thanksgiving to formulate my dishonest opinion.
Click to expand...
let me make myself more clear. i LOVE the STYLE & DESIGN of other chris reeve knives, and i LOVE the manufacturing quality of his knives that i've handled.. THAT's why i want to see a slightly different (as aforementioned) version of the sebenza - a better marriage of art & function. right now the knife looks more like a tool from the wrench section of hardware store. i've seen hinderer pieces & love them, but i'll check out tom anderson & tell you what i think. so go ahead "punchy" guys, i can handle your views. by the way, i'd love to see a larger version of the mnandi.
 
Ref - original thread:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=2383486#post2383486

Originally posted by anonymous
THAT's why i want to see a slightly different (as aforementioned) version of the sebenza - a better marriage of art & function. right now the knife looks more like a tool from the wrench section of hardware store. i've seen hinderer pieces & love them, but i'll check out tom anderson & tell you what i think. so go ahead "punchy" guys, i can handle your views.
Click to expand...


The Sebbie is what it is today because there are those of us who appreciates its unique lines.

I "wear" the my Sebbies for dress occasions -- if I wanted something "tactical," I could just as easliy pull our my Striders or Extrema Ratios.

anonymous, what you're asking for is not a Sebenza any more, it's a different knife, with a different name.

Would I love for that kind of folder to be offered by CRK? Certainly !

But it would not be a Sebbie.

Any "Modern Classic" is what it is because its patrons admire its inherent qualities. The Porche 911 line is a prime example.

Change its looks, layout, etc., and it is no longer a 911.

What you do not realize is that what you want is not a "Tactical Sebenza," but instead a totally different offering from CRK. Just as you do not appreciate the Sebbies, there are just as many who do not consider your aesthetics to be to their tastes, either.

What you want is simply a different knife from CRK, not a bastardized Sebbie.

Allen
aka DumboRAT
 
OK, I'll bite. I'd like to see something similar to what you're suggesting, but I don't think it's likely to happen. Chris Reeve is in the enviable position of filling a niche market with a quality product that has a large and loyal following. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Making a significant change to the Sebenza's shape would probably put a big dent in his sales, because it's a bona-fide classic in the knife world and you don't mess with a classic. There's no need for CRK to get into the "new and improved" game because they are already considered to be the best. That's my take on the situation. It would be nice to see something like what you describe introduced as a new model though.
 
Well said Tom.:D
I'm one of those who said not to change the Sebbie. Another model from CRK? HELL YEAH! I don't think there is a single Sebenzanista who would complain about that. Personally, I'd like to see CRK drop some of the fixed blade models in favor of more folders.
.....a CRK slip-joint.....now that's one I'd really love to see.:cool:

Paul
 
Alan, I will agree with you in theory -- but not in practice. It is important to reiterate: Chris Reeve has his hands full just keeping up with the standard designs. Look at the large and small, classic and regular Sebenza, the Mnandi, and the one-piece line. He tried for a flat-grind and wasn't happy with the results in relation to the necessary effort involved. There are a few large and small tanto Sebenzas on the regular frame (my EDC!)

What would it take for you to be happy? I think a bit of tweaking on the frame, making the handle sleeker and the blade pointier, maybe more like the classic, a deep index finger choil ... it would be a beautiful variation on a solid, hard-working knife design.

As a business decision, would it bring in a lot of new devotees? Would it sell in addition to, or in place of knives already popular with a loyal following?

As a philosphical decision, is Chris Reeve a combat knife maker? Sebenza means "work" not "war". If he goes for new designs, there are a lot of more likely directions than tactical. I'm with Paul on that last suggestion: a slipjoint would be incredible. Also, a rotary lock, like the old one that came up a few months ago.

I don't object to your thinking, but I don't think it's practical for the company as it stands.
 
good input folks. i see your cases & where your explanations are valid & make sense.

maybe sometime in the future CRK will come up with a folder more along the lines of the mnandi with a little more "grrr" & a larger size. i'll get a fund set for that. till then i'll keep getting the goods from the other makers.
 
anonymous,

Have you thought of perhaps having artisans who customize knives work on a production Sebbie for you to get it to the specs and cosmetics that you desire?

:)

Allen
aka DumboRAT
 
Originally posted by DumboRAT
anonymous,

Have you thought of perhaps having artisans who customize knives work on a production Sebbie for you to get it to the specs and cosmetics that you desire?

:)

Allen
aka DumboRAT
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would that artisan be YOU, mr rat? if so, drop some contact info. thx
 
It just could be that in CR's honest opinion, the current design is the perfect design, he may be correct in broad terms, so to him, anything different would be a step down, and I get the impression Mr. R is a perfectionist who prides himself and his design on being as good as possible, and won't add/change something unless he believes its an improvement. Just as I think if he ever came to truly believe a modification to the Sebenza would be an improvement, I think he'd do it just as easily.
 
anonymous

No, no -- I'm not that talented by far.

:)

Just pointing a route which you can pursue to get the knife that's just right for you.

:)

Allen
aka DumboRAT
 
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