stjames
Sebenzanista
- Joined
- Oct 26, 1998
- Messages
- 6,465
Sebenzas History!!
We introduced the large Sebenza in 1990. These early Sebenzas were pretty much hand made - in so far as each handle and blade was cut out individually and profiled by hand on the grinder. They were all marked H followed by a serial number.
In mid-1991, we entered the rather scary world of computer controlled machines and bought a CNC machining center. At the time, it was a major step financially and we were not sure whether it would do what we wanted it to do! The rationale behind this was to enable us to produce more knives (and keep the cost reasonable) and to ensure that our tolerances were kept very tight. Machining on the mill ensures that the holes are in exactly the right place, the profile is exactly how we want it.
We reduced the thickness of the titanium for the handle and altered the blade shape slightly. These knives were marked P as in production to distinguish them from H as in handmade. There has been quite a bit of misrepresentation that the P stands for prototype.
The blades were then, and are still today, hand ground, even though the outline (or profile) is machined on the CNC. Two years ago, we progressed to a larger machining center and are constantly reducing our tolerances!
The "H" or "P" is engraved into the titanium handle next to our CR logo.
Anne Reeve, 10/26/98
We stopped putting the P onto the handles because it had little significance any longer. And it did prevent the misconception that the knife was a prototype.
Anne Reeve, 10/28/98
Small Sebenza was introduced in the later part of 1993.
We started to change over to the new profile around April/May 1996. The first time the new profile had a bunch of publicity was the front cover of Tactical Knives issue of Fall 1996 which was available in July that year.
The intention was that the new profile should be available with BG42 but we experienced problems getting BG42 in time. So for a very short time, we made new profile Sebenzas with ATS 34 blades.
Once we got the BG42 in, all the blades of the regular models were stonewashed, unless requested otherwise. Decorated and specials continue to be finished with a polished hollow grind.
Along the way there have been crossovers so the above dates are not absolute.
The in-house batching numbers - eg A99 - indicate simply when that run of handles was done. You could have a 98 batch "born" or completed in 1999. But that's really getting technical!
- Anne Reeve, 09/10/99
"Almost every "new" thing in life has "probably been done before". There have been claims that knives with an integral type of lock were made before the Sebenza but to date, I have not seen any of them. I made the first Sebenza in 1987 and all I know about prior knives with a similar lock is hearsay. At the 1987 show of the Knifemakers Guild of Southern Africa, the Sebenza won the award for best folding knife.
At Chris Reeve Knives, we have popularized and perfected the Sebenza Integral Lock© and it is this for which our company is best known. Chris Reeve Knives owns a copyright on the name "Sebenza Integral Lock©". In the same vein, the Liner Lock© was not invented by Michael Walker but he did perfect it. Schrade have used that mechanism on their Electricians Knife for many years
To address the comments on the different type of cut out on the small and large wood inlay Sebenzas. This is something that we tried in order to see if there was any advantage. I did not feel that there was any so we reverted to what we were doing before. Only 60 pieces in each size have been made like that.
-Chris Reeve, 12/15/99
Additions to the Chris Reeve Line of Integral Lock Folding Knives
Special Edition Wood Inlay Sebenza introduced in 1999
A pocket is cut into the handle of the Sebenza and a thin section of wood is inlaid into the pocket. The tolerance of this inlay is so close that you can hear a snap as the wood is pressed into the pocket. The wood is cut just thick enough that it remains raised approximately 0.06" above the surface of the titanium and it is shaped to slope gently down to create a contrast of warmth against the polished metal. For the first time, Sebenza handles are decorated on the lock side.
Production of these Special Edition Wood Inlay Sebenzas will be limited to 60 large and 60 small Sebenzas annually. Although not individually numbered, each edition will be marked with the relevant year. Most of the pieces will be made with polished BG42 blades, but a limited number will be made with damascus blades.
-From theChris Reeve Knives Website
The Classic 2000 Sebenza introduced in 2000
This new addition to the Chris Reeve gallery of knives brings back the Sebenza profile that was made prior to 1996. We have had many customers express the opinion that they preferred the original profile, so with a few minor improvements, we are proud to introduce the Classic 2000 Sebenza as part of our regular product line.
The Classic is offered in all the options currently available for regular Sebenzas, with the exception of the Computer Generated Graphics. At this time, we are unable to reproduce the CGG designs on the Classic handle profile.
From the Chris Reeve Knives Website
The Mnandi introduced in 2001
The Mnandi continues the tradition of high quality that you have come to expect from Chris Reeve Knives. An elegant, functional gentlemans (or gentlewomans!) pocket knife, the Mnandi (pronounced mm-nun-dee) is accurately named from the Zulu word meaning "very nice".
-From the Chris Reeve Knives Website
We introduced the large Sebenza in 1990. These early Sebenzas were pretty much hand made - in so far as each handle and blade was cut out individually and profiled by hand on the grinder. They were all marked H followed by a serial number.
In mid-1991, we entered the rather scary world of computer controlled machines and bought a CNC machining center. At the time, it was a major step financially and we were not sure whether it would do what we wanted it to do! The rationale behind this was to enable us to produce more knives (and keep the cost reasonable) and to ensure that our tolerances were kept very tight. Machining on the mill ensures that the holes are in exactly the right place, the profile is exactly how we want it.
We reduced the thickness of the titanium for the handle and altered the blade shape slightly. These knives were marked P as in production to distinguish them from H as in handmade. There has been quite a bit of misrepresentation that the P stands for prototype.
The blades were then, and are still today, hand ground, even though the outline (or profile) is machined on the CNC. Two years ago, we progressed to a larger machining center and are constantly reducing our tolerances!
The "H" or "P" is engraved into the titanium handle next to our CR logo.
Anne Reeve, 10/26/98
We stopped putting the P onto the handles because it had little significance any longer. And it did prevent the misconception that the knife was a prototype.
Anne Reeve, 10/28/98
Small Sebenza was introduced in the later part of 1993.
We started to change over to the new profile around April/May 1996. The first time the new profile had a bunch of publicity was the front cover of Tactical Knives issue of Fall 1996 which was available in July that year.
The intention was that the new profile should be available with BG42 but we experienced problems getting BG42 in time. So for a very short time, we made new profile Sebenzas with ATS 34 blades.
Once we got the BG42 in, all the blades of the regular models were stonewashed, unless requested otherwise. Decorated and specials continue to be finished with a polished hollow grind.
Along the way there have been crossovers so the above dates are not absolute.
The in-house batching numbers - eg A99 - indicate simply when that run of handles was done. You could have a 98 batch "born" or completed in 1999. But that's really getting technical!
- Anne Reeve, 09/10/99
"Almost every "new" thing in life has "probably been done before". There have been claims that knives with an integral type of lock were made before the Sebenza but to date, I have not seen any of them. I made the first Sebenza in 1987 and all I know about prior knives with a similar lock is hearsay. At the 1987 show of the Knifemakers Guild of Southern Africa, the Sebenza won the award for best folding knife.
At Chris Reeve Knives, we have popularized and perfected the Sebenza Integral Lock© and it is this for which our company is best known. Chris Reeve Knives owns a copyright on the name "Sebenza Integral Lock©". In the same vein, the Liner Lock© was not invented by Michael Walker but he did perfect it. Schrade have used that mechanism on their Electricians Knife for many years
To address the comments on the different type of cut out on the small and large wood inlay Sebenzas. This is something that we tried in order to see if there was any advantage. I did not feel that there was any so we reverted to what we were doing before. Only 60 pieces in each size have been made like that.
-Chris Reeve, 12/15/99
Additions to the Chris Reeve Line of Integral Lock Folding Knives
Special Edition Wood Inlay Sebenza introduced in 1999
A pocket is cut into the handle of the Sebenza and a thin section of wood is inlaid into the pocket. The tolerance of this inlay is so close that you can hear a snap as the wood is pressed into the pocket. The wood is cut just thick enough that it remains raised approximately 0.06" above the surface of the titanium and it is shaped to slope gently down to create a contrast of warmth against the polished metal. For the first time, Sebenza handles are decorated on the lock side.
Production of these Special Edition Wood Inlay Sebenzas will be limited to 60 large and 60 small Sebenzas annually. Although not individually numbered, each edition will be marked with the relevant year. Most of the pieces will be made with polished BG42 blades, but a limited number will be made with damascus blades.
-From theChris Reeve Knives Website
The Classic 2000 Sebenza introduced in 2000
This new addition to the Chris Reeve gallery of knives brings back the Sebenza profile that was made prior to 1996. We have had many customers express the opinion that they preferred the original profile, so with a few minor improvements, we are proud to introduce the Classic 2000 Sebenza as part of our regular product line.
The Classic is offered in all the options currently available for regular Sebenzas, with the exception of the Computer Generated Graphics. At this time, we are unable to reproduce the CGG designs on the Classic handle profile.
From the Chris Reeve Knives Website
The Mnandi introduced in 2001
The Mnandi continues the tradition of high quality that you have come to expect from Chris Reeve Knives. An elegant, functional gentlemans (or gentlewomans!) pocket knife, the Mnandi (pronounced mm-nun-dee) is accurately named from the Zulu word meaning "very nice".
- The titanium handles are inlaid (not overlaid!) front and back with Ziricote, (a hardwood from South America).
- The locking mechanism is the Integral Lock©, popularized on the Sebenza.
- The BG42 blade is machined on both sides with an enlarged thumbnail recess for easy opening.
- The versatile pocket clip is machined from solid titanium and can be placed on either side of the knife or removed completely.
- Available in dedicated left or right hand models.
Specifications: - Handle length: 3.60"
- Blade length: 2.75"
- Overall width: 0.4"
- Weight: 1.25 oz.
-From the Chris Reeve Knives Website
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