| Product: Sebenza |
Company: Chris Reeve Knives |
| Web: www.chrisreeve.com |
Phone: 208-375-0367 |
| Platform: Your hand |
SRP: $275 and up
Street Price: same |
Cred Rating: | Special Award: Object Value |
I like to carry a pocketknife. It's one of those indispensable tools that opens mail, peels oranges, sharpens pencils and even makes me feel a little more secure on the streets of Chicago. I've noticed pocketknives these days mostly come in three flavors: delicate little "gentleman's pen knives," Swiss Army knives with every blade under the sun, and my-blade-is-bigger-than-your-blade "tactical" knives. I used to carry Swiss Army knives, but with a blade so sharp you can cut yourself pretty badly (on a knife that does not lock), I got nervous. A lock is essential for a safe sharp blade.
Since I took Street Tech's advice and carry a Leatherman WAVE in my bag, the multi-blade features of a Swiss Army knife lost its appeal. Now I wanted a simple, rugged, well-designed piece of steel that was sharp enough to shave with, locks up securely and won't scare people or cops.
Chris Reeve is a blade smith from South Africa who has designed simply the best pocketknife you can buy. It is called Sebenza, which means "work" in Zulu. They have a following that can only be described as fanatical, and I now number myself a member of the cult.
First, Reeve starts with great steel. He uses steel called BG-42, which is highly resistant to corrosion, will hold an edge for a very long time and is easily sharpened. Where knives are concerned, there is a tradeoff with steel hardness. Soft steels, those with a Rockwell hardness of under 56, tend to be very easy to sharpen but lose their edge quickly. Harder steels hold their edge, but are hard to sharpen. The Sebenza has a superb balance between edge integrity and easy of sharpening.
It isn't just the steel that makes for a good cut. Blade geometry is very important too. The Sebenza's blade has a beautiful and utilitarian curve to it with lots of "belly." (Belly is the amount of cutting area on the blade). The angle of the grind is very aggressive and helps the knife stay sharp. I've had mine since July and it hasn't needed sharpening yet. The blade is also stonewashed, which imparts a nice, scratch-resistant finish to the blade, and the cutting edge is polished and hair-raisingly sharp.
The handles are made of thick slabs of titanium and the handle becomes part of the lock (called an integral lock). The blade is hand-fitted to each individual knife to insure tight tolerances. It locks up with a resounding CLICK, like a bank vault, and won't go anywhere until you disengage the lock. Once locked, there's no play in the blade and it feels like a fixed blade when you hold it.
There are other high-quality touches too. Edges are rounded and soft -- even the mini serrations for your thumb, located on the back of the blade, are beveled. The knife comes with a clip for your pocket and a tool so you can disassemble the knife for cleaning. Everything about this knife exudes excellence. Don't be surprised if it appears in MoMA's design collection.
Quality doesn't come cheap. The Sebenza comes in three sizes. There is the large Sebenza (US$325) for those who use a knife every day and would normally carry it on a belt sheath, a small Sebenza ($290) for the pocket, and the tiny Ummfan ($275) ("little boy" in Zulu). For $100 more, you can get your large or small Sebenza decorated with geometric anodized carvings, and you can choose from left or right hand versions. Chris Reeve and his family provide excellent customer service. The knives are guaranteed for life, and if there is something wrong, they will make it right. Period. They will sharpen the knife for free if you send it to their Idaho workshop, and for $20, they will refinish the titanium handles and blade. If you order one from the factory, be prepared for a three month wait, but you can usually find one at knife shops.
Three and a quarter is a lot to spend on a knife, but it will likely be the last knife you ever buy.
- Eric Diamond [12/22/99]
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