quote:

Originally posted by braillediver:
I just picked up an Umnumzaan after being without for several years. I hope we bond or I'll remember why I let it go the last time.

I basically swap between than Umnumzaan & the large red micarta Sebenaza 21 for my primary EDC knife. I'll carry other knives too but those are my primaries. It took me a while to warm up to the Umnumzaan but I really like it now. I still prefer the Sebenza though.

I'm on a binge so I've been looking at the 31 vs the Inkosi.

I want the Insigno blade and lean towards the 31 for the thinner blade but wonder if the Inkosi fits my hand. If so it might be a better choice.

I’ve got Inkosis, Umnumzaans, & Sebenzas. The Zann & Inkosi are great but to me they don’t have that quality that makes the Senenza so special. A well tuned Sebenzas is a work of functional art that the other models don’t quite capture for me. I do carry & use examples of other models but always go back to a Sebenza. I’ve probably said here before though that I only feel that way about Sebenza 21 & previous versions. I was excited about the 31 but have never handled one that impressed me. They have what I consider issues and don’t have the same soul as previous versions. A lot of people love them though. I’m trying to get at least one example from each Sebenza iteration. I’ve got them from the Original, Regular, Classic MM, & 21. I still need H & P examples. I really don’t have much interest in adding a 31 though. Every once in a while I’ll get an itch for one so I travel to a local shop that has them. I never leave with it.

CRK's slipjoint, the Impinda, shown with a few other nice non-locking blades.



Sebenza Original, Hinderer XM-18 3", & Spartan Harsey Folder 3.25". I feel like the Spartan is a mix of the XM & Sebenza.

Chris Reeve Knives Umnumzaan



Chris Reeve Folders Pre "Idaho Made" Mark



Chris Reeve Knives with Aftermarket Backspacers



Chris Reeve Random Parts

The Umnumzaan broke in really nice. I took the pocket clip off while breaking it in and for now prefer it without the clip. I'll need to look into a pocket slip case for it.

I just received a Large Inkosi Insigno and that's nice right out of the box.

I got lucky at a gun show this weekend. Met up to buy a SIG P210 Carry and snagged a couple of older CRKs: large Sebenza Classic from 2003 & first generation Mnandi from 2009.

Comparison of finishes
Bottom = Polished
Left = Glass Blast
Right = Sand Blast


Various Blade Jimping
​Left = Current Sebenza Jimping
Center = Sebenza 21 from 2009 or 2010
Right = Wider Jimping on a 2003 Sebenza Classic MM Blade


Closeup of Sebenza Serrations


Group of Sebenza Classic MMs


Large Sebenza
Small Sebenza
Mnandi


Inkosis & Sebenza 25 (Inkosi Beta)


Some non-Sebenza CRK Folders


Mnandi

I lucked into a few rare CRKs recently:

• P marked Sebenza from the early 1990s. The P stood for "Production" and these came after the H-marked Sebenzas (handmade). CRK eventually dropped the P marking.
  
• Crosshatch Sebenza. These were made in 2017 limited to a few hundred each in small & large. A pattern was milled into the show side scale and it was PVD coated in a bronze color. Ran into it for a steal at a gun show.
  

Some Sebenza markings through the years:

• P (Production)
  
• Classic MM, 2000-2008
  
• Idaho Made, 2010-Current
  

Some random photos

Some new acquisitions including CRK Nyala

The large Bradley Alias is no match for CRK Sebenza. I had about 20 Sebbies and one Alias. The Alias had a lot of talk, but no action.
I sold it quickly.
Of course, opinion.