The GEC One Arm / Razor Blade TC Barlow; A Knife with Historical Inspiration and Contemporary Updates
How to Sharpen Your New GEC, Case, Rough Ryder (or really any) Knife; An Informal Walk Through
The Chris Reeve Knives Inkosi; a Costly Culmination of Quality and Innovation. Is it overpriced?
Chris Reeve Knives is well known within the knife community for designing and manufacturing some of the highest quality production knives on the market. Their Sebenza model has been the benchmark of quality modern folding knife manufacturing for years. They’ve introduced several major innovations to the modern pocket knife world: s35vn steel, the ceramic ball bearing lock interface, and even the frame lock itself. However, they come at a price point higher than my normal fare.
I recently was able to get a Chris Reeve Knives Inkosi at a very fair price from a fellow knife enthusiast. A few years ago I tried a Sebenza and Umnumzaan, but they didn’t stay in my collection long. So, I was excited to get the chance to carry and use a Chris Reeve knife for review, and also just to have one in my collection.
The Inkosi is a newer model introduced in 2016 to replace the Sebenza 25. It has a mix of features from the Sebenza 25 and Umnumzaan. One of the features I really enjoy is the ceramic ball bearing lock interface. The addition of a press-fit ceramic ball to the lock bar, which also functions as the detent, makes the likelihood of lock stick much lower and also slows the wear on the lock face. It also has a canted clip, which makes for better ergonomics than the earlier Sebenza models. It has a floating pivot pin, which makes for simpler reassembly and better wear under heavy use. One thing that the Inkosi lacks, compared to the Sebenza models, is the bushing pivot. A bushing pivot allows the pivot to be tightened fully down while maintaining smooth opening and closing, eliminating the need for adjustment. I have to say, I wish the Inkosi included the bushing pivot, as it’s one of the features of the Sebenza that many point to when giving reasons for its quality. Finally, the Inkosi is said to have a thicker blade and pivot, for a sturdier feel. Overall I like the mix of features on the Inkosi, though I do wish it had the bushing pivot.
The high quality of manufacture on the Inkosi is no surprise, but I am surprised at how much I like the design. The knife is superbly made. It locks up with the bank vault solid feel that Chris Reeve knives have come to be known for, with smooth opening and good blade centering. It’s not drop shut frictionless smooth, but rather a kind of silky smooth that has a satisfying feel. The blade locks with an assuring “thwock” sound. I find the clip to work really well, sliding into and out of the pocket easily. I have an aversion to things held on only by glue (like unpinned shields on traditional knives), so I wasn’t sure about the inlays, but I actually like how they feel in the hand. I enjoy the look also, but I do think I like the simple clean look of the plain titanium version. I expected to dislike the finger grooves, as such handles designs often don’t fit my wide hands. However, I actually really like how this handle feels in my hand. I like it better than I recall liking the handle of the Sebenza 21 or Umnumzaan I had a few years back. I’ve carried this knife a lot, and every time I used it the grip felt intuitive and locked my hand into place. The cone-shaped thumb stud takes a little getting used to, if you’re familiar with the typical thumb stud, but works well when pushed in a C shape. The blade shape is near perfection; a classic drop point with a nicely rounded spine (which adds a surprisingly significant feel of luxury), a good amount of straight edge and belly, a useful but strong tip, and a nice thing hollow grind. It’s an extremely well-made knife with a design worth the stellar reputation.
Inkosi is a Zulu word that means “chief” or “king”, and I think that is a fitting moniker considering the history, and price, that this knife commands. It is an extremely strong feeling knife with the extra thick titanium frame lock, blade, and pivot. It also is imbued with Chris Reeve Knives’ history of innovation, excellence, and great warranty service. It certainly has kingly materials, with high-quality titanium handles and the s35vn steel blade. All that said, I find its dealer price of $550 to be more than I am willing to pay. Everyone has a different point at which the value to price ratio tips, and wherever that is for me the Inkosi falls above that point. Certainly I recognize that they might not be as complete a package, but I think there are plenty of knives at a lower price point with similar materials, features, and quality to the Inkosi. That is not to say that the Inkosi, or other Chris Reeve Knives models, isn’t an extremely good knife that isn’t worth having. Rather, I do believe that every knife enthusiast should try a Chris Reeve knife at some point… if it fits into your budget. For me, that means that when I am able to find one on the secondary market at a price that works for me, I jump at the chance to have such a high quality and prestigious knife in my pocket, even if I wouldn’t buy it at the dealer price.
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The Greatest Misconception in the Knife Community
In this article I will address one of the ideas within the knife community, one that I have encountered frequently and on which I hold a strong opinion.
So, if you’re a knife enthusiast (which I’m guessing you are if you’re reading this!) you might have heard a variation of this claim:
“Collecting knives is a new thing. In the good old days people bought knives to use; they didn’t care about aesthetics, they just care if it worked”
This is an idea put forth by people when they feel that someone cares too much about the design and looks of a knife, or that someone is too picky with the fit and finish of a knife. It’s a criticism of the times as much as the person, saying that we live in frivolous times wherein looks are more important than utility. Maybe you haven’t heard this sentiment yet, but I’ve heard it in various forms many times. I think you will too if follow the forums and Facebook groups.
So, why is it worth writing an article refuting this idea? Well, aside from it being just plain incorrect, more importantly, it also downplays the timelessness and historicity of knife collecting and enthusiasm. I would make a safe bet that as long as knives have been made, which is basically as long as people have been people, they have been appreciated not only for their utility but also as items with intrinsic and aesthetic value.
If there’s a shift in how we relate to knives now, I propose that it is because we are in a golden age of knives. People don’t care about aesthetics and fit and finish now more than they did in the past, they just have greater access to more and better knives than (not that arguably) any other time in history. For the majority of history exotic and aesthetically focused knives were mostly only available to the wealthy. Now, there is a plethora of knives available at every price range in an unlimited variety of styles. The current knife market is absolutely unprecedented and allows for more discernment beyond utility.
I have included some pictures showcasing historical knives with an aesthetic focus, but there are many other great resources for more examples. I follow several Instagram accounts that often post great examples of historical knives and swords (as well as other arms and armor): Runjeet Singh, Met Arms & Armor, Peter Finer. There are lots of others, so I highly suggest poking around. There are also many sites dedicated to antique knives from museums and auction houses, so there’s plenty to peruse. I believe that anyone who takes the time to research into the history of knives will find that collecting them and an appreciation of them beyond their utility is an integral and long-standing part of the human relationship to knives.
