Small Sebenza 2011 Edition: Three Ounces of Company History
This Small Sebenza 2011 Edition is in mint, preowned condition. It weighs three ounces and closes to under four inches. Moreover, the wood in the handle came off Chris Reeve’s original workbench in South Africa, from the years before the company moved to Boise in 1989.
Collectors call this run the Workbench Wenge. The Certificate of Authenticity is signed and dated October 24, 2011. Furthermore, the original box label names the edition and both precious metals. This one came from a collection of preowned knives stored in a climate-controlled environment.
Why Collectors Chase the Small
Chris Reeve built the Small Sebenza for people who actually carry a knife. It disappears in a front pocket. Consequently, the Small has always sold in smaller numbers than the Large among collectors, who tend to reach for the bigger frame.
That reverses on a limited edition. Fewer Smalls were made, and more of them got carried and used over the past decade. Therefore a mint, uncarried Small from a limited year is meaningfully harder to find today than its Large counterpart. Our grading standards explain what mint means on a piece like this.
Workbench Wenge, Wire-Brushed by Hand
Wenge is a dense African hardwood. It runs deep chocolate to near-black, and the grain is strongly marked.
Chris Reeve had the shop wire-brush every inlay before fitting. That cuts away the softer wood between the grain lines and leaves the harder rings standing proud. As a result, the handle has genuine relief under the thumb rather than a flat polish. On a knife this size, that texture does real work in the hand.
The inlays sit in pockets machined into both titanium scales. Seams read as single lines. Additionally, no one can produce more of this wood, which is why provenance drives value on this edition.
Three Gold and Three Silver, Per Side
Chris Reeve set six precious metal dots into each scale. Three are 18 karat gold. Three are Argentium silver. They alternate down the grain and sit perfectly flush.
Argentium is a modern sterling alloy. It swaps some of the copper in traditional sterling for germanium. Therefore it stays brighter and resists tarnish far better than standard silver, which matters on a piece that will sit in a collection for decades without polishing.
A gold anodized thumb stud and gold lanyard pin carry the theme onto the frame. This combination of irreplaceable timber and precious metal is why the 2011s sit so high among the most valuable custom knifemakers we track.
S30V at 58 to 59 RC
The blade is CPM S30V, hand-lapped satin with stonewashed flats, in the classic drop point profile. It measures 2.94 inches.
Crucible developed S30V with Chris Reeve’s input, and it carried the shop through this era. The Certificate of Authenticity records 58 to 59 RC. Reeve kept hardness deliberately moderate, so the edge stays tough and returns quickly on a stone. Our knife knowledge library compares S30V to today’s steels.
The show-side bolster is engraved CR 2011. Meanwhile, the lock side carries the IDAHO MADE stamp.
The Last Year of the Annual Sebenza
Chris Reeve released a limited Sebenza every year from 1999 through 2011. Buckeye burl, desert ironwood, snakewood, mammoth ivory, spalted maple, camphor. Thirteen years, a new handle material each time.
2011 ended the program. Furthermore, it is the only year that made the inlays themselves the feature rather than the figure of the wood. That combination of finality and irreplaceable material is rare even among high-end folding knives.
Small Sebenza 2011 Edition Condition and What’s Included
The knife is mint and preowned. It presents as uncarried. There are no snail trails on the sandblasted titanium, no blade play, and no sharpening. Additionally, the wenge shows no drying or shrinkage, and all twelve precious metal dots sit bright and flush.
It ships complete. You receive the original white Chris Reeve box with its model label, the signed Certificate of Authenticity dated October 24, 2011, the blue Chris Reeve microfiber cloth, the Allen wrench, the brown leather slip stamped THINK TWICE CUT ONCE, the caution card, and the factory oval sticker.
Small Sebenza 2011 Edition Product Specifications
- Maker: Chris Reeve Knives, Boise, Idaho, USA
- Model: Small Sebenza, 2011 Edition
- Date: October 24, 2011
- Overall Length: 6.875 inches
- Blade Length: 2.94 inches
- Blade Thickness: 0.125 inch
- Handle Length: 3.93 inches
- Weight: Approximately 3.0 ounces
- Blade Steel: CPM S30V, 58 to 59 RC
- Blade Style: Drop point, hand-lapped satin with stonewashed flats
- Handle Material: Sandblasted 6Al4V titanium
- Inlays: Wire-brushed Workbench Wenge with three 18k gold and three Argentium silver dots per side
- Lock: Reeve Integral Lock
- Hardware: Gold anodized thumb stud and lanyard pin, polished pivot and frame screws
- Markings: CR 2011 engraved on the show-side bolster, IDAHO MADE on the lock side
- Lanyard: Factory midnight blue paracord with a Reeve knot
- Country of Origin: United States
- Included: Knife, original white box, signed Certificate of Authenticity, microfiber cloth, Allen wrench, leather slip, caution card, sticker
- Condition: Mint, preowned
- SKU: 00169-CRK-SEB2011ED-SM-WENGE-S30V-20111024
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the wood on the Small Sebenza 2011 Edition come from?
It was salvaged from Chris Reeve’s original workbench in South Africa, before the 1989 move to Boise. Collectors call the run the Workbench Wenge. Therefore the supply was finite from the start.
Is the Small rarer than the Large?
Mint examples are harder to find. Smalls were produced in lower numbers, and more of them were carried rather than collected. Consequently, uncarried Smalls with complete paperwork surface far less often.
What is Argentium silver?
Argentium is a modern sterling alloy that replaces some copper with germanium. As a result it holds a brighter white and resists tarnish far better than standard sterling.
Does the complete kit affect value?
Significantly. A limited edition without its signed Certificate of Authenticity and original box loses a large share of its collector value. This one is complete.
How do you verify authenticity?
We check hardware, machining, stamps, and factory paperwork against known references. In addition, we photograph every marking before listing. Questions are welcome on our FAQs page.
Buy This Small Sebenza 2011 Edition
Every knife we list is inspected, photographed, and described honestly. Browse what else is available on the Chris Reeve Knives Brand Page. Meanwhile, if you own Chris Reeve pieces yourself, sell your collection for a same-day offer.
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