Small Sebenza 21 Seagrass: A Discontinued CGG from 2012
This Chris Reeve Small Sebenza 21 Seagrass was completed on January 26, 2012, and came to us directly from the original purchaser, a longtime collector. The hand-signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) records the model, the CPM S35VN blade at 58 to 59 RC, and the titanium handle. Moreover, the complete original kit came with it. Chris Reeve retired the Sebenza 21 in 2019 in favor of the Sebenza 31, and the Seagrass pattern is no longer offered. Browse our other preowned knives for pieces documented to the same standard.
What CGG Means, and How Seagrass Was Made
CGG stands for Computer Generated Graphic. Chris Reeve began embellishing Sebenza handles in the early 1990s, and the practice became a signature of the brand. A design is drawn in CAD, converted to a machining program, and cut into the titanium scale on a CNC mill.
Color comes from anodizing. Current passed through titanium grows an oxide layer on the surface, and the voltage selected determines the color you see. Nothing is painted or coated. The blues and violets flowing through the Seagrass pattern are reflected light. Around those anodized strands sit machined dimples in graduated sizes, catching light against the matte field like air rising through water. Collectors who follow this segment will recognize the pattern from our guide to the most valuable custom knifemakers.
One honest distinction worth making: CGG patterns are repeatable and were ordered by name, unlike the Unique Graphic tier where each scale was created individually. What makes Seagrass scarce is that the pattern was discontinued along with the entire Sebenza 21 platform.
CPM S35VN Blade at 58 to 59 RC
Crucible Industries developed CPM S35VN in direct collaboration with Chris Reeve. The niobium addition improves toughness and makes the steel easier to sharpen than S30V. Meanwhile, edge retention stays high.
The blade is a 2.94-inch drop point with a long swedge, hollow ground, satin finished, and 0.125 inches thick at the spine. The cutting edge measures 2.91 inches and the factory bevel is ground at roughly 19 degrees. A blue anodized thumb lug handles deployment, matching the hardware and the Chris Reeve logo on the show side. If you want the background on powdered steels and how they behave, our knife knowledge library covers it.
6Al4V Titanium Frame and the Integral Lock
Both scales are milled from solid 6Al4V titanium and finished differently. The show side is satin, which is what gives the machined Seagrass pattern its definition. The lock side and the milled pocket clip are bead blast, and the lock side carries the Idaho origin marking.
The Chris Reeve Integral Lock is the frame lock that most modern folders trace back to. The blade rides on phosphor bronze washers. Lockup is early and solid, with no stick and no blade play in any direction. Furthermore, the blade sits centered when closed. See our full range of folding knives for comparable builds.
Condition of This Small Sebenza 21 Seagrass
This knife shows no evidence of having been carried or used. The edge has never been sharpened. There are no snail trails on the scales or the clip, and the hardware shows no driver slip.
There is one thing to disclose. The show-side scale carries a very faint mark, present when we acquired the collection. It is minor and easy to miss in hand, but it is there, and we have priced this piece to account for it rather than describe it away. We would rather you know exactly what is arriving than be surprised by it. That is how we handle every listing, and it is one of the reasons collectors keep coming back. Read how we grade to see what our condition language means.
What Comes With This Small Sebenza 21 Seagrass
The full factory kit is present and matched to the knife. That set includes the two-piece white box with the blue Chris Reeve seal, the box end label reading Small Sebenza 21 CGG Seagrass, and the BLADE Manufacturing Quality Award stickers covering 2000 to 2001 and 2003 to 2011.
Also included: the hand-signed COA dated January 26, 2012, the blue Chris Reeve microfiber cloth, the leather slip pouch, the braided lanyard, the factory Allen wrench, and all original care paperwork. Acquiring a piece from the original purchaser with the kit intact is increasingly rare. Read more about how we document provenance on every piece we list.
Specifications
- Maker: Chris Reeve Knives
- Model: Small Sebenza 21
- Variant: CGG “Seagrass” Computer Generated Graphic
- Date on COA: January 26, 2012
- Serial Number: None assigned; the number field on the COA is blank
- Country of Origin: USA, Boise, Idaho
- Blade Steel: Crucible CPM S35VN
- Blade Hardness: 58 to 59 RC per the Certificate of Authenticity
- Blade Style: Drop point with a long swedge
- Grind: Hollow
- Blade Finish: Satin
- Edge: Plain, unsharpened factory edge
- Blade Length: 2.94 in
- Cutting Edge Length: 2.91 in
- Blade Height: 0.91 in
- Blade Thickness: 0.125 in
- Sharpening Angle: Approximately 19 degrees
- Overall Length: 6.875 in
- Closed Length: 3.98 in
- Weight: Approximately 2.8 oz
- Handle Material: 6Al4V titanium
- Handle Finish: Satin show side, bead blast lock side
- Graphic: CNC-machined Seagrass pattern with blue and violet anodizing and graduated polished dimples
- Hardware: Blue anodized thumb lug and screws; anodized Chris Reeve logo
- Lock: Chris Reeve Integral Lock frame lock
- Pivot: Phosphor bronze washers
- Deployment: Thumb lug
- Pocket Clip: Milled titanium, bead blast, tip-up right-hand carry
- Lanyard: Black braided factory cord
- Condition: Preowned, unused, with one disclosed faint mark on the show side
- SKU: 00172-CRK-SEB21S-CGG-SEAGRASS-20120126
Watch the Video of this 2012 CGG Small Sebenza
This video shows the Chris Reeve Small Sebenza 21 CGG Seagrass, with its anodized machined graphic, blue hardware, satin CPM S35VN blade, and complete original kit. Overall length is 6.875 inches and the knife weighs approximately 2.8 ounces.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a CGG Sebenza?
CGG means Computer Generated Graphic. The design is drawn in CAD, converted to a machining program, and cut into the titanium scale on a CNC mill. Unlike the Unique Graphic tier, CGG patterns were repeatable and could be ordered by name.
Is the color painted on?
No. Titanium takes color through anodizing, where current grows an oxide layer on the surface. The voltage determines the color, and what you see is reflected light rather than pigment. It will not chip or wear off the way a coating would.
Is the Sebenza 21 still made?
No. Chris Reeve Knives retired the Sebenza 21 in 2019 and replaced it with the Sebenza 31. The Seagrass CGG pattern went with it.
How noticeable is the mark on the show side?
It is faint and easy to overlook in hand. We disclose it because we disclose everything, and the price reflects it. If you would like additional photographs at a specific angle before buying, ask and we will take them.
How do you verify authenticity?
We check hardware, engraving, machining, and factory paperwork against known references. In addition, we photograph every marking before listing. Questions are welcome on our FAQs page.
Buy This Chris Reeve Small Sebenza 21 Seagrass
Every knife we list is inspected, photographed, and described honestly, imperfections included. 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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