Chris Reeve Small Inkosi - S45VN Steel

- 2.75" Blade, Great Everday Carry Size
- Titanium Framelock & Handle
- S45VN Steel
- Ceramic Lockbar Interface

The Chris Reeve Small Inkosi folding knife is the beefier, thicker bladed cousin of the Sebenza folding knife, and though it is shorter in length, it is a heftier blade. With a larger pivot, constructed of perforated phosphor bronze bushings which not only serve as a buffer between the hard steel and the softer titanium of the handle, they are also, built to withhold lubricant opening after opening and reduce friction; there are so many upgrades to what has already been considered a perfect knife in the Sebenza. So why improve upon perfection? Maybe it is just what makes Chris Reeve knives one of the foremost designs in the business. To get a better idea of this, one must consider the predecessors that made the "Chief" what it is today.

After 21 years of knife making, Chris Reeve unveiled what many people considered to be his masterpiece: the Sebenza 21 folding knife. Quickly becoming a favorite among knife enthusiasts, this somewhat simple, yet effective design has long been seen as the gold standard of the industry, not only in function, but also form. A few years later, the Sebenza 25 was released, bearing a few improvements over the design. Just a few years after that, when the dust settled, Chris Reeve announced his retirement, but not before unveiling his final personal design, the Chris Reeve Inkosi. An overall improvement to what was already considered to be perfection, the crk inkosi knife incorporated all of the elements beloved by collectors and enthusiasts about the Sebenza knives and put them into this design. Derived from the Zulu word for "chief" the Inkosi is a formidable tool, worthy of the Chris Reeve name.

The Blade:

Slightly smaller than its counterpart, the Chris Reeve large Inkosi, the small inkosi has a 2.75" blade made of S45VN stainless steel. Stonewashed at over 20,000 rpm, the finish gives it an added level of protection against corrosion while allowing it's large hollow ground edge to stay sharp in any condition. Made from .128" stock, with a Rockwell hardness of 59-60, the blade holds up to punishment, allows for strength in cuts, yet is malleable enough to keep a razor sharp edge for a very long time. A hand-cut chamfer on the back of the blade adds extra comfort and support for your thumb as well. An improvement over the original Sebenza design, double blue anodized thumb studs on the Inkosi make it ambidextrous--an improvement over previous incarnations of the Chris Reeve designs.

The Handle:

The Chris Reeve Small Inkosi has a blasted titanium handle, integrated lockbar system aided by a ceramic detent bearing, and an offset titanium clip that was inherited from the Sebenza 25 to allow for point up carry. A beefier Pinch Clip can be added as a replacement (sold separately). Still designed with the no-nonsense right or left handed varieties, the Inkosi features additional scalloped finger grooves for added support and ergonomics. Pressure from the finger unlocks the bar, allowing for as smooth of a close as the fluid swing of your thumb opened it. As with the Sebenzas, it only gets smoother the more you use it. The overall length of 6.375" folds down to an easily manageable 3.875", which can fit nicely in your pocket, clip to your belt, hang from a lanyard, or slip into a pouch on your belt. Pouches and sheaths are available separately in a variety of materials, from leather to tactical nylon.

The Chris Reeve Inkosi has phosphor bronze washer (bushings) that are the same size on both the lock and handle size, this pivot construction brings additional stability to the blade and allows the washers to hold lubricant to reduce opening friction. One-eighth inch ceramic ball acts as the interface between the lock bar and the blade while doubling as a detent, ensuring the blade stays in place when closed.