Chris Reeve Umnumzaan

[prime77]

One knife that I have secretly lusted over for a while now is the Chris Reeve Umnumzaan. I Never really thought I would get one because of the price. Well I finally took the plunge and picked one up the other week. Very similar to the Sebenza. It has big slab Titanium scales and a S30V blade. Different from the Sebenza is the fact that it doesn't feature a bushing system for smooth blade deployment but has a ceramic ball in the lock bar that the blade rolls on and locks on. I wasn't completely blown out of the water with it when I first took it out of the box. But after some time closely examining and carrying it I have come to really appreciate the quality and craftsmanship involved in it. From the texture of the Titanium scales. To the beautiful stonewashed finish on the blade. To the great polished edge on the blade. All the fine details of craftsmanship that make up a great knife.




I really like the texture cutouts used on the scales. It looks good and makes for a good grippy surface. One top of that the Ti scales have a beadblasted finish feel really nice in the hand.





Here are some shots of the blade deployed. Nice long blade that I have found slices really nice. I found the contour on the top of the blade interesting when I got it. Near the tip of the blade there is a false edge or "swedge" has some have taken to calling it. Some say it's there for strength or to make stabbing better. I like the look of it. It's not sharp like many have said. At least not to me.




The lanyard system is interesting. There is a floating pin that goes in the lanyard hole then the lanyard cord is put through the hole and the lanyard is tied. The paracord it's self is the only thing holding the pin in place inside the scales. I like it.





One feature that I found interesting is the use of polyurethane o-rings on the thumb studs. Not only do they make for a nice grippy thumbstud but when opening the blade. They make contact with the scales and act as a shock absorber. Them coupled with the ceremaic ball lockup make for absolute no sound when the blade locks open. And I mean no sound. For the first day or so I was always looking down to make sure the blade was locked open. I have come to love this about this knife. Another thing with the thumbstud is it's also the blade stop. Similar to the system used on Strider knives. There is no stop pin. I am on the hunt for some nice light blue o-rings that I have spotted on BF.



Some shots of the lock bar. As hard as I tried I couldn't get a close shot of the ceramic ball inside the lock bar. I'll have to try to explain it instead. Inside the top on the lock bar there is a ceramic ball rests in a detent on the blade to keep it closed just like on a liner lock. When opening the blade it rolls alone to make for a extremely smooth action. Then when opening it rests on the tang of the blade for lockup. This coupled with the o-rings on the thumbstud/stopbar makes for the silent sound. I was really concerned about this system when I first read about it. But I have reassured by members on BF that it is a great system. Ceremic balls have three times the lifespan of steel balls and are used in many heavy duty industrial applications. Plus I have faith in Chris Reeves design.


The pocket clip is the standard Sebenza pocket clip. I have found it to work well. It holds the knife well in place yet makes it easy to deploy for the pocket.


When the blade is closed there is a window glass breaker on the back of the blade. I have not tested it. But someone on YouTube has.


All in all. I have come to really love the Umnumzaan. Here it is next to my last EDC knife the Mini Manix.



By the way Umnumzaan means Boss, Sir or Mister in the Zulu language.

[Gadget Guy]

Congratulations, you've just purchased one of the best knives ever made!     I really can't say enough about the Um.

[Mr. Whippy]

Beautiful.  Makes me reconsider if maybe I do need a dedicated folder in my EDC...

[prime77]

Congratulations, you've just purchased one of the best knives ever made!     I really can't say enough about the Um.

Thanks John. You should know that many of your shots on USN of your stonewashed Zaan helped feed my need for one . Would you mind posting some here so I can see the difference between the beadblasted finish and yours.

[Benner]

As always, a fantastic write up backed up with great pics Prime. 

I am really glad you are so fond of this knife.  As everyone here knows already  , I am a huge fan of the Chris Reeve Sebenza and it is nice reading about someone else getting a lot of pleasure out of another of his knives.  They really are special blades.

[prime77]

As always, a fantastic write up backed up with great pics Prime. 

I am really glad you are so fond of this knife.  As everyone here knows already  , I am a huge fan of the Chris Reeve Sebenza and it is nice reading about someone else getting a lot of pleasure out of another of his knives.  They really are special blades.

You really like your Sebanza. I had no idea. Like you saying all along Ben they are special. But in a different way. It's not like there are a lot of parts that make them up but it's everything together and the materials used with the care and attention to detail that make them special.

[prime77]

A little story about how special Chris Reeve knives are has a company. Like I said in the OP there allot of guys on BF that found some really nice light blue O-rings for the thumstuds. While posting there got me no info on the size of the orings used or where to find them . I decided to call CRK to find the size so I could go on the hunt. I talked to a really nice lady named Heather who went to one of the men who assemble the Zaan. She said he would measure the size and she would call me back. She returned my call and gave the size. Fine and cool right. Then I get another call and she said that the size she gave me was wrong and that Chris himself went and measured the size so they could get it perfect. Really cool.

[Benner]

That is really cool. 

[Gadget Guy]

Congratulations, you've just purchased one of the best knives ever made!     I really can't say enough about the Um.

Thanks John. You should know that many of your shots on USN of your stonewashed Zaan helped feed my need for one . Would you mind posting some here so I can see the difference between the beadblasted finish and yours.

Sure... 

[Benner]

Oooo more cracking pics. 

[prime77]

Love the shots John. Is that one of grnamins pocketclips?

[Sean]

beautiful shots of a great looking knife.  One of these days.

[Gadget Guy]

Love the shots John. Is that one of grnamins pocketclips?

Thanks!     It sure is one of Greg's clips. 

[prime77]

Thanks!    It sure is one of Greg's clips.  Thumbs up!

He does great work. I like the look of the clip.

[nuphoria]

Wow, just lovely 

If it was something I could carry legally I wouldn't hesitate to sell organs or whatever to get one. That is pretty much my idea of the perfect EDC knife.

[WhichDawg]

Congrats! 

I was able to hold and play with one at a blade-show, I was impressed (and they gave one away, I did not win )
sweet pix all

[Sean]

That bead blasting looks super!  It gives it a nice pocket worn look. 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Very fine write up and pictures there James

[prime77]

Very fine write up and pictures there James

Thanks Mike. 

[kwakster]

Do you know if you have an early Umnumzaan or a recent one ?
On the early versions the thumbstud is made from two pieces of metal which are press fitted together.
Chris Reeve himself has had problems with this setup as heavy flicking caused the stop pin to come apart and fall out of the blade.
I've read somewhere that recent Umnums now have one- piece thumbstuds as a result of this.

[prime77]

Do you know if you have an early Umnumzaan or a recent one ?
On the early versions the thumbstud is made from two pieces of metal which are press fitted together.
Chris Reeve himself has had problems with this setup as heavy flicking caused the stop pin to come apart and fall out of the blade.
I've read somewhere that recent Umnums now have one- piece thumbstuds as a result of this.

I have a Feb 09 one. I'm not sure if it's a one piece or two piece. I know of the thread on BF that your referring to where a soldier in a convoy in Afghanistan hit a IED  and his Zaan came out of his pocket and flew around and knocked one of the thumb studs loose. Chris was very forthcoming with his opinions on the design and redesign of the thumbstud/stoppin. I don't think I'll ever hit a IED on the way to work and back.

[Sean]

Prime,  how is finding the lock release on the Umnumzaan?  Doesn't appear to be much of a cutout for
finding the release?  Is it easy to locate or does it take a bit of practice?

[prime77]

Prime,  how is finding the lock release on the Umnumzaan?  Doesn't appear to be much of a cutout for
finding the release?  Is it easy to locate or does it take a bit of practice?

The lock release did take some time to get used to. Not so much in that it is hard to find. But the fact that it was a little stiff. I'm not sure if my thumb got tougher or the blade just broke in a little. Either way I have no problem closing it now. I will say that after carrying a Spyderco for a while now with the finger choil that safes your finger when closing. I was very careful of the fact that my finger needs to be moved out of the way of the blade when closing. It seems a no brainer. But I was just used to a Spyderco.

[Sean]

thanks for that.    Not this year as Christmas is rapidly approaching but I'd love to get a CRK.
I quite like the Umnumzaan.  I just wondered if it was a bit of a "hunt" for the lock release or not.
Anyhow, glad your enjoying yours. 

[Benner]

The good thing about CRK's is that because the majority of owners are tarts and don't even allow natural sunlight on them, the one's on the second hand market are usually pristine so you can save yourself a few quid that way.

[prime77]

The good thing about CRK's is that because the majority of owners are tarts and don't even allow natural sunlight on them, the one's on the second hand market are usually pristine so you can save yourself a few quid that way.

Not me. I used mine to cut a hamburger in half lastnight on my way to work. Got ketchup on the blade and everything.

[Benner]

I have visions of a bunch of knife tarts now passing out with the shock. 

Good man  .  I had paint and Cow's blood on mine the other day.    All clean now though.

[Smitty44]

Great report and pictures,the only thing I like better on my Sebbe is that I can field strip it,the shape of the blade is great,really like the clip that Prime has on his,looks like it would fit a Sebbe also.
 &

[Benner]

That's my big preferance with the Sebbie as well.  You can get a tool to take the Umnum apart, but it's the Sebbies simplicity that is half it's appeal for me.

[prime77]

Great report and pictures,the only thing I like better on my Sebbe is that I can field strip it,the shape of the blade is great,really like the clip that Prime has on his,looks like it would fit a Sebbe also.
 &

You can get a Zaan take down kit. They are available on many sites and from CRK. My understanding is there are less parts on the Zaan then the Sebbie too.