What is the Umnumzaan Folder from Chris Reeve?
Chris Reeve Knives of Boise, Idaho designed the Chris Reeve Umnumzaan, a folding pocket knife. The Umnumzaan has a unique take on the Chris Reeve Integral Lock, which was first utilized in the Sebenza folding pocket knife and debuted in 1987.
Chris Reeve Umnumzaan
In the Zulu language, “Umnumzaan” means “The Boss”. This multi-functional folding knife is designed to be a powerful tool and deserves to be respected. The Chris Reeve Umnumzaan features alterations to the Reeve Integral Lock, increased blade sturdiness, improved pivot and lock tolerances, and a more comfortable handle. The hollow-ground blade is heat-treated to remain flexible and keep its sharpness.
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Additionally, it includes a glass-breaker while it is in a closed position. This audacious and innovative knife is sure to impress with its unique design and capability to get the job done. The Chris Reeve Umnumzaan packs the strength of a fixed blade into a pocket-sized package. Both left or right-handed users can choose from a drop point or tanto blade.
The term Umnumzaan is derived from Zulu and means “Head of the family” or “Boss” (informal) in honour of the designer’s South African roots. The Chris Reeve Umnumzaan was made to fulfill the demands of those needing a tough folder that could take a lot of use, or even mistreatment. It is based on the successful Sebenza and offers a sturdier pivot joint, a thicker blade, a different grind with a reinforced tip, improved comfort, thicker titanium handles, a thicker titanium lock bar, a stronger ceramic ball detent system, a bigger titanium spacer, a phosphor-bronze washer system as a ‘dry-sump’ to retain lubricant and keep out dirt, oversized ambidextrous thumb studs and an extended lock bar for easier use with gloves, and a lanyard pivot joint with pivoting lanyard tie bars.
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The lock works by having a titanium lock bar, made from the same material as the handle, come into contact with the back of the blade when the knife is opened. The Umnumzaan version of this system however, uses a ceramic ball in order to interface between the blade locking surface and the integral locking arm as the knife is opened. Additionally, the ball fits into a detent in the blade when the knife is closed, preventing it from opening accidentally.
This knife has a built-in glass-breaker, which is unique compared to other glass-breakers found on folding knives since it is a part of the blade that can be seen when the knife is closed. It is also the first Chris Reeve folding knife to have a lanyard pivot joint, which minimizes the friction wear that can harm paracord lanyards over time. This lanyard pivot joint has been included in the Sebenza Classic 2000, Sebenza 21, and Sebenza 25 and allows for the easy interchange of lanyards without having to cut and re-tie if the owner has multiple lanyard pivots (termed as a “cord tie bar” by Chris Reeve Knives).
Last Updated on February 3, 2023