Drawing comparisons to the iconic Chris Reeve offering, Manganas Aurelia features notable distinctive details and an affordable price.

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You’ll have a hard time meeting a pocket knife enthusiast you don’t know very well. Chris Reeve Knives and the brand’s most iconic offering, Sebenza.

While it’s fascinating to see even today, it’s important to remember just how groundbreaking the Sebenza was when it first appeared in 1987.

“My process still starts with sketching and hand-sculpting foam prototypes. “Even though I have used 3D printers in my personal and professional life for over a decade, I still think this approach is faster and gives better results in terms of ergos.”

— Şerif Manganas, designer of Aurelia

Along with super clean aesthetics and exceptional craftsmanship, it was the first knife to feature the now lauded blade. frame lockhere a piece of the handle falls into place behind the back of the blade to ensure it stays open securely when opened.

These days, Sebenza remains the gold standard that everyone embraces. premium pocket knives measurable.

Naturally, my eyebrows rose a centimeter or two when GP received an email from an independent designer asking us to take a look at a new knife with distinct Sebenza vibes.

Naturally, we asked Sheriff Manganas to send a prototype. aurelia I came here to take a look. Below are my first impressions of a pretty impressive knife.

Distinctive design

When I looked at the contents of this knife, I knew it was a knife I could take seriously. The handle scales are made of ground and shaped titanium, have a super smooth surface, integrated pocket clip and a great weight in the hand.

This seems logical based on the process Manganas used. A classically trained industrial designer who started out in the automotive industry before his passion for knives led him to create Manganese SteelHe believes in the feeling of truth.

“My process still starts with sketching and hand-sculpting foam prototypes,” he explains. “Even though I have used 3D printers in my personal and professional life for over a decade, I still think this approach is faster and produces better results in terms of ergos.”

The attention he pays to materials is also reflected in the hinge point of the blade, which he calls MSK Bidirectional Pivot, because it is designed to work with both Skiff brand phosphor bronze washers (better for heavy sandy and dirty environments) and ball bearings.

The prototype I had to check was on bearings, and although the placement was a bit sticky at first, after a few practice moves the blade began to swing smoothly and satisfactorily.

The frame lock is quite secure, but its design is such that it is quite easy to return the blade with one hand. (See both elements in action in the video below.)

Manganas says the Aurelias build will come with bearings, but Skiff Adding a bearing and washer upgrade option so users can customize their own blades to their liking.

Speaking of the blade, it’s beautiful in shape and refreshingly different from the Sebenza in that it has a clip point. (The classic Sebenza is a drop point, and Insingo and tanto blade shapes are also available, but without cutting points.)

Why did the mangana go this way?

“I was inspired by the cuisine of my childhood,” says Manganas. “My family, who immigrated to this country, used LaGuiole knives as kitchen knives. LaGuiole knives have a distinctive look; A long clip point with a minimal belly and a long straight section are all qualities I like in my EDC knives.

“So I began integrating these basic tips into what I envisioned for an everyday utility/gentleman hybrid. “After three months of continuous sketching in my spare time, Aurelia was created.”

While this difference doesn’t affect everyday use much, it’s a clean, striking silhouette that earns major style points in my book.

precision performance

The blade is deployed via ambidextrous thumb studs and has some bounce at the rear to increase grip for making more detailed cuts – two surprising features that are nevertheless notable for their precise deployment and reliable functionality.

The only area where it’s a little harder for me to comment is where the knife is still itself. As is quite common in prototypes, the steel is of a different variety than will be found in the final product for which Manganas contracted Reate OEM.

The metal on this review unit is (as you might guess from the photos) M390, which is a super steel in its own right, but the consumer product takes things to the next level.

That’s right, that’s going to be the MagnaCut, you’re probably sick of me by now, it’s fundamentally unmatched in its combination of durability, edge retention and corrosion resistance.

While I can’t speak to how this particular knife will perform with the MagnaCut, I can sort of triangulate on this topic. This particular form factor (3.6-inch blade, 4.8-inch handle, 4.4 ounces) feels incredibly stable in the hand.

It worked well for everyday chopping and slicing tasks at home (everything from packaging tape to tomatoes to chicken), and my past experience with the MagnaCut has always been incredibly satisfying in terms of performance.

In other words, I think it’s safe to say that the same design with a MagnaCut blade is unlikely to leave any consumer wanting.

I would like to mention one last point about the price. Because while the price of Sebenza 31 Flat Drop Point is $425, the pre-order price of Aurelia is $280. The latter isn’t exactly a small change, but it’s roughly 34 percent less than the former.

I admit, with this new knife, Chris Reeves Made in Idaho and the overall Sebenza street cred – you can’t really put a price on the innovation the brand started bringing to the venue nearly 40 years ago.

However, in the limited time I spent with this dashing young upstart, I found plenty of satisfaction and even enjoyed not only admiring it on my desk and passing it around, but also getting it excited by putting it into action and, you know, just using the damn thing.

It’s safe to say it has the look and feel of the best premium pocket knives you can buy for under $300. This means it’s worth adding to your collection alongside Sebenza; Even more so, if you are just starting out and every penny counts instead.

Availability and pricing

Manganas Aurelia is available for pre-order now for $280.

Mangana Aurelia