Chris Reeve Small Sebenza 31 Insingo — 2.99 inch modified wharncliffe blade in CPM MagnaCut

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Chris Reeve Small Sebenza 31 Insingo · Modified Wharncliffe
2.99″ blade · 0.12″ spine · 3 oz · ~0.84″ tall

Spine thickness, same scale

0.12″

Length and spine thickness drawn to true scale from published specs. Outline traced from the maker's side-profile photo.

Chris Reeve

Chris Reeve Small Sebenza 31 Insingo

EDC FolderFolding

The Small Sebenza 31 with Chris Reeve's Insingo blade in place of the drop point — a straighter edge that rises to a tip near the spine line, with the belly taken out. Identical in every other respect: 2.99" of hollow-ground MagnaCut, a titanium integral lock, three ounces. Insingo cuts better on a board and against a surface; the drop point is the better all-rounder.

Blade: 2.99″
Weight: 3 oz
Steel: CPM MagnaCut
Price band: High-End

Best for

Someone who cuts on surfaces more than they skin or pierce

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Specifications

Manufacturer-published figures, cross-checked against chrisreeve.com.

Blade length: 2.99″
Spine thickness: 0.12″
Blade shape: Modified Wharncliffe
Grind: Hollow
Steel: CPM MagnaCut
Overall length: 6.98″
Closed length: 3.98″
Weight: 3 oz
Lock: Frame Lock
Deployment: Manual
Handle material: Titanium
Country of origin: USA

Why a modified wharncliffe

A wharncliffe with some curve reintroduced — a slender profile with the tip near the centreline. Kershaw's Leek is the pattern most people picture.

Every modified wharncliffe here →

About CPM MagnaCut

The current answer to “why must I choose?” — near-tool-steel toughness with better corrosion resistance than S30V. The default recommendation for a hunting fixed blade that lives in a wet sheath.

Edge retention

4/5

Toughness

4/5

Corrosion resistance

5/5

Ease of sharpening

3/5

1-5 is a relative ranking drawn from published composition and hardness, not a lab measurement. Higher is better on every axis, and no steel is a 5 across the board — edge retention and toughness pull against each other. All CPM MagnaCut knives

What owners say

Drawn from 284 owner discussions of the Chris Reeve Small Sebenza 31 Insingo since 2024. The opinions are theirs. The specifications above come from the maker.

What owners like

The Insingo profile suits small-knife cutting: one owner who bought a box elder small Sebenza found the blade felt great for most of what they cut, and the action smoother than their previous, well broken-in PJ small
Won over one drop-point fan: an owner who had always preferred drop points came to favor the Insingo's reverse-tanto shape for everyday tasks after carrying a small 31 Insingo for some time
Owners pair the shape with the size deliberately: one called the Insingo the perfect shape for a knife this small, and another chose the Insingo for the small while planning a drop point for a future large
The plain sandblasted version feels noticeably sleeker and thinner in hand than inlaid models, and its texture is a little grippier, according to one owner who owns several CRKs
Chris Reeve will reblade an existing Sebenza 31 to the Insingo: one owner paid $175 and got a whole new blade assembly, with new washers and bushing, when moving from a drop point
A left-handed small 31 Insingo exists, and one owner finally bought the LH version in black canvas micarta
Made with handing down in mind: one parent bought a small Insingo matching their son's birth date, planning to use it, send it for occasional service and pass it on in about 15 years

What owners flag

Hard to find at a fair price: one owner who wanted a right-handed small Insingo had missed every one that came up secondhand, found the rest priced too high, and ended up buying two at once when a store had both
Too precious for some trips: one owner who loves their MagnaCut small Insingo at home would not risk it trekking through Thailand and took a roughly $70 travel folder instead
The sandblasted finish shows marks more than the glass-blasted one, in one owner's experience, though CRK will re-blast it or upgrade it to glass-blasted for $50 plus shipping
Cheaper knives can displace it: one owner put their small 31 Insingo on vacation after a $140 Work Sharp folder became their favorite

A parent's birth-date knife for their son, one owner's favorite CRK and a mobile auto technician's work carry are among the Small Sebenza 31 Insingos owners describe. Two owners picked the Insingo blade specifically for the small size, one calling it the perfect shape for a knife this small.

Smoothness and cutting feel get the praise: one owner found a new box elder model smoother than their broken-in PJ small and the blade right for most small-knife cutting, and a drop-point loyalist switched preferences after carrying one. The sandblasted plain version feels slimmer and grippier but shows marks, and Chris Reeve will refinish or reblade it for a fee.

Price and scarcity are the friction: one buyer found secondhand examples overpriced or gone, another leaves theirs at home rather than risk it while backpacking abroad, and one owner sidelined theirs for a $140 Work Sharp folder.

Insingo or drop point on the Small Sebenza 31?

One owner calls the Insingo the perfect shape for a knife this size, another chose it for the small while planning a drop point for a future large, and one long-time drop-point user ended up preferring it for everyday tasks. One owner who already has an Insingo on a large Inkosi was leaning to a drop point for box and package work on a small, finding it more versatile.

Can Chris Reeve convert my drop-point Sebenza 31 to an Insingo?

Yes. One owner sent theirs in and paid $175; Chris Reeve swapped the whole blade assembly, including new washers and bushing, not just the blade.

Sandblasted or glass-blasted handle?

One owner of a plain sandblasted small 31 Insingo found it shows marks more than glass-blasted, but grips a little better and feels sleeker. Chris Reeve will re-sandblast it or upgrade it to glass-blasted for $50 plus shipping.

Is there a left-handed Small Sebenza 31 Insingo?

Yes. One owner bought the LH version in black canvas micarta. On the right-handed side, one buyer said they had missed every one listed secondhand before finding two in a store.