Umnumzaan

The Umnumzaan is a folding pocket knife manufactured by Chris Reeve Knives of Boise, Idaho, and designed by Chris Reeve. The name "Umnumzaan" is derived from the Zulu language, meaning “Head of the family”, or “Boss” (colloq), a tribute to Mr. Reeve's South Africa origins.

The Umnumzaan implements a version of the Chris Reeve Integral Lock [ [http://www.chrisreeve.com/sebenzadetails.htm/ Integral Lock Design Principles on the Sebenza] ] . The original Integral Lock developed by Reeve in 1987, was first implemented in the Sebenza folding pocket knife. This lock employs a titanium lock bar, milled out of the knife's handle material. At lock up, the titanium lock bar comes in direct contact with the back of the blade, thus locking the blade in the open position. The Umnumzaan Integral Lock utilizes a ceramic ball that serves two functions -- the ball acts as the interface between the blade locking surface and the integral locking arm as the knife assumes the open positionShackleford, Steve, Blade Magazine, The Blade Magazine 2008 Knives of the Year, October 2008, p. 12] . The ball also mates with a detent in the blade in the closed position to secure the blade from opening accidentally.

The Umnumzaan blade pivot is implemented with a pivot screw and pin, and is supported by perforated phosphor bronze thrust washers. The functions of the perforations are to reduce friction due to surface area and house lubricant.

The thumb lug on the Umnumzaan is used for opening the knife blade, as well as serving as the stop pin that contacts the titanium handle slabs upon lockup. Around each lug is a polyurethane o-ring that acts as a shock absorber to cushion the shock of opening, and reduce the audible noise of opening. The use of the shock absorber concept was pioneered by knife designers Grant and Gavin Hawk, and is being implemented in the Umnumzaan with their consent [http://www.chrisreeve.com/umnumzaan.htm/ Official Umnamzaan Datasheet] ] .

The specifications of the Umnumzaan are as follows:

* Blade material: CPM S30V steel
* Blade hardness: 58-59 RC
* Blade finish: Stonewash
* Blade length: 3.675” (93.35mm)
* Blade thickness: 0.140" (3.56mm)
* Handle length: 4.77" (121.16mm)
* Handle material: 6AI4V titanium
* Fittings: 303 stainless steel

The Umnumzaan was introduced at the 2008 Blade Show and International Cutlery Fair, and was named the 2008 Blade Show “Overall Knife of the Year”. [ [http://www.blademag.com/bladeshow/ 2008 Blade Show Award Winners] ]

References