Which Sebenza?

[Owen]

I've always loved the way plain Sebenzas look (like it better than that Hall, for instance), but have a soft spot for that Chimera. Always thought those were really slick little knives.
My CF EDC is a looker, too /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[js]

[ QUOTE ]
hey, you could compare the plain sebbie to THIS, THEN tell me it's not a grey turd

[/ QUOTE ]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rant.gif
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/twakfl.gif

My large Sebenza is a beautiful knife. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif It's NOT a . . . what you said.

And, don't hurt me for saying this, or take offense, but I actually like the look of the large regular plain Sebenza better than the two knives in your post. Not that they aren't nice. They are, but I prefer mine. I guess I'm a plain-jane kinda guy, . . . and also I have only just begun to collect knives (and may not even start), so I'm sure my taste will change with more experience. Heck, I remember that I used to think the SF M3T was ugly! Now I think it has great lines. Before I couldn't stand the way the 10X looked. Now. . . .eh, not so bad. So who knows.

 

[KC2IXE]

Owen,
The Hall is a differnt class of knife, and actually looks BETTER in person than it does in the photo!

The Hall is s "Gent's folder" - it's meant to wear in a suit, or a pair of dress pants. You'll notice, it has no pocket clip (it was an option, but...). I'd say the "Ultimate" Gents folder is probably a Lake Folder engraved by Steve Lindsay, but I don't have 10k plus to spend on a knife, because I WOULD carry it!!

As I said, the Sebbie is a NICE knife, but the plain versions are well, kinda plain. Their beauty is in the "form = function" range. Sort of like an MG-42, an M-16, or a Stanley plane is beautiful. Thing is, I'm more a Frank Loyd Wright than a Mies Vanderoe kinda guy

 

[DumboRAT]

[ QUOTE ]
I was more thinking about a similar Mayo - say a medium plain TnT

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LOL, you're a hard customer to satisfy. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I think that for sheer size, the Large Sebbie actually gives sheeple the scare as it has quite a sizeable blade.

But honestly, my Dr. Death is an intermediate between a Medium and Large in terms of TNT measure, and the blade is actually rather slim. Maybe it's the more aggressive blade shape that catches sheeple's eyes? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

Too close to call, in retrospect.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Gotta give it to ya, though -- that eye-popping beauty of yours steals the show from a "classically" dressed Sebbie. Like a red dress at a Black & White ball, it's just in a different league.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Allen
aka DumboRAT

 

[KC2IXE]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I was more thinking about a similar Mayo - say a medium ...snip...Gotta give it to ya, though -- that eye-popping beauty of yours steals the show from a "classically" dressed Sebbie. Like a red dress at a Black & White ball, it's just in a different league.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Allen
aka DumboRAT

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Jeff does NICE work. The plans (as soon as budget allows) is to have those nice stainless bolsters done up in engraving. When I got the knife, I didn't have kids, so I had money, but then by the time my spot came up in the engraving queue, I didn't have the cash - time to get back in the queue - I was thinking a nice open english scroll, maybe even a purple gold inlay /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

 

[torment]

I wouldn't trade my sebbie for any of the knives mentioned in this thread....simplicity rules /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[this_is_nascar]

So far, so good. My small regular Sebenza has been riding nicely in my right from pocket, using the pocketclip.

 

[this_is_nascar]

Is there any particular name for the type of rope/cord that used on the Sebenza (or any knife for that matter) for the lanyard? I'd like to purchase of it to make lanyards for some of my other knives and lights.

 

[Owen]

Not sure about the exact cord that CRK uses, but I buy 3mm cord for lanyards. It is available in many colors/color combinations, and can usually be found by the roll at outdoors stores. Normally $.15/foot.
Only problem is that most stores only have a roll or two out at a time, and color selection isn't always good.
A week or two later, depending, they may have entirely different colors.

 

[Owen]

Some old scans I found with some of the cord I'm talking about:

I also use plain OD 550 cord alot...

 

[Owen]

Some old scans I found with some of the cord I'm talking about:

I also use plain OD 550 cord alot...

 

[felder]

No no...you didn't offend me. I was basically saying that if you're not a knifenut, you probably shouldn't get a Sebenza because for someone that looks at knives stictly as tools it's a waste of money because you can get other "tools" that do the same thing for a lot less. This in no way has any reflection on you as a person or on anyone else.

I wouldn't get all jazzed up over getting the best hammer, but I'm sure some people do. So if I were to get a $300 top of the line super hammer (do they make these? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif ), I would probably look at it and go, "What's so special about this?" If that's what your impression of the Sebenza is, you should sell it and buy another ARC. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[alanhuth]

Just got a small classic today. First impressions from a person who has never owned anything beyond a swiss army pocket knife:

I originally wanted a regular, but didn't find one in time to meet my impatience level. Already I'm glad I got the classic. The larger cutout makes flipping the blade out a little easier, I suspect, and it also serves as a nice place for index finger with blade open. The straighter profile around the cutout is a little more aesthetically pleasing to me as well.

I find it's more comfortable for me clipped to the back right pocket rather than the front pocket because I dig into the right front pocket often to get coins, keys, or ARC. I found having the Sebenza there, albeit nicely tucked out of the way, was still a nuisance. (Given that I've had this thing for all of about 4 hours).

I was surprised how friggin sharp this thing is. Frankly, I'm a little afraid of it. I know from boy scouts that a sharp knife is a safe knife and all, but this thing, if you make the slightest mistake, can do some serious damage. It easily passes the arm-hair-shave test. I'm afraid I'm going to close the thing carelessly some time and cut my finger(s) off. I'm also slightly afraid that one of my 4-year-olds is going to pull it out of my pocket some time while we're wrestling on the floor and do some serious damage to somebody. We're going to have to have some pre-emptive training on that. I'd appreciate any advice from knife carriers with little kids.

The blade is so thin and sharp that I'm not sure how hard I can abuse it. Users claim it's quite a workhorse, but I'm not comfortable (yet) even taking it to carving up the FEDX box it came in.

I'm 6'4" and I have large hands. The small still fits perfectly in my hand. For EDC, I cannot see the large being preferable to people who like their EDCs to be as unobtrusive as possible.

I love the lanyard. It has already molded itself as someone predicted earlier in this thread. It makes pulling the knife out of my pocket much easier and I really like how it looks and feels. It's a nice contrast to the titanium starkness, almost humanizing, like a leather thong on a tomahawk.

 

[NeonLights]

[ QUOTE ]
felder said:
I wouldn't get all jazzed up over getting the best hammer, but I'm sure some people do. So if I were to get a $300 top of the line super hammer (do they make these? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif ), I would probably look at it and go, "What's so special about this?" If that's what your impression of the Sebenza is, you should sell it and buy another ARC. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

You mean something like this? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
http://store.stilettotools.com/Detail.bok?no=40
$200 for a solid titanium hammer. If I was still involved in the construction industry, I'd probably own one, but as it is, I typically only use a hammer around the property a few times a month instead of daily like I used to.

A good knife on the other hand, I often use several times every day. Right now that "good knife" is usually a Buck Mayo TNT or a Buck Strider, but one of these days I'll get a Sebenza. For me a knife is a tool, but it is also something more. A Sebenza is probably the most expensive knife I'd want to carry on a daily basis.

-Keith

 

[felder]

Well there you have it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif It's made out of titanium, but wow $199?!?! I don't think I could bear to whack things with a $199 object. I think I'd be upset if I scratched that thing. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinser2.gif

 

[Deanster]

TIN - the cord is 'mil-spec 550 paracord'. Widely available at surplus stores, sometimes a bit harder to find the black. It's important (well, a little important) to make sure that it's the 550 cord, rather than cheap 'parachute cord' or other cheap imitations.

The real 550 cord has ~500lb breaking strength, and it has seven internal strands, which can be amazingly useful. People (not me) have used the internal strands for emergency sutures, fishing line, dental floss, etc.

It's mostly just a lanyard, but there's enough line there to be a useful emergency tool if needed.

 

[Deanster]

Alanhuth - I've got a 4.5y/o, and a 1.5y/o, and as previously noted, I carry a Sebenza full-time. I've never had it just come loose, whether rolling on the ground, hanging over the side of my boat, etc. I'm sure it could, under some circumstances, as the clip is just a normal clip, but it's not been a problem for me. My normal approach with stuff like this is to keep an eye on it, and see if the kids end up with it, and then find a strategy to foil what actually happens. I find that trying to guess in advance what the little boogers will like, and how they'll go about getting their hands on it, isn't very productive.

My kids, especially #2, really like the knife, but it hasn't taken much effort to convince him that grabbing at things in dad's pockets isn't a good idea. He's also not quite tall enough to reach my pocket when standing. #1 is more than old enough to know that there are knives she's allowed to use with supervision, and ones that if she finds them lying around she should get a grown-up. She's pretty easy to work with, though - I don't anticipate it'll be so easy when #2 is 4y/o.

Also, I'd suggest taking a few moments to use the Sebenza on the cardboard box or something (drive it through a piece of 3/8 plywood?). It'll take off a bit of the ultra-sharp factory edge, and bring it into the range of 'very sharp knives', instead of the 'might lop off a whole finger sharp knife'. It'll also help convince you that you can really USE the knife. Shred the box into little pieces, whittle a new baseball bat, whatever... just take it out for a spin.

 

[this_is_nascar]

[ QUOTE ]
Deanster said:
TIN - the cord is 'mil-spec 550 paracord'. Widely available at surplus stores, sometimes a bit harder to find the black. It's important (well, a little important) to make sure that it's the 550 cord, rather than cheap 'parachute cord' or other cheap imitations.

The real 550 cord has ~500lb breaking strength, and it has seven internal strands, which can be amazingly useful. People (not me) have used the internal strands for emergency sutures, fishing line, dental floss, etc.

It's mostly just a lanyard, but there's enough line there to be a useful emergency tool if needed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks again. I found some stuff HERE at Union Square. They're quite pricey on shipping, however it saves me the time and effort combing the stores for it.

 

[DumboRAT]

alanhuth,

Don't worry about the durability of the Sebenza, it's strength, as with most good folders, defies imagination. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Let's put it this way.....if I can carve cardboard boxes with my $10 "paki-steel, Made-in China" POS butterfly knife or lock-back, the Sebenza will make short work of those same boxes.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Allen
aka DumboRAT

 

[was_jlh]

Another carry option that I use with my small sebbie sometimes is inside the waistband over my right hip, with the clip behind my belt. Very discreet and more comfortable than you would imagine.