Which Sebenza?

[Hoghead]

this_is_nascar,
Please let us know what you think of your new Sebenza.

 

[DumboRAT]

Congrats !

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Allen
aka DumboRAT

 

[Raindrop]

Beware of the Sebenza /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif It is one of the few knives that I own more of than flashlights. Once you get one, you have to have another, then another, .....

With large hands the next thing to consider would be a wood inlaid. I have both the Classic Inlaids and the Custom Regular Sebenza Inlaids in my EDC rotation. The wood inserts seem to make the handle more comfortable for repetitive cutting tasks.

Congrats on buying one of the few "production" knives that rival the majority of the customs for fit and finish.

~Greg

 

[paulr]

Congrats Ray. Sebenzas are great.

Can someone explain what Tom Mayo does with them in customization?

 

[this_is_nascar]

I placed the order tonight and recieved confirmation that it will ship on Monday. I got a great deal on it too. I can't wait.

I'm hoping this doesn't start yet another addiction.

 

[DumboRAT]

nascar,

Too late.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

BTW, our good friend Dan is a knifeaholic, too. I've gor his Strider-TAD Gear TActical AR. He also is a retailer for Microtech.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Allen
aka DumboRAT

 

[js]

nascar,

Congratulations! Please post back here with your thoughts and impressions. I'd especially like to know if you think the small is large enough for a comfortable and useful grip during most cutting tasks, and also how you like to carry it EDC.

Enjoy your sebbie. One word about the BB finish: the feel of it improves with age, in my experience.

 

[this_is_nascar]

Well, my knife arrived today. I'm not sure what to say really. I'm glad I went with the small. The large would have been bigger than what I was looking for. Build quality appears to be excellent, it feels good in my hand, the opening/closing of the blade is nice and smooth and it just feels like a well made solid product.

All that being said, I beleive that I've discovered that I'm not really a "knife-person". I'm having those same thoughts that a non-flashaholic must have when I tell them I paid hundreds for a flashlight. I just don't see what makes this a $300 pocketknife. This is not meant to be offensive or anything, so please don't take it as such.

 

[DumboRAT]

nascar,

Not offensive at all. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif If you cannot see the difference between a Sebbie and a "Pakisteel flea-market knife," like you said, maybe you're just not that into knives.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

More money for lights !

Allen
aka DumboRAT

 

[Hoghead]

this_is_nascar,
Thanks for the up date. Sorry you were disappointed. You might want to sell it while it's new, but if you're willing to take a chance I think it'll grow on you.
Do you prefer a smaller knife?

 

[paulr]

t_i_n, take a look at some less expensive knives sometime, even Benchmade which is supposed to be the best production knife. They're just not as well made as the Sebenza in terms of precision. I guess these things are just harder to make precisely than flashlights are, maybe because steel is harder to work with than aluminum, or whatever.

 

[this_is_nascar]

Hoghead, I think you may have hit the nail on the head. I've been EDC'ing a Benchmade Benchmite for quite some time. It does what I need to do. It's small and goes un-noticed in my pocket (even my dress slacks) and cuts what and when I need it to. I'm not so sure I'd be willing to carry this loose in my pocket like that. Now that's obviously no fault of the knife, it's just a personal preference. I'm undecided what to do. I may let it ride with me over the weekend to see how well it fits.

paulr, I'm sure you're right however it goes un-notice by me. Again, no fault of the knife it's just my lack of understanding and appreciation of the process, I'm sure. In the hand, it certainly does feel solid.

 

[Owen]

I know where you're coming from. I've had both small and large Sebenzas, and they were, in a word...perfect. By that, I mean they were perfectly constructed.
They just weren't perfect for the things I use a knife for, and I prefer knives that are a little more specialized for my specific uses to one great all-around design.
If I had to own one locking folder, it would be a small Sebenza.
I don't have to own just one, though /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[DaveH]

TIN, I can understand your concern. It's actually pretty common. But here are some very good reasons why, IMO, a sebenza is
worth $300.

1) They don't wear out. I usually wear out a spyderco knife in about 1.5 years, after that amount of time on a spyderco, the blade has been sharpened alot, the pivot is a little sloppy, etc.
But with reasonable care, I haven't "worn out" a sebenza.

2) Blade bushing, some knives you can tighten or loosen the pivot,the problem is there's always a trade off between action and loose pivot. Not with
the sebenza. Keep the pivot tight and the action stays smooth.

3) You can take it apart and clean it.

4) If you send it back to CRK, you can always call on the phone and see what's up. It's pretty hard to do that with big knife companies.

It literally took me years to fully appreciate all these aspects. I now want to buy every one I see (well almost)

 

[felder]

If I were in your position, I'd sell it. The sebenza is a very nice knife, but if you really don't appreciate it you shouldn't spend $300 on it.

The sebenza in my opinion is the best production folder you can buy. Its fit and finish is second to none, it's one of the few knives where the manufacturer encourages you to take it apart, it has an outstanding warranty, and finally its simplicity is such that if the knife is well taken care of it should last forever.

That said, it's still at the end of the day just a knife. If you do not have a passion for knives the sebenza simply isn't worth it. Knives are designed to do exactly one thing, that is seperate matter. Any knife will do this, whether it costs $10 or $1000. Granted some knives may not do it for very long, or may fall apart. However you can get a knife for a lot less than $300 that should stand the test of time and do a good job at matter seperation.

Flashlights are very similar to knives in that they have a singular basic functionality. After everything is said and done,a $10 flashlight will illuminate your way to the bathroom at night or help you find the fuse box just as well as a $180 Arc4+. Generally speaking only flashaholics spend this much for flashlights, and only knifeaholics should buy sebenzas. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[ QUOTE ]
this_is_nascar said:
Well, my knife arrived today. I'm not sure what to say really. I'm glad I went with the small. The large would have been bigger than what I was looking for. Build quality appears to be excellent, it feels good in my hand, the opening/closing of the blade is nice and smooth and it just feels like a well made solid product.

All that being said, I beleive that I've discovered that I'm not really a "knife-person". I'm having those same thoughts that a non-flashaholic must have when I tell them I paid hundreds for a flashlight. I just don't see what makes this a $300 pocketknife. This is not meant to be offensive or anything, so please don't take it as such.


[/ QUOTE ]

 

[this_is_nascar]

Agreed felder. I couldn't quite interpret your tone as to whether I offended you or not. If I did, that was not my intent. I'm sure everything that everyone has said about this knife is true. This weekend, I may attempt to carry in by itself in my right front pocket, by itself. I don't want to mess it up, in case I decide to sell it.

 

[Overload]

I have nearly as many knives as I do flashlights. However, I use a knife on a daily basis opening boxes. I'm a lefty, so it's almost a game trying to find blades that work lefty one handed. When I find the rare knife that works lefty, I buy it. I have a smaller cadre that I rotate as EDC knives. These includes my two lefty Sebies, but I'm wearing a SOG Flash 2 today.
So, I agree with you that I don't believe that a $300 knife is that much superior to a $100 knife. But, in my own way, I reward knife companies that make lefty knives.
Oh, I wear and use every knife I own, even though many are limited editions, customs, or expensive. A knife has a job, so I let them do it. If I had a rare car, I'd drive it.(ok, I don't carry my Glock knife ever, but it's not a folder) hmmm, I carry all my folders at one time or another. It keeps them fresh to me.

Overload in Colorado

 

[paulr]

My understanding of the "take it apart" issue is that the Sebenza is one of the few knives whose parts are made precisely enough that you can strip it down and put it back together and have everything fit properly. Other knives tend to not fit back together without fussing and tweaking, so the vendors don't want anyone except factory techs to do it. That's one of the things that impressed me about the Sebenza. It may just be mythology, though.

 

[DumboRAT]

paulr --

Not mythology at all.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Yup, it's a part of what makes the Sebbies so good !

Allen
aka DumboRAT

 

[js]

nascar,

See how you like it. It may grow on you. If not, sell it.

As for taking the Sebbie apart and cleaning it --- AH! What a JOY!

I just did this the other day, and I am even happier about my knife than before, if that is possible. Brilliant, simple, elegant, solid, just simply perfect to my mind. I love my large sebbie.