Decided not to buy Sebenza, so now what?

[Apec]

Jeremy Robertson "El Patron"
Similar looks to the Sebenza and comes in 3V or D2, also a flipper version.

That looks pretty awesome.

[killgar]

I never realized what a loyal and ardent following CRK has.

Yep, lots of cult-followers too who will try to convince you that the Sebenza is the king of knives and that your life just won't be complete until you buy one.

I am now convinced that sooner or later I will have to have a large Seb in my humble collection.

Do you mind if I ask why you now want a Sebenza?

After watching a video by someone you don't know you said you didn't want one. Now, after reading several people you don't know telling you that the Sebenza is a great knife you say you do want one. Have you actually handled one yet?

I hear that the Sebenza kool-aid is rather delicious, and it will only cost you around $400 a cup. To expensive for my tastes.

[cutitout]

Yep, lots of cult-followers too who will try to convince you that the Sebenza is the king of knives and that your life just won't be complete until you buy one.

Do you mind if I ask why you now want a Sebenza?

After watching a video by someone you don't know you said you didn't want one. Now, after reading several people you don't know telling you that the Sebenza is a great knife you say you do want one. Have you actually handled one yet?

I hear that the Sebenza kool-aid is rather delicious, and it will only cost you around $400 a cup. To expensive for my tastes.

Hey Killgar,
Not to be confrontational or anything, but that seems a little confrontational and an odd question in the context that you asked it. Since this is a forum for knife enthusiasts and folks who collect knives of all sorts to compare and learn from one another, I thought this might be a good place to do just that regarding a knife that has caught my attention. You seem to feel some sort of need to parent me and make sure that I really want this knife since I have waffled from not wanting it to wanting it. My parents are long dead and I have not auditioned for any new ones.

I posted here because I thought the Sebenza was an outstanding knife which I have wanted for some time. I am somewhat new to knife collecting and confess there is much I do not know. A google search led me to the review you refer to. I don't know him or anyone else here but I have found this to be a generally friendly place to discuss our mutual interests. I posted that I had reservations after seeing the review because from my uninformed perspective, I thought the reviewer made some good points. I wanted to get some other perspectives and insight into w hat he said. I have gotten a lot of very interesting responses, but I am a bit put off by your apparent need to make sure I really want this knife or really need this knife or even should have it since I have been so undecided.

I respect that you may not agree with me, hell, that's what I want is meaningful debate, but I don't feel it is necessary to criticize me for being undecided or even to waffle on whether I should or should not buy one. You must be a very important guy since you are obviously in charge of everyone.

[BBQ BOY]

I have several CRK's and have had A LOT of customs and mid-techs. Striders, Hinderers, Southard, Laconico, George and MANY others along with using my friends many custom and mid techs. For me, the Sebenza is an awesome knife and has a great value in comparision to the knives I own and have owned. All of the other knives are incredibly good as well but for me, the Sebenza it excellent. I am not sure why people feel the need to tear down people or a knife when they have never owned a Sebenza.
Buy one, try it out and if you don't like it, sell it a minimal loss.
Also as an FYI, I didn't get the appeal of the Sebenza for a while until I started buying and actually using many more knives. It was then, when I learned to appreciate the quality, durablity and simplicity of CRK knives.

[franzdom]

This is starting to sound just like the Snap-On debates in the tool world. Talk of kool-aid and whether something is too expensive for what you get etc etc etc. I like CRK and I like Snap-On. In fact one of the things I really like about both is an exceptionally strong secondary market. Canon EF lenses are also in this category. The cool thing is, if you need to sell any of these items there will always be a buyer. This is not the case for many other tool brands, brands of lenses, etc.

[frontline29]

I'm just about 100% positive that if the Sebenza was "not worth it" it would not have such loyal and satisfied fans.
There's a reason why the Sebenza has the following it does.

The true beauty of the Sebenza doesn't shine for a lot of people until its bought and carried for a few weeks.

[machine26]

Why is it when someone likes something they are a "fan boy" or drinking "kool aid"? I use tons of knives, including CRKs and I like them, receiving my first sebenza tomorrow actually. If I'm drinking kool aid for every knife brand I like, I'd be pissing 24/7.

[killgar]

No criticism was intended on my part, only curiosity. You started this thread saying that you didn't want a Sebenza. Then after a handful of positive comments, not reviews with people explaining the virtues of the Sebenza, just comments like "I own one and I love it", you now say that you are convinced and want to buy one. I was simply curious to know what changed your mind. Like for example, have you handled one since starting this thread?

You can always find people on this forum who will encourage you to buy a knife that they consider to be great, and you're free to listen to them and spend your money however you like. If you think I'm being critical because I suggest that you base a $400 decision on more than a handfull of opinions expressed by total strangers on the internet, well, there's nothing I can do about that.

[franzdom]

killgar it doesn't sound geniune when you said no criticism was intended. As for the decision part, I did just that and am more than happy with the results. Have you ever owned one? If so what did you like about it or dislike? And please tell us how much it cost to get out of it if you didn't like it.

[killgar]

Why is it when someone likes something they are a "fan boy" or drinking "kool aid"? I use tons of knives, including CRKs and I like them, receiving my first sebenza tomorrow actually. If I'm drinking kool aid for every knife brand I like, I'd be pissing 24/7.

I see a big difference between buying something because you like it, or buying something just because people on the internet say "It's the greatest. Go buy one". Maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't be convinced to spend $400 on a knife just because a few strangers on the net told me to. I'd at least have to handle one for myself first. Of course, $400 is a lot of money to me so I guess that influences my decision making process.

[killgar]

killgar it doesn't sound geniune when you said no criticism was intended. As for the decision part, I did just that and am more than happy with the results. Have you ever owned one? If so what did you like about it or dislike? And please tell us how much it cost to get out of it if you didn't like it.

I can't control your perception, nor do I care to try. Think what you want, it won't bother me.

Nowhere in this thread did I say that the Sebenza is a bad knife or that it's not worth the money or that the OP absolutely shouldn't buy one. I did say that I understand the desire to own a $400-$500 knife. And I said that I own expensive knives. But like I said, I don't think a person should base their decision to buy an expensive knife on a few comments on the internet, any more than a person should base their decision on an internet video review.

To answer your question, I've never owned a Sebenza. I've handled a few and found nothing I disliked, they are fine, high-quality knives. But there were other knives I liked more. But like I said, I handled them first.

[cutitout]

killgar it doesn't sound geniune when you said no criticism was intended. As for the decision part, I did just that and am more than happy with the results. Have you ever owned one? If so what did you like about it or dislike? And please tell us how much it cost to get out of it if you didn't like it.

Thanks Franzdom, glad to hear it is not just me that was thinking that. I think Killgar and the dude from Neptune Knives in the review have a lot more in common than he might like to admit. Enough said.

I actually started this thread saying that I have wanted a Sebenza for quite awhile and have put off the purchase so I could buy an expensive sharpening system. During the time I have put off the purchase, I have been doing research in the best way I could. There are no knife dealers near me and no way I can handle a CRK. I have purchased other knives that are less expensive and each has its merits. I like all the knives I have purchased for different reasons and I enjoy carrying a knife for the same reasons as most here do. I won't go into that, I think it's irrelevant. A knife is a tool to cut stuff. I don't intend to use it for defense, there are better tools for that. So really it comes down to what I am comfortable carrying. I like a beefy knife with no less than a 3" blade. My favorite so far is my ZT 560. I also like my ZT 350SW and I just purchased a 0300. I also have several, what are referred to as gentlemen's knives. I have a nice Shun folder and a couple of others. I like the variety and rotate my EDC just for fun. So, there are many, many different knives to choose from and I will continue to add more knives to my collection.

I don't think anyone here is going to see a post from someone they don't know who liked a particular knife and for that reason alone go out and buy that knife. But there are certain trends that begin to form when enough people relate positive (or negative) experiences with a certain knife. You begin to get a sense that this or that knife may stand out and if the features like the size, blade design, weight, steel, cost, etc. would appeal to you, you can then begin to check out other resources like Youtube or dealer websites or manufacturers web sites etc. Anyway, I can't believe I am writing all this to state the obvious because of Killgars childish comments.

Just had to vent a bit, sorry for the rant.

[machine26]

I see a big difference between buying something because you like it, or buying something just because people on the internet say "It's the greatest. Go buy one". Maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't be convinced to spend $400 on a knife just because a few strangers on the net told me to. I'd at least have to handle one for myself first. Of course, $400 is a lot of money to me so I guess that influences my decision making process.

I agree with you, buying something because other people tell you to is silly. I've been told I'm a fanboy for simply doing a review on my Randall 18 and 14. I didn't buy them cause others like them, I bought them cause they rock lol. 400 dollars is alot to me too, bud, I gotta save up a while for each fancy knife I buy.

[Stainz]

Odd how Sebbie-lust manifests itself. I went through several 'Sebbie-like' knives before ending up with a plain small Sebbie and my StarTac Umnumzaan. The most expensive was my Buck 172 Mayo TNT, a lightened Ti framelock of .125" S30V between the two Sebbies in length. A super smooth and very sharp knife, it was still no Sebbie, even though it's last MSRP, before it was dropped, was $350 ($450 in CF!). Buck couldn't make it with CRK-style tolerances on production equipment - it just wasn't cost-effective. I lucked into mine for <$150 shipped - a deal - until the 347 Vantage Pro, with the same size/metal blade for $75 MSRP (~$40 mail order then - admittedly some early QC issues.) - still made in ID.



So, a Sebbie in S30V (Now S35VN) for $400 - or a $40 knife in S30V - both are great blades. One is really nicely made... both will cut! I guess it depends on where you are in your life.

Stainz

[sodak]

You're not a fanboy for liking something, but you ARE a fanboy if you criticize others for not liking it also. That's intended to be a general statement, and not pointed at anyone specifically.

I haven't read this whole thread, but I had a Sebenza for a couple of years, and was not impressed with it's cutting performance and edge holding, so I got rid of it. The tolerances and lockup are every bit as good, however, as people claim they are.

It's up to you.

[hardheart]

But there are certain trends that begin to form when enough people relate positive (or negative) experiences with a certain knife. You begin to get a sense that this or that knife may stand out and if the features like the size, blade design, weight, steel, cost, etc. would appeal to you, you can then begin to check out other resources like Youtube or dealer websites or manufacturers web sites etc.

Good thing we have this thread then, because there isn't a quarter century of positive feedback on the Sebenza already. Finally, a discussion to counter Neptune's video which has tainted the view of the Sebenza for everyone else for decades. At long last, people have been urged out of hiding to actually talk about the knife. Perhaps now is a new stag of history, where a search of the internet and Bladeforums in particular will result in reviews and comments on the Sebenza. This thread needs to be stickied, it's just that fresh, new, and innovative.

[MDQBox]

You might want to do a survey of how many positive sebenza reviews there are to how many negative sebenza reviews there are. Like everything, I wouldn't base my decision on just one review or opinion. In the end, though, you will need to decide for yourself and how YOU like the knife.

[MRaymond]

The true beauty of the Sebenza doesn't shine for a lot of people until its bought and carried for a few weeks.

I have been reading this thread with interest since I just went through my decision making process for buying a Sebenza. I went from thinking, "it is just to expensive" etc. etc. I had some very nice spyderco knives that I liked very much. A CF military with M390 and a Gayle Bradley, both of which I was hesitant to use because although I liked them, I wasn't satisfied. I am a person that really appreciates quality and understand that quality comes with a price at times. Therefore, I was drawn to the Sebenza. I weighed my wants and needs and whether it was important to me to get the sebenza. I decided to sell my military and gayle bradley and ended up with this. It took me a week to "love" it but I do and it is the only knife I carry other than my paramilitary 2.

[Sonnydaze]

My first suggestion is that you've made an error. My second is that you remedy that situation as soon as possible. Of course, that assumes you are after the best-made production folder available. Of course I'm biased. Not everyone will like or own a Sebenza, or there would only be one brand of folders. But it IS a very find folder. I've had about ten CRK's; presently own four: three Sebs and an Umnumzaan. Yes, they are very nice.
Yes, there are other good brands; many less than the CRK price. And there are good customs also. The fun is in the search, although it can be pricey.
Sonnydaze