another Sebenza thread .... (don't look now)

fleetparadox said:
Gotcha mm3. Thanks for the explanation.

That sounds like the same story line that my local knife store guru told me.

Lousy stonewash... haha.
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There are two ways to get a polished Sebenza blade. One is to get the more expensive decorated version - either graphic or wood inlay. The other way is to get a polished blade version, which only costs about $12 more than the standard stonewash. I have a polished blade small Sebenza. I just don't care for stonewashed blades.

My Sebenza requires more force to open and close than my axis lock knives, but is not less smooth. Much tighter tolerances. After getting used to the Sebenza, the BM knives that I have seem to be a step lower in fit and finish.
 
Just sold my sebenza and I own a 710.

While I agree the 710 is easier to open, the sebenza is smoother. The 710 is looser so it's going to be easier to open. I'd describe the sebenza as being just right not too tight and not too lose, smooth.

Also my sebenza felt pretty much the same as when I first bought it. My 710 you can tell I've owned it a while. Cosmetics aside of course.
 
I have a wood inlay small Sebenza and the only part of the blade that is polished is the hollow grind. The part with the thumblug and where the ball detent touches is stonewashed.

Does CRK make a 100% polished blade?
 
From the ones I have had in the past, and the ones I do have now, the benchmade axis locks are smoother. If you are looking at only that aspect of the complete package. But the knives are different. Get them both, and you will not be disappointed with either one. :) Or get more than one of each :)
Dave
 
The entire point with the Sebenza is you NEVER HAVE TO ADJUST PIVOT TENSION. You tighten the handles down on the pivot bushing (separate from the blade) and just go from there. Your blade will never wander towards one side of the handles or the other as pivot tension changes.

Every other liner or handle-lock folder I've had was sensitive to pivot tension. This, to me, is the first plus on the Sebenza . . . and a major one at that.

Now the Sebenza isn't as easy to "flip" open, in part due to that same pivot design. Especially in the small Sebenza, the blade just doesn't have enough mass to flip open without assistance.

There are probably dozens of what-I-like-about-the-Sebenza threads here but the pivot design isn't mentioned as often as it should be.
 
there's an easy solution to this whole problem; get a sebenza & a benchmade 710,(like i have), & you'll have 2 classic legendary folders that are tough to beat ! ive had 710's since 1999,never had a problem, ive had sebenzas since the mid 90's,also no problems!:D
 
Have many knives that I have switched off to looking for that EDC that I really felt was a GREAT knife. The last one was the Benchmade 960 Osborne (D2 blade) design which was the smoothest to open other then some custom handmade's I own. Since getting the Small Sebbie w/ Micarta inlays I think that I have found that GREAT Knife I have been looking for. The Benchmade is one fine knife, but to me is not as well built as the Sebenza. The more I use the Sebbie the eaiser it is getting to open. Was smooth from the start but required a little more force due to the tight tolerance. I fell more secure with the lockup on the Sebbie. Both companies make fine knives.
 
I'd have to recomend against buying a sebenza. If sounds like easy to open and smoothness is very important to you. You can get to a point where you can open one easily and it is smooth, but as has been pointed out it won't be that way new. Further, I imagine you will also be disapointed in that it's not very sharp when new.
 
iamsmiling said:
Every other liner or handle-lock folder I've had was sensitive to pivot tension. This, to me, is the first plus on the Sebenza . . . and a major one at that.
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One of the biggest selling points of a screw pivot is the fact that you can adjust the tension to your particular tastes.
Some folks like a looser pivot while others like a tighter pivot.

Personally, I prefer a riveted or pinned pivot on a rugged outdoors knife...
No screws to loosen and get lost, and no need to pack small screwdrivers with me out in the field.
 
Different strokes for different folks.

I've got a Sebenza that I've had since '99 and a 550 Griptilian I got a couple of weeks ago.

The Sebenza is in my pocket.

Lockup is as good today as it was when new. I recently polished the washers during a cleaning and now the knife is smoother than ever (and that's saying something.)

The 550 Grip seems to have a nice lockup but the action needs something to smooth it out--I don't know just what.

B
 
Another thing to take into consideration is that when opening the Sebenza, there is constant pressure on the tang of the knife from the lockbar. If you relieve this pressure, the knife can become much smoother than any axis lock I own. (One of which is a 940, which many consider to be the smoothest axis lock).

When opening an axis lock, there is very little resistance from the lock on the tang of the blade, due to a different design.

Honestly, the fit and finish of a Sebenza makes my BMs look a little sloppy. The actions are somewhat different - the best way I can describe it is that the axis locks are fast, whereas the Sebenza is smooooth.

Edit:

Another thing to mention: all of my BMs have bladeplay, except for my 32 Morpho when the handles are latched. My Sebenza has absolutely no bladeplay. I can tighten the pivots on my BMs to the point where they don't have bladeplay anymore, but they become close to unopenable. The Sebenza can be tightened, loosened, whatever, and there is no effect on the action, and no play.
 
Django606 said:
Another thing to take into consideration is that when opening the Sebenza, there is constant pressure on the tang of the knife from the lockbar. If you relieve this pressure, the knife can become much smoother than any axis lock I own.
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When I hold the lockbar away from the blade on my tanto Sebenza, the blade just drops towards the open or closed postiion like a gravity knife. If I flick the thumbstud hard, the blade pops open and locked as easily as an assisted opener. This is flicking just short of the tang striking the stop pin with any significant force.
 
Sebenzas are great. Once they break in, they are as comfortable and as a knife can be. I don't currently own one since I have sworn off knives past $150 or so because I have bad habit of losing them!:eek: That said, I could see me getting one again, I will just tie it to my belt or something.:thumbup:
 
It seems to me that you are putting too much emphasis on one area of function of a knife. In comparing just this one aspect of the knife, the axis lock is going to be the smoothest. As has been mentioned, though, there are many benefits to the Sebenza's lock.

When choosing a knife, you have to take all things into consideration. For many people, a BM Grip or MiniGrip is the ideal pocket knife. For others, the Sebenza is the ideal pocket knife. The choice is a matter of intended use, budget, and, above all, personal preference.
 
I really appreciate everyone's thoughtful ideas and advice. So far I've only been buying knives that I can somehow justify needing: Al Mar Falcon ultralight for office carry; Chris Reeve Mountaineer II for camping; Benchmade Balisong for late night walks with my dog in NYC parks; and now the Griptilian for day hikes. A Sebenza will most likely be my first purchase for purely aesthetic reasons and I haven't even handled one yet. But I'm definitely coming down with a Sebenza fever.
 
hmm, anyone ever have any trouble shipping a Sebenza across borders where agents will open packages & give them a flick test? if the tension can't be increased, that could be an expensive loss to politics.
 
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