Anyone Keep Their Sebenzas in a Safe?

Ted Voorde said:
If you're not using your Sebbie, I can understand (too some extent) that one could decide to put it in a display cabinet to admire it. But, why would you put it in a safe where you can't even see it? Perhaps for a really unique or rare model, but why for plain Sebbie that's available everywhere? Putting the money in a savings account does appreciate better then a plain Sebbie.

A large regular was $345 on 1/1/2001

A large regular is $385 on 1/1/2008

Let's say you bought that Sebbie on 1/1/2001 for $345. Since it's now 2nd hand, it's probably not worth more then $300 if it's in perfect condition (I do see some small scuffs however on your picture).

With 3% interest, that $345 spend in 2001 would be worth $424 now, thus, one could buy a Sebbie (NEW) and still have $40 left

With 4%, that would be $70

Moral of the story: regular Sebenza's are a BAD investment, so, in my humble opinion, the only purpose for them is to use them. ;)
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Ouch, the voice of reason hurts........... :D

However, you do make valid points....... :thumbup:

All my Sebbies are in the safe except one user........ as are most if my other "brand" knives are also......... except for the user group.

I may have to re-think this whole "safe queen" mentality though..... cause most of my knives are nothing rare that would gain much value at all.

Gotta go now..... I'm getting a "headache" just considering a sell off..... lol ...... :confused:

:D
 
for an heirloom from my granpa, I'd rather have one with marks and wear all over it, gives it charector and lets me know he used it. not just a safe queen,
 
I EDC mine -- I carry and use my small regular more than any other knife -- more than 50% of the time. The handle is all scratched up. Several months ago, I got an Edge Pro. Without taking the time to practice on other knives first, I used it to reprofile the small regular to 10 degrees per side. It came out pretty good, and cuts much better, but there are now scratches in some places where it should be polished. I couldn't care less.

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Hard use? I'm not sure what that is. Mine gets used almost daily for whatever tasks are at hand. I don't use it to scrape chewing gum off the sidewalk or to baton through nails.

My first Sebbie was a large classic, but I got the small regular soon after that and prefer the small. So, the large classic was not used or carried much.

I have a Matt Cucchiara fizz that I've never used.
 
My large Classic woody is in my edc rotation and is being carried right now. Honestly, I use the little Case slipjoint, or Protech Runt2 that rides in my left pocket for the majority of my knife uses. The only use my Sebenza has seen so far is to open some mail. I know there are people who would question me about why I spent close to $500.00for a letter opener, but since it is my money I don't worry too much about answering that question. What I look for in folding knives is the absolute top precision possible in that knife. From an engineering standpoint I think it would be hard to dispute that the Sebenza is at the top with their precision and engineering.

Like some other responses here, I like to be able to carry the "best" knife possible. I want something that no one else is likely to pull out of their pocket. Not because I want to be snobbish, as I genuinely like ALL knives. One advantage to living alone now, and having to support myself only, is that I have more disposible income and I can spend $500.00 on a knife and be alright with it.

Even though I consider the Sebenza to be the most precise folding knife made today, I still have and love to carry my other knives; BM Rukus, Strider AR, ZT0200, Bladetech Rijbak, and Jeff Hall Bounty Hunter. All are well made and will serve me well, even if all they ever do is open envelopes!:D

Just a footnote, but I've been so impressed with my snakewood Sebenza that I've already put another large Classic, this one with lignum vitae ,"wood of life", on order to be delivered at the end of Jan. These CRK's are some good stuff.:thumbup:
 
if you want to go crazy about precision, check out Walker, Appleton, Lake, Eaton, etc.

I wish I could afford those, but they are pretty to look at, at least :)
 
I agree hh, as I've read a lot about those makers and how precise they are/were in making knives. Maybe I should say the "most precise production knife made today":)
 
Would you buy a Mercedes and then never use it & keep it in the garage??

Knives are a very dubious investment,what's their use in a dark safe? Use them but treat them well!
 
My zebra damascus small regular unique graphic Sebenza is one of the few knives I don't want to get scratched. I didn't buy it as an investment. I bought it becaue it's beautiful and unusual. I take it out and fondle it now and then. But, I don't see the point in using it to cut up cardboard boxes when I have other knives (including other Sebenzas) for that job.
 
I edc a mammoth ivory Mnandi every day in a suit and tie environment. Otherwise, I carry a small mammoth ivory Sebenza and use it.

The only time I carry a different knife is when I'm on the water. Then, it is a pre 98, partially serrated Delica.

I love my CRKs. They are beautiful, functional, incredibly well made tools and I know that if I lose or destroy one, Chris will make me another! :)


Dan
 
I use my Sebbie all the time. Not gonna be chopping down a tree with it, but that's not what a small folder is for. Certainly there are cheaper folders that do exactly the same thing, but I enjoy using my Sebbie, and that's worth it enough to me. Also, the F&F is absurdly perfect, from what I can see.
 
cutter17 said:
The only use my Sebenza has seen so far is to open some mail. I know there are people who would question me about why I spent close to $500 for a letter opener, but since it is my money I don't worry too much about answering that question. What I look for in folding knives is the absolute top precision possible in that knife. From an engineering standpoint I think it would be hard to dispute that the Sebenza is at the top with their precision and engineering. Like some other responses here, I like to be able to carry the "best" knife possible.
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Is the Sebenza the absolute best in its price range? (I really don't know.) They do seem awfully plain. Are there other knives available for the same price that might have a little more pizazz?

Regarding depreciation, I'd always thought that "mint" models could be kept for investments. I suppose, however, that as top steels change (from BG-42 to S30V and such), the Sebenzas change as well. And because there are always new people coming in, the older ones may acquire some collection value. And if a knife does acquire wear, as described above, does CRK provide restoration services? Is there a way to restore a matte titanium surface other than sending it in? Or can it be polished? Do most of you carry your knives in the pouch or in a sheath?

And what of loss? Anyone here ever lost their Sebbie, either in the house as in misplaced, or having it slip out of a pocket or such?


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This six-dollar...uh...thing...is sold by SMKW.
It looks suspiciously Sebbie-ish. :D
 
Hi Confedrate. When I say that the Sebenza is at the top I speak of the precision of it's build. The tolerances are in the .001 range, along with the bearing on which the blade rotates. I agree that the plain models don't have a lot of pizazz in the looks department, but the graphic and the woodies sure make up for that!
 
"And what of loss? Anyone here ever lost their Sebbie, either in the house as in misplaced, or having it slip out of a pocket or such?"

Sure. I've missplaced a Sebenza a number of times. I end up finding them but it sometimes is several months before I find where I put it. My new raindrip damascus, small, classic Sebenza got pulled out of my pocket when a box I picked up must have pulled on the lanyard. I found the Sebenza on the cement path next to my truck.
 
omaha-beenglockin said:
What's the point of having the extra quality built in if you're not going to use it?? You can't take it with you when you pass on---might as well use it now.
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Exactly! My Sebbie has been on my belt ever since I got it back from Tom Mayo 4 or 5 years ago. Most times there is a Busse on the other side.

The ones in the safe are just there to keep them from growing legs. LOL

I'm 59, worth it, and don't care what they cost. Gonna get used!

Rob
 
BTW, the Sebbie is my only folder. I do have a Buck 110 that I haven't seen in 10+ years.

The first week I had it (before it was sent to Mayo), it partially opened in my hip pocket and gave my thumb a good stab. It also (in the same place), snagged on the seat or seatbelt and was lying there when I got back to the truck.

2 things happened. 1, got that very expensive little piece from CRK to cover the clip hole and the clip got gone. 2, got MtMike to make a very nice TIP DOWN sheath using his original S.Africa Sebbie for a mold.

Got the Sebbie back from Tom and the sheath from Mike both in the same week and it has been worn and used ever since. No worries about the knife coming out of that sheath, very well fitted!

Rob
 
I think collecting expensive things is ok and all, but it's seems like a life in excess to me.

I have a very utilitarian mindset though, YMMV.
 
As far as why someone might keep their Sebenza and other fine knives in a safe, it comes down to why people buy them. In the old days, before the Beretta 92 was chosen by the military, they were dirt cheap to us dealers. I had an Italian Beretta and never hesitated to shoot it, though I keep it and my other guns in excellent shape. But when the U.S. military did it's trials, the Beretta malfunctioned on an average of once every 2,000 rounds. The next best was the Smith & Wesson 459, which had a rate of one in 952 (which is outstanding compared to the Colts and other submissions). The next thing I knew is the military had a new sidearm and my $192 Beretta suddenly became a $600 gun that was difficult to get.

It was only a matter of time before I realized I could sell it and buy six or more new Ruger Security-Six revolvers, or a little more than two S&W 9mms. At that time I didn't have any money to speak of and so I sold it so I could acquire other guns. In short, I felt compelled to. And though I liked the idea of making money on the thing, I hated the fact that it was now too expensive for me to afford. The maddening thing was, the military was still paying less than two hundred bucks. Welcome to capitalism.

I stopped using the Beretta as soon as its price skyrocketed and I never have bought another one. Some guns, I realized, I liked more for cosmetic reasons or because of the fit and finish. When S&W stopped their rich bluing process in the '70s (I believe), they relegated thousands of revolvers to safes. People just didn't want to mar those beautiful old blue jobs. When Colt went out of business, Colt Pythons and Gold Cups went into safes all over the country.

Now most people here can afford Sebenzas. If they lose one, they can just buy another, though they may suffer some major anxiety. Others might not even feel that if they're well off. But there is an area of consumer who has to pay through the nose to buy a Sebbie and other high-priced knives. Maybe they don't have the money to replace theirs easily if they were to lose them. They might rationalize, as I did with my guns, that they could carry cheaper knives in their collection and enjoy the knowledge that their expensive knives were at home in a state of suspended animation. Or perhaps they want the Sebenzas only for collection purposes, and they buy every issue they can get their hands on. Some of these safes may be small, bolted to the floor models that can be opened often and their contents admired.

On the other hand, Sebenzas, most of them, aren't what many would call beautiful. They're just well made, highly precise marvels of human craftmanship. And I find it odd that they don't appreciate in value. Many firearms can be bought and sold a few years later at a profit. Why wouldn't fine knives be the same?

And if Sebbies are something that shouldn't be relegated to a safe, what knives would be? Is there a line with any of you that, once crossed, you wouldn't feel comfortable in using?
 
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