Are inlays worth the added cost?

C

Cloud Cleaver

Joined
Mar 15, 2009
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Hey, fellow knife knuts. I won't bug you with the oft-asked "Sebenza vs Umnumzaan" question. I think I've settled that for myself. I love the classic lines, simple elegance, and user-friendly pivot of the large Sebenza, so I'll be investing part of my yearly toy fund on one of those next year.

That said, I want to know what you guys think of CRK's inlay options. I find them pretty, but I also find the plain Ti attractive in its own way. I'm not a big fan of the darker metal finish with the micarta version, so if I go with inlays it will be a dark wood.

I noticed the inlays are attached with tape. This seems odd coming from such a high quality manufacturer. Has anyone had an inlay fall out? Are the wood inlays themselves durable enough for EDC? I don't want to inadvertently purchase a safe queen, or worse, end up breaking a nice piece of ebony or blackwood.

Do the inlays add substantially to the grippiness or ergonomics of the knife? I don't expect to have issues gripping the plain model, but with such minimal jimping, anything that can help a saber-gripper like me hold on is welcome.

Are the inlays worth the money? IIRC, they add 55 bucks to the price, which could conceivably be spent customizing the knife in other ways.

Lastly, do you think getting anything other than a "standard" Sebenza is a bad idea, since it's my first CRK purchase?

Thanks in advance for what I'm sure will be valuable and educated opinions!
 
I have 2 Large Micarta's and love them. So yes I think they help with the grip, as well as look nice. Grip for me wether a plain or inlaid has never been a problem.
 
The inlays are certainly tough enough to withstand pretty much any edc tasks that you would need it to do, the tape they use is incredibly tough, for example if you want the inlays replaced by CRK they will have to grind the old inlays out. As for the inlays being worth it, only you can tell because it is a matter of personal taste and preference. I like the plain versions over the inlaid versions only because the inlaid versions have a polished blade instead of a stonewashed blade and the polished blades show fingerprints which can be annoying. Whatever you choose make sure to update us on what you pick up.
 
Google "3M VHB Tape" and see what you find. The inlays won't fall out.

The rest depends on your personal taste, but plenty of people use inlays Seb's as working knives and I've only ever heard of one or two instances of wooden inlays breaking. Micarta would be tougher under strain I imagine. Regardless of what you choose, however, they are all pretty amazing when you get them in your hand, so just pick one you like and go for it.
 
If you order a knife through CRK you can specify a completely tumbled blade, No.

Both Micarta's I have came with fully tumbled blades. Or you could send it in and have a polished one tumbled.
 
I have a small micarta and a few Mnandis and have never had any issues with the inlays. I can't recall any posts regarding inlays falling out so I would not count out the inlaid versions if this is your main concern. As NJerzy stated, plain vs inlaid is a personal preference that only you can decide. You can't go wrong no matter which you decide to go with. You may just end up with both eventually.
 
I see it this way. All the inlays options, besides the micarta, are more safe queen collector knives. Of course they'll work just as good as a plain ti sebenza but I wouldn't want to scuff up such a pretty knife with the polished ti and gorgeous wood. I would think the grip would also be hindered due to the slippery wood. Now the micarta version is a definite user being it has sand blasted ti and grippy micarta inlays.
This being your first sebenza and you want it to be a user I would say go with a plain 21 or micarta. And to answer if the inlays are worth it I'd say its.up to the individual. I think they are.
 
I like the look of a plain sebenza when its new and unmarked. But since a sebenza is a working knife, it doesn't stay that way long.
There's a thread named "show me your carried sebenzas" if you like that look then a plain sebenza is what you should get but for me I think the inlays help keep the sebenza looking new.
 
I only like the inlays on the Mnandi. I know this may seem blasphemous but the Sebenzas dont really tickle my fancy as much as the Mnandi and Umnumzaan do.
 
I have both and carry the plain. The inlays add grip and comfort. The micarta makes a hard to beat edc but for me the knife spends more time in my pocket than my hand and I like the minimalist appeal of the plain. I carry a large insingo and it works just right for me.;):thumbup::cool::p
 
Thanks for the prompt responses. Bladeforums is an awesome community.

Does anyone know if you can get the micarta with the standard finishes? I love the stonewashed blade and I'm not crazy about the sandblasted scales.
 
atony said:
If you order a knife through CRK you can specify a completely tumbled blade, No.

Both Micarta's I have came with fully tumbled blades. Or you could send it in and have a polished one tumbled.
Click to expand...

CRK won't tumble a polished blade and vice versa.
 
The tape bond is so strong that you'll break the inlay before it comes off the scale.

It's a personal choice but I like the additional grip the inlays provide (I have both micarta and lignum vitae knives in both large and small).

The wood inlays can also dress up the knife a bit, which might make it a little more socially acceptable in certain circumstances, if that is a consideration for you.

In short, yes: I like them, and I think they're a worthwhile upgrade. :thumbup:
 
Cloud Cleaver said:
Thanks for the prompt responses. Bladeforums is an awesome community.

Does anyone know if you can get the micarta with the standard finishes? I love the stonewashed blade and I'm not crazy about the sandblasted scales.
Click to expand...

I have seen (and own) micartas with polished blades and blasted scales, but I've never seen the reverse (stonewashed blade and machine-finished scales).
 
I like some of the inlayed Sebenzas and would be happy to pay the extra for a nice piece of wood or ivory that I liked. That said I am not that fond of the two piece inlays on the 21s. There are a couple of nice pieces but for the most part I much prefer the larger single piece inlays found on the Regular anual Sebenzas. :):thumbup:
 
I recently bead blasted a reverse gray scale Freedom Sebenza because I hated the polished titanium scale for edc and now absolutely love it.The bead blast finish looks like a matt silver and doesn't show the typical scratches that the sand blasted finish shows.I may even bead blast the polished blade and see how that works.
 
Love the inlays, i have madagascan rosewood on my large seb 21. I use it as an EDC. This knife has really grown on me. It is definitely not for the safe, made to be used. It would have to be a 10,000$ loveless for me to put it in the safe. I use all my knives, the more exspensive ones i use smartly.
 
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