Are Sebenzas overpriced?

I agree with the comments by Sid about buying what you like. Excellent advice. I also agree that the sebenza is a well made tool that will serve you will. I simply am pointing out that other better options exist in that price range. Options that will hold or increase in value down the road. Knives that you can have built to exactly what you. Knives where you can choose the materials, shapes, sizes, etc... With the Sebbie, you get large or small. I prefer custom knives that are a better dollar-for-dollar value and built to what I want in a knife. The best option is to give yourself more options.

JR
 
I've felt pangs of guilt over the prices I've paid for a few knives, but never over my Sebenza. I've never been anything but perfectly happy with my Seb, which I can't say about any of my other folders.

If you’re looking for a status symbol to carry in your pocket, then I guess the Seb could be consider overpriced. It’s not the prettiest knife in the world. But if you need a hard use folder, then it’s worth every penny. The Sebenza can take a heck of a beating. Mine has had pretty much daily carry for over a year now, and I’ve only grown more and more impressed with the design and execution. How many folders can you say that about?
 
Having owned two Sebenza's, I can honestly say that I feel the MSRP is a tad high. I would never evn consider paying full price for a new one, but would like to get a used one at a good price.

I have a very hard time paying $415 to $550 for a production knife (the best production knife made, but still a "production" knife), when for the same price I can buy a true, handmade, custom, one of a kind knife.

I'd love a wood or leather inlay Sebbie, but for the same price I can get a Crawford, Elishewitz, Blackwood etc....that's just too good to pass up.

Just my opinion, I could be wrong! ;)

Joe
 
Yes, the Sebenza is way overpriced,
especially the wood inlay ones and the unique graphic ones! ;)

Everyone needs to stop placing orders and quit buying them. ;)

That way maybe I could pick up the phone and order one and take immediate delivery rather than wait a year.

If anything, they are underpriced. The market dictates the price. If they were overpriced, then nobody would buy them. Marketing 101.

Reeve knives cannot make the knives fast enough now, so I would surmise that they are priced too cheaply. Where they are on the product curve is hard to tell. I would say that they are on the front side and have not nearly peaked.

When there are Sebenzas everywhere in all varieties and dealers cannot sell them, the prices will drop.

We are a long way from that time. Too bad. I want a left-handed gold coin Sebenza for $250! ;)
 
I simply am pointing out that other better options exist in that price range. Options that will hold or increase in value down the road. Knives that you can have built to exactly what you. Knives where you can choose the materials, shapes, sizes, etc...
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I'm not disagreeing with you, but from the viewpoint of what the Seb is supposed to be, I'd have to see some serious attempts at quantification before I agreed. Quite apart from the perception of the marketplace (which governs which knives appreciate and by how much), the point of the engineering behind the Seb. was to make the strongest and simplest folder in the world.

Now though I've never owned folders from any of the other competing makers you cited (and Tom Mayo is often included in that group), I have seen some of their knives and from the simplicity angle all that I've seen loose to the Seb. right from the get go. That leaves over-all strength. Someone who has the wherewithall to destructively test these knives one against another is just going to have to come along one day and put an end to the argument, but for now, I'll chance that the Seb. would come out on top more than 50% of the time.
 
Matthew,

You want a simple frame lock the beats the sebbie in looks, function, and strength? Mike Obenauf frame lock. Take a look. The sebbie can only have wet dreams of being in the same class.

JR
 
Originally posted by Jeremy Reynolds
Matthew,

You want a simple frame lock the beats the sebbie in looks, function, and strength? Mike Obenauf frame lock. Take a look. The sebbie can only have wet dreams of being in the same class.

JR
Click to expand...

I like custom knives as much as anybody, i appreciate their quality, materials and fit and finish, BUT, if you have ever closely examined a Sebenza, you'll see that the materials are top notch, the design is extremely rugged and intelligent, and the fit and finish is PERFECT. Not to mention how smoothly the knife opens. So, exactly HOW can the customs be so far superior, how can their fit and finish be BETTER than perfect? Tell me EXACTLY why the customs are such better knives, aside from intangibles like style and cosmetics.

Im not saying that an Obenauf isnt a more desirable knife, it may very well be, but NOT because it is made better, it would be because it looks/feels nicer, and it would be a matter of taste, not better fit, finish or engineering. I have never once examined a Sebenza that wasn't absolutely flawless in fit, finish and function, and thats just very hard to improve on, even for handmade customs.
 
Every single Sebenza thread, someone uses the whole "Look, since you don't like it, you've obviously never held one" card. It's getting tiresome.

I've held one. In fact, I owned one. I did not like it. I will not own another. If they were $50, I would not buy another, so (to stay on topic) obviously I think they're overpriced.
 
This whole thing is a situational problem. If you already own a Sebbie, try being convinced that it is overpriced. It won't happen; they are extremely well made knives.

Now if you do not own a Sebbie, and for one third the price, own an Al Mar SERE 2000, try being convinced that the Sebbie is not overpriced.
 
If you have seen or handled the Spyderco Titanium Salsa ($100.00) it might lead one to think the Sebenza is overpriced. My point is that reputable manufacturers i.e Spyderco are producing similiar products and yes I have handled a Sebbie and I own a Ti Salsa (and I have dropped my Salsa on concrete without having a heart attack as I would have had, had it been a Sebenza :) ).
 
Comparing owning a (any) Spyderco to owning a higher priced knife is still based on owner prejudice. You couldn't give me a Spyderco (well, you could but I'd just trade it) which isn't to say that Spyderco isn't a good knife and worth the money. I've owned quite a few Spyerco's (when I can find a good deal on one) and I've owned a Sebenza. And looking at my trade listing you can see which one I (just me myself and I) prefer. I traded my first one for a DDR Maxx and am convinced that I got a good deal...but...I will still trade a "bunch" of good quality knives for another Sebenza.
 
Yes the Sebenza is over priced. Why shouldn't it be? Chris Reeve's sets the market price because dealers are not allowed to wholesale it to the public. John Q gets to pay retail prices, and that's it. I have never liked this policy, but, hey, it's Reeve's company, and he will do as he dam* well pleases.

And yes I have owned two Sebenzas over the years. The Sebenza screams quality. They lock up like a bank vault. As far as being a smooth opening and closing folder, I beg to differ. Right off the top of my head, I can think of a number of factory folders that have smoother actions than a Sebenza, but that is probably due to the design. Also, the Sebenza is seriously lacking in the ergonomics department in my opinion. Speaking of asthetics, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The inlay Sebbies and other decorated models do appeal to me but are cost prohibitive. Otherwise, the plain and classic Sebenza just don't light my fire. Big D1
 
For the record, I have held multiple sebenzas. They are well made knives. perfection? get real. Nothing is perfect, including the sebenza. And yes, the Obenauf framelocks are every bit as well made and close to "perfection" as sebenza. They are finished nicer, the are more ergonomic, you have options on what blade steel you want as well as what handle finish you want, and they hold their value on the secondary market. If Sebbies weren't overpriced, they wouldn't be selling for 80-85% of their original cost on the secondary market. Like i said earlier, even if the Obenauf and Sebbie are equal in design and qualiy (which they aren't, the obie is superior) the Obie is a better VALUE. It holds it's value in the secondary market, and within a couple of years, will most likely be worth more then it is now. I don't care what kind of quality the sebbie is, it is still an over-priced production knife. It's a $175 knife that costs twice that much.

JR
 
Chris Reeve can barely keep up with the demand. That does not sound like over-priced to me. The Sebbie is also in that elusive "semi-custom" catagory that will tend to be high-priced.
 
The camillus EDC is a great knife for the money,it's a little small for me but my wife stole it immediately and carries it every day.
 
Yes, I have held one, in fact I had one for a time. I am with JR on this one. I don't care how perfect anyone may think the Seb is, it just doesn't compare to alot of the customs at the same price. I also don't think BG-42 and TI is the best materials for a folder, S30v may or may not be the jury is still out in my opinion. $175 sounds about right to me. On the other hand Good for CRK for getting there price. :)
 
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