Bad experiences with the Sebenzas....

Kampfjaeger

Kampfjaeger

Joined
May 21, 2001
Messages
1,668
First of all, The spirit of this thread is not an underhanded attempt to initiate a Sebenza-bashfest under the guise of a fact-finding query. The vast majority of reviews I have read on these blades have been glowing. But every now and then I'll come across one where the owner had some kind of problem with the blade or was in some way dissatisfied. Would anyone care to elaborate? I'm really just curious. I've never owned or handled one, personally.
 
I don't know if "Bad experiences" is quite the right term. I'd wonder if it's more along
the lines of personal preferances. I've not handled a Sebenza either but I do know that
I don't care to find out I might not like it at $350 + cost. I fully understand the engineering
that has gone into this knife and find that for most needs it is gross overkill. But then
Chris Reeve wanted a failure proof folding knife. Not to be disrespectful but many lockbacks
are proven to be failure proof also at a lot less cost. So I'd guess that the many sour grapes mentioned
are simply the owners understanding of the value/usefulness of the Sebenza for the dollar spent.
That and the fit in the hand usually makes or breaks any knife.
 
I dropped my small Sebenza tip-first on the driveway, and now the tip is slightly rounded. Piece of junk.
Disgruntled Sebenza owner #1 checking in...
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Not hardly:p
Zero complaints on this end:)
 
REALLY Tom!
That's surprising.
As for the original question, some of you might remember the "problem" I had last year with my Large Sebenza.
There were tons of posts in the followup (just do a search on my name in the Reeve Forum).
To make a long story short, the problem was my fault. My lousy memory made the whole thing drag on much longer than needed. Mr Reeve and company treated me very well.
If you need more info, email me at <mrwood@eclipse.net>
My Sebenza sits in my back pocket every day and has never let me down. It's built like the proverbial s#*thouse (well maybe not like a Strider) and I consider it a bargain in the folding knife world.
I've handled tons of folders at shows and many of them are very nice. However, when you consider the overall package, for a using knife, the Sebenza is my absolute fave.
Lenny
 
I have several Sebenzas, and love each and every one of them as if they were part of my own family. Sickenly sweet huh?:barf: But seriously, I rarely come across any model I like better. If there is a problem (at least in my own mind), it would be slow opening. The frame lock that is on Reeve knives is very stout and exerts a lot of pressure on the blade tang. So when you open one, it doesn't fly open like a Emerson Commander, you need to apply pressure to the thumb stud throughout the opening radius. I have never tried snapping one open, I have never gotten into this method of opening and never will. Call me a purist, but a Spydie Hole or thumb stud is there to push on and by golly, that's the way I'll open it. I've also heard, snapping open blades is hard on them over time and I want my fine blades to last as long as I do.
Thanks :D
 
To OwenM

Chris Reeve Knives has a great customer service department.

As you may know, they will re-sharpen any knife of theirs for free- (except for shipping).

If you get in touch with them I am sure they will do their best to put your knife back into like new condition.

Neil
 
Problems?

I can't afford more than I want is one. The thumb lug works, but I still prefer the SpyderHole. Heck thats personal preference is all.

I would prefer a flat ground model rather than hollow ground to be the standard rather than a special model.

I wish they would do a 4" model.

I personally can honestly say the only real problem with my benza's is that they take a little practice to re-assemble the first time to avoid crimping the washers. Otherwise one of the best folding knives in the world.

Oh and Anne, Chris and the team at CRK are up there with the very very best for service. In fact only Spyderco and Microtech have impressed me as much! :cool:
 
Neil,
Thanks, I'm not worried about it, though. Happened a few months back, and it'll be fine after a few more sharpenings.
btw, clicked on your site. Very nice.
That small unique Seb is gorgeous! Blue is my favorite color:)
 
The only Sebenza problems I have heard of so far have all been the owners fault. For example, I took mine apart and when put back together the action was sticky, the knife was either to loose or to tight, and the frame lock was very stiff. I almost sold the thing like a moron. I got some advise though, took it apart and put it back the right way. Add some Chris Reeve Fluorinated Teflon grease and the thing is as smooth a butter. I was so impressed after fixing my Sebenza, that I called www.bladeart.com and ordered a Mnandi. Number #132 of #200 should be at my house this week.:)

Btw, I have owned my Benza for about 2 1/2 months now and still sleep with it under my pillow.;)
 
I have a small and a large and I can't decide which is better. That's the only problem I've ever had.

The blade steel is awesome and the hollow grind makes a super sharp edge. They carry real well. I forget it's clipped to my pocket. The new two stage clip is state of the art. When it is locked and loaded it feels like a fixed blade. The thumbstud doesn't get in the way of cutting and is a nice shape.

I carry one or the other everyday everywhere.

Like I said, the problem with a Sebenza is which size to carry on a given day.
 
I'd like to see owners get a little more specific on many features of the knife. I see one or two mentioned per post, but no one really talks about all of them, other than to say the knife is just fabu-licious.

1. blade shape and material
2. handle shape and material
3. lock performance
4. opening method
5. carry and deployment
6. overall fit and finish-oh wait, nevermind :D
 
Incase you have never seen one, this is the Sebenza (Small).

cr-smsebenza-flat.jpg


Photo below shows the frame lock (Large).

cr-sebenza-back.jpg


~You can see the blade shape, the steel is BG-42 and hand ground, no grind lines.
~You can see the handle shape, the handle is 6AL4V Titanium and feels like velvet.
~The Sebenza uses a frame lock, I think it's the best in the business. Nothing will make this lock fail.
~As you can see the Sebenza has a very well designed thumb stud to assist in opening. It is located perfectly on the blade.
~Carry method is tip-up. The Sebenza is a safer tip-up knife then others because it uses a detent in the blade and a ball bearing in the frame catches and holds the knife shut. Sebenza's come with a lanyard to help pull the knife out of your pocket.
~You will just have to feel a Sebenza to see it's superb fit and finish.

All photos taken from www.1stopknifeshop.com
 
I have never owned a Sebenza and never will. If I am going to spend that kind of money on a folder I will save up a little more and get a true custom like a TNT or another top quality custom.
 
I have had a few Sebenzas, and still have one around somewhere? Strong knife.., and I never had problems with the pieces I carried regularly.

I have known two guys that had a problem with large Sebs locking open, and literally having to leverage the frame lock with tools to achieve closure. Both these knives were used very heavily.., and it's certainly possible that misuse played a part. One of the owners is about as stong as GODZILLA.., and was press-cutting through very hard material, the other used a rubber mallet on the blade spine to cut something-or-other -don't recall what-?

My using experience with both small and large models has been postive from a performance perspective, but I just don't like the feel of the knife?? Obviously that's a very personal deal for all of us, and there is little doubt the Sebenza is strong, able.., and very sharp!! The edge holding capabilites are excellent, and I have never found any model to be hard to sharpen (which I have heard some people mention).

I do feel the knife is somewhat overpriced, but have heard fairly convincing evidence to the contrary given the R&D Mr. Reeve does. I certainly don't think the Sebenza is a "Custom Knife".., but that definition seems to be getting quite hazy as time goes on.

For myself, I actually think the "plain-wrap" Sebenzas look much better than any of the models with "squiggles" and/or semi-precious inlayed marbles, hot-blued damascus, etc. Just a matter of taste obviously.

In the bigger picture, I'd certainly give positive reviews to anyone that just loves how they feel and look (as many do), and I suppose my only negative feeling about CRK is more political than practical.

Chris' outspoken opposition to all forms of automatic knives is widely known.., but if I'm not mistaken.., he has tumbled quite a few stonewashed blades for Microtech <~~(Tony has made a couple of autos) :cool:

Given that I don't know either Tony or Chris personally.., this is simply hearsay, but I've heard it so many times from so many sources, I thought I'd throw it out there and see if anyone knows the "real deal". My particular passion is Balisongs.., so the issue is no big "whoop" to me, but I'd be pretty amazed that someone would auto-bash in the way Mr. Reeve does continually, then take part in the process of producing them in any way. Anyone have inside information :) ??






"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
~Carry method is tip-up. The Sebenza is a safer tip-up knife then others because it uses a detent in the blade and a ball bearing in the frame catches and holds the knife shut.
Click to expand...

This is true of almost every mid-to-high-end factory liner-lock on the market today, though I have seen a few examples of customs that omit the ball-bearing detent. I like Emerson's double detent system (one on each side). I find it noticeably stronger and more secure than many single sided detents. Not bashing the original poster, just pointing out that this feature is not unique to the Sebenza. And no, I don't own one, but I probably will sooner or later. :)
 
I posted that. I did not make my self clear this time, but I have stated before that only lesser folding knives do not have the detent. My mistake.
 
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