Bad experiences with the Sebenzas....

I used to be horrified that people would spend so much money on a 'mear' pocket knife, one that did not lok that special to boot! Well the whole point of the basic grey benza is its a work horse, Plain and simple. Best lock out there IMHO super grade steel and a convex edge for ultra high performance. Oh and the knife is tighter than a ducks butt for tolerance and finish. Now as I said before there are things I would like different, but that would change this knife into something else. Would I want a benza with a SpyderHole? Yes, but think how much the design would change. I may not like the result... The thumb lug works plain and simple.

That is the Reeve philosophy, plain and simple!

If you want dress, then the decorated wood and damascus etc is there.

I have never had any problems with a knife opening in the pocket other than my LCC D/A. Never a problem with the Sebi, NEVER.

However, think about it, tip up WILL at some point, NO QUESTION! Open. The law of physics prove this. No matter how you carry, placed against the seam or whatever, if it is not in a sheath and you run, jump or get fluff in lock etc etc etc. At some point the blade WILL open on any knife tip up like this. That includes liner locks as well. I would argue it is unlikely to happen with a Benza, but can and does happen. I have just been lucky so far.
 
Originally posted by KWM
From the sounds of this thread it seems to happen more often with Sebenzas than with other knives.
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Which other knives are those? It's a thread about Sebenzas. A few people say they've had one open in their pocket, and suddenly it's a worldwide epidemic caused by some tragic design flaw that somehow, we've just all overlooked up 'til now?

Get real.
According to this thread, Spyderco's AUS-8 holds an edge better than BG-42, too:rolleyes:


My little rant for the day:
Nobody's saying it hasn't happened, but I hate it every time ONE person says "X happened to Y knife", and the next day you see some idiot say "X is typical of Y knife". Next thing you know, there's half a dozen little trolls on every thread about Y knife bitching about something they know nothing about. Don't believe me, check out threads on Emerson, Benchmade, REKAT, just for starters. There's always some nut that wants to say INFI can't be that great, but of course they don't have a Busse.
There's people on this Sebenza thread that have never even seen or handled, much less owned one, and say as much, but want to make negative comments. They don't have experience with it=they don't have an opinion on it. They're just trolls who want attention, and have nothing to contribute.
So the ignore list gets a little longer:eek:
 
I have a plain, large Sebenza, but it is one of the Special Edition Models that was flat ground.

I love it, reviewed it on my site, zero complaints really. I don't prefer thumb studs and I think the rather slow opening Sebenza would have been easier to open with a disc, but that is personal preference. I just think the disc, then Spyderhole, offer the most leverage and the stud is last. But I knew that going into the purchase.

It's in my pocket now along with an Emerson. Constant companions.
 
Originally posted by OwenM
Which other knives are those? It's a thread about Sebenzas. A few people say they've had one open in their pocket, and suddenly it's a worldwide epidemic caused by some tragic design flaw that somehow, we've just all overlooked up 'til now?
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Mine has opened in my pocket thrice, every time was my fault because I decided to take a nap on the couch with it in my pocket. Just shifting caused the thumb stud to grab on the inside of the pocket and open it about one quarter of an inch. Never got cut either. Still my fault had I been cut.

Like my Waved Emersons, if you lie down for a nap on the couch, and you have one of your Wife's lovely, knitted things for a throw or blanket...uh...when you get up if the pocket clip is hooked, you could draw the knife open. It's happened to me. Still my fault. I'm getting old and I need to take a nap now.

According to this thread, Spyderco's AUS-8 holds an edge better than BG-42, too.
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Hey! That's not something to roll your eyes at!

That's damned funny. it is so stupid, it is funny.
 
I hate people who bash something when they have never even held it!!!!! The Sebenza is a great example. If you want to understand why we all like Sebenza's you cant just see or hold one, you have to own one. It sounds silly, but its true. I also hate everyone telling me that Emerson and Benchmade knives are crap. I have held both and let me tell you they are both great companies. The Benchmade 710 and Emerson Commander are a couple of the best values I have seen out there.
 
Maybe the Spydie does hold a better edge than the Sebenza for the ascribed cutting chore, it's more than just the steel.

I really wish I could handle a Sebenza, just to see what this spectacular fit and fish is all about. I really can't complain about the build quality on most of my knives, all but the Kershaws I have handled have seemed appropriate for the cost. I will not own a Sebenza though, for a couple of reasons. At 300 dollars plus, I will make the jump and order a custom, a true custom. Once I'm past 200, may as well go for it. The blade shape will taper more. And it won't have plain Ti handles for that money. No matter the cost, I do not trust a liner/frame lock in tip-up as much as a lockback or axis. And a few have said the opening is slow, not my cup of tea. I'm not a 'flicker', I like knives that open quickly w/o having to be flicked.

I just don't like some of the features that are readily apparent from the images and descriptions. I don't want to spend 300 dollars to try and change my own mind either.
 
Personally, I've been so satisfied with products from companies like Spyderco, Cold Steel, and CRKT that I never felt the need to lust after a $300+ knife.
 
Well, I don't yet own a Sebenza, but I will!
Fortunately I've been able, on several occasions, to handle Sebenza's at Dennis Wright's shop, including his personal knife, and I've got to say it's one of the smoothest-opening folders, plus rock-solid and just a thing of great quality. In fact, I've had my eye on one since I first saw one at his shop about 4 years ago. Why haven't I yet gotten one? I suppose the idea of spending so much on one knife at one time had to do with it. (that and liking so many other knives, too). But if you think about it, if you carry/use it every day, over a lifetime it's not very much $$ per year.

I cannot comment on any complaints or such, and I only plan to buy one large plain Sebanza (not collect Sebenzas), but I will probably end up carrying it in a horizontal belt sheath (so I can continue to carry another knife clipped to my pocket as well). ;)
Jim
 
Anyone criticizing anything about a Sebenza without even having held one is being ridiculous. I don't think you need to own and use one for a while to appreciate its quiet virtues, but many of us seem to find it more and more comfortable to carry and use the longer we have it.

Like any tool, it's a matter of personal taste to some extent; but CRK doesn't manuacture a lesser product. If you don't like it, or don't feel you want to spend that kind of money on it, fine. I carry my large Sebenza all the time, and whatever other new knife I happen o be playing with lately may come along for the ride. Since the NY Custom Knife Show, that new knife has been an Umfaan ...

As far as the Sebenza being a slow opener, I've experienced that too, but then I wash it out (liquid soap and hot tap water blasting through it) and then dry it off thoroughly and re-lube it. I just got Chris Reeve's fluorinated grease, which really works great. Now a quick, hard push on the thumb stud snaps the blade open and locked almost instantly.
 
Never had any slow opening probs with mine. The trick is Teflon grease and Militech-1. Plus a sweeping opening style. The aim is not to press down on the stud at all. As Anne once said, not using the thumb lug/stud as intended cause a lot of the problems. Oh and all Sebi's are a little harder to open from new. Practice, lube and use smooth them out a treat.:D
 
First off, I have never seen ANY blade stand up to fiberglass packing tape. The stuff is brutal on an edge.

I took the clip off my Sebbie three weeks ago. It is in my pocket constantly. No problems so far. Yes, the day may come that it will come open.
If it does, it's not the fault of CRK. How many "lesser" knives open in the pocket? For that matter, how many handmades? It can happen with ANY folding knife.

As to the "arrogance" of CRK....why should a company change their manufacturing process to appease what apears to be a very few? If there truly is a widespread problem, I'm sure CRK will do what is needed to correct the problem.

For those out there with an "ergonomics" problem, if you don't like it, buy something else. Stop bitching about how this particular design needs changed. The Sebenza ain't for you.

Paul
 
As to the "arrogance" of CRK....why should a company change their manufacturing process to appease what apears to be a very few?

Paul [/B][/QUOTE]

Fair point. Benchmade have made policy of ignoring the complaints/suggestions of customers for a long time. Now THAT is "arogance"!:p
 
Originally posted by Esav Benyamin
Anyone criticizing anything about a Sebenza without even having held one is being ridiculous.
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I need to hold a knife to comment on it's appearance?
 
IIRC Cliff Stamp caused a right argument when he said the Project 1 handle would be uncomfortable to use, based upon appearance only. When he tried it, he admited it was very good and not uncomfortable at all. IIRC of course.

If we CRK owners get defensive... Well this topic comes up rather a lot.:rolleyes:
 
I don't think that the appearance necessarily dictates the knife's functionality, I just think I can get something 'prettier' for the money.
 
Excellence of materials, excellence of design, and excellence of manufacturing. That is what a Sebenza is ALL about! I have never owned a knife, custom or factory, that had the tolerances the Sebenza has. Custom framelocks I have owned do not open or close with the same silky feel of the Sebenza. Upon closing the blade on the Sebenza is just "sucked" in at the last 1/4" and the liner comes over to perfectly match the ball detent and hold the blade in place until I am ready for it to come out. I carried nothing but the Sebenza since June of this year. I've carried it every single day and have yet to have a problem.

This is only one man's experience..........your's may differ!
 
It took 2 years to get Sebenza for me. Over a year ago I've bought a large Sebenza, didn't like it and returned it in 3 days. Later, I've handled quite a few of them on different gun/knife shows, but didn't really liked it untill I've borrowed my friend's small Sebenza.
I've carried it for a week and that made my decision clear :)
Yesterday, I've picked up my small, polished sebenza. Thanks to Dennis Wright, for his help with all that.

P.S. I think it is not arogant at all to refuse changing the design for a maker. The man designed it, he takes pride in it, and most of the folks seem to be happy with it...

P.P.S. First thing I did after getting home, disassembled my Sebenza. IMHO all those rummors about Sebenza being hard to disassemble/assemble are really overrated. Try to take apart BM 710 axis and assemble it back, then you'll see the difference ;)
 
I need to hold a knife to comment on it's appearance?
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Sheesh!

hardheart, you can comment on anything you like, but speaking from experience is generally more respected.

If you don't pick it up and hold it, turn it over, look at it from different angles, then you haven't really seen it, have you? Photographs are notoriously poor substitutes for a close-up look.
 
I bought my small based on appearance only and the many rave reviews from fans here on the forums. When I actually got it and held it in my hand I was thinking that I couldn't believe I had spent nearly $300 for it. But I have never regretted it and I really have grown to love this knife. Others coem and go but the Sebenza is often in my pocket.

quote:

"And while I'm being anal, the extra hole on the front of the handle is unnecesary and visually distracting."

I wondered why the extra hole was there too and concluded after quite a bit of study that both frame slabs are drilled at the same time while clamped together. That way each knife has the potential to become either left or right handed lockup after the bar is slit.

The only pocket clipped knife that has opened upon me in my pocket was a Benchmade Pinnacle...tip DOWN. I think the problem with opening is usually due to either pant style, thumbstud style or possibly penis size.
:p :p
 
My problem with the small Sebenza is that it won't leave me alone. Everywhere I go, it's there. It's like this little grey **** is stalking me. It's forced me to get rid of most of my other folders and demands to be opened several times a day. I have tried to abuse it, drown it in the ocean, and leave it, alone, in a dark, dark drawer. But somehow when I reach for a knife, it's back. I would think of getting rid of it forever, but then it might begin planning an evil plot to self open and perform a peckerectomy just out of arrogance and jealousy. Damn knife.
 
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