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Bradley Knives / Sebenza
- Thread starter Geronimo
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Cliff Stamp
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In a recent thread on the subject, stjames made a fairly strong point which was, how about instead of comparing the Alias/Sebenza and debating the price/performance, compare the Alias/Skirmish (or other Benchmade) and make a similar arguement. I asked for this comparison on the Benchmade forum directly, no one could make a case for why the Alias is $100+ more than an other Benchmade of similar materials/construction which is interesting from a few points of view.
-Cliff
-Cliff
Walking Man
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That's an easy one. It's because the thumbstud is blue. No kidding. Not that's it worth another $100, but the blue stub makes you want to think it's a Sebenza, and thefore commands Seb-like prices.. If anyone had any doubt that they are attemping to be a Seb ripoff, just look at the blue stud.Cliff Stamp said:
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Oh man.... Hey Geronimo the search function is very usefull. This way it doesn't look like you are just starting another argument so soon after the same questions were asked. I had one that is in a passaround right now. It is not a Sebenza copy, or Sebenza clone. Maybe you should look at one in person before you pass judgement so fast. You also eluded to the customer service being different. Is this because you have experience with both companies? So you own a Sebenza and sent it in for service, and since your first post at the top bought a Bradley Alias and sent it in for service too? Come on man. Think about what you are saying.
Esav Benyamin
MidniteSuperMod
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The world is full of cars and airplanes, but once upon a time not so long ago, someone had to make the first of each.
Now the world is full of titanium-handled framelocks.
It's a good way to make a certain kind of knife, that appeals to a certain segment of the buying public. Prices vary at first, then each company's offerings reach their level of demand. Quality probably varies even less, since each new version can learn the tricks of the trade from those who made them before.
If you like it, buy it. As USAFSP indicated, no amount of discussion by people who never handled them will advance the common knowledge.
Now the world is full of titanium-handled framelocks.
It's a good way to make a certain kind of knife, that appeals to a certain segment of the buying public. Prices vary at first, then each company's offerings reach their level of demand. Quality probably varies even less, since each new version can learn the tricks of the trade from those who made them before.
If you like it, buy it. As USAFSP indicated, no amount of discussion by people who never handled them will advance the common knowledge.
sharpmaker
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Cliff, How about pedigree for an answer to your question? can you put a price on that?
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Thanks dave I was asking myself why I couldn't answer that question, now I know I am not crazy. Oh crap you edited your post. I read it and agree with what you said. However that being said, I really agree with the edited version. LOL I should probably stay out of this one as well. 
Somehow I see myself getting dragged right down with you. 
Oh crap you edited your post. I read it and agree with what you said. However that being said, I really agree with the edited version. LOL I should probably stay out of this one as well. Somehow I see myself getting dragged right down with you. 
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While people do put a "price" on "pedigree", it doesn't make sense to do so. It essentially means "you're paying for the name".
Qualities subjective and objective either exist in a specific speciman or they don't. Which I believe rational people should make their descisions on wether to buy or not if possible.
The difficulty is that if people don't have the time or understanding to make these judgements, then they have to buy based recognition, branding, pedigree or the name.
In this particular discussion, it's assumed we're are all subject matter experts, that is this venue is very specialized. Since we are in this specialized venue, words like "pedigree" or "the best" just don't make sense to use.
Qualities subjective and objective either exist in a specific speciman or they don't. Which I believe rational people should make their descisions on wether to buy or not if possible.
The difficulty is that if people don't have the time or understanding to make these judgements, then they have to buy based recognition, branding, pedigree or the name.
In this particular discussion, it's assumed we're are all subject matter experts, that is this venue is very specialized. Since we are in this specialized venue, words like "pedigree" or "the best" just don't make sense to use.
Cliff Stamp
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[pedigree]
Yeah, easily, nothing for a working tool, these are valued based on how they perform, not who made them. Not a lot of carpenters buy a particular hammer to show they are "high speed" tradesmen. Of course it is extremely high if you want a status symbol and you and others will see it as such.
Yes, the fact that Benchmade doesn't set prices, market demands and so forth are obvious but not really of issue. My question was more user based. How can you argue to the consumer a significant price increase when it is made out of the same materials and methods by the same company.
As for you want a Sebenza you should get Alias, it has a radically different blade profile and grind, this is kind of critical to how it performs as a knife which is how it is marketed. Much more so than the color of the thumb stud and other cosmetic similarities to the Sebenza.
The behavior would be much closer to the SERE folder than the Sebenza, it has the same blade style. I would argue it would be more direct to claim it is a SERE with an integral rather than a Sebenza replacement.
-Cliff
sharpmaker said:
Yeah, easily, nothing for a working tool, these are valued based on how they perform, not who made them. Not a lot of carpenters buy a particular hammer to show they are "high speed" tradesmen. Of course it is extremely high if you want a status symbol and you and others will see it as such.
Yes, the fact that Benchmade doesn't set prices, market demands and so forth are obvious but not really of issue. My question was more user based. How can you argue to the consumer a significant price increase when it is made out of the same materials and methods by the same company.
As for you want a Sebenza you should get Alias, it has a radically different blade profile and grind, this is kind of critical to how it performs as a knife which is how it is marketed. Much more so than the color of the thumb stud and other cosmetic similarities to the Sebenza.
The behavior would be much closer to the SERE folder than the Sebenza, it has the same blade style. I would argue it would be more direct to claim it is a SERE with an integral rather than a Sebenza replacement.
-Cliff
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All this is nice but Bradley intentionally made the knife to be a Sebenza competitor and look like one and says so themselves. So naturally you want to compare the 2.
Jest because materials are the same does not mean products are the same, compare a $9 pair of leather shoes to a $200 pair, both leather, but how thick and what quality is the leather? Will the thinner cheaper leather hold up over time?
Who knows if the Aliases will hold up through time, no one has one long enough to answer that question. Based on other knives that are similar it should. But the Bradley made and built as well as a Sebenza? No, Neither is a Skirmish or any other "like" Benchmade. Don't mean Benchmades are bad or Bradley's are bad, just means they ain't CRK's.
What I will boil all this down to is, Don't buy a Bradley or a Benchmade if you want a Sebenza, buy what you want and be happy. Buy a Bradley if you like the looks of the knife and you'll get a fine knife no doubt. And I have handled all of the above many times, so I can speak with confidence on what they feel like but I can't tell you how a knife (any knife) will feel like to you.
Jest because materials are the same does not mean products are the same, compare a $9 pair of leather shoes to a $200 pair, both leather, but how thick and what quality is the leather? Will the thinner cheaper leather hold up over time?
Who knows if the Aliases will hold up through time, no one has one long enough to answer that question. Based on other knives that are similar it should. But the Bradley made and built as well as a Sebenza? No, Neither is a Skirmish or any other "like" Benchmade. Don't mean Benchmades are bad or Bradley's are bad, just means they ain't CRK's.
What I will boil all this down to is, Don't buy a Bradley or a Benchmade if you want a Sebenza, buy what you want and be happy. Buy a Bradley if you like the looks of the knife and you'll get a fine knife no doubt. And I have handled all of the above many times, so I can speak with confidence on what they feel like but I can't tell you how a knife (any knife) will feel like to you.