Folders, my journey with the sebenza was like this:
When I first started in this hobby, I just wanted the "best" pocketknife that was out there. I know now that "best" is subjective, but back then I was trying to go by reviews I read because there weren't a lot of knife stores around me. Anyway, I traded for a decorated model. I didn't like it when it got here as it was far too "gentlemanly" for me. SO, I traded it for a small plain regular model. I didn't like the lockbar access to it, so I traded THAT one for a small plain Classic. While I liked the access better (read MUCH better), it still just didn't do anything for me. I got offered a small Obie model 2 for my plain classic sebenza and took it. Now THAT knife DID answer my needs perfectly and was just what I was looking for.
Anyhoo, I thought I was done with the sebenza, but a lot of people (many of whom whose opinion I value) kept talking about their quality so I figured since I had all my sebenzas when I FIRST started in the knife hobby, that perhaps my tastes and eye for quality would have matured. SO, when another decorated regular sebenza came up for a fairly good price I went for it. Well, I got it- NOPE. Still doesn't do it for me. I didn't even see any great improvements over my 172. Yeah, its made well. Its a good knife. Its just not THAT much better than my 172- not for the money they get for them.
3G, I'll just say that the sebenza didn't trip my trigger at all. Among my issues with the sebenza are: The handle is too small, the access to the lockbar isn't good enough, the thumbstud isn't as good as a blade hole for my purposes- and is too small IMHO, the grind is too thick, the pocketclip needs work (it fell out of my pocket on the first day because the tension just wasn't there), the handles show marks WAY too easy, the CCGs aren't THAT distinctive- no matter what kind you get,....
The good things about the sebenza are: its well made, it arguably popularized the framelock, the bushing is a good idea to regulate tension, it can be taken apart for cleaning, the warranty is great- as well as the refurb service, you can usually get most of your money back out of them, or trade them for something good (I got my first Elishewitz when I traded my last sebenza).
They're nice, just not the leader they once were.
Things I prefer about the 172 vs. the sebenza: style is better IMHO, grip is longer, grip is better due to the holes, access to the lockbar- while almost the same area as the sebenza- is easier to disengage, blade hole means it can be opened easily with either hand, the deep hollow grind is better for the kind of slicing cuts I do (besides, I EDC more than one knife, and if I need a "tougher" knife I have a Strider GB with a thick grind on it), the finish on the ti resists marks better than the sebenza- although the clip marks up like crazy, and ironically is MUCH too tight on my example.
That's about all I can say. I gave the sebenza quite a chance, even figuring that I MUST have missed something in my early collecting and it must be MY fault as to why the sebenza wasn't the perfect EDC. Nope, just wasn't for me.
Hope that helps!
