Buying first Sebenza 21 for EDC. Large or Small?

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foxtrot2058

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Jul 12, 2006
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Finally saved enough money to buy my first Sebenza. Admittedly I have never had the opportunity to handle one but have spent countless hours reading and watching reviews about the knife. I noticed in one review from thecajunblaze and another I cannot recall the name but overall thickness and cutting length appeared not too different. Question which would you own if you could only have one?

I have carried both a large folder (AFCK) before and nowadays a Delica.

I wear jeans and slacks about equally. Do work in an office and around non-knife people but I don't show off my knife at work.

I would use it mostly for cutting tasks and SD in a pinch. Also camping...

Thanks in advance for your advice.
 
Your situation sounds similar to mine. My first Seb purchase was a small LE. It fit my needs fine, but I wasn't really satisfied until I got a large. One way to put it would be to say that the Small Seb may be everything you need in a knife, but a Large Seb is everything you want in a knife.

Then there is the Umnum of course, but that's another chapter.
 
DallasSTB said:
Your situation sounds similar to mine. My first Seb purchase was a small LE. It fit my needs fine, but I wasn't really satisfied until I got a large. One way to put it would be to say that the Small Seb may be everything you need in a knife, but a Large Seb is everything you want in a knife.

Then there is the Umnum of course, but that's another chapter.
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Go large or go home! No but seriously what he said. If it's going to be your go to EDC get the large. You'll like the small just fine but soon you WILL find yourself saving up again to get a large...............
 
I'm going to go the other way. I find that the large is just TOO large for my EDC purposes. You really aren't getting that much more cutting edge from a large, but you are getting a lot more handle.

The small is about the same size as your delica. I currently own 3 small sebenzas if that is any indicator how great the size is. I must admit, I do gravitate towards smaller sized knives (delica 4, delica 4 wave, mini-grips, salt, hk14210 etc) as them seem to fit my hand much better (medium-large size). If you are camping/hiking you are probably going to carry a larger fixed blade anyways.

I HIGHLY suggest that you go visit a local store to make sure the size fits your needs. Looks like there is one store that is local to you. http://chrisreeve.com/Domestic Dealers.pdf
 
I own both a Large and Small Sebenza.

I bought the Small Sebenza 1st and had to buy a large not too long after.
I kept both and love both. The small is all I need, but the large seems to be kind of what I want. I like the feeling of the extra handle and thickness of the Ti. The large is a bit easier to open and close.

The small is really my ideal size [just about all my blades are in the 3" range], but theres something about the large..
If you don't plan on getting both some time or another, then I'd probably go with the large.
 
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If I Could Only Have "One" It Would Have To Be A Large

I Carry A Large In My Belt Sheath On My Right Side & A Small In My Left Front Pocket In A CRK Leather Slip Pouch & As Of Today A Spydie Leafstorm In My right Front Pocket. (But I Don't Have To Go To Work So I Can Get Away With That).

As Long As Your Not Carrying It To Work Get The Large First & Save Up For The Small For Later.

Thats My 2 Cents, Pass The Medication Please...................
 
When I was shopping for mine, I read some advice from a vendor: people often buy the small and later buy a large; fewer people go the other direction. That's as close as you'll get to a statistical sample!

I've been very, very happy with my Large Regular. It's the perfect size for use, with a handle just a little longer than my handspan, and it fits neatly in my pocket. The blade is long enough for food prep.

That said, I bought a Small Classic for a friend as a gift, and it's very appealing in the hand…*but if I could have only one, it would be the Large.
 
have a few larges and one small. I find myself going back to the small simply for the fact that it feels better in my pants pocket. I carry my phone, keys and knife. Sometimes I pocket carry a pistol too and I just hate having a lot of stuff in my pockets and on my belt.
 
What about a Small Insingo? I've never handled one but that blade shape seems so useful.
 
I would love an Insingo with Micarta scales.
Does anyone think CRK would be willing to do this?
 
BBQ BOY said:
I would love an Insingo with Micarta scales.
Does anyone think CRK would be willing to do this?
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Knifeart has exclusive to the insingo blade design for 1 year. I think they came out around march-ish. So March-ish of 2011, the blade design will come into the regular CRK lineup. I would assume that they will also have inlays graphics etc. I think a small micarta insingo would be perfect......:p
 
krazichinaman said:
Knifeart has exclusive to the insingo blade design for 1 year. I think they came out around march-ish. So March-ish of 2011, the blade design will come into the regular CRK lineup. I would assume that they will also have inlays graphics etc. I think a small micarta insingo would be perfect......:p
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With apologies to the OP for deviating from the original subject, do you think they will come up with the Umnumzaan Insingo?
 
I bought a Lg. Regular, and then a small. Then I got rid of the small to get a Lg. Insigno. :)

I like Lg. Small was too small for me.
 
I say go with the Large. I have 4 and all are large. The small has never really appealed to me. Although, I'm holding out for a certain Mnandi as a nice gift to myself *if I get a promotion at work.
 
Highpower1 said:
I say go with the Large. I have 4 and all are large. The small has never really appealed to me. Although, I'm holding out for a certain Mnandi as a nice gift to myself *if I get a promotion at work.
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Life is too short to wait on others to reward yourself. You deserve a promotion and you deserve a mnandi.

Small for me. Large is nice, but the small is more often used by me
 
You only get the full sebenza experience with the large as far as its legendary "bank vault sliding on glass" feeling!!! the small is also nice but i say go large first!!! you will inevitably end up with both and probably a whole drawer which in it contains thousands of dollars worth of knives :D
070e58ea.jpg
 
I have or have had many in both large and small sebenzas. I have since sold or traded all my small's away except one ( both regular and 21 ) because its just too small for me. The large sebenza is much more confortable in hand in my opinion. Its larger blade is much more useful. Even though its called the "large" sebenza, its not that big, so dont worry about it being too big. For your first sebenza, I would go large all the way. You will be very glad you did once you get it in hand. All my sebenzas have been plain or unique graphic. I would love to get a large classic micarta one day. My first sebenza was a large regular BG-42 by the way.............Definately go with the large, you will not be sorry !!!
 
I seem to be in the minority, but I am perfectly pleased with my small Insingo for EDC... In fact, even my Mnandi is MORE than enough knife for my personal EDC needs, ymmv of course. With that said, before I went CRK I carried a Delica religiously...

I have med/large hands - here is the Mnandi, Delica & Small Insingo Sebbie

photo-20.jpg



I have had the opportunity to handle a large Sebenza and Umnum and they were just too big for city EDC, imho.

Now if I lived in the country.... I'd EDC a fixed blade :D:D:D;)

But honestly, I'd stick with the same size knife you previously carried - if the knife is too big or heavy, chances are you will not carry it.
 
Thanks everyone. You have been very helpful with the comparisons and the pics are especially telling.

For those that prefer the small Sebenza I hear where you are coming from. My hands are small-medium so small knife actually pretty good. For example the regular Griptillian is good but there is something so perfect about the Mini-Grip for example.

But at the same time someone said Bank Vault experience with the large Sebenza and how it feels like a fixed blade. In actuality I think that is what draws me to the Sebenza Large. If I could carry a fixed blade as a primary , I would. But Sebenza Large may be the way to go. I will post a pic once I get it.

Thanks everybody Really appreciate the passion about these awesome knives!!

P.S. Yes, I will check out that local dealer and get my hand on one...Great idea.

Regards,

Mark
 
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