Chris Reeve Sebenza 21 Small or Benchmade 556-141, which to buy??

B

billybatson

Joined
Aug 21, 2014
Messages
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HELLO! I am a long time reader, first time writer lol. It was about time I joined, I just don't know any other knife people and my local knife dealer is always too busy to have discussions before purchases!
My first post here is to ask for purchasing advice. I am torn between a Chris Reeve Sebenza 21 small (possibly with a Damascus blade) or a Benchmade 556-141 Mini Griptilian Limited Edition. I have yet to add a Sebenza to my collection white I have many Benchmade's. Here are the specs:

Benchmade 556-141
Blade Length: 2.91"
Blade Thickness: 0.100"
Handle Thickness: 0.510"
Blade Material: CPM-M4 Premium Steel
Blade Hardness: 62-64HRC
Blade Style: Drop-Point w/ Hand Polished Convex Edge
Weight: 3.60oz.
Pocket Clip: DLC Coated, Reversible, Tip-Up
Lock Mechanism: AXIS
Overall Length: 6.78"
Closed Length: 3.87"
Class: Gold

Sebenza 21 small
Blade Material: CPM S35VN Stainless Steel
Blade Hardness: 58-59 RC
Blade Length: 2.94" (75 mm)
Blade Thickness: 0.125" (3.175 mm)
Overall Length: 6.875" (175 mm)
Handle Material: 6Al4V Titanium
Handle Thickness: 0.125" (3.175 mm)
Weight: 3.0 oz. (85 g)
Fittings: 303 Stainless Steel
Thumblug: 6Al4V Titanium
Pocket Clip: 6Al4V Titanium

Price isn't a factor. This will be an edc that will actually be used so I don't care if the benchmade is a collectible. The Axis lock on benchmades is my favorite lock while the integral lock/handle lock/liner lock not he sebenza is my least favorite lock however the sebenza's works very well. I don't like the blue twill inlay on the 556, I already own a 531-132 which has the same inlay and I am not a fan.
Any advice is appreciated!
Thanks all and hope to see you around the forums!

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You're getting into a serious price range here. The best knife is the Sebenza. The Benchmade doesn't even have a 3" blade and a lot more moving parts than a Sebenza. Something on the Benchmade will eventually break.

If you want a lifetime hard working knife get the Sebenza. If you want something that will be a little more fun to play with and fondle get the Benchmade--if you can ever really get over that blue.
 
I would buy the Sebenza. Don't get me wrong, I love Benchmade, in fact I carry a full size Grip every single day. But I would go with a Sebenza. I have a small classic and it is just an amazing knife (not that the gold class grip wouldn't be). I just think the Sebenza is a slightly better looking knife. But I have never had a gold class benchmade so I can't give an opinion on any of those.
 
Forget about the blade length and steel etc. Just take a look at the design: The Benchmande is all over the place and tries too hard to "add value"; I count 10 holes tapped and two rows of unnecessary jimping, and what are those milled out groove things? Looks like the guy who designed it just completed knife design 101 and decided to put everything on the scale.

OTOH, the Sebenza is textbook minimal. Every hole, every line of the scale serves a purpose.

To me, the Benchmade screams obnoxious bling and the Chris Reeve is refined sophistication, form a design point of view.
 
The CRK Sebenza 21 Small can be had in drop point, Insingo (Sheepfoot) and even tanto with a dizzying variety of handle finishes and inlays coming in at $350-$600. They're very high-quality, smooth, reliable and amazing tolerances.

I had no idea what to expect when I got my first Benchmade Gold Class which turned out to be the 556-141. The quality and materials are amazing. Very unique. If you can get one around $500 or less it's worth it. Only 175 made.

Here's a thread: Benchmade Gold Class 556-141 Pardue
 
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jabroneeman; having owned several gold class BM's and currently having 1 in my collection, I have to say they are awesome. Fit & Finish are great and above the normal workhorse BM's and the blade steel is always upgrades (M4 in the case of this 556), but they are also showy because they are showcasing different materials and styles. I wish they would make a Grey Class, all the substance of a gold class but none of the looks. This decision is hard because I actually prefer the simplicity of the Sebenza for this case use but but the M4 vs s35v is throwing me off a bit.

Echoil; I know there is a rift (pardon the BM pun hehe) in price between these two. Full new retail I can get the sebenza for 350, the 566-141 for 550, and sebenza w/ damascus steel blade for 600. Price really isn't a factor in this decision as either knife will last me a lifetime and seeing as I plan to life a lot longer the lifetime cost of ownership is still quite low :)!
 
RamZar said:
The CRK Sebenza 21 Small can be had in drop point, Insingo (Sheepfoot) and even tanto with a dizzying variety of handle finishes and inlays coming in at $350-$600. They're very high-quality, smooth, reliable and amazing tolerances.

I had no idea what to expect when I got my first Benchmade Gold Class which turned out to be the 556-141. The quality and materials are amazing. Very unique. If you can get one around $500 or less it's worth it. Only 175 made.

Here's a thread: Benchmade Gold Class 556-141 Pardue
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Hello Ramzar, do you really own one?! Do you own other BM knives of a different class? What made you decide on the 556-141 in the first place? Do you use it or collect it? I have the 531-132 which is pretty much the baby brother of your knife even though they cost the same lol. I am a HUGE 530/531 one fan and don't plan to carry the knife. I don't like the blue twill inlay it feels cheap probably because it is so thin and it has a weird unfinished look to it almost like natural abalone or something. The timascus inlay in the 531-131 and the CF inlay in the 556-142 look and feel much nicer. for the Sebenza i really like the look of the Micarta inlays buts they jut out too far off the scales so I would just be getting it plain with a possible blade upgrade.
 
billybatson said:
Hello Ramzar, do you really own one?! Do you own other BM knives of a different class? What made you decide on the 556-141 in the first place? Do you use it or collect it? I have the 531-132 which is pretty much the baby brother of your knife even though they cost the same lol. I am a HUGE 530/531 one fan and don't plan to carry the knife. I don't like the blue twill inlay it feels cheap probably because it is so thin and it has a weird unfinished look to it almost like natural abalone or something. The timascus inlay in the 531-131 and the CF inlay in the 556-142 look and feel much nicer. for the Sebenza i really like the look of the Micarta inlays buts they jut out too far off the scales so I would just be getting it plain with a possible blade upgrade.
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I actually own a 556-141 as indicated in that other thread. It's my first and only Benchmade Gold Class. I was blown away by the quality. Have not decided to carry it.

My favorite Benchmade to carry is the 940-1. It's almost like a Gold Class and although not inexpensive it's priced right.

If that's too big for you try the new 484 Nakamura with M390 blade and a great contoured G-10 at about $200.

By the way, welcome to BF. There are also Benchmade and CRK subforums.
 
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Yea billybatson, I've only heard great things about the gold class BM knives. The only negative things I've ever read are that they may be a bit pricey for what you get but that's all a matter of opinion. Overall, I like the looks of all the ones I've seen pics of. However I agree with you that some of them do look a little 'showy'. I think the Sebenza has a great simplistic, yet classy look.
 
It is a tough decision to carry it or not hehe.
I was considering the 940-1 as well! Great knife and materials. It is the longest blade of the 3 though and at 250 it isn't that far off the cost of the crk. It is lighter though and that is a plus for an edc.
 
billybatson said:
It is a tough decision to carry it or not hehe.
I was considering the 940-1 as well! Great knife and materials. It is the longest blade of the 3 though and at 250 it isn't that far off the cost of the crk. It is lighter though and that is a plus for an edc.
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The 940-1 is an amazing EDC that just melts in your pocket and the blade just keeps on going.

You should also look into William Henry knives. Superb quality, classy and variety. My favorite is the B12 Atlas with a 3" blade of laminated ZDP-189, titanium handles and button lock.
 
I would go with the Sebenza all day. The Benchmade is simply not worth the money they're asking imo (none of the gold classes ever really are from what I've seen). For the price of the BM you could get a high end midtech or even a cheaper custom.
 
I'm about here too. Other than perhaps the lure of M390 the Sebenza is the clear and obvious choice. I have never understood what makes often 100% factory/machine made knives "customs" or expensive "limited editions". The standard BM grip is a fine knife and for a fraction of the price. There is, IMO, no sense at all in paying that astonishing premium for the gold class.

hazy said:
I would go with the Sebenza all day. The Benchmade is simply not worth the money they're asking imo (none of the gold classes ever really are from what I've seen). For the price of the BM you could get a high end midtech or even a cheaper custom.
Click to expand...
 
Haze said:
I'm about here too. Other than perhaps the lure of M390 the Sebenza is the clear and obvious choice. I have never understood what makes often 100% factory/machine made knives "customs" or expensive "limited editions". The standard BM grip is a fine knife and for a fraction of the price. There is, IMO, no sense at all in paying that astonishing premium for the gold class.
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not m390, M4. Well regardless of how they may or may not be made the fact they a small specific amount are made makes them Limited that is the definition of being a limited edition. The best way I can describe the gold class is that it is for BM fans. Someone like me who's fav knife is the BM 530, been carrying it for 4 years, absolutely nothing wrong with it, but over the years I have wanted a better steel, higher end handle material, etc. So in some ways that is what the gold class is it gives fans of specific models a higher end versions of our fav knives but unfortunately they make them in such limited numbers it drives up the price even at MSRP.
This 556-141 is a close competitor to the sebenza, if they were the same price many people would consider both. That is why I said don't consider cost because to me they might as well cost the same.
 
billybatson said:
Benchmade 556-141 Mini Griptilian Limited Edition.
Here are the specs:

Benchmade 556-141
Blade Length: 3.25"
Blade Thickness: 0.090"
Handle Thickness: 0.370"
Blade Material: M390
Blade Hardness: 60-62HRC
Blade Style: Drop-Point
Weight: 2.92oz.
Lock Mechanism: AXIS
Overall Length: 7.42"
Closed Length: 4.17"
Class: Gold
Click to expand...

The specs above are incorrect for the 556-141 and they're actually for the 531-132!

556-141 specs:

Blade Length: 2.91"
Blade Thickness: 0.100"
Handle Thickness: 0.510"
Blade Material: CPM-M4 Premium Steel
Blade Hardness: 62-64HRC
Blade Style: Drop-Point w/ Hand Polished Convex Edge
Weight: 3.60oz.
Pocket Clip: DLC Coated, Reversible, Tip-Up
Lock Mechanism: AXIS
Overall Length: 6.78"
Closed Length: 3.87"
Sheath Material: Sold Separately
Class: Gold
 
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