Chris Reeve Sebenza

[Hackenslash]

I have the PM2, Manix Lightweight, Native 5, Mini Griptillian, 940-2, 531, Kizer Gemini, Kizer V3 Vigor, Kershaw Skyline, Launch 6, Knockout

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That's a fairly broad spectrum of knives. I say go for it. Now the hard part is determining which size. If the Mini Grip, Skyline and 531 are your favorites, you'd probably be good with a small. If the PM2, Manix LW and 940 are your favorites, you might be looking at a large.

Enjoy and have fun.

Personally, I prefer the small mostly for discrete, light carry. Probably my favorite small is the CF version. When I need a bigger blade, I grab my Zaan.

 

[cut it out]

If you are someone who rotates there EDC every few days it's not probably worth it in the end. But if you carry it everyday for years and years it is totally worth it. I love mine but rarely carry it. lol. deadboxhero is spot on I believe.

 

[sabre cat]

That's a fairly broad spectrum of knives. I say go for it. Now the hard part is determining which size. If the Mini Grip, Skyline and 531 are your favorites, you'd probably be good with a small. If the PM2, Manix LW and 940 are your favorites, you might be looking at a large....

I have been reading with great interest because I think that I want one too. A small Insingo.

However, I prefer the full size Grip, dislike the Skyline, and LOVE the Benchmade 531. It is one step short of permanently kicking everything else out of my pocket. The only knife that is a close second is a US made Kershaw Zing. Any suggestions for me? Large or small Insingo?

Now, back to your normally scheduled discussion.

 

[Ironbut]

There's a point of diminishing returns in a lot of things. With modern folding knives, I personally think that point is $200 or under. After that point, it comes down to what puts a grin on your face. A Griptilian or a PM2 will do just about any job that a Chris Reeve will do. I've accumulated "a few" quality folders from BM, Spyderco, ZT, etc., in the last 10-15 years; but since I got my Sebenza over a year ago, it's the only modern folder that's been in my pocket.

 

[sethbradb]

I've bought knives that I thought would give me the enjoyment and pure satisfaction of owning said knife. But I think the Sebenza will be knife to be it.

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[blanco112]

I love my CRKs but if I was on a budget I would not buy one unless I had the type of mentality to stick to one knife. If you are constantly buying and carrying different knives you might not appreciate it as much. I also agree with the others to make the two hour drive. It's worth it. Especially if you tend to mix between large and small knives and aren't sure which to buy. If you don't care about size, I find the large is a "better buy" even though I carry and own many more smaller knives (I have 6 CRKs and only 1 large). There is just something about the physics of the larger blade moving rotating on the pivot bushing that isn't there on small sebenzas.

 

[`br4dz-]

I was reluctant to buy a Sebenza for quite a while, and finally popped for it back over the Summer. Initially I loved it (honeymoon phase), and quickly began questioning what exactly I got for the money. I was debating on selling my Small Sebenza 21 until I made myself learn more about it. I took it apart and put it back together, and the ease of doing both of those tasks made me greatly appreciate the design and tolerances in play. As long as you know how to put back the blade assembly without pinching a washer, it's the easiest knife you'll ever disassemble and reassemble. Plus, no need to tweak and tune the screws to get it centered and smooth, just crank them down (not super crank down), and the screws won't back out, and everything is perfect. No need for loctite (I hate loctite), and so forth. It's an amazing piece of engineering, eye candy, elegance and the perfect EDC blade IMO. Less than a year later, I've got 4 Small Sebenza's (plain jane, micarta, cocobolo, box elder burl), and love each one.

 

[ChazzyP]

Lots of good thoughts above about many aspects of owning a CRK, or any other "high-end" knife for that matter. In the end, your satisfaction in owning such a tool is the bottom line--not the cost. I have knives that cost a third or less of my CRKs that I "like" just as well. I have a number that cost the same up to almost triple some of my CRKs that I "like" as much or more, but not "3 times as much".

Indeed, most any knife that's well made with good ergos, decent steel, and sharp will cut as well as any other regardless of price. What it comes down to is whether any particular tool seems right for you, brings you pleasure, and performs the tasks you need in whatever fashion you require. That said, a few thoughts...

--Like others, I would suggest purchasing your CRK on the Exchange here, looking for a price point just north of $300. You can get a pretty clean Plain Jane 21 or 25 right around there. If you intend for the knife to be a user, there are functionally excellent knives with inlays or other "upgraded" features to be had at that price point. If you consider re-selling, spend a little more for a cleaner knife.

--I bought a small for my first CRK (for price) and immediately bought a large. I kept the small for about a year, but it was just not a good fit for my thick, arthritic old carpenter's hands, and I sold it off. I do favor larger knives in the 3 1/2" & up range. I have 3 21s (bocote inlay, KA CF, and Micarta inlay Insingo), a Plain Jane 25, a WC StarTac ('Zaan), and my newest, a large Inkosi natural Micarta. My small CRK is a snakewood Mnandi for "gentleman's carry" in its pocket slip. To me, the small Sebenzas are light EDCs and the larges are more practical workers.

--As to the "over-priced" aspect, I feel that for what goes into the manufacture of CRKs, they are very good values. The design, precision, fit & finish, and great customer service and warranty represent great value. Whether or not that's worth it to you is another matter. The feel of the knife and your appreciation of the design aesthetic are entirely matters of personal preference. You can get functionally excellent knives for a third of the cost and spend three times as much for no great increase in performance. I have knives in both those other categories and carry and use them often, but it seems that at least half the time there's a CRK in my pocket.

--You can take the drive and handle a CRK in the store, but there's nothing that will make up your mind for you like owning and using one. Buy one on the secondary market, try it for a while, and sell it at little or no loss if you decide it's not for you. Good luck!

 

[Hackenslash]

I have been reading with great interest because I think that I want one too. A small Insingo.

However, I prefer the full size Grip, dislike the Skyline, and LOVE the Benchmade 531. It is one step short of permanently kicking everything else out of my pocket. The only knife that is a close second is a US made Kershaw Zing. Any suggestions for me? Large or small Insingo?

Now, back to your normally scheduled discussion.

I grabbed some of mine for a comparison shot. If you dislike the Skyline because of the flipping action, I think that makes sense. As you can see in the picture, the Grip has much more hand real estate than the small 21, and although my 530 looks about the same size as the 21, that coffin shape gives a lot of finger space.



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[Seneca18]

I didn't fully appreciate my first Sebenza several years ago but I was still newer to higher end knives. I never sold it but it took me going through many other knives (probably hundreds) to finally appreciate the simple beauty of CRKs. Now I have several and each one is perfect in my view. The Small 21 in the middle was my first Sebenza.
Untitled by Danny Nystrom, on Flickr

 

[Eliteone2383]

I didn't fully appreciate my first Sebenza several years ago but I was still newer to higher end knives. I never sold it but it took me going through many other knives (probably hundreds) to finally appreciate the simple beauty of CRKs. Now I have several and each one is perfect in my view. The Small 21 in the middle was my first Sebenza.
Untitled by Danny Nystrom, on Flickr

What do you like about the Benchmade Monolock? Its a quick clean action but there were things of concern with the multiple ones I handled. The biggest was the weak detent.

 

[Wolverine666]

Lots of good thoughts above about many aspects of owning a CRK, or any other "high-end" knife for that matter. In the end, your satisfaction in owning such a tool is the bottom line--not the cost. I have knives that cost a third or less of my CRKs that I "like" just as well. I have a number that cost the same up to almost triple some of my CRKs that I "like" as much or more, but not "3 times as much".

Indeed, most any knife that's well made with good ergos, decent steel, and sharp will cut as well as any other regardless of price. What it comes down to is whether any particular tool seems right for you, brings you pleasure, and performs the tasks you need in whatever fashion you require. That said, a few thoughts...

--Like others, I would suggest purchasing your CRK on the Exchange here, looking for a price point just north of $300. You can get a pretty clean Plain Jane 21 or 25 right around there. If you intend for the knife to be a user, there are functionally excellent knives with inlays or other "upgraded" features to be had at that price point. If you consider re-selling, spend a little more for a cleaner knife.

--I bought a small for my first CRK (for price) and immediately bought a large. I kept the small for about a year, but it was just not a good fit for my thick, arthritic old carpenter's hands, and I sold it off. I do favor larger knives in the 3 1/2" & up range. I have 3 21s (bocote inlay, KA CF, and Micarta inlay Insingo), a Plain Jane 25, a WC StarTac ('Zaan), and my newest, a large Inkosi natural Micarta. My small CRK is a snakewood Mnandi for "gentleman's carry" in its pocket slip. To me, the small Sebenzas are light EDCs and the larges are more practical workers.

--As to the "over-priced" aspect, I feel that for what goes into the manufacture of CRKs, they are very good values. The design, precision, fit & finish, and great customer service and warranty represent great value. Whether or not that's worth it to you is another matter. The feel of the knife and your appreciation of the design aesthetic are entirely matters of personal preference. You can get functionally excellent knives for a third of the cost and spend three times as much for no great increase in performance. I have knives in both those other categories and carry and use them often, but it seems that at least half the time there's a CRK in my pocket.

--You can take the drive and handle a CRK in the store, but there's nothing that will make up your mind for you like owning and using one. Buy one on the secondary market, try it for a while, and sell it at little or no loss if you decide it's not for you. Good luck!

ChazzyP , that's a very well-written post. Good stuff :thumbup:

 

[sabre cat]

I grabbed some of mine for a comparison shot. If you dislike the Skyline because of the flipping action, I think that makes sense. As you can see in the picture, the Grip has much more hand real estate than the small 21, and although my 530 looks about the same size as the 21, that coffin shape gives a lot of finger space.



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Wow! Thanks for the picture. How about one of just the small Sebenza and the BM530? That would be of real use to me.

I don't care for the Skyline just because. I just don't like it. There is nothing wrong with the knife.

 

[Hackenslash]

Wow! Thanks for the picture. How about one of just the small Sebenza and the BM530? That would be of real use to me.

I don't care for the Skyline just because. I just don't like it. There is nothing wrong with the knife.

I'll try to get a picture of those two together tonight when I get home.