Chris Reeve small Sebenza 21.....just not diggin it

The Sebenza is fast enough for Vincent (from Collateral) to use, and he's a trained killer, I'd imagine it's fast enough for anyone on here! Sebenza is a great knife, but I suppose it's not for everyone.
 
Hi everybody, i just received my small sebbie21 from the mail.Boy, i was sure excited to finally get it from Idaho after 2 mos. of waiting. BUT...I was disappointed when i tried deploying it.Smooth but TIGHT.It was no where as smooth as my Spydie Paramilitary2.Yes it did have that bank vault feel to it and fit / finish/sharpness was superb.I guess w constant use it will eventually deploy faster and smoother. 380 bucks....well dunno!
 
^^ It might get a little smoother and easier but not much. It is built to feel like that. Just use it for a while and if you still don't like it, just sell it!


OP made his choice too. No harm in that. (Although a small seb as sd is kind of funny)
 
Just practice over and over.

I was slow with mine at first but now it's second nature.


Not like a flipper or an assisted knife but fast
 
Sunyata said:
Just practice over and over.

I was slow with mine at first but now it's second nature.


Not like a flipper or an assisted knife but fast
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Yes, it wil be in the rotation w my PM2 and Endura 4. I have to educate my thumb for deploying with the studs,i've been so used to the spydie hole..
I'm also contemplating of opening it up and polishing /lubing the bushings.

thanks for your inputs,
Joe G
 
The Sebenza is a formidable cutting tool, that feels right.
It was not designed with SD in mind.
There are other blades out there that address that topic.
red mag
 
I would think the handle design would be just as much of a problem in a hypothetical defense scenario, since it would be easy for your fingers to slip up onto the blade. There's not much for your fingers to lock into either so it would be more difficult to retain in the hand.

Personally the thumbstud works well for me, but I think the ergonomics & handle design are a bigger drawback. Not that you would ever rely on a manual folding knife for self-defense purposes.
 
There's nothing wrong with trying out a knife and deciding it just doesn't suit you. I think we've all experienced this, but with a CRK knife, perhaps we feel that we have to like it cause of how many praise them, and then the cost.

I like my Seb ok but it did take me a bit to get used to opening them. And I'm not a huge fan of their thumb studs, but they work. But I've other knives I like and carry too. Native G10, Minigrip, a SAK, etc.. Many knives I've purchased to check out I've moved along for one reason or another. There aren't any shops around here to handle one before buying and local gun shows mostly feature off shore cheapies. Too hard to commit 100% to one knife. :)

Luckily, a Seb will go on the exchange pretty easily and then you can try out another knife. All part of the hobby/obsession.

**But after rereading this thread, I should add I've 6 of the darn things now. Still trying to decide for sure if I like 'em or not. Lol. :)
 
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My problem was just the opposite. After not owning a Sebenza for 10+ years I finally bought a micarta small 21 and a large plain 21 Insingo. I anticipated the smooth but hard opening and the break in period like I had in the past. Instead, both are smooth and very easy to open. I miss the sore thumb and joy of discovery after each disassembly and cleaning when it was much easier to thumb open.

The bottom line: When one outgrows the fiddly fun of whipping it out to impress the mall natives or click clacking away while playing fps video games and watching adventure movies goes away you may realize the smooth, controlled opening of the Sebenza is really better. If not, the best bet is one of the cheap imported flippered ball bearing fashion knives. As to the SD issues, if you aren't prepared to train and continue training in SD skills your "fantasy" encounter with a bad guy may very well end badly, with you wearing your snappy quick-to-open weapon in a most uncomfortable place (clue: it makes sitting down with a tip down Mili in-waist-band seem like a day at the amusement park).
 
GronK said:
My problem was just the opposite. After not owning a Sebenza for 10+ years I finally bought a micarta small 21 and a large plain 21 Insingo. I anticipated the smooth but hard opening and the break in period like I had in the past. Instead, both are smooth and very easy to open. I miss the sore thumb and joy of discovery after each disassembly and cleaning when it was much easier to thumb open.

The bottom line: When one outgrows the fiddly fun of whipping it out to impress the mall natives or click clacking away while playing fps video games and watching adventure movies goes away you may realize the smooth, controlled opening of the Sebenza is really better. If not, the best bet is one of the cheap imported flippered ball bearing fashion knives. As to the SD issues, if you aren't prepared to train and continue training in SD skills your "fantasy" encounter with a bad guy may very well end badly, with you wearing your snappy quick-to-open weapon in a most uncomfortable place (clue: it makes sitting down with a tip down Mili in-waist-band seem like a day at the amusement park).
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Side note: the Military carried tip down, IWB is the fastest deploying knife I've ever carried, easily beating side & front opening automatics.

Also, there's plenty of knives that give you a smooth, controlled opening as well as having a more accessible thumbstud. Because of the dimensions and shape of my my own hands & fingers, the Sebenza's thumbstud has actually been the best out of all the thumbstud opening knives I've had - but I can see how for a lot of people it won't be as comfortable or accessible as the thumbstuds on other knives.

Not everyone wants a fast deploying knife or a flipper just because they like to play with it or want to impress others. Many like it because it's simpler, safer and easier when in a stressful work environment under time pressure. Just flick, cut, close, move on to the next thing. Most people have common sense and know that if you're in a SD situation and the tunnel vision, sweating bullets & shakes come on, you'd be lucky to even unclip a knife from a pocket without fumbling it.
 
When I got my first small Sebenza I had a bit of difficulty opening it smoothly ... I just had to adjust my grip a bit my hands are fairly large and I inadvertantly put pressure on the lockbar ... and the opening motion is slightly different then other knives. But once I figured it out its very smooth to open. But its not a flipper or even good to try to.flick open with wrist motion and will cause wear much quicker ... if flipping or flicking your blade open is a requirement for you then the Sebenza may not be the best option for you ... there are alot of good options meant for that.

But if you want a Sebenza the large was easier to open from the start for me personally just because of my hand size

And I have to agree unless youve had some strong training knives are not a great SD option.
 
asdf12345 said:
Side note: the Military carried tip down, IWB is the fastest deploying knife I've ever carried, easily beating side & front opening automatics.
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No problemo! My comment was in answer to what JNewell commented on above. My senior muffin top pretty much negates any thought of in waist band carry.
 
Assuming he still has it, maybe the OP likes his Small 21 better now that he's had almost four years to practice opening it... :eek::D

-Brett
 
It's been just over 2 weeks of having my small Sebbie.i must say deployment is much smoother now.Cant seem to let let go of the knife. The more I handle it the more I really admire and appreciate it's workmanship. The sharpness... It's almost as sharp as the scalpels I use in surgery!Fantastic!
Joe
 
Speed of deployment is much over rated. The Sebenza is made to have a controlled opening and used as a tool not SD, unless that is the last resort, then anything goes. Personally I try to stay out of such situations-I just hate having my own blood all over me.
 
In a last-ditch SD situation, flicking the blade open quickly is a no-go. It's a lot simpler and you have a much better grip while deploying the knife normally.

EDIT: Much simpler :o
 
jogonmd95 said:
It's been just over 2 weeks of having my small Sebbie.i must say deployment is much smoother now.Cant seem to let let go of the knife. The more I handle it the more I really admire and appreciate it's workmanship. The sharpness... It's almost as sharp as the scalpels I use in surgery!Fantastic!
Joe
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Yeah, the hollow grind is amazing at slicing, and the good thing is, the edge only gets thinner as you sharpen it. Was yours extremely sharp from the factory?
 
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