Chris Reeve Umnumzaan or Sebenza 21 (lange)

J

Juanelfort

Joined
May 24, 2016
Messages
52
Hi,

I read a lot about Chris Reeve knives. And as I am upgrading my collection I am willing to spend the money for one of the above mentioned knives. (Umnumzaan or Sebenza 21 large)
Now as I like both my thinking is what knife would be better for use or better said for use and cleaning (maintenance)?

I know there are some threads already but from what I read I could get any real answers .....


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you're going to want to move this over to the Chris Reeve Knives forum. you may have more luck there. there are a TON of threads like this.

with that being said- for ease of learning how to maintenance your knife, to get yourself acclimated with the brand itself, I vote for a Large 21. it should stand up to just about any task you put in front of it, and is amazingly easy to disassemble, clean, lube, and reassemble.
 
Only you can answer that question. Purchase both and sell whichever you choose.


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My preference for all round use is the 21 as I like the thinner blade and better chamfered/more comfortable handle. I feel the Zaan is better balanced, still very nice to use and in theory should hold up to slightly harder use with it's .5mm thicker blade stock if that's your thing.

Both are pretty easy for maintenance with a slight nod going to the Zaan due to less parts, I'll mention that I've never used loctite on it's pivot but if it was required on my knife then I would give the nod to the 21.
 
If you can't spring for both, I would consider a Large 21 as the most versatile, the Um is beefier and more robust....
 
You tube them. Plenty of comparisons. That's the closest thing to touching them and better than I can explain. They are very different so it should be easy to decide once you do your research.
 
I prefer the Zaan's ergonomics - I like the more "forward" grip, getting my thumb and index finger up closer to the cutting edge. I also like how the blade tang is basically flush with the handle where my index finger curls around the bottom front of the handle. The Sebbie is MUCH easier to close, the Zaan is easier to open once you get the motion down (and potentially the Zaan broken in/adjusted).
 
My first CRK was umnumzaan. I still remember at that time there was a large 21 plain jane at the shop. After fondling both of them i decided to go for the umnumzaan. Nicer blade shape/profile grippier scales and more handsome than the 21L. A week went back to the shop and bought the 21L. Now, 21L is my goto crk. Its simpler, easier to deploy (than the umnumzaan) and easiest to maintain assemble/disassemble than the umnumzaan. Between the two, 21 Large gets my vote as deployment of the blade is far easier than the umnumzaan. But i love them both though 🙂

All the best in your choices. At the end of the day, you will ebd up with multiple crks 👍
 
Personally- I can't get into the way the Umnumzaan opens. I've had 2 and love everything about it except opening it and how my thumb feels afterwards. They're both excellent knives.
 
Just the opposite for me, I find the Umnumzaan easier to open, but harder to close (unlock). Also, I find the Zaan easier to break down and reassemble, with only two fastening points and no blade stop pin (fixed in blade). But I definitely agree that there is no wrong choice, and that more will follow.

:)
 
Its these differences that gives every CRK model its wonderful character. So it finally bores down to user preferences. U fortunately one does need to get each model to get its feel whether its suitable or not.
 
It is a little tricky adjusting the Zaan when reassembling it, whereas the 21 will not require any adjustment.
 
Maybe I'm doing something wrong-- I'm kinda new to Umnumzaan's, but both mine are quite easy to open <push straight up with your thumb follow the contour of the scale, not arc outward like with most stud openers> and very easy to disassemble. I have old pivot and new. It's a little frustrating lining up the little pegs of the pivot tools with the holes on the old pivot itself with poor eyesight...but not difficult at all, IMHO.

As far as closing, the new pivot model has more exposed lock bar for a better purchase, but the old model is not that bad at all.

Can't add any advice on a 21, since I only have a 25.

So the best answer would probably be buy both, you won't lose much $$$ if you want to flip either one. Probably the same amount you'd lose in gas going to look at one in real life.
 
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