chris reeve vs. william henry

Hi Folks,

Please overlook my asking a WH question in the CRK Forum, but there isn't a WH Forum and this thread is about WH knives.

I'm looking for a high-end EDC and am considering a WH or CRK knife. I'm a paper-pusher so a gents blade will do fine.

I love the look of the Small Sebenza, but there is a problem. I'm in Chicago. Legal Carry blade length is 2.5" and the Small Sebenza is bigger than that. So the WH in one of the smaller sizes would be legal.

My question is that Button Lock. Does it allow the blade to swing free if the button is pushed and held in? That is, can the blade be opened with a flick of the wrist if the button is held, like a Benchmade Axis Lock? If so, it's an illegal gravity knife under IL law and that takes it out of consideration for me.

My EDC has got to be squeeky-clean legal (I do politics).

Thanks!
Scot
 
I can't speak other owners but I have kestrel with button lock and pushing the button does not let the blade swing free.It does take little effort to open the knife via thumb stud(just right). I think the button holds the blade opened but not closed. i think you should be alright. Hope somebody else chimes in should I be wrong about other WH's.
 
I have a westcliff and kestrel. The kestrel does not have enough blade weight to swing open. The westcliff blade is heavy enough to flick open. I did play with the lancet for a day and it cannot be flicked open due to the light weight blade. I do not know about the monarch. I am happy with the titan series in zdp. Hope this helps.
 
Hey, I think CRK forum is a very good place to discuss CRK vs. WH. Both knives show class, some WH models are more fancy, but CRK with the pivot bearing is finer construction.

Now to the question... I think that any sub-2.5" WH has the blade not heavy enough to flick it open. However, if you have any doubt, just use Torx #6 to tighten the pivot a bit more and than there will be NO CHANCE to flick it open! Only full opening movement of your thumb will open it. So go ahead! Well, it seems that even Mnandi can be too big for you if there is 2.5" limit for the blade. So only WH for you...
 
Thank you all very much. I appreaciate the help and will look at the WH knives. I'm thinking of the Kestrel.

What I REALLY want to get is the Kestrel in the DiVinci with the mammouth ivory and mokume gane--but that's probably a bit much for an EDC.

Best,
Scot Giles
 
Well, I'd say that DaVinci is just very nice. If you wear tie every day than it's probably the way to go :)
 
Of all the WH I have handled none of them had even a hint of blade play, if they had they would have gone right bac. The same is true for CRK too.
 
I have a large Sebenza combo edge and a WH 12 attache. Neither are the first that I have owned from either company. I don't think they are easy to compare; the Sebenza is a heavier duty knife that I carry on a regular basis where the WH is more of a dress model that I only carry now and then. They are designed for different purposes I think. The Sebenza is pretty heavy duty and is good for just about any task from opening packages and mail to cutting fire tinder at the campsite. I would not worry about it in any cutting task. The WH on the other hand is smaller and thinner and although it might work for heavier duty tasks like shaving fire tinder or cutting rope I know it would not hold up as well over time as the Sebenza.

Both are fine on fit and finish but the finish is a little better on the WH. It looks like it probably had a little more hand work and finer detail. The Sebenza is sturdier and simpler in construction. The frame lock of the Sebenza is stronger than the liner or plunge button locks that WH uses and the Sebenza's blade is thicker than any of the WH's, so it is suited for heavier work. The WH has a sharper, thinner blade out of the box and is suited to a more precise use on lighter tasks. I guess a good way to put it is that I think the Sebenza is designed as a working knife where the WH's are designed as a dressier knife. I sometimes carry the WH as a backup to either the Sebenza, a Microtech LCC or a Strider Smf, but don't end up using it as much as the larger knife.

The black ion finish or hand rubbed satin finish of the WH's is smoother and slicker looking than the Sebenza's stone wash or satin finishes. The WH's detail of the handle work, fitting the scales, lanyard attachment ring and general parts fitup is more detailed than the Sebenza which along with it's smaller dimensions rates it as a dressier knife. This is not to say that the Sebenza doesn't have a fine fitup and finish; it does have these. It is just that the beadblast, stone wash and brushing is not quite as smooth or detailed as the WH.

So in my opinion they both have their strong points while neither really has any weak points for what they are designed for. Or maybe I should say what I think they are best suited for. I mean if I am wearing a suit to a meeting or formal occassion I would slip the WH in my pocket and not feel like I was packing a tool or weapon, but if I am on a construction job or camping in the wilderness I am bringing a larger, stronger alternative such as the Sebenza.

Now if you want to make a better comparison look at the Striders, Microtech's and Combat Elites or maybe the Mercworx vs. the Sebenza.

Vince

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