Counterpoint to a Sebenza?

unwisefool said:
Get the Umnumzaan. It's the tactical sebenza.

Oops didn't read the flipper part.
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Is it really considered a tactical knife? Having eyed it and never owned a CRK knife I thought it looked like a much better workhorse than the sebbie.
 
I vote ZT 808. Smaller, slimmer than the 801, but similar design. Really great little knife with a 3.25" blade and good flipping action. Thicker blade than the sebenza for the "hard use".
 
Awesome, thanks all. Looking at a lot of those options. Some of the ZT's seem right up the alley of what I'm after, nice Spyderco suggestions too.

And yes, I do need to stop worrying about using the Sebenza, lol.
 
Sheldon N said:
Trying to find my goldilocks knife to serve as a companion to my CRK small Sebenza. I love the Sebenza as a classy knife, I carry it a lot and use it for little stuff but still have that twinge of not wanting to use it on anything that might really rough it up. Looking to add a companion knife that is the "yin" to the Sebenza's "yang".

Criteria
3.25 to 3.5" blade
Preferrably a flipper, though maybe would consider a knife that can be flicked open fast
Smooth action, I lean away from assisted knifes in preference to smoothness open/closing
Design ethos of workhorse/tool with perhaps a bit of tactical mixed in.
Cosmetics well suited to getting beat up
Nice enough to have a bit of pride of ownership despite cosmetic wear
Budget $150-350 (likely buying used)

Have already tried Kershaw Blur (not nice enough), Hinderer XM-18 3" (maybe too small, got the wrong blade profile), Olamic Wayfarer (too nice, not quite the right hard use vibe)... Been looking at ZT's a lot but not totally sure... Leading contender seems to be a XM-18 3.5".

Any suggestions or thoughts of others I should look at? Photos welcome!
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I imagine if you get a tougher but equally exoensive knife you will likely feel the same aprehension towards using it. The ZTs recommended are good options because the price is right at the point where you will not bad about using them.

For 50$ more you could maybe find a used Strider or Hinderer of some sort of a different type. I know you want a flipper so Kizer has alot of options right around that sweet spot where you get a beautiful knife but not so expensive that you don’t want to beat up on it.

That said some of my favourite knives to hard use are my Emersons, particularly the cqc7s and hd7. ZT makes a version of the Emersons which are now discontinued but can easily be found. They aren’t flippers but have a wave device which opens the knife as you draw it. That said the toughest folding knives on the market are Cold Steels with triad locks.

Also I have one more excellent suggestion to make. Why not consider carrying a small edc fixed blade. That way you can carry it on your belt either in waistband or out waistband, and use it for harder tasks. You can keep your sebbie razor sharp for finer tasks.

There are lots of tough neck knives you can wear as a small belt knife.
 
HOKIE_FAN said:
I would recommend a ZT 0566. Its a hinderer design with the in between size blade 3 1/4". Great solid knife for $150. Spend another $35 for a custom scale and you have yourself a really nice knife. And with ZT they will replace the blade for $30 in case you work it too hard and want to pretty it up again....I had it done. I let a local "professional" knife sharpener sharpen it and it got seriously deformed.
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Honestly i dislike the 566 because not only is it assisted but it isn‘t even a titanium framelock. Its lockside is steel which makes it weigh more than it should.

If they released it in titanium it might be an option, but that price for a steel framelock... might as well just buy a Kershaw Cryo 2

Edit: BTW a Spyderco Gayle Bradley 1 or 2 is probably one of the best work folders on the market. M4 steel is awesome stuff.
 
sharp_edge said:
Why don't you just buy a Hinderer XM-18 3.5"? With $350 you can get one in like new condition from the secondary market.
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That's the one that's been on the list since the beginning. May still end up there but want to make sure I'm not being closed minded to other options.
 
A plain-jane olamic wayfarer 24/7 is just above your price range but, IMO, has always reminded me of a flipping titanium framelock sebenza in it's level of craftsmanship and design!
I have a more customized one but the starting design actually looks like a sebenza to me! (and olamic can change it later however you like)
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/OC...tin-m390-blade-light-blasted-titanium-handles

Oh! I see it's out of stock but I'll look around,I think there are different versions out there. Technically it's a mid tech, but after reading your post I can't recommend it enough, I think it starts around $375
 
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WilliamEdward said:
Oh! I see it's out of stock but I'll look around,I think there are different versions out there. Technically it's a mid tech, but after reading your post I can't recommend it enough, I think it starts around $375
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I actually bought a Wayfarer thinking the same, but it ended up being not quite what I was looking for.
 
Sheldon N said:
That's the one that's been on the list since the beginning. May still end up there but want to make sure I'm not being closed minded to other options.
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As said above by many, ZT flippers definitely deserve serious consideration, in particular, ZT 0562cf. I have had multiple ZT 0562 and ZT 0562cf and still have two. But if I had to make a choice between ZT 0562/0562cf and XM-18 3.5", I would choose the latter. To me, the ergonomics of XM-18 is better (ZT's is fine too), and the hardware of XM-18 is obviously better both quality-wise and aesthetically. Keep in mind that ZT 0562 does not have a lanyard hole if that matters to you.

HtxMKKW.jpg
 
My first thought was an Emerson Sheepdog. I think that fits nicely in the seb ying/yang analogy being that it is a bit rough and ready.

However, the seb will be tough enough to take whatever you throw at it.
 
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