CRK model differences... Is one enough??

So, I've landed on the small sebenza as my one knife. I'll have a rotation of 7, all with backups. Then I'll keep a few luxury collectables: Armor Black Zaan, Armor Black Sebs, my 5 mnandi, and maybe 2 small Inkosi (BHQ CF and Black). After I move everything not on this list (many are already listed in the CRK sales forum), I might move my last two small Inkosi, but that remains to be seen.
 
The Large Sebenza and Inkosi scratch me right where I itch. I prefer inlays but I may pick up a PJ one of these days.
 
Regarding the decision to land on the small sebenza, I ended up switching my thinking away from "what is this good at" to "what ISN'T this good at?" The small 31 basically was flawless in that regard; enough blade to do work, small and light enough to carry daily, refined enough to be dressy when needed. The other's all had some detractions:
Umnumzaan: big honking blade that's overkill most of the time, and wasn't fun to wear while hiking
Mnandi: not beefy enough for tougher tasks, clip is not great for anything above thin pants
Large Inkosi: ergos don't work for me
Large sebenza: just not as comfortable as the small... a bit too big
Small inkosi: this was the closest of the bunch, but every so often I grab it and my hand has to remember how to hold it so that it feels comfortable when cutting.
 
I find the Large Sebenza to be the quintessential CRK and the best for my uses. It is sleek enough to carry in slimmer fitting clothing, but large enough to use as a utilitarian tool. I have a pj 31 that I've carried on and off for years. It carried fine in my cargo pants under my firefighter bunker gear through training and was still smooth as butter full of perspiration. It did grit up quick at the Aluminum plant I worked at, where I picked up the large inkosi for adjustability and ease to replace washers from grit damage. The only real issues I've found is the clips are easy to bend, I'm on my third fix on my seb, and with the new shorter pocket of Carhartt's ripstop cargo pant, they bottom out before fully seating in the pocket. I've never had the smalls myself, but I find the seb to be much more ergonomic than the large inkosi. Hope this helps!
 
I wasn't sure I was going to like a CRK when I got my large Inkosi/Insingo last summer but it immediately became a favorite. Then I decided to try and get an Umnumzaan thinking I'd sell the one I liked the least. I'm new to knives at this level and there are other brands I've yet to experience so I didn't think I wanted to get too deep with CR (yet). I managed to snag a new 'Zaan last month and the bottom line is neither knife are going anywhere. Deciding which to pocket is tough.
 
Back
Top