CRK Sabenza ???

T

tuckerone1

Joined
Jun 15, 2014
Messages
204
Ok guys. I'm eight months new to bladeforums and just wondering about CRK knives and am I missing out by not taking the plunge on one of these? I've owned a SageII for six months or so and its getting most of the pocket time amongst the other knives in my small collection. I have researched the sebenza model but have yet to fondel one. If I like the Ti Sage II How much more will I love the Sabenza?

I have seven pocket knives not counting multi tools.
Any help or advice is always appreciated.
 
I'm in a similar position. I really like the sage 2, but it isn't my favorite. I'm still intrigued by the Sebenza. I'll be interested to read the responses.
 
Just to clarify, I have very few of the knives shown, except for the Sage 2's and one or two Sebbies. And, I do carry the Umnumzaan every day...which is the more tactical (blood-brother) of the large Sebenza. I am not a collector. I buy/sell/trade and admire these things, but they don't stay here long. I do have some great friends who are collectors, but they don't necessarily advertise their stuff. I like to show some of the great folders that I've had and to recommend the CRK's as the finest-made folders, regardless of price, that I've ever owned in my lifetime. I truly believe this...

Well, I'll show you how I feel about those two manufacturers...
You don't have to rush to the Sebenza...it will likely come to you if love great folders...and it's perfectly okay to enjoy both brands, regardless of the cost difference... :)

Once I find some pics... I certainly don't have all these Sebbies any more, but they come and they go. I do love CRK...but only a little more than my Sage 2's.

...some Sage 2's and some models of Sebenzas..and a stray Umnumzaan...
..only if you love 'em...


...and others...


...and...


a group shot of several...


I haven't located pics yet of the "prettiest" ones, in inlays...Snakewood, Calf leather, boxelder woods, etc., but you get the idea that I place high value on CRK...as well as that super folder...the Sage 2. Well, one shot of the boxelder...



...and the large micarta tanto Sebbie...
 
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CRK is a wonder of manufacturing. The fit and finish is astonishing. Most people that love their knives are probably OCD about their knives; myself being one of them. Even if you do not like the way they look or feel, you will be in awe of the perfection if you really analyze it. You will forever compare all knives to a CRK... even very high end knives.

Untitled by BiggestJon, on Flickr
 
The Sebenza is certainly worth trying out at some time. It is a well made and thought out knife.
 
Love my small insingo........

14970587809_295831896a_c.jpg
 
Tucker, it's called a "Sebenza". It's a great folder, manufactured with a high attention to detail, precision, and care. If you are expecting something magical, it might not wow you. What will happen is that you will notice the high quality of the knife and appreciate the painstaking precision used to make it. Chris Reeve is one of the greatest cutlers around, if he wasn't he would not have repeatedly won so many awards at Blade show year after year for manufacturing quality.
 
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It took me over 20 years to pull the trigger on a Sebenza, I don't know why I waited. Do it now, if you don't like it sell it. You'll get most of not all of your money back.
 
tuckerone1 said:
RevDevil I appoligize for my southern spelling / annunciation mishap and thanks for your input.
Click to expand...

No need at all to apologize. We all gotta start somewhere right? I think you would really enjoy the knife if you got one. Also, the Umnumzaan is another really nice knife, I like it better than the Sebenza personally. ;)
 
I have just been getting into sebenzas recently. I have worked my way up over time from $60-100 knives and moved up from there. I still carry other knives and find lower priced knives to be very good quality. CRK (imo) isn't the end-all-be-all of folding knives, but they are extremely nice. If you have the means to get a Sebenza it is definitely worth a try to own one because the quality is awesome. For now I am not going to sell everything but Sebenzas, but I do recognize their quality and I am very happy to own the ones I have.
 
Sebenza intrigue can be costly.

They are great knives. Their quality is unsurpassed. Precision engineered. Mine sits in a drawer.

For me a Sebenza is a pageant contestant with no personality. I can hold a Sebenza all day long and not feel a thing for it....a slab of titanium cold in hand. I own a Sebenza because every collection should have one. For that warm and fuzzy I turn to other knives.

Do I appreciate the quality, fit and precision? Yes. Do I get that thrill from carrying it and holding it? No. Buy one and see if you bond with it or if it just becomes a $500 bar of metal in your safe while you carry other knives you like better.
 
If you can find a shop that carries them check it out. In hand I find that I like the 21 but not the 25 or Umnumzaan. All are very well made, it's just personal taste.
 
EChoil said:
Sebenza intrigue can be costly.

They are great knives. Their quality is unsurpassed. Precision engineered. Mine sits in a drawer.

For me a Sebenza is a pageant contestant with no personality. I can hold a Sebenza all day long and not feel a thing for it....a slab of titanium cold in hand. I own a Sebenza because every collection should have one. For that warm and fuzzy I turn to other knives.

Do I appreciate the quality, fit and precision? Yes. Do I get that thrill from carrying it and holding it? No. Buy one and see if you bond with it or if it just becomes a $500 bar of metal in your safe while you carry other knives you like better.
Click to expand...

Not to jump on your statement,but
Even though I am fond of the plain ti Sebenza, not all Sebenza's are plain bead blast ti. They have a fairly large offering, from plain ti to unique graphic and computer generated graphic on to inlays (of micarta, wood, carbon fiber, leather, mammoth ivory and mammoth bark)
 
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I like the plain Sebenza. Waited a long time to come across a lefty one, got onecand it has not left my pocket. Yesterday came across 2 large Sebenzas, one plain and one with wood inlays and went for the plain one.
This time I'm glad to be left handed or i'll be overrun by CRK.
 
Sebenzas are a funny thing. When I was first starting out and had only heard of them in passing I happened to stop by a knife shop in Maine that had a few. I handled the plain large Sebbie they had and distinctly remember thinking,"This is nice, but pretty plain for that price tag". Fast forward a good number of years and I've skipped my chances to get a Sebenza three times, once I bought a SBL Medium Briefcase, once I turned down a trade offer of 6 good quality knives for a large wood inlay, and the last time I bought an SnG CC instead. If I could do it all again I would do the same, but I will say the next nice thing I get will be a small seb with micarta inlays. The Briefcase is definitely a lifetime purchase, the trade involved giving up too much at once, and the SnG CC is perhaps the best hard working folder ever made IMO which made sense when I was working outdoors all the time. Now I have an office job, and while it sucks a bit more, at least its an excuse to get a Sebenza.

I really do think a Sebenza is something you need to work up to in order to really appreciate it. They aren't flashy knives at all, which is a good thing, but don't expect any non-knife-nuts to understand why they cost so much.
 
If you like the Sage II, then you'll like the Sebenza. The tolerances of the knife, no blade play, smoothness, bushing system is where it gives me the warm, fuzzy feeling. Knowing it will last a lifetime, sending it in and it coming back like new after years of use, gives me that warm, fuzzy feeling. The Sebenza is not for everyone, but if you are looking for a knife that will be problem free for a long time and holds it's resale value, then you should look at getting a Sebenza. It's not all fancy and flashy until you start using it and realize how well it's made. :)
 
The best thing about them is; you can constantly find them on the exchange section cheaper than retail in so many configurations & styles;if you find you don't like it it can be resold pretty easily with little or no loss.Ive got the star-benza & the 25 & I could never let them go.
 
Words and pictures cannot convince a person of the qualities of a Sebenza. It is only in handling one ... in using one ... in taking it apart and assembling it again ... that one is convinced. This is what happened to me. I didn't get it until I got it.
 
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