CRK Sebenza's: Possible to hate some versions but love others?

Glock Guy

Glock Guy

Joined
Jul 28, 2012
Messages
1,595
HELP!!!

After owning both a Sebenza 25 AND a newer Umnumzaan, I wanted to pose this questions to the BF Members here:

Have any of you CRK fans hated the feel of one Sebenza model, yet really liked the feel of a slightly different model? Or maybe it took you a while to "warm up" to the particular model, and now you like it?

I'm asking because I've had both knives and my boat was just not floated by either. That's why I was just wondering if it's even worth ordering regular Sebbie 21 with an Insingo blade, or if I'm just not, and never will be a CRK guy?

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks!
 
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Maybe you just don't "Get It"...I mean you are obviously a Glock owner....

Just kidding.

I bought a 25 and it is just not for me. I can see that it is a well built knife and a nice design. But it does nothing for me. But, I do "Get It".

BTW, is there a dealer by you that carries them? I got to hold all three and settled on the 25. After I sell my 25, I might get a small with inlays....as a collector.
 
Glock Guy said:
HELP!!!

After owning both a Sebenza 25 AND a newer Umnumzaan, I wanted to pose this questions to the BF Members here:

Have any of you CRK fans hated the feel of one Sebenza model, yet really liked the feel of a slightly different model? Or maybe it took you a while to "warm up" to the particular model, and now you like it?

I'm asking because I've had both knives and I my boat was just not floated by either. That's why I was just wondering if it's even worth ordering regular Sebbie 21 with an Insingo blade, or if I'm just not, and never will be a CRK guy?

Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks!
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Never was really hot on the 21, but love the 25. :thumbup:
 
I can understand where you're coming from. You can definitely appreciate the knife, but it might not be the right knife for you.

I just want a Seb with a 3.33" blade. Is that too much for a man to ask? haha

I had a 25, got rid of that because the blade just too big for me to carry in the city. Now I've got a small 21, but rarely carry it because I like a little more blade. It's probably all in my mind, because the knife has proved to be totally capable. I think I'd really like a 21 with CF presentation side, a 3.25-3.5" insingo blade, and the jimping from the 25. That'd be a game changer for me.

I'll try to answer your question with a question: Why did you buy the 25 and Umnum? ...Because the 21 was too small? Would you carry any other knife at that size? That's my big problem with CRK's, none of them are really the right size for my hands. I love my small 21, but I don't really love carrying it.
 
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I love my 25. The 21 on the other hand is all right, I guess. Definitely not a huge fan of noticeable hollow grinds when making push cuts. The 25 is a shallow hollow grind and doesn't bother me like the 21.
 
What floats my boat about Sebenzas is their precision. Do I have knives that feel better in my hand? Yep. Do I have knives that maintain an edge longer? Yep. Do I have knives that are more pleasing to look at? Yep. Do I have knives whose craftsmanship impresses me more? Nope.

The tolerances Chris achieves are simply phenomenal. They're the kind of tolerances you expect from a tool and die maker, not from a knife manufacturer. They're over the top. And for me, over the top counts. Sebenzas are NOT my favorite knives. But I will always own at least one of them so I can be reminded of just how perfectly a knife can be built.
 
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I don't know about hate, but I much prefer the look and feel of the regular sebenza over the classic and 21. I think the problem that you have is a common one. Crk knives are similar, but there are enough small differences to easily develop a preference for one over the other. That is why Chris makes various models:)
 
I think it all really depends on what you didn't like about the CRKs you've previously owned. Would a different blade-shape and a few other subtle design attributes be enough to sway your opinion?

I will admit that I didn't take a serious interest in acquiring any CRKs until I saw the 21 Insingo variant, though... :o:D

-Brett
 
I love my micarta inlaid large Sebenza 21 and 25, but really dislike the plain handled versions. The plain Sebenzas just look and feel too much like every other smooth sided Ti handled folder out there, but the micarta inlays are very unique to CRK and the reason I'm willing to spend so much on them.
 
I had a 25 and small inlay, I sold them. Wish I never did that. Sometimes I need to try other brands to truley appreciate CRK, not that anyone else is indiferent. Don't know what you got till its gone. I ordered a large sebenza unique graphic blue star sapphire last night. Stoked...
 
bld522 said:
What floats my boat about Sebenzas is their precision. Do I have knives that feel better in my hand? Yep. Do I have knives that maintain an edge longer? Yep. Do I have knives that are more pleasing to look at? Yep. Do I have knives whose craftsmanship impresses me more? Nope.

The tolerances Chris achieves are simply phenomenal. They're the kind of tolerances you expect from a tool and die maker, not from a knife manufacturer. They're over the top. And for me, over the top counts. Sebenzas are NOT my favorite knives. But I will always own at least one of them so I can be reminded of just how perfectly a knife can be built.
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THIS is exactly why I wanted one... and wanted to love them, and I think you really nailed it as far as why I felt this way. It's like the knife didn't stand out in any one category (other than precision) for me.

The one major drawback I remember is that I did feel the knife was pretty stiff to open. I have not heard how they feel once broken in, but opening and closing the 25 several times when it was new actually made my girlish thumb sore. Does this go away once it's broken in???

I will say that you could see, hear and feel the precision and quality of the 25 like no other knife I have owned before and since, and I think THAT is another big reason I want to try a Sebbie again. The sound of it opening just about makes me pitch a pants tent.
 
Glock Guy said:
The one major drawback I remember is that I did feel the knife was pretty stiff to open. I have not heard how they feel once broken in, but opening and closing the 25 several times when it was new actually made my girlish thumb sore. Does this go away once it's broken in???
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Yes. The tolerances are really tight. You relieve them slowly and evenly through use.

Sebenzas are like women. The good ones need a little breaking in. :)
 
They definitely get much, much smoother over time. I think after about three years my first 21 is as smooth as it will ever get although the improvment became much more gradual after the first six months.

I think the best things about the 21 are it's timeless, simple design and the pivot bushing which you don't get with the 25 nor Zaan.

My favorite thing about the Zaan is that there are only two connections between the handle slabs, other knives that use the dual thumbstud/stop pin system still have multiple standoffs.

The 25 has great blade geometry but otherwise I never warmed to it.

I do think it is worth trying a 21 before determining whether or not CRK is a good fit for you.
 
bld522 said:
Yes. The tolerances are really tight. You relieve them slowly and evenly through use.

Sebenzas are like women. The good ones need a little breaking in. :)
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LOL!!! Now that was a good one.

I think you just made my decision easy then.

Along that same line, is it just use that will break it in, or will using something like Extreme Flouro grease after a good cleaning help?

Thanks again!
 
bld522 said:
Yes. The tolerances are really tight. You relieve them slowly and evenly through use.

Sebenzas are like women. The good ones need a little breaking in. :)
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Wow, that's incredibly offensive and chauvinistic and completely true. ;)
 
Krav said:
I had a 25 and small inlay, I sold them. Wish I never did that. Sometimes I need to try other brands to truley appreciate CRK, not that anyone else is indiferent. Don't know what you got till its gone. I ordered a large sebenza unique graphic blue star sapphire last night. Stoked...
Click to expand...

The blue star sapphires are really cool....My local knife shop has one. I think they do a small.
 
If it's the precision that made you want a CRK in the first place then it's the 21 you want IMO.

Even if the tolerances are as tight the lack of a bushing means the 25 and Zaan are inherently adjustable, flexible, loose. This is not necessarily a bad thing, many people like being able to adjust the feel of the action and most knives will develop blade play if you do so but not those two.

But with the bushing it's just consistent, every time, without having to fuss with it at all and that's something you get with almost no other knife out there.

I think the 'break-in' is mostly letting the detent ball wear a smooth groove into the blade but don't have any real proof or solid logic to support that. I have found that the main effect different lubricants have is how much grime they collect. I've put mine together dry several times and could feel no difference in smoothness of action, but assuming that the parts will wear more quickly without I continue to use very small amounts of lubricant.

I prefer nano-oil to flourinated grease because it seems to collect less grime. But that might be because it's easier to spread out a small amount of it and that I've just used too much grease whenever I try it.
 
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