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

I was never a big fan of the Regular , always a Classic fan....Now I believe the 25 is Chris's best work.
 
I have 2 small sebbies -one insingo and one regular blade. I have a large tanto point and and unmanzaan. I love them all but I love the insingo best.

PS I'm sure I'm spelling insingo wrong but on my phone with tapatalk.
 
Never really warmed up for 25,great blade but not for me.Love the Insingo,Zaan and Regular.
 
I've not warmed up to the 25. The aesthetics just aren't as pleasing to my eye as the 21. I prefer the Insingo over the standard clip blade. So my pocket holds a micarta 21 insingo. I've debated a small for a few years, but my mini-Ritter Grip would be hard to replace in that size knife.
 
IMO, the 21 is the quintessential sebenza.

The 25 does nothing for me. Looks crappy with the finger grooves and the extra beefiness is not what I'm looking for in a sebenza. In fact, it doesn't seem to really have a place in their lineup right now......I mean I'd MUCH rather get a Zaan than the 25 if I needed a knife of that type.

If I'm getting a sebenza its a small 21 every time
 
Put me in the "don't get it" group, I liked nothing about my Sebenza, I carried it daily and tried to really get myself to like it, but just couldn't. Honestly it's probably that i just don't like Ti frame locks, not crazy about the Strider either, and really loving my mini-grip. I think I just like a much quicker action and easier to deal with locking mechanism.

I'm likely going to sell my Strider too, but for now I'm holding onto it, but I sold the Sebenza for a Ritter mini-grip, Spyderco Military, and cash in hand and I'm not looking back.

Maybe I would really like a small Sebenza with inlays or something, but it's unlikely I'm going to eat another loss like that to experiment. I like the $100-$200 pool for knives.
 
I don't like the 25 because it's 0.140" thick instead of the usual 0.125" of the other large Sebbies. I like the Classic, the 21 and the Regular.
Yes, I do like the Zaan, with its 0.140" thick blade, but it's a different animal than the large Sebbie.
 
I wouldn't overthink it too much. If you don't like them, there are plenty of other choices. Life is too short to keep something that you really don't like.

Good news is, if you hold onto it and STILL don't like it, then you aren't going to be out much to sell it on the secondary market.
 
Sonnydaze said:
I don't like the 25 because it's 0.140" thick instead of the usual 0.125" of the other large Sebbies. I like the Classic, the 21 and the Regular.
Yes, I do like the Zaan, with its 0.140" thick blade, but it's a different animal than the large Sebbie.
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Exactly!

If I were in the market for a thicker blade, why wouldnt I just get a Zaan?? It's also much better looking IMO than the 25
 
I just got my first Sebenza 21. Mine is a small with cocobolo inlays. I like it and it feels classy but I have to admit to being a little bit underwhelmed.

That said, I want to put it to work before I finalize my opinion. Was thinking of pulling the trigger on a large 21 or 25 with micarta inlays but think I will hold off for a while. I have a bunch of 3.5 inch blades that serve me well which I can put to work and/or beat on with out crapping my pants (think Spyderco, Emerson, etc.)

I am glad that I have a CRK knife just not sure that I want/need another...

Ben
 
justsomedude said:
... 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.

...I do think it is worth trying a 21 before determining whether or not CRK is a good fit for you.
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I'm glad to hear that there is not just a difference in looks, but in feel as well. I definitely like the idea of the bushings AND the smoothness they will bring!



justsomedude said:
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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And thanks again for that insight! I have used nano-oil on my knives and been happy with it, especially for the reason you mentioned: It attracts less crap! Looks like that's another plus - I can stick to the same lube that's been working well for me already.



Krissig12 said:
IMO, the 21 is the quintessential sebenza.
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OK, I think I'm going to pull the trigger on a 21 Insingo.

NOW the only question is: Regular or Inlaid version???!!!!
 
Hawk45 said:
I've not warmed up to the 25. The aesthetics just aren't as pleasing to my eye as the 21. I prefer the Insingo over the standard clip blade. So my pocket holds a micarta 21 insingo. I've debated a small for a few years, but my mini-Ritter Grip would be hard to replace in that size knife.
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Hawk,

I'm looking at that same Sebbie, but have one BIG question for you:

How does that Micarta hold up?

By that I mean does it loose it's grip, or attract a lot of crap in the pocket?

Thanks!
 
Glock Guy said:
I'm glad to hear that there is not just a difference in looks, but in feel as well. I definitely like the idea of the bushings AND the smoothness they will bring!




And thanks again for that insight! I have used nano-oil on my knives and been happy with it, especially for the reason you mentioned: It attracts less crap! Looks like that's another plus - I can stick to the same lube that's been working well for me already.






OK, I think I'm going to pull the trigger on a 21 Insingo.

NOW the only question is: Regular or Inlaid version???!!!!
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I hear the micarta inlays are hard to beat if you really like putting your sebbie to work. I would go for that one if I were you

But if course there's always the fancier options;)

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No, it's just like any other micarta handle. You can slick it up with oil or rough it up with sand paper. Mine has darkened up a lot but it's not a super grippy micarta. It gives traction for sure and adds some thickness to the grip. I think it's worth the extra money when making the investment. But that is just my opinion.
 
Glock Guy said:
Hawk,

I'm looking at that same Sebbie, but have one BIG question for you:

How does that Micarta hold up?

By that I mean does it loose it's grip, or attract a lot of crap in the pocket?

Thanks!
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Micarta inlays on the 21 are phenomenal. My first CRK was a Large 21 clip point, but I traded it away. My second, a Large 21 Insingo, I still have and love. My most recent is a Large 21 Tanto Micarta, and it is by far my all time favorite knife. I had been curious as to the feel and wear of micarta, but it is solid and just slightly textured. If you bear down on it like when gripping tightly, you gain a good amount of traction over the bare metal. It's not attracted anything in the pocket, rides just as nicely, and handles perfectly.

I have a preference for the 21's based on the bushing system used, so I certainly think that it merits giving one a chance. That said, I have had my eye on an Umnumzaan.
 
tchapman414 said:
That CF of yours is beautiful, Krissig!
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Thanks man, I'm really liking it.

Ive carried it every day since I got it, and its been seeing some good use. I find there's plenty of traction off the CF even though it's not very grippy. Even just the added handle width the inlays give it make the knife much easier to grip.
 
Krissig12 said:
Thanks man, I'm really liking it.

Ive carried it every day since I got it, and its been seeing some good use. I find there's plenty of traction off the CF even though it's not very grippy. Even just the added handle width the inlays give it make the knife much easier to grip.
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I'm glad you're enjoying it, and that's good to know! I may have to pick one up at some point.
 
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