CRK Vs Kershaw... a genuine question

BePrepared

BePrepared

Joined
Aug 26, 2010
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First, let me preface this with a disclaimer. I have never had my hands on a CRK folder... I have no doubt whatsoever that they are superior to a Kershaw

Now that I have that out of the way, on to my question.

I carry a Kershaw JYD as my EDC knife. It has performed wonderfully, and i love it, but since my EDC folder is such a permanent part of my wardrobe, I'm considering investing a few hundred into something better.

Right now, i'm torn between an upgraded kershaw, a WDZ Azriel,and a CRK Large Sabenza

you might notice that there is a HUGE difference in price between these options, so now my question

For those of you who have owned any 2 of these knives, as an EDC, does the price difference see itself justified in a commensurate gain in Utility, durability, and general knify goodness?
 
With the CRK you are getting amazing tolerances, beautiful simplistic function, and don't forget lifetime warranty and spa treatments! IMO well worth the price difference
 
You're asking this in the CRK forum so expect the responses to be skewed in that direction. Instead of Kershaw, I can answer your question from the perspective of a Spyderco guy. As a Spyderco enthusiast, I own (and carry) a large regular Sebenza in my rotation. CRK knives are really nice but there's no way they'd ever unseat Spyderco as the reigning cutting performance pocket cutlery champion of all time (in my opinion). CRK has their place in my rotation, mainly as pocket jewelry, pride of ownership, smoothness of operation, etc. When it comes to savage cutting performance however, there's almost always gonna be a round hole in the blade. Spydies just have that "bite".

Get a used Sebenza. If it doesn't strike your fancy you can always sell it for basically what you have in it. They hold their resale value quite well and routinely pop up for sale on these forums. And they have that satisfying SNICK when opened. Rock solid.
 
This is a rather hard question to answer IMO as the "worth" of something is largly down to the individual. I can say that I personally find CRK to be very much worth it and they are the knives that I carry and use every day. There are of course many other knives that can be carried and used with the same end results from a number of price points and manufacturers, but CRK just happen to be the knives that I like and am lucky enough to be able to own and enjoy. :):thumbup:
 
DO NOT get the WDZ Azriel. I had a horror story with the maker, and the knife's fit and finish were VERY poor. Cool looking knife though, but you'd be sorry.

The CRK Sebenza blows it out of the water. Get the Sebenza without a doubt
 
I've owned both the Kershaw JYD and the pro-series JYD and I still prefer the Sebenza. I will admit the JYD is a nice folder. My recommendation would be to find a used Sebenza and try it along side your JYD. If you find it's not for you or giving you the value you would like, you can sell the Sebenza for minimal loss if any.
Keep us posted as to what you do.
 
Get the Lrg Sebenza I love mine and wouldn't trade it the world:D except another CRK of course:thumbup: Since I've gotten my Sebenza u can pretty much bet if I'm buying a folding knife it will be made by CR, If u like quality and can recognize it then go for it
 
I'm getting an itch for an Umnumzaan...I went got a anti-knife itch spray...but it's not a cure.
 
In general the value is up to the owner. There is some degree of improved quality and performance between the inexpensive production model and the expensive production model, and even more with the custom model or limited production model. Consider the pricing of a Ford vs. a Mercedes or Lexus, or a Seiko vs. a Rolex, it is very similar. The more expensive model will have advantages to the owner, such as improved performance, improved quality, more pride of ownership, and better resale value. Whether the increased price is worth it is generally up to the buyer.

I mentioned watches- I have owned a Rolex in the past but right now my most expensive watch is an Omega and I am wearing it today. I also have watches by Seiko and others. The Omega cost about 10 times as much as my cheapest Seiko, there is no way that it is 10 times as good. A current Rolex would cost at least 5 times what I paid for the Omega and there is no way that it is 5 times as good, yet people buy them and love them.

Similarly I am currently carrying a Kershaw S30V Blur. I also EDC a couple of CRKT knives as well as several different Benchmade knives, and I just bought a Spyderco Paramilitary 2 for EDC. This may speak to your question as much as anything- the CRKT knives are great, I can't find any problem with the way they are built, but I know they are built in China and I know that they use steel that isn't as good as the best steels that US makers use. So when I carry the CRKT knife even though I like it and I know that it is a good knife with good enough materials, I can't help but view it as inferior to my more expensive knives. Similarly with the Blur, I have no idea of how it could be inferior to a good Benchmade but in my mind there is still a difference. So what a person likes and wants, what a person respects, and what a person gets pride of ownership from is a big part of the perceived value of a given luxury item. I am currently searching for a new Benchmade for EDC, thinking like you did that since it is carried every day I could afford to spend a little bit more on something that I will get enjoyment from. But I don't kid myself that it will work any better than my CRKT or my Blur.
 
I agree with the general consensus here with that the value is up to the buyer/user. I'm very much a Kershaw fan...that being said, I've had a few CRKs and the quality is very nice, nicer than the regular JYD as you mentioned. If you take the JYD price of roughly $50 and Sebenza of $350, is it 7 times nicer? That is where it's up to the individual.
Both are nice knives, both have lifetime warranties, both cut. On the other side, the look is extremely different, the opening is very different, the blade steel and frame/scales are very different as well.

Now if you compare a Kershaw that is closer to the same price range as the CRK then the discussion is a little different. The Tilt was $275 and I would say that in my humble opinion is a better value than a CRK. Also the Titanium/SG2 Kershaw JYD, however it's discontinued and hard to find but it would be a huge upgrade from what you currently have. Everyone likes different things though and that's why there are so many successful knife companies.
 
You are overlooking the middle ground between the Kershaw and CR...........Zero Tolerence.They are made by Kershaw but have higher quality than the regular Kershaw line and cost less than a CR
 
et45 said:
You are overlooking the middle ground between the Kershaw and CR...........Zero Tolerence.They are made by Kershaw but have higher quality than the regular Kershaw line and cost less than a CR
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Zt is probably the best bang for your buck, but they can be bulky in the pocket where a sebenza is thin. Both great knives though.
 
Here's the deal my friend, I'd tell you that a knife is a knife, and it is. Yes I love my sebenza, and it's quality is superb. But you have to buy what YOU LIKE BEST. IF you find yourself constantly staring down pics of sebenzas, you're gonna buy one eventually. Better to save money and get it now rather than buy 3-4 in-between knives and still want a sebenza at the end of the day.
 
Tim616 said:
Here's the deal my friend, I'd tell you that a knife is a knife, and it is. Yes I love my sebenza, and it's quality is superb. But you have to buy what YOU LIKE BEST. IF you find yourself constantly staring down pics of sebenzas, you're gonna buy one eventually. Better to save money and get it now rather than buy 3-4 in-between knives and still want a sebenza at the end of the day.
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:thumbup: well said
 
Comparisons between knives of different companies belong in General Knife Discussion.
Please don't expect a manufacturer to host a discussion about his competition. :)
 
I'm gonna echo everything that Harry Callahan (and others) have said. I love my large and small micarta Sebenzas and I do carry them often... right alongside my Spyderco that I carry always. The Sebenzas are fantastic and I'm a really happy owner and fan. But for me, when it has to work first time, every time, and be ready for anything, I reach for one of my Spydercos.

The advice about finding a used one and trying it out is on target. If you really like it, you can always save up for a new one or a lightly used one for less $ from the boards here. Only you can decide if the price difference is worth it to you. A Sebenza is a knife. It's made to cut things and it does that very well. It's made so that you can disassemble it for cleaning & lubing if you feel so inclined, but it's also made to work year after year with no disassembly. Eventually you'll have to sharpen it if you use it, just like any other knife. You won't have to worry about things like blade centering and blade play. Those should not be an issue with a Sebenza and if they are, then CRK will fix it. What you can count on is that the knife will be well made with top quality materials and it will be backed by a great group of people and a solid warranty. If all of this translates into higher dollar value in your opinion, then the Sebenza is probably worth the extra cost to you. They were to me. I have four of them and as far as I'm concerned, they're worth every penny I paid for them.
 
Kershaw makes some very nice high end folders nowadays, and if you can get them at MAAP they are very good deals. But you have to take into consideration that limited numbers and availability are driving up prices into the custom range.
 
BePrepared said:
For those of you who have owned any 2 of these knives, as an EDC, does the price difference see itself justified in a commensurate gain in Utility, durability, and general knify goodness?
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I own a JYD in Titanium (frame lock). I have owned the liner lock JYD. I have also owned or currently own some of Kershaw's best knives: Volt, SpeedForm, Tilt, Bump, Tirade (all the original versions) plus some high end ZTs. I own three CRK Sebenzas and have also owned an Umnumzaan, Mnandi, and Ti-Lock.

As much as I like all of the Kershaws and ZTs, I think the CRK Sebenza is better built than any of them. I'd even apply that to the new Tilt, which sells for $300 -- still less than CRK, but pretty expensive.

To answer your question, the utility of many Kershaws may be better than the Sebenza, depending on your needs. The Sebenza comes in basically one blade shape (or two, if you count the Insigno.) Kershaws are available that excel at slicing, or have an extra thick blade for prying (like the ZT series). With Chris Reeve, you get an all-around utility blade that might underperform in some areas.

While the CRK would seem to be more durable, it may not be a useful comparison. It is unlikely that you will break or wear out ANY Kershaw. If you do, the warranty should set it right.

Finally, only you can ascertain your level of satisfaction with regard to knife goodness. If you love carbon fiber, for example, you may prefer the Tilt to the Sebenza. If it makes you happy to own what is generally regarded as the best made production knife, the Sebenza may make you giggle.
 
BePrepared said:
as an EDC, does the price difference see itself justified in a commensurate gain in Utility, durability, and general knify goodness?
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going from a $100 knife to a $400 knife isn't going to get you 4x the utility, durablity, cutting ability, etc. there are knives in the $50-$150 range that will "work" just as good, maybe even a better from a utility standpoint. so if you are looking at this from a basic function standpoint, the much higher price tag won't necessarily justify the knife as "better".

the decision comes down to this: remove utility from the equation, are you willing to pay $400 for all of the other details?
 
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