Custom EDC or CRK small Sebenza

X

Xeno

Joined
Apr 5, 2005
Messages
24
Like many of you once you find a blade with great finish and fit you always seem to want another. In that search we might go through many different manufacturers as I have. I have tried Almar, SOG, Benchmade, William Henry, Chris Reeve, Microtech, Puma and others. Out of all those I favor the Chris Reeve Sebenza. I happen to like the fit and finish and the blade profile. I have never purchased a custom knife before and I wanted to hear opinions on how you out there would feel these custom knives would hold up to every day carrying wear and tear. I don't buy knives to place in a vault or safe, I like to use them for what they were intented to do; cut and slice. Right now I carry two Chris Reeve knives but would like to retire the large sebenza in favor of something with a 3" blade like the small sebenza. Here are the URL links to the two custom knives in question and also pictures if I have done it correctly.

edcdaggerpearl.jpg

http://www.carlsonknives.com/edcdagger.htm

edcironwood.jpg

http://www.carlsonknives.com/edcironwood.htm

KTP034-iw-folder-combo-.jpg

Theuns Prinsloo

So the choices are one of these three customs or the CRK small sebenza, depending on what I learn about custom knives from all you out there. :confused:
 
Xeno, IMHO
IF you use a custom knife correctly for it's design, in other words for the right application it should hold up just as well as any CRK. The CRK would endure harder use of course, but if you carry and use a custom carefully it too will serve you well for decades.

I do not have the resources to have several customs in the safe. But the few customs I spent my hard earned money see use at least once a week. And the more use they see the better they get.
 
Can you elaborate on what you mean when you say used as they were designed? I wouldn't be carrying them only once a week. I also don't know how well damascus holds up to use. I have been told by Lisa at Chris Reeve that damascus is not a good edc type of blade and there is some performance loss when comparing it to newer stainless blades.
 
I'm still planning to get my BM 520 customized if I decide that I still really like it in a month or two. The final cost will be about the cost of a small Sebenza, but it will be basically exactly what I want.
 
I like customs, all my edc's are. Have a chat to the custom maker of your choice if you can they'll give you relevant info such as heat treating & how the steel holds up things like that & it's great to have something designed to your needs. I'ld post pics but I'm hopless at it. I've used mine for day to day tasks & never had a problem with performance.

Good luck
Mitch
 
Xeno, I was told the same thing. However CR uses some of the best Damascus available. I have a Buck Custom in Damascu and EDC it regularly. You just have to take care of it.
 
those knives you've pictured are mighty mighty pretty - I'd be way too woried about mussing them to feel good about EDCing them. Whereas a small sebbie I wouldn't worry about at all. But that's just me.
 
For an edc I like a knife with a pocket clip, can,t say about the 1st Carlson but the other two don't have one, IMHO I would look for a custom similar in price to a Sebenza, But a bit more dressed up not completely dressed up.

I would love to say I have a $1400 edc but I just don't think I could . I would be to worried about looseing it.

If money is no issue than I would take the first Carlson (That is a very nice knife)


cya
jimi
 
I appreciate all suggestions given. Especially the gentlemen that suggested that I look or stay with CRK and recommend that I not purchase a $1000 edc just to lose it or drop it one day and have the pearl or damascus get damaged. I did find out one thing about damascus though through talking with Kerry. He told me that Damasteel is designed to be used where standard damascus types are more for occasional usage or viewing pleasures. I was drawn by it's looks not it's price. I am a very practical minded consumer. Instead of my paying $1500 for a mechanical automatic Oris or Omega I opted for a automatic watch that has the exact same movement as they. I opted NOT to pay just for the name of the watch. To boot my watch was regulated before it left the shop by a 40+ experienced watch maker. I mention the story of the watch because it tells what type of consumer I am. I do not like buying vanity products just for a name. I like to buy very well made items it I find in my opinion they are worth it. So is the Kelly EDC dagger worth $1000? Sure if I and others are willing to pay for it. No different for a mortgage sale is it? I can sell my house for 400,000 dollars even it is worth only 1/2 that. That doesn't mean that it's worth that much until someone else decides to buy it for the asking price.
 
from your description of your watch, why would you want an art knife? Which is essentially what those are.

IMO stick with the sebenza and save you moeny, or buy a fancier sebenza if you want some bling.
 
You know, it really depends on the custom, and on the Sebenza as well. I know from conversations with the nice folks at Chris Reeve Knives that they no not recommend that their high-end deamascus Sebenzas be used in heavy tasks, becuase it will affect the appearance of the damascus. I that is what you want, they recommend the S30V version.

It's the same for customs. Talk to the maker--ask if the knife you want will be suitable for the task. Heavy use will affect blueing, so I have been told. The maker also told me that he could "re-blue" the blade, if needed. I bet that most makers will give you the straight story.

I think that the bottom line is to carry the knife that you really like in your pocket. Life is too short for anything else.
 
Xeno,
All good advice you got here. I meant by the application it was designed for is for example I wouldn't try and baton it through a 2x4, but all other "typical" daily cutting applications a custom is most certainly up to the job.
 
Greenbone Boy said:
IF you use a custom knife correctly for it's design, in other words for the right application it should hold up just as well as any CRK. The CRK would endure harder use of course, but if you carry and use a custom carefully it too will serve you well for decades.
Click to expand...

Are you talking about the knives he posted or customs in general?
 
Greenbone Boy said:
The CRK would endure harder use of course...
Click to expand...

I think there are many custom knifemakers who would feel they are capable of making a knife as durable as the Sebenza.

-Cliff
 
Cliff Stamp said:
I think there are many custom knifemakers who would feel they are capable of making a knife as durable as the Sebenza.
Click to expand...

I guess was only talking about the art knives in the pictures, that's why I asked. If he referred to customs in general, I doubt that anyone would agree with him. Just to name one folder that is obviously in the same category as the Sebenza would be Scott Cook's Lochsa, a knife that's obviously tougher than any Seb due to its one piece ti handle.
 
The Lochsa is a great knife. Scott I believe has a waiting list in excess of one year. Realistically you can find a number of makers that will make a knife in the price range of a Sebenza that should be at least tough as the Sebbie. The nice customs that you show in your pictures look like high end models and will probably get scratched up with daily use (so will the Sebbie). For daily use I would say get the Seb or get a plain jane model from a reputable custom maker. John Smith and/or Mike Obenauf will make you a knife that won't let you down. I'd stay away from the fancy damascus for a using knife.
 
yes and yes, I am talking ONLY about the three knives he posted pictures of vs the CRK. Xeno is not comparing apples to apples he is trying to make his descion based on a price range right? I saw the question as... for the same money how do they hold up? Will an Allen Elishewitz "warlock" hold up as good as a Seb? Hell yes no doubt. apples to apples

If I were going to spend three digits on a knife and may have to wedge it in a tree and step on it with my cruddy boots to climb a tree I would not "want" to use one of the Customs he is looking at. I am sure I "could" but wouldn't want to. If I, at worst planned on cutting up a burlsap sack at a professional place of business I would "want" one of the nice customs he is looking at.

Please, no offense to any custom builders meant. All I meant by "design and application" was as stated above and within budget. I thought he was comparing apples to oranges within a price range.

I'll be quiet now.
 
DaveH said:
from your description of your watch, why would you want an art knife? Which is essentially what those are.

IMO stick with the sebenza and save you moeny, or buy a fancier sebenza if you want some bling.
Click to expand...

I am not familiar with the term art knife until now. The appearance struck me. But even my automatic watch I bought was bought not only for accuracy but for appearances as well.

I wanted all of your opinions on how you feel any of the posted customs would hold up to daily use compared to a CRK Sebenza. I am not familiar with custom knives at all. I don't know why fragile they are, etc. The reason I ask questions to all of you knife owners is because you are not biased into selling a blade after working on it 50+ hours. You either buy it for durability/appearance or collectability/appearance correct? Notice appearance is mentioned in both? That is because I have yet to find that anyone buys something they don't like. I do love the blade and appearance of the EDC dagger though. I have talked with the maker also. He is the one who told me Damasteel is designed for regular usage.

Technically I am comparing apples to apples. After all isn't the main funtion of a knife to cut, slice and be utilitarian? On a asthetic note the Sebenza compared to a custom Kelly Carlson is NOT the same comparison. I guess that is where the coined phrase "Art Knife" comes into play.

Thanks all,

If only I wouldn't of bought my first knife I would never have started the addiction cycle! Kinda like that first drink...

Take care,

Mike
 
Bro, buy a custom and enjoy! Life is too short to not have nice things if you can afford it. I'm going to order a knife that is WAYYYYY too expensive to EDC, but why would I keep it in the closet/safe? If its meant to be used, ask the maker and they can advise you on the best materials for YOUR specific application. Yeah, you may lose it, but you may lose a Sebenza too. The increased price makes it perhaps harder to replace, but not any less painful I'd dare say. While I think the prinsloo may be more "art knife," it would still work for what you can use a Sebenza for.

One of my favorite quotes is: "Go broker-er, you can't take it with you."

Sincerely,
Anthony
 
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