Debating: Sell-off for a Sebenza worth it or not?

Macchina

Macchina

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I have been collecting knives for a good deal of time now, long enough to know what I like and build a decent collection of that type of knife. I have about 20 nice Benchmades, Spydercos, and ZTs to choose from for EDC, and about 10 fixed blades for hunting and hiking season. I'm now getting the itch to try out a Sebenza, so this is my obligatory decision thread that I have seen so many of you guys post. The more I collect knives, the more I realize how close Sebenza's design is to my preferences (regardless of quality). I am considering selling my Benchmade Rukus, Scrapyard Scrap Muk, Benchmade Kulgera, and Ontario RTAK-II to fund the purchase.

My two concerns:
Have you ever sold off a few EDCs to purchase a Sebenza only to be disappointed? Is the quality of the knife worth the cost, or is it the case where a Benchmade is 90% of a Sebenza but the extra 10% tacks on the additional cost (as it is with the high-end of most any product)?
Have you purchased a Sebenza and been afraid to carry it because of it's much greater value than all of your other knives?
 
It was smart not to ask this question in the Chris Reeve Forum. :D
 
Hmm.

I like my Sebenza...but I am not sure that I like it better than 2 Benchmades and a Scrapyard...
 
Have you ever sold off a few EDCs only to be disappointed?

Fixed it.

Recently maded used knife prices are about half of retail or less except for a few special cases - like the Sebenza. So, you get to sell off a LOT of knives at a loss. The question is - can you afford the Sebenza, with patience and disposable income, or will you dispose of all those other knives for lack of patience, and the loss of a lot of disposable income?

I sold off knives simply because I had tried them and decided they weren't my type - not because I needed the money. When it came down to that, I found the money - and selling off all my knives would have taken just as long, what with listings, bogus offers, slow remit times, etc. In fact, I never did sell two of them simply because I could no longer trust the "highly rated" and "honorable" buyers at that forum.

And there is the actual chance that once owing the Sebenza, you may not want to use it that day - so what do you carry?

Sell the knives for their own reasons, buy the Sebenza with it's own money. Don't expect one to finance the other - but if you can, be happy.
 
I'll share my personal experience ( FWIW).

I have accumulated a bunch of knives at various price ranges ( mostly Benchmade , Kershaw, Buck, SOG & others). It's impossible for me to use all of them, but I do have favorites that I carry regularly and designs that I just don't care for. So what I've been doing is selling off the ones I don't use. If they're not special... sentimental or highly collectible... and they're gathering dust I'm selling them off to pay for higher end knives. I'm just getting bored with some of the more generic folders.

So my advice is.... more is not always better and if you feel that you must have a Sebenza then I think it's worth parting with 6 or 7 knives. But don't buy one because everyone says they're great , buy one because you want one.
 
I would seriously reconsider getting rid of knives you know you like for ONE knife you THINK you MAY like. Yes, the resale of a Sebenza will get you most of it back, but the way things are these days, that's not a guarantee. I like Tirod3's idea. Save up for a Sebenza and keep those knives you already have.

I've given up trading away knives I own and use, and most importantly Like. I have regretted too many losses, and you never really do gain value, unless you get lucky.

Keep your knives, and see if you can handle a Sebenza. There's a passaround Sebenza that makes the rounds a couple times a year, and that's definitely a safe way to handle a Sebenza for a little while to see if you think it's worth it.

To address some of your other concerns: I do think a Sebenza is worth carrying. You've already made the decision to carry knives in the $200 range, or close to it, and it's not really that big of a step to go to the Sebenza's range. You'll laugh at yourself for ever thinking it should have been a safe queen. Once you use one for a little while, you'll realize that to NOT use it would be a crime. In all reality, with the size of your collection, you already carry that much money around with you, and use it. You're at the point I was about 2 years ago. You know value, quality, and prestige. You know the true worth of things sharp. I think you owe it to yourself to get to the next level. I've now gotten to the point that I buy one large purchase per year (Well, large for me), rather than lots of low-mid range knives. Last year it was a Limited William Henry. This year it was a beautiful Mnandi. Next year it may be a custom fixed blade. If the knives you mentioned you want to trade don't have a lot of personal value to you, (i.e. they are like friends) it may be a good idea to thin the herd for the sake of something better. Just don't give up something that you truely like.

Daniel
 
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JPD1998 said:
I'll share my personal experience ( FWIW).

I have accumulated a bunch of knives at various price ranges ( mostly Benchmade , Kershaw, Buck, SOG & others). It's impossible for me to use all of them, but I do have favorites that I carry regularly and designs that I just don't care for. So what I've been doing is selling off the ones I don't use. If they're not special... sentimental or highly collectible... and they're gathering dust I'm selling them off to pay for higher end knives. I'm just getting bored with some of the more generic folders.

So my advice is.... more is not always better and if you feel that you must have a Sebenza then I think it's worth parting with 6 or 7 knives. But don't buy one because everyone says they're great , buy one because you want one.
Click to expand...

Could not have said it better myself. I am in the same situation, with my folder collection being mostly Spydercos and Balisongs with a Small Sebenza. All great knives but I still love having my small Sebenza because it has all the features and quality that I want. I sold off a bunch of lower cost knives to fund the Sebenza and I am glad I did. But I would agree that you should get the Sebenza only because you want it and like the features; not "its what you are supposed to get"

For me the Sebenza is everything I want functionally from a knife so now I just buy knives that interest me such as Spyderco collaborations, Balisongs, or customs. I could easily live with a small and a large Sebenza and not need another folder for the rest of my life, but where is the fun in that.

As to the question of worrying about carrying it, I bought used so that helped clear that mental hurdle for me. I actually had a harder time deciding to carry my Sypdero Lum Chinese. I know it can be difficult for some to carry and use a Sebenza because of the cost; but for me once I started carrying the knife it was too good to not carry. (which is my same arguement and reasoning with the Lum Chinese)
A major thing to think about is that you can send a Sebenza into CRK and get it refurbished. I did this and it was seriously like getting a new Sebenza they did such a great job on it. So even if you use your Sebenza it is only a trip back CRK for it to be like new again.

I buy knives now because it is my hobby and I enjoy the different designs, not because I am searching for the perfect EDC. I have already found that for me and it is the Sebenza, the only thing I question is whether to get a Krein regrind on it.


 
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when you're buying a sebenza, you're buying refinement, artistry, and prestige. These are all related to how you feel when you got it in your hand. Put $400 in your left hand and a Sebenza in your right, then see which one you'd rather keep.:D

To get it in your hand, you can:
A)Buy it (and sell it later if you don't like it)
B)Sign up for the pass around
C)Borrow it from somebody
 
man this is an excellent thread.
Philosophy of the EDC(knife)
i have had the same dilemma , sell off or trade a knife a knife and later regret it.
keep the knives you have and save up for the Sebbie if you must.
personally i think a $100 bucks is plenty for a EDC.
i also think Spyderco provides a selection to fit the EDC of almost everyone.
the Caly3CF does it for me
MHO
buzz
 
You guys are evil posting pics here (like bringing liquor to AA). I think I'm going to look for a used one here for around $300. Does this price sound reasonable for a Large Sebenza in 95% condition?

What model should I look for (classic, 2000, 21...) I'm looking for as plain as possible because I like the looks of plain, not cost.
 
I love my Sebenza, but I wouldn't recomend trading knives which you already know you like for one that you may not like. If you think you want a Sebenza, wait until you can buy it without trading the knives you like. That way, if you don't like the Sebenza, you can just sell it for most of what you paid and go back to using the knives you like, and if you do like the Sebenza, you can at that point sell the others..
 
I should clarify that I like all of my knives, but I have so many that I can part with a few and not mind it. I have stuck to a few central criteria for all of my trades/purchases over the past few years which has resulted in me having a collection of a bunch of knives I like, but a lot of very similar knives. I carry them all, but I think I might like to have a few less, it will help me appreciate them more.


What is the difference between the 21 and all of the other Sebenzas that have been produced in the last 10 years or so?
 
Thanks for this post Michaelmcgo. I have been asking myself the same question. I currently have several Spydercos, a Lone Wolf T2, and several cheaper folders.

I have been thinking of getting a more expensive folder this year (such as a Benchmade Rukus) but have always had in the back of mind that I would like to try a Sebenza (or a custom folder). There is a shop I am visting this fall that would allow me to handle a Sebenza along with several other other high quality folders.
 
I love the Sebenza but it's not my folder.
I like G-10 and a chisel ground blade.
I had two Sebbies. Get one and see if you like it.
 
bcornelis said:
Thanks for this post Michaelmcgo. I have been asking myself the same question. I currently have several Spydercos, a Lone Wolf T2, and several cheaper folders.

I have been thinking of getting a more expensive folder this year (such as a Benchmade Rukus) but have always had in the back of mind that I would like to try a Sebenza (or a custom folder). There is a shop I am visting this fall that would allow me to handle a Sebenza along with several other other high quality folders.
Click to expand...

Looking back, I would not have missed out on much if I bought a $400 folder right at the start and didn't look back. I do enjoy collecting knives, but after I figured out what I like, I just kept getting the same kinda thing over and over. I like to carry each of my knives, but I would appreciate a single very nice knife a lot more than I can appreciate a collection of similar knives. Every now and again I will carry the same knife for a couple of weeks and it is nice to get used to the feel of a single knife. I hope to do this for a while with a Sebenza...
 
Care to guess? :)
I have a Metro Folder, by Black Bear Knives on the way and that blade is asymmetrical. Can't wait.
 
I've been considering picking up my first Emerson soon. Even though they use "old" steel, a different grind than the rest of the industry, and G-10 slabs without full liners (which I've come to love in other knives), all at a cost more than most mid-level Benchmades there is something very nicely different about Emerson knives. Maybe after I get a Sebenza...
 
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