Does Anyone NOT Love The Sebenza ?

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So powernoodle thinks people buy them because it makes them feel good, and many of you agree. Thats is far from the truth.

I buy them for the straight handle design, and for how well they are made. It is by far my most favorite knife design ever. It doesn't look very flashy, but the simple design with its straight handle works better as a user than any other knife(folder) made for me.

The other reason I like them is that they last much longer than the knives he said would cut as well. I have a 1999 model that has been used very, very hard. It looked very rough, and the lock became a little sticky(very little), so I sent it in for a refurb a couple of years ago. When it came back you could not tell it wasn't brand new in terms of looks and function.
I've used a Benchmade, Spyderco, and a couple of others hard for a long period and they did not hold up. But at the price given I didn't expect them to. I expect my Sebenza's to last the rest of my life and still perform as they did when new, and they will.

I've sold all of my customs folders(except my slip joints) because I could never find one I liked as much as the Sebenza.

I've never bought one to "feel good", and doubt many others have ethier. I buy them because I love the design, how well they are made.....and the fact they hold up much longer than other knives. The tight tolerances is why they last so long.

If you don't use your knife hard and long then you probably don't need one, and you'll never notice that they're made much better than any regular productions knives.
 
I have a BG-42 Sebenza. It has a smooth action, and it locks securely. The blade is a little too tall to suit me, and the point was too blunt. I ground the blade into a clip point. I also had the Titanium handle anodized to improve the scratch resistance. There is nothing special about the steel. I like S60, S90, S110, M390, ZDP189, Stellite 6K, and Boker CeraTitan better.
 
powernoodle said:
The interweb's most-watched knife reviewer (I'm guessing) characterized the Sebenza as a "douche knife". I'm talking about myself here and no one else, because sometimes I feel like a douche for paying >$1000 for 3 CRK knives that I almost never carry.
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C'mon, Noodle! Fess up and tell the folks the truth: you own $1000's more worth of other knives that you also almost never carry... ;) :p :D

The Sebenza really doesn't need me or anyone else to defend it. It is what it is. If you like 'em, you buy 'em, same as any other knife. The Sebenza simply isn't the ubiquitous end-all-be-all knife that some may suggest (such a thing does not exist)--plenty of other options available at several different price-points in a variety of steels/materials. But I have to agree with Archieblue:

archieblue said:
IMO, especially given the trend in price hikes of Midtech & customs, Sebenzas are either perfectly priced or even a deal!
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In the end, knife-nuts will have to choose for themselves what knives work best for their individual needs. We have brothers and sisters on the Forums here who honestly believe that paying anything more than the cost of a SAK, Mora and/or Opinel is superfluous. And I don't think they are entirely wrong. :)

Anyway, that's my 2¢...

-Brett
 
It's all a matter of priorities and what's important to you. This morning I clipped the cap on an Opus XX with a Sebenza and sipped a couple of drams of Lagavulin 16 (hey, it's always cocktail hour somewhere!). If I were into "bang for the buck" in these areas I could have copped a buzz on Old Granddad and got my nicotine fix from a Havatampa Jewel which needs no clipping at all. On the other hand I live in a cheap apartment, drive a '97 S-10 4 cyl pickup and play an old beat up Yamaha guitar.
 
The mystique surrounding the Sebenza sort of reminds me of the mystique surrounding Emersons; they're aimed at different demographics of course but at the core it's very similar, people willing to pay extra for something less tangible than mere materials and design, something I'd almost call legend. Both Emerson and CR knives are legendary, in a way, and I think that's why they demand a much higher price and why people are so willing to pay it. Other companies are the same way of course, but these two seem to really stand out, at least in my mind.
All the old legends and stories have legendary swords and knives, and in this modern mass-produced age I think the mystique surrounding certain companies and certain knives is the legacy of that. A lot of men don't want to just own a knife, they want to own Excalibur.
 
Ken44 said:
So powernoodle thinks people buy them because it makes them feel good, and many of you agree. Thats is far from the truth.
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So if someone posts, "man.. it feels good to have a sebenza!".. they're being delusional? I'm scratching my head on this one.
 
You all sure love powernoodle. However, he's wrong about "CRKs don't function better than other knives - if function is defined as cutting, slicing, etc."

I cannot speak about CRKs in general, but when it comes to the small sebenza, it does function better than other knives. You need to take a holistic view. You will find knives that are better at specific things than a small sebenza, but none that is an overall better knife. I used to dislike sebenzas and did not know why anyone would buy such an ugly knife that you cannot flick open. Then I learned about the decorated sebenzas, found out the small was nicer than the large and that you really can't flick open a sebenza, it's too tight. I bought one and never looked back.

Two things, that set the sebenza apart, part of the holistic package, first how many production knives are designed to be taken apart, cleaned and lubed by the owner? Second, how many production knives have a lubricant chosen/designed just for it?

I won't own more than one though, 'cause they are expensive and if you've got one to use, you don't need another. :)
 
i love the design and looks of the knife, but i cant get over how low the HT is on the steel. it is preventing me from buying another CRK, unless i can find a small BG42 for a good price, or CR changes the steel or HT
 
I never owned Sebenza, but couple years ago was able to handle it on the knife show. probably a great knife, just not my cup of tea.
 
I don't love it. I prefer traditional knives with nice stag handles, or nicely jigged bone. I can appreciate it for what it is, but if I owned one I would sell it and buy a couple (like maybe 3) really nice stag handled folders.
 
Does anyone know if Chris Reeve heat treat is Higher or any different on recent batches. This is the only thing holding me back and I don't want to be held back. I also don't like how far over the lockup is. Besides this and his warranty I am sold. These video's is what sold me for sure, it also shows that Chris doesn't seem to be as much of a douche as people claim. One more thing, I would rather have a nice midtech for the same price of a custom. Custom's scare me because of the hassle of the maker to have time to deal with any problems you have with their knives, sometimes there just isn't enough time for independent custom makers to even reply to an email with a decent time frame. Anyways if these video's don't convince you of the extra time put into these made in USA knives nothing will. I work in a machine shop, and the work put into all the separate parts of these knives is not cheap. To hold the tolerances he demands, you have to have skilled workers on your payroll and this also and this also comes at a price. Like a poster already claimed not many knife makers will want you to take a knife apart, because they might not go back together correctly. With tight tolerances and consistency this is not a worry for Reeve who backs all his knives. Being able to take apart and clean a folder is a big deal to me. This is also why is like washers and not the IKBS bearing system.
[video=youtube_share;4QiEnhA3n0A]http://youtu.be/4QiEnhA3n0A[/video]
[video=youtube_share;Nj6p8p6vfZQ]http://youtu.be/Nj6p8p6vfZQ[/video]
 
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Im sure if we all stopped buying his knives and demanded different blade material or hardness he might ponder it.
 
HwangJino said:
Im sure if we all stopped buying his knives and demanded different blade material or hardness he might ponder it.
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Maybe we should look into kidnapping his dog or something. Might not work if he doesn't love it, though...
 
I like it but i dont love it,i have a star benza & think its well made,pretty perfect,too.i can say this,at the risk of ruffling some feathers; ive seen a trend lately where the higher end framelocks like the shirogorov,el patron, curtiss,hinderer are going for about twice what they originally should cost.i dont care if its supply & demand or what it is,the sebenza & umnumzaan are a bargain,especially on the exchange.ive never been one to pay twice what an item is worth,your not really gaining much. if anyone wants to pay double,go ahead,it makes the sebenza & zaan something to think about if you dont have one already.how come theres no is it worth it thread for the knives ive mentioned?
 
Everything has been said already but I have to say, I much prefer the sebenza 25 to the 21. I have used it on cardboard a few times and I was pleased with the edge retention-Surprisingly better than my military in s30v. All I have ever had to do was strop it and it stays pretty sharp. The 25 and 21, although similar, are quite different. The thicker stock, the sculpted handles, the ceramic ball detent/interface are all very subtle but substantial changes to the 21. The 25 in my mind is a pretty "modern" take on the Sebenza. Sure, you don't get the bushing pivot. That may be a big deal to some. Anyway, my point is that the Sebenza 25 is a little different than the sebenza of old (21 and before). Some of you that didn't like that, might like to 25. For my uses, I really like the 25. As for "feeling good", it does give me great pride of ownership. Some people value the little things that the sebenza gives you over most other production knives and some don't. If you aren't concerned about those things, you probably won't like the Sebenza.
 
I admire the quality of craftsmanship and it is lovely in its simplicity.....but not a knife I enjoyed using. I found the thumbstud to be too small for my liking and the ergonomics of the handle just didn't fit my hand well. I don't begrudge anyone's love of the blade....just not my cup of tea.
 
Carbon1 said:
To be fair, those are hardly the same type of knife, with different demands placed on each.
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SAKs are designed for use and dont need special lube. Sebenzas have to withstand a lot of fondling. But you are right it's unfair to compare inexpensive precision made knives that last for years of use with knives that get taken out of storage for picture time.
 
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