Expensive folders.

[gajinoz]

Scott Cook Lochsa. You sebbie boys need to try one out, you won't be disappointed. I certainly wasn't.

How the hell is a bloke supposed to make up his mind here?

 

[trane fan]

Scott Cook Lochsa. You sebbie boys need to try one out, you won't be disappointed. I certainly wasn't.

The two sticking points for me regarding the Lochsa are the one piece handle and the price. I’m just really sold on being able to take the Sebbie apart to clean it. That exercise really lets the owner feel that the Sebbie is truly theirs while at the same time allowing them to keep the knife in peek operating condition. However, if someone could first convince me that the one piece handle is a good idea I'd then let them give me the money to buy a Lochsa.

 

[dylan_d]

You can take the Lochsa apart, it's just that the handle does not come apart. It's not hard to clean at all, a little compressed air and you're good to go. Once you've handled a Lochsa, it's obvious that it's the better knife. At least, it was to me. And I'm not taking anything away from the Sebbie, I carried a Mayo'd one for nearly a year and loved it, it's just that the Lochsa is THAT good.

 

[The General]

I have three Sebenza's

1. Small regular dark walnut with spirograph damascus blade
2. Small regular bg42 with redwood burl
3. Large classic 6-50 BG42

and I also have a Strider TAC AR (TAD issue) S30V

They are totally different knives.

In an urban situation, the Sebenza is king, it is lighter and very capable. The Strider is just a hog for use and abuse! In the wild, I would take the AR if I had no other folder option or a fixed blade. Its that good.

I dropped my large Sebi a while back and the tip broke, I don't think the Strider would have been damaged like this...

I love the Sebenza its so well made and finished, its art in a knife. The Stider is rough as a bears bottom, but tough as a bears attitude!

 

[guy g]

I looked at the picture and the knife sure looks alot like my Sebenza.

 

[Alpha Knife Supply]

Actually sebenza's look like Scott Cook's knives. Scott was grinding the blade shape before he ever worked at CRK. If you get a chance look at some of his old hunters.

Scott ground thousands of sebenza blades. It is a classic shape that will never go out of style.

With the one piece titanium handle, Scott did redefine the name "intergral folder".

I love my Lochsa. I plan to get a few more.

 

[guy g]

Chuck, I sent mail. I hope it gets there so I dont have to hunt and peck again.

 

[patrickb]

The two sticking points for me regarding the Lochsa are the one piece handle and the price. I’m just really sold on being able to take the Sebbie apart to clean it. That exercise really lets the owner feel that the Sebbie is truly theirs while at the same time allowing them to keep the knife in peek operating condition. However, if someone could first convince me that the one piece handle is a good idea I'd then let them give me the money to buy a Lochsa.

Trane Fan,
Just as Dylan mentioned, the Lochsa can be taken apart in exactly the same manner as your Sebenza, just not the handle slabs. The blade, washers & bushing are surprisingly similar and just like the Sebbie, the bushing allows for tightening down on the pivot screw with no impact on the action.

RE: One piece being a 'good idea', first it's stiffer than two pieces and much more difficult to make, hence the higher cost (not to mention the custom vs. production debate). I can't necessarily say it's a better design than a two piece handle, but it's certainly preferable to me. Subjective, I know, and only you can determine if its valuable to you or not. The difficulty in the manufacturing process is very appealing to me. Just imagine how difficult it must be to mill out a solid chunk of Titanium...then bend the lock bar. The lock bar can only move a finite amount, unlike a two piece handle slab. Again, does this make it better? I don't know. Is it a good idea? For me...yes. It's not susceptible to breakage like two pieces, though the chance of a sebbie handle breaking is pretty much nil anyway. Once piece being a 'Good idea' is hard to say, but as stated above, for me it sure is! I'd guess if you had the chance to handle and use one for any length of time, you just may agree

Pic's not mine, but courtesy of DavidR posted at the USN.

 

[Alpha Knife Supply]

Has anyone figured out how he gets the detent ball in the lockbar?

How does the stop pin get installed?

 

[txlazer]

Many good suggestings, however EVERYONE has missed a key maker and that is JASON JACKS in that price range you can have something made to your specs as plain around 400.00 or as facny to your limit as you want, other then that stick with the sebenza,
I've had a few of jasons knives and they stand toe to toe with any custom maker out there. i'll try and post a pick of one i got a few weeks ago.

 

[trane fan]

Trane Fan,
Just as Dylan mentioned, the Lochsa can be taken apart in exactly the same manner as your Sebenza, just not the handle slabs. The blade, washers & bushing are surprisingly similar and just like the Sebbie, the bushing allows for tightening down on the pivot screw with no impact on the action.

RE: One piece being a 'good idea', first it's stiffer than two pieces and much more difficult to make, hence the higher cost (not to mention the custom vs. production debate). I can't necessarily say it's a better design than a two piece handle, but it's certainly preferable to me. Subjective, I know, and only you can determine if its valuable to you or not. The difficulty in the manufacturing process is very appealing to me. Just imagine how difficult it must be to mill out a solid chunk of Titanium...then bend the lock bar. The lock bar can only move a finite amount, unlike a two piece handle slab. Again, does this make it better? I don't know. Is it a good idea? For me...yes. It's not susceptible to breakage like two pieces, though the chance of a sebbie handle breaking is pretty much nil anyway. Once piece being a 'Good idea' is hard to say, but as stated above, for me it sure is! I'd guess if you had the chance to handle and use one for any length of time, you just may agree

Pic's not mine, but courtesy of DavidR posted at the USN.

Patrick, if you'll notice, my comment had two parts. So I have to ask you, are you willing to pony up the dough if you are in fact trying to convince me that I should buy a Lochsa???

 

[wetdog1911]

I have a Mayonized large classic Sebenza which I carry. My idea of an expensive folder would be a Mayo IF I could afford it and IF I could find one for sale. Mainly if I could afford it. If you have the $$$$ something always comes along.

Rob

 

[jayharley]

Large Sebenza all the way, in my opinion. I have a large classic with leather inserts. In my opinon, it is the best of all worlds: custom quality, with more of a production line style customer service. No long wait times for repair or custom work.

I am very tired of waiting long periods of time to have custom folder repair work done. My last frustrating stint, was a 10 month wait for a custom auto to be repaired. The Sebenza is the perfect custom / production folder. If I want it repaired, refurbished, a new blade, wood inserts added instead of the leather, etc etc etc, it is not a long painful waiting time.

I must say, however, that my next folder will be a Strider. I need one to add to my collection!!

From now on, all of my pure custom knives purchased will be fixed blades only.

 

[Ookpik]

The main problem with the Scott Cook Lochsa is that it is so hard to buy. None of the on-line knife sites have any. The waiting period from Scott Cook is over a year. Buy a Sebenza. They are easy to find. The Sebenza may not be the best in every category. If you look at the sum of all the things you judge a knife by; the Sebenza is the best.

 

[EasEWryder]

Can a Sebenza be had without an anodized thumbstud, I mean no colors on the knife whatsoever? Can a Lochsa be had in less than a year? Can you pry with these folders? Thanks in advance

 

[Ookpik]

You can get a Sebenza with a silver thumbstud and a silver backspacer. True North Knives has some right now. You can get a Lochsa in less than a year, if you find one at an on-line knife store. They come and go very fast. You might be able to get a Lochsa from a private sale. You can pry with these folders, but you will damage them.

 

[EasEWryder]

Thanks Ookpik Headed over to TrueNorth to "Look"

 

[92degrees]

The main problem with the Scott Cook Lochsa is that it is so hard to buy. None of the on-line knife sites have any. The waiting period from Scott Cook is over a year.

That says a lot, don't you think? I don't think there's a finer utility-type custom folder available. OTOH, now that TNT prices have eased a bit and they have gotten a little more plentiful, I would serious look at those too. Carson and Obenauf worth careful consideration too. I guess I would set the money aside and buy whichever you could find first. Between those four makers it shouldn't take more that a week. Several Carsons popping up recently...

 

[wetdog1911]

Can a Sebenza be had without an anodized thumbstud, I mean no colors on the knife whatsoever? Can a Lochsa be had in less than a year? Can you pry with these folders? Thanks in advance

Get a sebbie and have it Mayonized, dual thumbstuds not anodized. But ask him not to anodize the handle although it is very subtle. Plenty of holes though. Slick work.

If you want to pry, get a Busse or a Swamp Rat depending on your budget. They don't call Busses 'sharpened prybars' for nothing. I only own one folder and no, I wouldn't pry with it. That's why I also carry a Busse.

Rob

 

[EasEWryder]

Get a sebbie and have it Mayonized, dual thumbstuds not anodized. But ask him not to anodize the handle although it is very subtle. Plenty of holes though. Slick work.

If you want to pry, get a Busse or a Swamp Rat depending on your budget. They don't call Busses 'sharpened prybars' for nothing. I only own one folder and no, I wouldn't pry with it. That's why I also carry a Busse.

Rob

How the hell is a bloke supposed to make up his mind here?

Now I'm in the same boat... again! But at least I have an SMF. Great thread! Wrought with temptation, but great still.

Gajinoz, have you finalized a decision? Please post when you do, I'm dying to know what you choose after all the great advice from everyone!