Firefighter looking between a 25 and umnum

S

Shaboda

Joined
Jun 9, 2013
Messages
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Im sure people have posted this decision questiona bunch but im too lazy to look for the threads. As a lifelong benchmade user and lover I have finally decided to purchase a crk with my overtime $. Im in a quandry and really have nailed it down to a wilson combat umnumzaan or a 25. I love both and have watched a ton of videos and cant decide. No I cant buy both. It would be a user for sure, I dont baby any of my knives gold class pr not. Whats your suggestions from owners of the knife. I do own a serial numbered Yarborough from crk and love it. Thoughts?
 
Firefighter working under high stress situations and with gloves on? I'd opt for the umnumzaan with the hinderer designed lock bar stop. The 25 doesn't have this, so you would have to be real careful to not overextend the lockbar under stress.

Not an easy thing to do, but why take the chance? Also, the checkered pattern on the umnumzaan scales add more grip to the knife.

Without knowing more about your intended uses, that's my $.02 worth.
 
One could argue either way quite convincingly but at the end of the day it's a case of 6 and half a dozen, they are both great and will both work as well as each other. :)
 
Good question.

I carried an Umnum for close to 3 years and love the knife, would hold up fine to any reasonable use you could give it. I don't baby my knives at all and I never had an issue with mine. I think the over travel stop is unnecessary but it seems that CRK knows more than I do about it.
The 25 has more steel on the blade due to the high hollow grind, it also has a different geometry between the lock bar and the tang which makes for a lot less lock bar flex than the Umnum when the accidentally pushing on the spine( or should I say, using the knife as a tool in a firefighting emergency ).
I feel that with my 2 25's and my 3 umnum's that the Umnum opens quicker and easier, although a broken in 25 is very close behind it.
The rest of the materials and specs are so similar that it honestly comes down to which one that you think is sexier, buy it, use it, love it, and save your pennies for the other one later on when you can.

Thanks for doing the job.
 
I don't have either one but it's always nice to see a brother firefighter on the forums.
 
I have both, love both. I feel that the 25 is harder use with a stiffer lock bar and almost flat grind. The Umnumzaan has a glass breaker if that makes a difference for you. I also prefer the grippier handles of the Umnumzaan. For me, I recommend the Umnumzaan, but the 25 is a close second.
 
Yeah I'd have to say umnum too. I don't know much about firefighting work. The glass breaker may be handy to smash into things but i suppose you have better equipment for that. It's just my gut feeling that the umnum would be a better knife for you.
 
The placement of the thumb stud is different.
You may want to try that before you make a decision.
red mag
 
I actually had a chance to talk to Mr. Reeve about this a few years ago & he stated he felt the True North Knives tanto Umnumzaan would be a good choice. While the trucks have far better tools for taking windows, the window breaker is a nice bonus feature.
 
chili77 said:
The Umnumzaan is easier to open and close with gloves as the 25.
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I have no doubt the umnum is an amazing knife and deserves the praises it gets. But to imply that it's easy to open with gloves defies logic.

umclosed.jpg



At least the sebenza has more room between the thumbstuds and handles.
 
Toyz said:
Firefighter working under high stress situations and with gloves on? I'd opt for the umnumzaan with the hinderer designed lock bar stop. The 25 doesn't have this, so you would have to be real careful to not overextend the lockbar under stress.

Not an easy thing to do, but why take the chance? Also, the checkered pattern on the umnumzaan scales add more grip to the knife.

Shouldve mentioned this will be an edc knife off duty. I beat up the departments tools and my bm triage at work. Now should i go with the regular umnum or the wilson combat then? Mentioning being a ff was just letting you know i actually use my knives and dont hide them in cases
Click to expand...
 
TEFL0N_D0N_81 said:
At least the sebenza has more room between the thumbstuds and handles.
Click to expand...

Because you need to push the thumbstud forward inside of sideways you don't need the extra space.
I have tried opening both with gloves. I stand with my viewpoint.
 
TEFL0N_D0N_81 said:
At least the sebenza has more room between the thumbstuds and handles.
Click to expand...

Because you need to push the thumbstud forward inside of sideways you don't need the extra space.
I have tried opening both with gloves. I stand with my viewpoint.
 
flipe8 said:
I actually had a chance to talk to Mr. Reeve about this a few years ago & he stated he felt the True North Knives tanto Umnumzaan would be a good choice. While the trucks have far better tools for taking windows, the window breaker is a nice bonus feature.
Click to expand...

If you are ever in a situation where some light prying is needed the tip on the Umnumzaan is much thinner then that of a 21, and im sure thats the case with the 25 too since it has the same blade stock as the Umnumzaan (.140) and similar blade style to the 21. That being said, a Tanto Zaan would get my vote.
 
I carried a tanto Zaan for a very very long time, it gets my top recommendation to you, second would be the StarTac, then finally a regular Zaan. Perfection wound be a Tanto StartTac :)
 
Shaboda said:
Toyz said:
Firefighter working under high stress situations and with gloves on? I'd opt for the umnumzaan with the hinderer designed lock bar stop. The 25 doesn't have this, so you would have to be real careful to not overextend the lockbar under stress.

Not an easy thing to do, but why take the chance? Also, the checkered pattern on the umnumzaan scales add more grip to the knife.

Shouldve mentioned this will be an edc knife off duty. I beat up the departments tools and my bm triage at work. Now should i go with the regular umnum or the wilson combat then? Mentioning being a ff was just letting you know i actually use my knives and dont hide them in cases
Click to expand...

I edc a large Sebenza 25 in a slip sheath daily as I feel it gives me the benefits of both the umnumzaan and the sebenza in one package. I prefer the sebenza blade shape over the umnumzaan, as I feel it offers a little more point and a little less belly.

I have never owned the Startac umnumzaan so I can't speak to the feel in hand, but the 25 with the dual finger grooves feels secure in hand. My current umnumzaan is the old school pivot without the lockbar stop.

Appreciate what you do for a living. Good luck with your search. Please let us know what you decide. I think you will like either one - CRK knives are like potato chips - you can't stop at just one.
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Thanks for the insight guys. Almost certain a startac is in my very near future. Ill post pics when ones in hand
 
tywyatt17 said:
If you are ever in a situation where some light prying is needed the tip on the Umnumzaan is much thinner then that of a 21, and im sure thats the case with the 25 too since it has the same blade stock as the Umnumzaan (.140) and similar blade style to the 21. That being said, a Tanto Zaan would get my vote.
Click to expand...

This is not true at all, at least with the 4x zaans I've owned. The swedge gives the illusion of a much thinner tip when in reality it's the same as my large sebenzas.
 
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