First CRK- Umnumzaan or Large Sebenza 21 ?

E

everydaycarry

Joined
Nov 4, 2005
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I have finally decided to take the plunge and go past $250.00 for a folder. I have been eyeing the CRK Sebenza for 10+ years and have read 100's of reviews and posts singing its praises as we all know.

Well, when it finally comes down to getting my CRK, the Umnumzaan really looks like a tempting alternative! I have held a sebenza quite a few times but have never seen the Umnumzaan in person.

The aesthetics of either are great so that is a wash. Blade steel and construction materials are a wash also. I like the additional length of the Umnum as well as the texturing on the scales, but the sebenza never seemed to suffer in these categories either.

In fact the only things i'm not crazy about on the Umnum is the rubber o-rings on the thumb studs/blade stops ( although it seems i could remove them without issue) and requiring a special tool for dissassembly. I plan for this knife to be an edc/user in my rotation not a safe queen.
So,

1) I am looking for your opinions on which you like better and why.
2) Which pivot style do you ultimately prefer?
3) If you currently have both, which one do you carry more?


Thanks!
 
Your question has been asked MANY times in the CRK forum. I have 4 CRKs including the Zaan.

I think you might get better info and opinions in the CRK forum than here in General.

I asked the same question you're asking in the CRK forum when I got my first CRK.....a Zaan which I like better than a seb.
 
I agree that the CRK forum might be a better place to ask, but as an owner of both I'll give you my opinion.

The Sebenza is hard to beat for an all around EDC and work knife. The simple design belies the amount of thought that has gone into engineering the knife. The hollow grind (rather than a flat grind) starts to make a lot of sense as the knife blade wears down, and as the tip needs reformed.

The Umnumzaan adds a few advancements on the Sebenza's design, namely a thumbstud stop pin and a ceramic ball as the lockbar contact point. I've never done anything to break a quality knife before, but the thicker tip and blade on the Umnumzaan gives me more confidence when I'm prying with it.

Between the two, I find myself EDC'ing the Sebenza a lot more than the Umnumzaan. Both are great knives, but I usually end up using the Umnumzaan more while I'm home--it has a much more aggressive look to it than the Sebenza.

Edit: Pivot style - I prefer the Umnumzaan's. I can crank it down so that it won't flip open with wrist action, unlike my Sebenza.
 
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My first CRK (and only) is an Umnumzaan. Although I haven't owned a Sebenza yet I'm not so sure I will in the near term. I never say never but the Zaan is actually one of the best knives I have ever purchased and it's "one" of my all time favorites already. I've carried mine about a dozen times and that's all it took to reach the pedestal I place it on. This, coming from someone who likes big, thick, beefy knives. The Zaan is not beefy or thick but it's a good sized knife. Even with this personal preference, it shares the same place in my heart as any bigger or thicker blade.

The form and function are simply amazing . . . The consumate EDC IMHO.
 
I own both and the good news, you will not make a bad decision regardless of the one you purchase. Cynic2701 summed up the knives very well, I enjoy both my Zaan and my Sebenza large, but I cary my Zaan more for the reason stated by Cynic2701. But when I hold my large Sebenza, I say to myself, why aren't I carry this one, it feels so nice and functional. So make a decision and go for the one you think you will enjoy the most, it will be the right decision and in time, you will own the other one anyway :). Good Luck!
 
The sebenza is a better slicer than the umnum because of the thinner blade. I would favor the sebenza for that reason. I also like the sound of the lockbar engaging on the sebenza to that of the silent umnum.
 
i prefer the sebenza. you can get it in many variations, super easy to disassemble, and i prefer the way it looks.

its also a classic :cool:
 
If you're buying the knife as a user you can usually get a good deal on a Zaan or seb on the fs forums. I bought/traded all my CRKs used except my Zaan.

I think the ti has a lot more character with scratches instead of looking nib like it has never been used.:D
 
Large Sebenza. Simpler design. Easy maintenance. Classic looks, less aggressive looking than an Umnum. Simply disappears in the pocket.
 
I would get the Umnumzaan, I personally like it way more than the 21. If you happen to find a Regular Sebenza then that might give one more pause for thought. :):thumbup:
 
sebenza 21 looks amazing to me. They both are great knives.
I'd go with the sebenza again for a first CRK. It's design and looks make it better suited for more situations where other people are around. Plus the variations in which you can get one are nice.
 
I celebrated my first SS retirement deposit by buying my first CRK. I had A-B-ed the Sebbies & 'zaan - and settled on the latter. Oops... the local store was out. Then I saw the StarTac version made for Wilson Combat - wow! I ordered it that day - on a Monday - had it in hand by Wednesday. My first reaction - repeated earlier this AM - "I'm not worthy!". Seriously, what a fine knife. CRK sells a 'Maintenance Kit' for the 'zaan - $12.50 - includes two special disassembly tools.

Check out the Wilson Combat CRKs.

Stainz

PS I added a second CRK - their Nyala fixed blade - super bargain in a CRK.
 
Thank you for all of the viewpoints! It seems its 50/50 on what to get...and I can't go wrong with either. I definitely will watch for a used deal on either model and then make the call. I don't mind a few scratches I will probably add more anyway.

Have any Umnumzaan owners removed the rubber o-rings? Does it adversely affect opening operation or lock-up ?

For some reason having rubber o rings as part of the knife's function bugs me, can't really say why.
 
everydaycarry said:
Have any Umnumzaan owners removed the rubber o-rings? Does it adversely affect opening operation or lock-up ?

For some reason having rubber o rings as part of the knife's function bugs me, can't really say why.
Click to expand...

The only effect the O-rings have is to quiet the opening. Leaving them on or removing has absolutely no effect on lock-up. If you ever handle one, you will see that the O-rings get squished and pushed out of the way by the thumbstuds, and they have a channel into which they are pushed.
 
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