First high end purchase; CRK Sebenza or Strider SnG????

Go with the Sebenza, then you will have the knife that it seems every other folding knife is measured by. That way you can ask "how does that compare to a sebenza", and someone will always be able to answer. ;)
 
I have both, and while my Strider AR is a tank, most of the time it's too big to comfortably carry IWB. If I can wear a belt sheath, then I usually use my Strider, for all other days, I EDC the Sebenza.
 
I have only handled an sng and do not own one. I guess you can tell by my avatar which knife I prefer. There are not many people out there that can make a quality product (high level of fit and finish). When I buy something expensive, it is usually because of the quality of the product that I choose to pay the premium over something lesser. To me, that is the bulk of the "worth" in a high end product. So, that is why I prefer the sebenza.

Strider obviously does not put quality at the forefront of its priorities. There is nothing wrong with that. However, I feel that it is not hard to make an overbuilt knife. Its a matter of design rather than anything else.

I think its also important to see why you are paying such a high price for these knives. For the Strider, you are paying a premium for the warranty and the fact that it is overbuilt? Compare this to the reasons why the sebenza is priced high, attention to detail, hand finishing, tight tolerances, lots of scrap parts to make one perfect knife.

Again, some people don't give a rats ass about quality and love things that can take abuse and still keep working so if you are one of those people then get the strider!
 
Handle them both if possible. I'll be different from many of the posters in this thread and say I ownED an Sebbie. Cannot handle the ergonomics on the seb...straight slab in particular. As far as quality? My sebenza had good tolerances. My SnG does too (my AR does especially--although a comparison between an AR/Seb is not really valid IMO).

Suppose I just lucked out ;) Can't really go wrong with either knife in the semi-custom segment. Probably the best help in deciding is looking at what you already own (a bunch of slipjoints--seb/a bunch of 110s-strid). Real scientific isn't it? :D
 
If you are not in a hurry you could always participate in a passaround for experience then signup for the sebenza passaround.
 
get the 635 skirmish. you'll save $200 for 85% of the performance of either. Of course you don't get the precision fit and finish of the sebbie (altho' I'll be honest - I don't like the low grit bead blast they use for the scales - they should at least do a nice peened glass bb) or the bad ass toughness and tiger stripe-eness of the Strider. But at a price south of $150, you'll be getting a damn good knife.
 
I would go with the Sebenza.Here's another thought for a similar price you can get a plain(if you can call it that)Hinderer.An excellent cutter has all the quality the Sebbenza has and its much better looking.I got mine for $350 and Rick will back up his product as much as Chris Reeves.
 
If you want a mega knife for ripping through tanks, get a Strider. If you want a precision tool, but still tough, get a Sebenza. I'd get a Sebenza (which I did) for my first high end purchase. I was impressed and remain so after a few months of EDC. Either way, pick one and try it out for a while. If it doesn't 'turn your crank,' resell for either a Sebbie or a Strider (usually)results in getting about 75% of your money back..........that can later be applied to your second choice.
 
I've handled an AR, but I own a woody Sebenza. I really like the Sebenza, even though you can flick them. It's very solid, a superb cutter with great edge retention, wonderful ergonomics.
Strider makes TOUGH knives. They have a certain beauty to them. I'd like an SMF or SnG someday, but right now my DMKnives Instigator 2 fits the bill for monster folder.
Both have excellent warranties, despite the hellish thread arguing to the contrary, it really depends on whether you want a user or an abuser. Sebenza is like supercharged Buck 110. Strider is more of a hard-use tool. It may not cut as well as the Sebenza, but if you're going to be beating on your knife a lot I'd opt for the Strider, it will take it and then some.
 
OMG, I just realized something. Aw man, I apologize. I had mistaken CRK to mean Columbia River Knives instead of Chris Reeve Knives. I apologize if I championed any CRKT knives in a CRK thread. BTW, did he update the design the new Yarborough knife?
 
All depends on the needs.

If I was on a survival trip, I'd get a strider.

If I was at a wedding, I'd bring my wood-inlay sebbie.

I bought my sebbie specifically for formal occassions (and for work). Basically a tough-user sheeple knife. Works great.
 
Sebenza, and to cover that little bit more of hard use that an SnG promises just get a decent fixed blade and then be able to go way beyond what any folding knife can take.
 
CMD has a great point, for 1/2 the price of a Strider folder, you get get a Busse Active Duty for example.
 
Rick may have a waiting list, but its worth it. Custom from a quality maker is almost always better than semi-custom IMHO. When you can get full custom for about the same price (and I believe CRK just upped his prices for this year- such that a new large Sebenza is actually more than a regular Firetac), then why not go full custom?

How many Marlowe's do you see for resale? It's not because he hasn't made a ton of them, its because you can't get people to give them up- I know I TRIED!! I had 2 people pull out of a deal to sell them because they just couldn't part with them. As for Rick, you pick the shape, you pick the finish and the color, you pick the insert- you can even have several inserts made so that you can interchange them. Then, there's the stabilizer. I don't know how much that saves on performance, but its still cool.

Sincerely,
Anthony
 
The Seb as a sheeple knife for weddings? Maybe the Mnandi. ;-)
Otherwise, I'd say get a Seb first, you'll probably always regret it if you don't, because it's the reference point. It's good resale value, so you can always decide on getting a Strider either in addition (which is what I'd expect as a knife collector), or as a replacement.
 
I would go with the Sebenza and not look back. I no longer own an Sng, but I do still own an AR. Neither of the Strider folders were anywhere near a $300+ knife should be. The Sebenza on the other hand is right on key, pretty much perfect from the get-go. The Strider folders have sketchy fit\finish from one run to the next it seems. Around the time I bought the AR and Sng I also picked up a Benchmade Skirmish and another Sebenza. Both the Skirmish and the Sebenza were perfect from the box (lockup, profile, etc.) Neither Strider was. (poor lockup, shoddy profiling, blade sat crooked when closed.) I felt ripped off given the price. Alot of people seem to say such things are fine since the Striders are supposedly "Hardcore" knives, I think that's crap too since I have no problems beating the snot out of my Sebenzas and at least they are made with proper fit and finish, etc.
 
Thanks for all the overwhelming replies, you guys....:D

Of the two models, I've only handled a large regular Sebbie. I'm assuming the Strider would be a tank of a folder, from some of the pics that I've seen, however the Sebbie also has very comfortable weight with a vault like lockup.

I've tried looking to see if the Strider can be disassembled, cleaned and lubed like the Sebbie, but have had no luck. Is that possible? Or even necessary with a folder like that?

Right now, that is one of the main perks that is attracting me more to the Sebenza.....
 
Another thing.....

is there a waiting list/time for a Sebbie if I order it straight from CRK? :confused:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top