First Sebenza....now the Collection Begins

Imparatus

Imparatus

Joined
Dec 16, 2019
Messages
16
Hi,

A few days ago, I got my first Sebenza. I opted for the PJ Large Sebenza 21 Insingo. I absolutely love the knife, and I can see myself collecting them....I currently buy 1 or two knives/month, depending on finances etc. However, I'm not sure where I should go from here. Since the 21 has been discontinued, I'm not sure if I should snap some of those up, whether to stick with the large or get a small or two.

I also have some questions that you folks with much more experience owning CRK Knives may be able to help with. Given the changes in CRK over the years since Chris left, is there anything to be especially careful of re: quality of manufacture and the like? I note that ordering from CRK directly shows a backlog of 9-12 mo....is the 31 likely to be available at the major online sites anytime soon? (ex: BladeHQ).

What would you suggest as my next purchase from CRK? Maybe a Sebenza with inlay, maybe another CRK knife, maybe........

Thanks!

Imp
 
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Honestly, it will be another year or two before you see 31’s in any configuration readily available. There will also still be 21’s on dealer sites for years to come. Just buy what you think you will like. Congratulations to the addiction. You will surely own lots of em.
 
nyefmaker said:
Honestly, it will be another year or two before you see 31’s in any configuration readily available. There will also still be 21’s on dealer sites for years to come. Just buy what you think you will like. Congratulations to the addiction. You will surely own lots of em.
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Plain Jane's will be pretty available in the weeks or at worst a few months to come (a few have shown up at dealers already, KnifeJoy had at least one come through, I know). Inlays, CGG, and other configurations, yeah who knows on those. They will likely be a while yet.
 
Personally, I like the micarta inlays as far as that goes. I’d tell you to use the one you have for a couple of weeks, compare the large with some of the other knives you have to see what size range you’re used to carrying. That will let you know if a small is for you. I am partial to the large.
There’s plenty of 21’s stocked a dealers, it’s not like CRK will pull them off the shelves for the 31. So don’t worry about that. CRK won the knife manufacturers award at Blade this year. They’ve won it many times. So there’s that.
You can go to the CRK website and see the list of dealers for them. Look around before you make an impulse buy, you’ll come across the next one when you see it. Just make sure funds are available when you do.
 
I was in the same boat 2 years ago. I went the route of catching and releasing probably 30 different knives of different brands. I've mostly settled on CRK for collecting because they have the potential to hold their value (I buy Benchmades at probably 50% discounts) and some unique CRKs even can rise over the years. Problem with collecting knives is most of us just can't walk into a local store and try them out in hand. So I try to buy them at a discont on various blade forums and then re-sell them when I see another one that I'd like to try. I probably have 20 or so in my collection now with 1/2 being CRK's. I tried a small after my first large PJ and re-sold it. I bought and re-sold 3 Manandis as they were way too small for me. And then I bought back yet again a small Seb 21 CF. Because I really like the large Seb 21 CF which is my "current" favorite EDC. Most of my collection is large 21 wood inlays and probably 1/2 with Damascus blades. I've never been a fan of CG as they scratch too easily for my tastes. Micartas are very plentiful used I just prefer wood. But last week I picked up two slip joints, a Tilock and an Impinda . . . our tastes keep evolving. Try to find a large 21 CF in great condition for your next pickup would be my suggestion which could give you a great start you into inlays. . . . If you have not already check out James Longstreet's thread a sticky at the top of the forum. His pics and collection are both amazing:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/the-james-longstreet-crk-picture-thread-library.1502202/

IMG_6607.jpeg
 
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Congrats on moving into your first CRK. Now it’s on to the wood inlays and damascus blades! The 21 will be around for a while and the inlayed and damascus 31’s most likely won’t be readily available for most of next year. As a result you don’t need to rush, so pace yourself. If I was in your position, I’d get a couple nice (for me that means wood inlay+damascus) 21’s next year and then start looking at 31’s when they’re more available--like late next year and into 2021. In the meantime, you can always monitor the BF CRK Exchange and see if anything there ever catches your eye. Good luck and happy shopping with whatever you end up doing.
 
I suspect the dealer exclusive 21s will start to get scarce as they are not going to be making anymore. There has been no mention of exclusive 31s that I know of--maybe that's coming eventually, maybe not. Probably not anytime soon. So... if you don't care to wait for a 31 in the configuration you want, I'd look out for one of the exclusives that are still available. As a lefty, that ship has already pretty much sailed for me, but if you're right handed, you still have some options.
 
Ok.....been shopping around and the Think Twice Code Small and Large Seb 21s have caught my eye. I'm a long time amateur radio operator, almost exclusively in Morse Code, so they sort of spoke to me, and I like the design. Anyone have these designs and can comment on them? Trigger is itching to be pulled.......thinking the standard drop point.

Imp
 
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Imparatus said:
Ok.....been shopping around and the Think Twice Code Small and Large Seb 21s have caught my eye. I'm a long time amateur radio operator, almost exclusively in Morse Code, so they sort of spoke to me, and I like the design. Anyone have these designs and can comment on them? Trigger is itching to be pulled.......thinking the standard drop point.

Imp
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I’ve never seen one in person, but I do like the design and would be one I’d personally buy. Being a lefty they are few and far between tho.
 
Imparatus said:
Ok.....been shopping around and the Think Twice Code Small and Large Seb 21s have caught my eye. I'm a long time amateur radio operator, almost exclusively in Morse Code, so they sort of spoke to me, and I like the design. Anyone have these designs and can comment on them? Trigger is itching to be pulled.......thinking the standard drop point.

Imp
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Morse code, he says.......

MorseCode_Stone-1.jpg
 
I'm also debating on picking up a small 21 while the pickings are still good. I have really be leaning towards the striped Platan. I'm not sold on the 31s inlay pattern as of yet.
 
Balsquat said:
I'm also debating on picking up a small 21 while the pickings are still good. I have really be leaning towards the striped Platan. I'm not sold on the 31s inlay pattern as of yet.
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There's nothing to debate ;), be like Nike and just do it.
 
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