First Sebenza, slightly underwhelmed...

I feel the same way. I have a large sebenza in s30v. I have two thoughts, 1. I should have bought the Umunzaan. 2. I'm more impressed with my Cold Steel Recon 1. Just my $.03:p
 
Does anyone have any tips on how to tell my wife I spend nearly $400 on a knife?
 
Brandonsc said:
Does anyone have any tips on how to tell my wife I spend nearly $400 on a knife?
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last time I had to justify a sebenza I pointed to her designer purse and said "My Turn" :D JK

Actually I dont have any problems justifying knife purchases to her but if I did that would be my response.
 
The OP said that he disassembled and reassembled his new Sebenza to improve the lockup... Just saying both my Sage 2's came perfect and didn't require any adjusting, lubing, etc.
 
I went through something similar (am still going through it?). I didn't have a long-term desire for one. I just read about them, sold some stuff, had an anniversary coming, and let me wife buy it for me. A small used Sebenza--African Blackwood. When it came I was extremely happy with it but not as full-on psyched as some others maybe have been. It's just an exceedingly well-made knife.

I played with it for a few days and it grew on me. Then I went a couple of weeks carrying it exclusively. I begun appreciating it more and more. But now, several weeks later, I've gone back to a rotation of knives. I still carry the Sebenza several times a week but I've also started carrying my Sage 2 again, along with a ZT, a Boker Walker, and one or two others. I think the Sebenza is hands-down the highest quality knife I own and if I could only have one... blah blah. At the same time I still really like some of my others.

I just bought a large Sebenza from another forum member and am anxious to see how it feels. If I like it a lot more than the small I may sell the small. What will probably happen though is that I'll sell a few of my other good knives or camera gear to pay for it and keep both--add the large to the rotation.

Bottom line for me is that I don't think the Sebenza is over-rated at all--it *is* a better knife than all my others, better fit and attention to detail, smoother, tighter feel. I do think it might be over-hyped a bit though, and yes, I think there's a difference. As has already been said it's a fantastic knife but at the end of the day it's still just a knife.
 
medicguy said:
The OP said that he disassembled and reassembled his new Sebenza to improve the lockup... Just saying both my Sage 2's came perfect and didn't require any adjusting, lubing, etc.
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I love my Sage 2. I have both my Sage and my small Sebenza sitting on my desk right now. When I open both knives part-way and just move the blade back and forth with my thumb the Sebenza is a *lot* smoother than my Sage. The Sage isn't rough by any means and I really like the feel and design of it. It's just not as nicely finished and for the price you really couldn't expect it to be.

Regards!
 
medicguy said:
The OP said that he disassembled and reassembled his new Sebenza to improve the lockup... Just saying both my Sage 2's came perfect and didn't require any adjusting, lubing, etc.
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Except a late lockup on a CRK is perfectly fine and actually preferred by Chris Reeve. So whether its at 50% or 75% it doesnt matter so I dont understand your point, there was nothing wrong with the knife to begin with. My Sage 2 is a great knife but I'd take a Sebenza over 4x Sage 2s.
 
To the OP,

Yes I was mildly disappoint at first, I think maybe because your expectation is proportional to the money outlayed, especially when you compare it to something like Spyderco paramilitary 2 and wonder why it cost so much more.

But for me once I used it for EDC I appreciated it above my PM2 and it is my favourite now in reality, as I had hoped for it before I bought it. And they does run in.

As for the telling the wife, I hid it from her for months, then she saw it one day and said is that new? and I could legitimately say no, I have had it for a long time.
 
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medicguy said:
I've never had to disassemble a 2 week-old Sage 2 to correct the lockup.
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I'm sure there was nothing wrong with the lockup, the lockup percentage shouldn't be of concern unless there is play and that is pretty much unheard of in CRK's unless there has been modifying or a big drop on concrete or somthing like that. There is way to much importance put on having an early lockup, most people who use there knives want a safe solid lockup that they know isn't gonna close when u don't want it to. My lrg 21 born Nov 28 2011 has a 60 % or somewhere around there and hasn't changed ever. If u want to see the preciseness take the bushing screws out and there will still be no play, no thats what I call a good design:thumbup: worth every penny
 
kawr said:
Except a late lockup on a CRK is perfectly fine and actually preferred by Chris Reeve. So whether its at 50% or 75% it doesnt matter so I dont understand your point, there was nothing wrong with the knife to begin with. My Sage 2 is a great knife but I'd take a Sebenza over 4x Sage 2s.
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All true about the lock up, but taking it apart shouldn't affect the lock up percentage at all, so something had to be wrong there if disassembling changed it, a pinched washer or something at the very least.
 
kreole said:
All true about the lock up, but taking it apart shouldn't affect the lock up percentage at all, so something had to be wrong there if disassembling changed it, a pinched washer or something at the very least.
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It certainly changed a little. I wish I had taken a picture before and after. Out of box is was 75%, which didn't cause major panic or anything. But after I disassembled/reassembled it was noticeably earlier. I distinctly remember reading a few posts where this had been the case for a few other owners as well.

Brandon
 
Brandonsc said:
Does anyone have any tips on how to tell my wife I spend nearly $400 on a knife?
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There are questions that have haunted Man since the beginning of time.
Why am I here?
What is the meaning of Life? How long is Forever and when did time actually begin.

How can I tell my wife I paid $400 on a knife......:)

Good luck with that one Brandon, sometimes it's easier to get forgiveness than it is permission.
 
rubiconss said:
How can I tell my wife I paid $400 on a knife......:)

Good luck with that one Brandon, sometimes it's easier to get forgiveness than it is permission.
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I'm with Rusty. My plan is to hide it long enough that when she finally notices I can say, "oh no, I've had this one a long time."
 
Brandonsc said:
I'm with Rusty. My plan is to hide it long enough that when she finally notices I can say, "oh no, I've had this one a long time."
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Man, I've tried that one. Just remember - the Cover-ups are ALWAYS worse than the crime ;)
 
Brandonsc said:
It certainly changed a little. I wish I had taken a picture before and after. Out of box is was 75%, which didn't cause major panic or anything. But after I disassembled/reassembled it was noticeably earlier. I distinctly remember reading a few posts where this had been the case for a few other owners as well.

Brandon
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This is to be expected with all crks after dissasembly/reassembly. If I believe correctly Chris said himself that after reassembling the knife, you should flick it open a couple times, not hard but enough to reset the lock to the same lock up before dissasembly.
 
I can understand the let-down feeling, had it myself. Carry the knife for a couple of weeks and really notice how it differs from those other folders you own. To my way of thinking what makes the Sebenza so great is it has everything you need and nothing you don't need. Over time you'll notice all those little design features that make it so remarkable.

You'll notice how the blasted finish is grippy enough when wet yet not so aggressive that it eats your pocket. You'll notice the underside of the clip is polished so it won't rub on your pocket. You'll notice how you can get your hand in your pocket without having to squeeze by the knife. You'll notice how the stock blade finish is close to reflection free.

These are by no means all the things I've noticed over several years of EDC'ing a small Sebbie. You may notice other things but they will gradually make you aware that you carry a device built to remarkable dimensional and quality standards that shows years incremental design changes.
 
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