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For a friend. Small or large

BBQ BOY

BBQ BOY

Joined
Feb 24, 2009
Messages
2,822
I have several small and large Sebenza's I'm suppose to help a friend of ours get her husband a knife for their 10 year anniversary. She wants to have it engraved by CRK. Today she called me and asked if she should get him the small or large. I have got to be honest here. I have no idea what to tell her. I love both.
If the knife is supposed to be engraved then this knife will be sentimental enough for him to carry to the day he takes his last breath. My thinking is the small would be more suited. The reason why is because I can not see myself carrying a large Sebenza when I am 60 or so. To me the small is more timeless but he is a north Carolina boy and is simple and well a North Carolina boy. That makes me think the large is better suited.
He has one Spyderco and loves how easy it is for him to open and close. This is another reason why I think the large is better for him. I would hate for him to get the small and be disappointed in how much harder it is to open using his cigar fingers.
They are not the kind of people to drop $300-$400 on a knife so this decision is important.
 
Size does matter so I'd say go with small. He can bring it to more places and carry it for broader attires. Even though he might find the small Seb too small for some tasks, there are occasions, times in his life the large Seb is just too large to carry. There are always tasks for small Seb, and I doubt small Seb becomes "too big" to carry from law/occasion stand point, at least in the US.

If he is looking for THE EDC knife, then small vs large choice has to be consulted with him. For some, large is too large and for others, small is too small. But for this anniversary occasion, small one that can go everywhere with him for the rest of his life is more suiting IMHO.

Of course we are talking about Sebenza here so I'm sure he'll be super happy with either one. :)
 
I would get the small. I agree in that it seems timeless with a special engraving. If he thinks its too small, then she has an 11th anniversary idea. Then the Mnandi for 12th, and the Umnumzaan for the 13th, and so on. :)
 
If I'm the friend you're going to buy it for ;) get me a small. I already have a large 21.
 
The large is easier to open, that's for sure.

One piece of advice by a vendor I was given back when I was trying to make this same decision: quite a few customers buy the small and then later buy a large; fewer people come back for a small if they start with the large. That tends to imply that the large is a better "only" knife.

I have a large and love it. I bought a small for a good friend, and he loves it. I doubt we'd be as happy if we swapped.
 
Well it looks like she may go with the small Sebbie. Money is a factor and she wants to have it engraved.
She wants to engrave "Together Forever".
I told her to have it engraved on the front scale since the knife is so small.
 
I had a large micarta. It was sometimes a bit too long for my pants' pocket when I sat down and would pop out a bit. When I stood up I often had to push it back fully into my pocket. One day it fell out on the subway and I didn't notice. Bye-bye 'Benza.

Today I have a small LE mammoth, it is a perfect pocket size, never pushing out when I sit, even when I wear tight pants or jeans. I also find it is noticeably narrower than the large. The small sebenza "disappears" into my pocket, where the large is noticeable except in larger pants like Carhartt's, Dickies, or cargo pants.

Reaction when I pull out my knife to use in public is also muted with the small compared to the large. No "Rambo" comments with the small.

Also, given current knife laws, under 3" blade in a locking folder is okay a lot more states and countries than a 3.5" locking folder.

Overall, having had both, I would buy a small as a gift for EDC.
 
Go for the small. Not everyone likes a big blade, but everyone accepts a small one. I have a small blade and I carried it to a funeral and dinner. I wouldn't carry a larger than a mnandi or a small sebenza.
 
Good call on the small, but would recommend engraving on the frame-lock side, open space above the clip. Seems more personal and private there. Then again, it depends what kind of man he is. Just wouldn't care to have, Together Forever, on the presentation side. But oh well, to each his own. Cool gift, none the less.

Best,
-di
 
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