For those of you with a LARGE Sebenza 21 & 25

DrtyHarry, I think you're spot on with your 1911s, and also CRK choices. I too prefer the WC versions of both the 21 and 25. The 21 will always be my go to Sebenza. Egros of the 25 as well as blade profile and thickness is more to my liking in a large EDC.
The Frankenbenza below is my personal fav and will never have an equal, for me.
IMG_0327_zps1e2f2656.jpg
 
This is a great thread. I don't have a large 21 or 25. I have a small 21 w/CF and an Inkosi. The Inkosi never leaves my pocket and I've been contemplating getting a large 25 for when I need a larger knife. I have a XM-18 which is great (man that thing is hard to open), but for EDC just doesn't cut it (no pun intended). I also have a Spartan Pallas. But again, doesn't really fit my needs.

Can you tell I've been trying larger knives to find the right one? Heh.

So now I'm at the 21 vs. 25 debate. I never carry my small 21 and always carry my Inkosi. Based on that, I'm leaning towards the 25. I'm looking for a harder use, larger knife that I can EDC and the 25 just seems right. What I'm concerned about is I buy the 25 and the CRK releases a "large" Inkosi. Then I'll have to buy another larger EDC knife I suppose. :D
 
Sounds like a good excuse to get both! I'm personally waiting to see if a large Inkosi is introduced before deciding whether to make that purchase. Hopefully we might receive word about that around Blade Show. If not, I might have to pick up a TNK 25 but will try to be patient.
 
Damn it.....I still can't decide if I want my next one to be a 21 or a 25. Ya know what I noticed? If I'm using a 25 for a while...than I go to a 21, the 21 feels weak and it's a bit more difficult to open unless I give it a stronger "snap". What's more important, opening the knife....or closing it? IMHO....opening the knife. I need a little more experience cutting with both blades I think before I can decide. I would have thought I would have made up my mind by now....I want one in damascus, but dono if it should be a 21 or 25. Can't....WON'T do both like the first time around. I think I need more time with both to make up my mind...in the meanwhile, I'm working on a custom graphic commemorating my Greek ancestry. Maybe something like I said above with a Spartan helmet...I have it in mind, I'll post it when I'm done. Maybe have it say "Molon Labe" in Greek.
 
Harry. When you say the 21 feels weaker, do you mean in blade strength or just overall feel? If blade strength is your concern, consider a tanto blade. No, we can't get them in Damascus yet... But is there is more ruggedness there.
 
blackend said:
Harry. When you say the 21 feels weaker, do you mean in blade strength or just overall feel? If blade strength is your concern, consider a tanto blade. No, we can't get them in Damascus yet... But is there is more ruggedness there.
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It's hard to describe...it just doesn't feel as "SOLID" as the 25. Perhaps I should not have used the word "weaker", but the 25 feels like a stronger piece. The weight, the way it opens, etc. I LOVE both of them, I really do. But I am really still undecided with what I would like to start collecting....the 21 or 25. Again, I think I just need a little more time with each to decide. I think the 25 is a little bit ahead...but closing the 21 is so much easier on the thumb. I do like the finger grooves the 25 has...those are a plus, but they are not must have deal breakers for me....IMHO. As for the Tanto...I would like to get one some day as well. One thing I know for sure...the small models don't work for me at all.
 
I'm trying to decide on getting a bladeHQ edition 21 or 25 with carbon fiber inlays. Or a KnifeArt Carbon large 21 with insingo blade.

Which one to get???

Help!!
 
Ptman2000 said:
I'm trying to decide on getting a bladeHQ edition 21 or 25 with carbon fiber inlays. Or a KnifeArt Carbon large 21 with insingo blade.

Which one to get???

Help!!
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I'd go for the insingo, the polished flats on the inlaid ones scratch very easily, but they all scratch eventually ; the CF scale makes the knife super light, I like it a lot. That's just me.
 
A KA Carbon fiber 25 is one on my favorite knives so far.

So, that would be a great way to go! But the inlays do look so sexy......
 
Inlay on the 25 has too many finishes for my taste. Polished front scale, blasted and polished back scale, tumbled blade.

Inlay 21 with polished blade of you want the inlay.

Cf scale? 25 for me.
 
I went through the same decision process before I got my Seb. I think the 21 and the 25 are two very different knives. The selling point for me was the simplicity of the 21. Also, I wasn't crazy about the finger grooves. The blade on the 25 is a little beefier, but it thins out too much towards the tip negating any strength gains over the 21. If you're looking at the rugged factor,the zaan with tanto blade would be a good choice. I feel the 25 lacks the simplicity of the 21 and the toughness of the zaan. That's my two cents and worth both penny's.
 
Well....it's been a few weeks now and I got a chance to carry and use both the 21 & the 25. As much as I don't like extra difficulty in closing the 25 over the 21....I think I'd probably go with a 25.

Tell me, are there 25s with a Tanto tip? IMHO...the 21 feels a tad bit....what's the word...."fragile"?? In other words, the 25 feels like it can take a lot more abuse. I like the way the 25 opens, and I like the way the 25 cuts. I don't know much about blade grinds and specific degrees of sharpening these knives...but from the box, my 25 Starbenza outperforms my 21 ebony inlay. The 25 just has much more of a solid feel to it. With that said...I think my next purchase is going to be a 25. I just really wish they would fix that design flaw on the closing of the 25....I can close the 21 soooooo much easier. Anyway....I'm not there yet, so I may very well change my mind. But thus far, I'm diggin the 25. :)
 
DrtyHarry said:
Well....it's been a few weeks now and I got a chance to carry and use both the 21 & the 25. As much as I don't like extra difficulty in closing the 25 over the 21....I think I'd probably go with a 25.

Tell me, are there 25s with a Tanto tip? IMHO...the 21 feels a tad bit....what's the word...."fragile"?? In other words, the 25 feels like it can take a lot more abuse. I like the way the 25 opens, and I like the way the 25 cuts. I don't know much about blade grinds and specific degrees of sharpening these knives...but from the box, my 25 Starbenza outperforms my 21 ebony inlay. The 25 just has much more of a solid feel to it. With that said...I think my next purchase is going to be a 25. I just really wish they would fix that design flaw Opinion on the closing of the 25....I can close the 21 soooooo much easier. Anyway....I'm not there yet, so I may very well change my mind. But thus far, I'm diggin the 25. :)
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1. I carry a micarta 25 about 95% of the time for work. I have absolutely no extra difficulty pushing the lock bar compared to a 21. Without searching for hours, you are the only one I have ever heard complain about this.
2. There are no tanto 25's, at least not in production. Neil may have a prototype but they have never been produced, at least as far as I know. The 21 and Umnumzaan are the only CRK currently available with a tanto blade.
3. Please stop referring to something that you have difficulty with as a "design flaw" without designating that it is simply your opinion. It is in no way a fact.
4. The 21 and 25 are supposed to be different. The 25 was never intended to be a re-design of the 21. The 25 should be more of a work-horse than the 21. It has a thicker blade, nearly full flat grind, extra finger grooves for better grip, larger adjustable pivot, etc. The 21 is still capable for pretty much anything that anyone wants to throw at it. The 21 should slice better due to the blade grind and thickness.
 
Well, I know I am not the only one that said the 25 is harder to close than the 21....

Ajack60 said:
IMO, the lock bar is stiffer on the 25. When you look from the side, it's apparent there's more surface area exposed on the 21 making it easier to close.
Of course this pic isn't as good as pwrdbycotn's, but basically the same pic.

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And you didn't have to search for hours....all you had to do was read the entire thread. In MY opinion, it is a design flaw. That is a matter of personal preference. And as I said, I've had conversations with other people who also agree that the 25 is harder to close than the 21....so it is NOT just MY opinion.

I will agree however that the 21 should be a better slicer, but out of all the various things I have cut with both knives....I found the 25 to have greater cutting just about anything. But again, if you would have bothered to have read this entire thread....looked at the diagrams and pictures we all took, you will see I am not the only one that feels closing the 25 is a bit harder. But I will clear it up....it is in fact MY opinion that it is a design flaw that the 25 doesn't close as easy as the 21 does. I expressed why earlier in this thread with pictures. It could have been very simple to have the same groove on the frame lock on the 25 that the 21 has.

But again, this is just my opinion.
 
pwrdbycotn said:
3. Please stop referring to something that you have difficulty with as a "design flaw" without designating that it is simply your opinion. It is in no way a fact. - Without searching for hours, you are the only one I have ever heard complain about this.
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Ajack60 said:
IMO, the lock bar is stiffer on the 25. When you look from the side, it's apparent there's more surface area exposed on the 21 making it easier to close.
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See...I'm not the only one who thinks the 21 is easier to close. And like I said...no need to search for hours, all you had to do was read this thread. Anyway, I think I will probably be getting another 25 unless I go with a tanto 21. I dono.....
 
The 25 is far from a design flaw. It is a fantastic knife and I've had conversations with other people who also agree with me on this.
 
pwrdbycotn said:
3. Please stop referring to something that you have difficulty with as a "design flaw" without designating that it is simply your opinion. It is in no way a fact.
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This statement sums up the entire thread! [emoji1303]
 
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