Got my first Sebenza, a little underwhelmed...at first

T

ThumperACC

Joined
Feb 28, 2009
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220
Hi All,

I got my first Sebenza (small, plain 21) as a Christmas present from my Wife (love that woman :) ). It arrived about a week and a half before Christmas and she wanted me to check it out to make sure it was what I wanted, there were no issues etc. So, who am I to argue ;) , I opened her up and gave it the once over. All was in order, looks nice, slices paper like crazy...no chorus of angels though, no OMG moment, kinda plain, hard to open (real strong detent). I was a little underwhelmed :o (kinda hard not to be given the legend this thing needs to live up to). So, I wrapped it carefully back up in its cloth and boxed it back up, gave it to my Wife for wrapping and placement under the tree. ...and I waited...and waited...and waited for Christmas.

Well, Christmas afternoon, I had a lot of cardboard to deal with. Sebenza to the rescue :D. Wow, this thing slices nice! Very comfortable in the hand. Elegant in its simplicity. Rock solid lockup, zero blade play. Clip works just great IWB, just the right amount of retention. Still hard to open (my thumb is getting sore). :(

The next day I figured out that my middle finger was pressing behind the lock bar when I was trying to open the knife (used to liner locks) and that was why it was nearly impossible to open at times. Still a real strong detent, but I can get used to this (I think). So, using my thumbnail, I worked the detent open/closed 1000 times that day. Getting better...

I've lived with my Sebenza for ~ 2 weeks now, she's real smooth, carries like a dream and a real pleasure to use. The heat treat on the blade is just great and she sharpens up real nice. Very little burr, just enough so you can be sure you got to the edge. I'm in love:thumbup::thumbup::D

In the past 2 weeks, I've come to appreciate that a Sebenza is all about the little details and the fact that it just works great! It's like every feature of this knife has been thougthfully considered and painstakingly executed with loving care. It's also like having a folding fixed-blade. Just great.

Now I have a problem...I want a large too :D:D:D:D

Please talk some sense into me! Am I crazy?? Do I really need a $400 knife to go with the wonderful $330 one I just got?

Help!?

ThumperACC
 
To answer your question:

No, you do not need a large to go with the small seb you need a couple of sebs to go with the small seb:) Congrats on your new CRK.
 
Hmmmm if your asking me I just ordered a small to go along with the large I got 3 days ago ; )

So I think your asking the wrong guy lol
 
A Umnumzaan and a Startac and a Mnandi and a....... be aware this is how it begins. :D


jp884 said:
To answer your question:

No, you do not need a large to go with the small seb you need a couple of sebs to go with the small seb:) Congrats on your new CRK.
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I would definitely get a large IMO. I was far more satisfied with it compared to the small (but the small is great also). I, too, ran into the problem in the difficulty of opening the Sm. Seb because of my middle finger pressing the lock bar. I think this mainly had to do with the fact that it was sort of small for my hand. When I got the Large Seb., all the problems were alleviated.

I'm glad you used your knife right away and discovered what a great knife it is. You'll be even more amazed when you take it apart, clean it, and put it back together to find that everything works PERFECTLY without any hitch.
 
While the large Sebbie is my favorite EDC knife I think if you have a small one and are wanting a larger knife that is not going to be your EDC you should also look at the Nyala.

Fixed blades don't work for everyone as an EDC but the Nyala is roughly the size of a large Sebbie and feels even better in the hand.

Personally I think all three should be issued at birth :D If you're unsure about spending the 385 on a Large Sebenza, a Nyala is 235.

Just food for thought.
 
No you're not crazy. I ordered a 2nd Large Sebenza to backup my current Large Sebenza. Doesnt make sense to me to get only ONE of just a certain model when its obvious to me that it's the ideal blade for my edc :D. If it makes you feel better I like the Large more than the Small and they feel like two different knives. Pretty soon you will be drooling over all the different flavors of Sebenzas out there with the unique graphic scales, inlays, damascus as well other CRK products ;).
 
When I first decided to spend more money on a knife, I bought an Umnamzaan and I felt such buyer's remorse that I returned it. Then about a year later I decided to try a ebony inlay large Sebenza and when I got it I was very pleased. Wound up with another large with just the polished blade. Once I got over spending so much on a knife and really looked at them closely, I could tell they are made better and have closer tolerances than any other knives I own. Now I have a Umnamzaan on the way, in the Star-Tac version. Sometimes it just takes a little time to see the light!
 
I must be the exception here. I have a large Sebbie and a small with inlays along with my EDC and a couple of Mnandis.

The only time I carry the large Seb is afield when fishing. The rest of the time I carry my small plain Sebbie or a Mnandi in slacks.

If I had it to do over again I would probably settle on the plain Sebbie and a Mnandi as all that is really necessary.

That said, who really needs such expensive knives anyway?
 
Another vote for an Umnumzaan and a Nyala.

Of course, that's after you get the large Sebenza.:D
 
iamsmiling said:
I must be the exception here. I have a large Sebbie and a small with inlays along with my EDC and a couple of Mnandis.

The only time I carry the large Seb is afield when fishing. The rest of the time I carry my small plain Sebbie or a Mnandi in slacks.

If I had it to do over again I would probably settle on the plain Sebbie and a Mnandi as all that is really necessary.

That said, who really needs such expensive knives anyway?
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Nobody needs a $400 knife. If people spent their money only on needs, life would be quite bland. Why buy a beamer when a camry is more than you need. Why buy name brand clothes when clothes from walmart will suffice. I hate it when people start going on about needs because everyone knows that already.
 
Just remember when you open the sebenza the movement of the thumb is horizontal to the handle, if you attempt to push the thumbstud straight away from the handle it will be difficult try to get your thumb wedged in between the frame of the knife and stud and slide the blade open and it will be much easier to open. Hope this helps.
 
I have many custom folders and i love most of them. But the truth be told, the Sebenza is a very fine knife by any standard.It really does grow on you. But you do have to pay for that quality.
 
iamsmiling said:
That said, who really needs such expensive knives anyway?
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That's crazytalk ;)

Actually, I do think it's worth it to upgrade to a Sebenza. A folder can be downright dangerous to the user if it's a p.o.s. Most of us have had bad experiences with those. With a such a solid build, including that framelock, there is a practical reason as well as an aesthetic one.
So i keep telling myself...
 
I don't need small Sebenzas. The large work better (for me). But I did need to get a Mnandi so now I don't use my Umfaan. Nyala, Nyala, what am I waiting for? I really want the Inyoni more than the Nyala. Got to prioritize.

What does this word "need" have to do with it? :p
 
You guys aren't doing a very good job of talking me out of buying a large. ;):D:D

Your insights and ... encouragement are helpful. Thanks.

charlOOsi said:
... You'll be even more amazed when you take it apart, clean it, and put it back together to find that everything works PERFECTLY without any hitch.
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Yup, did that the first day ( I had taken the lanyard off, planning to leave the nice blue pin in place as an accent but without the lanyard, the pin rattled really bad :eek: ) to take the lanyard PIN out. It went together perfectly aligned, exactly like it came in the box. :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: Impressive!!

Thanks again Guys (and Gal),
ThumperACC
 
Thumper,now that you got a taste of the Koolaid u need to jump in and go for Large Sebe as well.You cant just have one without the other,,,,I just got my small today after getting a large last week,,,YOU NEED BOTH!
 
ThumperACC said:
You guys aren't doing a very good job of talking me out of buying a large. ;):D:D
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Talk you out of it? Clearly, our intentions are for you to go broke from buying so many, and eventually having to sell the knives to us at ridiculously reduced prices :D
 
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