having trouble deciding on my first mid-tech

thefamcnaj

thefamcnaj

Joined
Jul 16, 2012
Messages
780
Hi all,
I have been into knives(folders mainly) for a few years now. I guess I probably went through the normal progression. I started with cheap 10$ flea market knives, then went to gerber, kershaw, Spyderco, and benchmade. With my benchmade barrage with the m390 steel and my wonderful paramilitary and pm2 I feel like there is no where else to go as far as production knives. Now having several spydies and several Benchmade I'm ready to get a mid-tech. I can't decide between the large sebenza, and the Olamic wayfarer. This won't be a dust collector, it will be an edc knife. My knives get used hard every day/night, seeing as how I work in a rubber plant.
I'm leaning towards the chris reeve knife because I don't think I would mind using hard day after day. The Olamic knife I'm not sure I could ride hard because it's beautiful and it could turn into a safe queen right beside my 1911's.
Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated.
 
Neither of those are mid-tech. The Sebenza is a full on production knife. The Wayfarer is a 'custom tech' which is basically a production knife but with a lot of hand work and hand finishing touches.

Either way, you can't go wring with either of them. The Wayfarer is significantly larger than the large Sebenza though. I've owned both and loved both.
 
Thank you for the clarification, on which category the knives fall into. It really is a tough decision, but I'm leaning towards the sebenza, simply based on the fact I think I will not mind using it day to day.
 
Wayfarer. I recently was having a similar dilemma and I ended up deciding on the Wayfarer. Eugene is an awesome dude, and the knife is a work of art in person. I haven't bought one yet, just waiting for the right one to come along, but I will be as soon as I find it.
 
I've seen Eugene, post on the forum before. His customer service is amazing, and the reason I find myself in this dilemma. Customer service goes a long way. Liberty replaced the lock on my five year old Chinese knock off safe. So when I came up with the money for a bigger safe, I went with liberty hands down because of their cs. Good customer service will sell as good or better than good advertising.
Olamic cutlery has been very impressive on here. The guy was nice enough to offer a replacement knife to a fella on here that couldn't even prove he had a genuine wayfarer.

I have until Friday to decide. Going to come down to the wire, I definitely can't get both. Which ever one I decide against will probably have to wait until 2015.
 
Since you're thinking of getting your first midtech, have you considered possibly getting a custom as well? Specifically, Three Sisters Forge Beast. I do like to recommend this knife every opportunity I get because I am so hard to please with knives, and this one is my daily carry no matter what...so that says a lot about this knife. I also mention it because it is a custom, but the price tag is that of a midtech. And since customer service is a high priority for you, as should be with everyone, the maker Jim Allen could not be any nicer and willing to go above and beyond your expectations. He replies to emails extremely fast and will talk to you all day about knives. He builds outstanding knives and stands behind his work.

Just a suggestion. Hope it helps but good luck with your decision.
 
Liberty replaced the lock on what they knew was a knock off safe?


If the Olamic is in the configuration you want, I suggest getting it. They make so many variations that it'll be hard to find the configuration you want again. There will always be a Sebenza.
 
Olamic Wayfarer are tough to find if you're picky like me. Eugene was awesome in trying to find me one and we came close but ultimately I decided to wait for some form of CF without the titanium bolster or moonglow inlay. The high polish blade is amazing. There are or will be several steel blades in circulation: S35VN, CTS-XHP, 3V, 154CM and CPM-154. Eventually, mostly CPM-154. Know that it has a 4" blade and quite a bit bigger than the Large Sebenza.
 
RamZar said:
Olamic Wayfarer are tough to find if you're picky like me. Eugene was awesome in trying to find me one and we came close but ultimately I decided to wait for some form of CF without the titanium bolster or moonglow inlay. The high polish blade is amazing. There are or will be several steel blades in circulation: S35VN, CTS-XHP, 3V, 154CM and CPM-154. Eventually, mostly CPM-154. Know that it has a 4" blade and quite a bit bigger than the Large Sebenza.
Click to expand...

I handled one in person and found it felt like a slightly larger ZT0561, if that helps anyone. It's certainly not in the 4" scale of something like the Grayman Satu.

I've come close to picking up one I found that's bolstered green/black G10 with an XHP blade but holding out to see the 3V ones he has coming out soon. It's really hard to wait though!
 
Beast is a midtech. Waterjet cut handles, but hand ground blade.

Much smaller blade than the Wayfarer, and because of its thickness not nearly as good at slicing as a Sebenza despite having a similar blade length. I don't know what steel is in the current run, but my M390 Beast performed admirably well prying open the trunk of my car when my keys got locked inside once. Holds an edge well, though there's a limit to how low an angle I can achieve because of the thick grinds. It chips out with blatant abuse but the lock has held up well over the years and I have yet to break it.

Waiting for a Wayfarer.

Sebenza would probably serve you best if your intended use involved cutting rubber scraps or packing tape. Much less drag and the availability of replacement blades are reassuring (though admittedly with the lower heat treat you'll have to/get to sharpen more often).

Good luck with your search!
 
Yes scurvy 092, I have a centurion, made in China but liberty has their name on it. Its their entry level budget safe. I didn't figure they would bother since its not one of their USA made products.
I have considered a custom knife but can't afford it right now. I'd like to stay between 450$ and 550$ shipped.
 
Mromeo23 I took your advice on the three sisters forge beast. I emailed about a red handled beast with a black cerekoat blade.
The gentleman emailed me back the following day(yesterday) and told me he would pull the parts Monday and that I would have it in two weeks.
I can't wait, I'm anticipating, a hard working knife with class.
If I can figure out his to post pics, I'll post them when I receive it. I'm not real computer savy, but my son can peobly show me.
 
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