Help me decide on new folder plz ($400)

Status
Not open for further replies.
JTR357

JTR357

Gold Member
Joined
Sep 10, 2007
Messages
14,281
I recently purchased a Large Classic Sebenza w/African Blackwood inlays & couldn't be happier with it.

However,I'm looking for something a little smaller & lighter,with the warmer weather coming & all.

I have it narrowed down to a Small Sebenza 21 w/CGG or a Strider SNG.

They're both about the same price.They both have 3" blades.They both have S30V steel blades & (vault-like)Ti Frame-locks.

I'm not interested in a "plain jane" Sebenza.

I'm looking for opinions from people who have or have handled both.

My main concerns on choosing is pocket friendliness(sitting flat in pocket),weight,ergonomics & smooth actions.

**PLEASE LEAVE THE MAKERS & MORALS OUT IF THIS THREAD.**

I DO NOT WANT THIS TO TURN INTO ANOTHER STRIDER vs. SEBENZA mudslinging
thread.I'm looking for objective opinions,regarding JUST the knives.

Thanks for your helpfull suggestions.:)

 
Last edited:
I've owned a SnG for two years. It's not really a friendly pocket carry EDC, it's oriented to duty carry in the field, and the features are maximized in that direction.

The Sebenza is more the civilised office knife. Our question to you would be, what do you plan on using it for? Each leans to an obvious list of tasks that, while somewhat overlapping, really diverge at the extreme ends.

As pointed out, there are some similarities, but that's in materials only. The execution is radically different, and right there to see.

As for being small and light, a Buck Mayo would fit the bill much better. The SnG is not small, nor necessarily the lightest weight in practical knives. And the Mayo is affordable, the same materials, and a framelock, too.

It's not all about the Sebenza vs. SnG out there, but it does take perspective to see it.
 
tirod3,Thanks for your response.:thumbup:

As for your Q's-I don't really use my (folding) knives as hard as some on this forum.I usually just use them to open packages,break down boxes & light gardening work.
When I go camping,hunting,fishing I'll always carry a fixed blade & a SAK or multi-tool.

I really like the Buck TNT,but my only problem with it is the "tip down" only option.I always carry my folders "tip up" & will not buy a knife that does not offer this option.Also,all those holes in the TNT look like they'd get gunked up with mud &/or sand fairly easy.

Does anyone have the exact weight of the small Sebenza & the SNG?
 
Last edited:
What tirod said is good. I have both a plain Jane large sebenza (I know you are looking at small) and an SNG. The latter carries well, seems tough (though I don't abuse my knives to find out), but for me, I just don't see $300+ of materials and labor in it. Its also more of a sharpened pry bar as they say, and not what you would call a slicer. A SAK goes through a box way better than an SNG does.

JMO, but I'd take a small Sebenza over the SNG based on its bank vault feel, aesthetics, sheeple friendliness (though I don't mind at all scaring sheeple), and so forth. Its very subjective though.

july052008hilltop010Medium.jpg

SNG.

Aug.jpg

SNG, middle, with modded AR (passaround) and beater Delica 3.
 
tirod3 said:
I've owned a SnG for two years. It's not really a friendly pocket carry EDC
Click to expand...

I totally disagree, it rides great in the pocket. Not too high, not too low, fast draw abilities, etc. Out of the two, my SNG sees the most pocket time, and because of these stupid forums I am now going to be carrying it for a year straight due to some crazy thread. You already went with a CRK model, take a break, grab a Strider, and you know what, if it isn't for you, sell it. Those things hold their value so well it's almost sick.
 
IMO raise your $$ slightly and get the SNG CC. Carries even better than the SNG but still has all the great attributes of the SNG.
 
Thanks for the helpful suggestions guys:thumbup:


powernoodle,That's a sweeet CZ!I'm not really a big 9mm fan,but the CZ75 is my favorite 9mm.:thumbup:;)

I think I'm leaning towards the SNG at this point.
 
Last edited:
Some of the new graphics for 2009 are awesome; Enigma, Eyes, & Seagrass. Or you could get a Dog Paws Sebbie.
 
While the SnG has a 3" blade, it also has a choil, so the length from blade tip to handle is about 3.5". It's a tad shorter, but the SnG is closer in size to the lg. Seb than the small. If you're wanting something that carries lighter/easier for the summer, then I'd definitely go for the small classic micarta Seb.

I have a lg. classic CGG Seb, a sm. classic micarta Seb, & have had 3 different SnGs. Even so, the above statement is just IMHO, of course. However, of all my folders, I think the small classic Seb's the narrowest carrying (Width in pocket). I can easily get my over-sized hands in my pocket with the sm. Seb clipped in it. Just a thought.

Good luck.
 
JTR357 said:
I recently purchased a Large Classic Sebenza w/African Blackwood inlays & couldn't be happier with it.

However,I'm looking for something a little smaller & lighter,with the warmer weather coming & all.

I have it narrowed down to a Small Sebenza 21 w/CGG or a Strider SNG.

They're both about the same price.They both have 3" blades.They both have S30V steel blades & (vault-like)Ti Frame-locks.

I'm not interested in a "plain jane" Sebenza.

I'm looking for opinions from people who have or have handled both.

My main concerns on choosing is pocket friendliness(sitting flat in pocket),weight,ergonomics & smooth actions.

**PLEASE LEAVE THE MAKERS & MORALS OUT IF THIS THREAD.**

I DO NOT WANT THIS TO TURN INTO ANOTHER STRIDER vs. SEBENZA mudslinging
thread.I'm looking for objective opinions,regarding JUST the knives.

Thanks for your helpfull suggestions.:)
Click to expand...

The SNG has a 3.5 in blade, I would get the small Seb or a PT for the pocket. I prefer to carry the large (reg BG42 and classic micarta), but carry my small reg (also have a small classic micarta).

I had an SNG, three different PT's and one SMF. I really liked them, but a little too thick in the edge for me for users.

Speaking of tip down clips, I just traded back into a Skirmish. Great, but that tip down clip should be tip up.
 
Get both :D

If you go SNG, get a CC or DGG. They are totally different beasts than a regular SNG. Not that a regular is bad...;) Also remember that the SnG is as long as a large Sebbie, but cutting edge is the same as a small sebbie. That's just due to the choil. I love em' all and think you will be happy either way!
 
T.K.C. said:
Some of the new graphics for 2009 are awesome; Enigma, Eyes, & Seagrass. Or you could get a Dog Paws Sebbie.
Click to expand...

Yea,I hear that T.K.C.:thumbup:

I've been drooling over the "Eyes" since it came out.


In case you haven't noticed,I like cats & all things cat like :D
 
A graphic sebenza's look really neat. I'd look at one of those.

If you want something compact I would look at the Strider PT CC. Small, light, and I believe it still comes with a Lifter's Leather sheath.
 
JTR357 said:
Yea,I hear that T.K.C.:thumbup:

I've been drooling over the "Eyes" since it came out.


In case you haven't noticed,I like cats & all things cat like :D
Click to expand...
Yeah, I HAVE noticed that. I had a friend who got a Dog Paws Sebbie, but called it a Cat Paw Sebbie.

The PT IS a great little knife. I am loving my Ranger grrn & stone washed bladed PT.
 
I've had Striders and Sebebzas. I've had SnGs and SnG-CCs, as well as PT-CCs. They're all gone and the Sebs have stayed.

The Striders were excellent knives. Mine all locked up solidly, had no h/v BP, and the blades were centered when closed, except for my first SnG. They were very comfortable to hold and use, but very awkward for me to open & close. That's just me... nothing to do with the knife designs or build quality.

I don't clip my knives and the regular SnG was uncomfortable riding in my pocket. It didn't carry as well IWB as my Sebs and Spydercos, either. One day, I looked at the Sebs and the Striders and realized that as good as the Striders were, they didn't do anything that my Sebs wouldn't do, and the Sebs are just easier for me to carry and manipulate. They are also the easiest knives to d/ & r/a that I've ever seen... and the tool comes with them.

For pocket friendliness in a Seb, I'd go with a small regular CGG or a small 21 CGG. If you're set on a Strider, I'd take T.K.C. and So-Lo's advice and go with a CC model. You will find that the Striders have a shorter cutting edge than the Sebs because of the choil in the blade. Don't know whether that matters to you or not.

Either brand should do anything you want and do it well, and both are well supported by their CS.
 
Once again,Thanks for the helpful suggestions.:thumbup:

When I said 3" blade.I meant the cutting edge.That's the way I look at a knife anyway,by the "cutting edge".I'm pretty sure the small seb & the sng both have a cutting edge just a hair under 3".


Now I'm leaning towards the CGG Small Sebbie over the SNG.I have no interest in a PT.It's just a little too small for my taste.

Ahhh decisions,decisions :o


So-Lo,I wish I could get both at once,but if I was gonna throw down 8-$900 on a knife purchase,it would be a custom.
 
Last edited:
I understand how you were comparing the SnG edge to a small Seb, but because of your comment about wanting an EDC for the summer, I don't think there's much difference in carrying the lg. Seb vs a SnG.

I forgot about the PT (I've had 2 of those, too). While it's small & light, I personally felt that it didn't really have any advantages over the small Seb, which is why I got rid of mine & kept the small Seb.

If you do decide on a small Seb, that in itself is going to be quite a decision maker, lol. The CGGs & inlays make it that much more difficult. I personally love my small classic micarta model, but I've had a bocote inlay model & a small CGG, so I can understand the dilemma to that, too.

Again, good luck.
 
I own a bunch of Sebenzas and no SnG/SmF's, but have handled several of the latter. The Striders are pretty interesting, I would definitely have gotten an SnG by now, were it not for the effects of the recession.

IMO, the SnG feels quite a bit bulkier than the Small Sebenza, so if a more svelte package is a primary concern, that seems like an issue. The CC SnG would be more of a compromise there, or maybe you even want to look at the PT.

Have you considered the Small XM-18? I haven't actually seen one in the flesh, but that might be something to look at if you are cross-shopping the SnG with the Small Seb. Not speaking from first-hand experience here, but the Small XM probably would be a good combination of Sebenza tolerance and Strider robustness.

Sebenza/SnX/XM-X seems like the grand trifecta of that sort of knife to me. Even if you don't like them all equally well, I think having all three would enhance your appreciation of each individual knife - they would collectively add up to more than the sum of their parts.

Just sort of musing here. :)
 
John,

If you want to pay the shipping I will ship you one of each. Should run around $10-15$ each way :cool:

DGG SNG, and a Small regular BG-42 :thumbup:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top