Heresy and a Large Sebenza Question

[knappster007]

My question is probably borderline heresy on this forum, but I'll ask it anyway.

I'm new to Chris Reeve products. I started with a small Sebenza 21, it is was simply the best knife that I have ever had by far. Design, fit and finish are near perfection. Very happy with this knife.

Then after reading about the Umnumzaan, I bought a Wilson Combat version of the Umnumzaan. I have been alternating between the small Sebbie and the Umnum for a short while. Except for when I'm wearing dress pants or lighter shorts, I have come to greatly prefer the Umnumzaan. It is just SO SO smooth. Its hard to believe, but to me it seems to have taken everything I liked about the small Sebenza and improved on it (and supersized it).

My question is this: because the Umnumzaan and Large Sebenza are so close in size, would a Large Sebenza be left in the drawer if I had both an Umnumzaan and a Large Sebenza?

For those of you with both, which do you carry more frequently? Has the Umnum pushed your large Sebenza out of rotation?

 

[peter r]

i tote my zaan in the outdoors. for camping hiking, fishing, and the like. my large sebbie while almost the same size as the zaan, is relegated to indoor chores. like cutting boxes and stuff like that.

i like the secure feeling of the zaan when im in nature, it adds an "i can deal with it" vibe to any hike. while the large sebbie gives an "i look good cutting stuff" feel and is meant to be shown off indoors.

 

[Josh K]

I like them both and use them frequently. The Umnumzaan feels more at home in blue jeans and my lg. regular seems better in the city, but that doesn't stop me from carrying them both.

 

[mchenrytl]

Just to muddy the waters, I prefer my large or small Sebbie for jeans and the umnumzaan for cargo/outdoor pants. For dress/work, I carry a Mnandi. The pocketclip on it looks just like a pen, so it's very low profile.

-Troy

 

[Fooj]

My question is probably borderline heresy on this forum, but I'll ask it anyway.

I'm new to Chris Reeve products. I started with a small Sebenza 21, it is was simply the best knife that I have ever had by far. Design, fit and finish are near perfection. Very happy with this knife.

Then after reading about the Umnumzaan, I bought a Wilson Combat version of the Umnumzaan. I have been alternating between the small Sebbie and the Umnum for a short while. Except for when I'm wearing dress pants or lighter shorts, I have come to greatly prefer the Umnumzaan. It is just SO SO smooth. Its hard to believe, but to me it seems to have taken everything I liked about the small Sebenza and improved on it (and supersized it).

My question is this: because the Umnumzaan and Large Sebenza are so close in size, would a Large Sebenza be left in the drawer if I had both an Umnumzaan and a Large Sebenza?

For those of you with both, which do you carry more frequently? Has the Umnum pushed your large Sebenza out of rotation?

The Sebenza folks would say:

• Sebenza = the gold standard -- why carry anything else?
• The pivot bushing is the bomb!
• Sebenza's a better slicer.
• Let the Umnumzaan be refined for 20 years, then I'll look at it.
• Don't need a special tool.
• Hate the scallops on the Umnumzaan blade.
• The best part of the Umnumzaan is the perforated washers, and now I've got them on my Sebenza.

The Umnumzaan camp would say:

• Latest and greatest from the best knife company on the planet.
• Umnumzaan's stronger, more robust.
• Better ergonomics on the handle.
• Love the quiet operation.
• Ceramic ball is a superior design.
• Need the special tool to achieve the oversized pivot, and the pivot HW is classier looking. Good tradeoff.
• Love the scallops on the blade.
• Glass breaker!

I've got both, but gotta admit, I'm a Sebenza guy . . . but then, I drive a car from the 80's, haven't yet graduated to cable TV, and don't text unless forced to do so . . .

 

[nyefmaker]

The Sebenza folks would say:

• Sebenza = the gold standard -- why carry anything else?
• The pivot bushing is the bomb!
• Sebenza's a better slicer.
• Let the Umnumzaan be refined for 20 years, then I'll look at it.
• Don't need a special tool.
• Hate the scallops on the Umnumzaan blade.
• The best part of the Umnumzaan is the perforated washers, and now I've got them on my Sebenza.

The Umnumzaan camp would say:

• Latest and greatest from the best knife company on the planet.
• Umnumzaan's stronger, more robust.
• Better ergonomics on the handle.
• Love the quiet operation.
• Ceramic ball is a superior design.
• Need the special tool to achieve the oversized pivot, and the pivot HW is classier looking. Good tradeoff.
• Love the scallops on the blade.
• Glass breaker!

I've got both, but gotta admit, I'm a Sebenza guy . . . but then, I drive a car from the 80's, haven't yet graduated to cable TV, and don't text unless forced to do so . . .

You make some very good points for each camp. In the end, it comes down to personal preference................

I used to EDC a Large Regular Sebenza, I even had it custom engraved. I used it for everything under the sun. Food prep, whittling wood, cutting cardboard ( lots of it ), even cutting tar paper for a shed roof. It performed well beyond my wildest expectations. Way beyond any folding should.....................
Well, I passed on the zaan when it first came out. Mainly because I liked my favorite edc large regular sebenza so much. I traded a strider sng to a fellow forum member for a used zaan ( in great condition ) and since that day I got the zaan ( last fall ), it has been in pocket. I have used it for food prep, whittling wood, using it as a wood scraper ( pics in what have you used your umnumzaan for today thread ), cut tar paper and even scoured shingles with it when doing another roofing job. I use the swedge almost daily to scour cardboard and such. Take everything you love about the sebenza and Super Size It !!! Both are absolutely awsome knives. You cannot go wrong with either, and in the end, you will probably end up with both anyways. I do know that I would like to get a tanto umnumzaan someday. Its always nice to have a CRK wish list...lol. The only thing I dont like about the zaan is that it has banished my beloved sebenza to the safe. I never made a big deal about having to use a special tool for the zaan. If anything, I think it should be included with a zaan. I took mine apart and cleaned it very thoroughly and lubed it with CRK lube when it last fall. I have washed it several times and with the new perferated washers, its still as smooth as when I first cleaned it. It opens almost like an assisted openign knife, its that smooth. The sebenza with the old washers, if I waashed it, it would get rough and snug up a little because the grease would get washed out slightly. The sebenza, everyone I have owned has given you that hydraulic feel when opening and closing it. The zaan is more of a quiet super smooth feeling. I can see why small sebenza lovers are clamouring for a small umnumzaan. The zaan is definately CRK's biggest and toughest knife to date. I do wish they would start to make graphic designs. Perhaps a plain handle with unique graphics ??? I am sure it will happen eventually. Or even perhaps a damascus bladed umnumzaan ???

Long Live The Umnumzaan and Sebenza !!!