I'm addicted. Input wanted.

H

Hair

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Nov 9, 2005
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Since I was a kid, I have liked knives. Because... you know... I'm a guy. But I rarely had to actually use a knife, and for the first 18 or so years of my life, I didn't have a job. So I only bought cheapo knives, and they made me very happy.

Then I got a job at a newspaper. This not only gave me many more chances to use a knive, but also increased my income over the guitar lessons I was giving previously. So, now that I had more of a need for knives, and more money, I started getting some higher-end knives. Nothing extreme, just stuff like the Buck 110, Spyderco Native, Kershaw Leek, Boker AK74 Automatic, Buck 119, Buck Nighthawk, Buck 309 etc... Good knives, but nothing that makes grown men weep when they see it.

Well, recently I decided to just bite the bullet and get some of the big boys (in terms of price and name, not necesarily size). I went to a local knife store intending on buying a Skirmish, but they were charging far too much over 'net prices. But before I left, I handled an Mcusta Kasumi. I fell in love and bought it.

Now I have a problem. I am addicted.

CCCs use to satisfy me, and I still use them at work since they are good enough to cut packing tape and plastic wrap, and I don't have to worry about losing or loaning out a cheapo knife. But it has been the higher-end knives that I spend hours playing with in my room, not my junkers. Now, the Mcusta is what I play with. I still love my mid-level knives, and I still love my junkers, but now I won't be happy buying a "good bang for 30 bucks" knife. I have enough of those, and am ready to move up.

But because the knives I want cost so much more, they will come fewer and further between. So I have to make sure I get the right knife for me.

I've done the searches and spent lots of time lurking on this forum, so I known the pros and cons of a Sebenza versus a Strider, and a Skirmish versus a Manix. But I want to get some more specialized input for what I want.

I am considering the Manix, SERE 2000, Sebenza (large, classic), and any folding Strider. What other knives should I look at? I want a large, strong folder. Price isn't much of a concern unless it costs much more than a Strider. 500-600 is about my limit.

I have handled the Military and Police, and I didn't fall in love. I have handled the Manix and Skirmish and prefer them. I have not handled the SERE 2000, Sebenza, or any Strider (other than Buck Striders).

I want:

-A large folder. My Mcusta will serve as my sleek little slicer. I want my big-bucks folder to be a hefty piece of meat. This doesn't mean bigger is better, but please don't suggest "mini" versions of bigger knives, or anything smaller than the SERE 2000.

-Something very strong, maintainence free, and worry free. One of the things that prevents me from enjoying my knives more is my OCD. I have a hard time even touching any of my knives (even my junkers) without cleaning it off. I am very scared of rust, nicks, scratches etc... So I want a knife that I can treat like a tool and not have to worry about rust, scratches etc... So perhaps the titanium handle Skirmish and Sebenza would not be for me? Do they scratch too easily? Would the special Black/Blue Skirmish with the ceramic coating on the handle be better? I don't abuse any of my knives, but I want a knife that I know I never have to baby. A knife I could abuse and not have to worry about.

-I am willing to trade pure sharpness for some additional toughness. I would rather be able to do some light chopping than shave my arm hair.

-Looks do matter. I wish they didn't, but they do. I think the Skirmish and Sebenza look great. The Al Mar and Manix look pretty good. I am not sure about the Strider.

-I prefer utility and function over "tactile" or SD considerations. Am I correct to assume that the Sebenza is a better utility design than the Skirmish? Are Striders good utility knives, or more "tacticle oriented"? I am talking mostly about blade shape and handle ergonomics.

Which of these knives will be the best for me? Is the Strider *THAT* indescrutable that I would fit my "worry-free" criteria better than the others? Or are they all pretty much the same in that area?

I know that "is the Sebenza worth the money?" is a silly question, but is the Sebenza the right knife for me? I am very willing to pay the extra for it (or a Strider) if it will hold up to abuse better than a Skirmish, Manix, or SERE.

I am fairly drawn to the Sebenza because of the name and the hype. I hate to admit it, though. I think of Sebenza as the Ferrari of knives. It may not be the best knife (or the fastest car), but it is the name that everyone identifies with a superknife (or a super car). A suped up Corvette may kill any road Ferrari and for far less money, but when people see you in a Ferrari they will say "wow", while a Corvette is more mundane. I hate to be that superficial, but I am drawn the Sebenza for that reason.

I am just worried about the titanium handle getting scuffed up too easily.

I know the answer to all of my questions may as well be "just handle them all and pick the one you like the most", but I'd like some input from people that have really used any of all of these knives and can speak about their long-term hold-up-ness. Obviously they are all very tough, and will last a long time, and they will each make me very happy, but if I am going to spend 120-450 dollars, I want to make sure I am getting exactly what is right for me.

Since I am willing to bite the bullet and get the Sebbie, is that what I should do? In other words, if I get the Skirmish, will I still want the Sebbie? I think I will :( On the other hand, the ceramic coating on the Black/Blue Skirmish might make it better for me despite the higher price and hype of the Sebenza?

Sorry for the rant and rambling... I'm still excited about the Mcusta :D

Thanks for any input. Even if you just want to vamp and give some general opinions about the knives, it will be helpful.

Lastly, if anyone could list "good deal" prices for any of these knives, it would be very helpful. I have a good idea what they all cost, but I want to know the good bargains are.
 
Well...honestly, they're all good knives so...whichever you like best!

Personally, I love the Skirmish, but it is a beast. However, the black/blue version is just :eek: gorgeous.

Take a look at the Doug Ritter Griptilian as well.
 
my mini skirmish is indestructable. simple,framelock,tight,sharp and a good deal for the money. I think you can find one on the net for around $125!!
I paid $150 but I got to touchy feely first. I have only handled a small sebbie but was very impressed and when I get the money up it will be my next expensive knife.I think its a good step up from the skirmish. S30v is a great steel and I have no problems with the titanium handle.

good luck!!...................paul
 
My vote is for the Camillus Dominator. It is simply suberb. There is also the Darrel Ralph/Combat elite flipper thingy that you can get for $199, maybe less on ebay, but it will cost you an extra $100 bucks for one with an assisted opener. If you're looking for a better slicer (although the dominator slices fairly well) you might wish to consider a Buck Mayo framelock, it's also smaller and rides very easily in the pocket for a knife that size.
Oh, and about deciding on which knives you want, don't worry, just get what your heart desires, as you'll soon be buying your second choices before long since you can't help yourself. Welcome to our disease.
 
blade man- I do want a Griptilian, and the Rittergrip is the version I will likely get. It seems very worth it for the extra 20-30 bucks. However, that is a knife I would get in addition to my next "expensive" knife purchase. A Rittergrip may be nearly the price of a Manix or SERE2K, but I don't feel it is in the same class. I consider it more like a higher-end mid-level knife while the Manix and SERE are good-value top-level folders.

The Black/Blue Skirmish is a beauty, and I have heard that the ceramic coating is *VERY* durable. So it sounds like it will fit the bill very nicely. I like that it is a beast. However, it just isn't a Sebenza and I think I have Sebenza fever. I will try to handle the Sebenza today at the knife store if I get a chance. I didn't ask to handle it the other day as I had no intention of buying it (but I was thinking about buying the Skirmish), but now I think it is what I will end up buying. If it doesn't speak to me any more than the Skirmish, then I think I will save the difference and get the Skirmish.

paul- Since you have a Mini-Skirmish and want a Sebenza, do you think I would still crave a Sebenza even after I get a Skirmish? In the long run, I hope to own a Sebenza, Skirmish, SERE2K, Manix, Strider, and many more. But the time between each of those purchases will be very long. So I want what will satisfy me right now. I don't want to pay 170 for a rare Black/Blue ceramic coated Skirmish just to still crave a Sebenza. I think getting a Sebenza might cure my "I need a new knife" blues a little better. I could be wrong though, as I also don't want to spend 350 on a knife just to still crave the 170-dollar beauty/beast.

Like I said, I will handle a Sebenza before I make any decision. It may not impress me that much. But I have admitted to myself that I am not just a knife user, but a knife collector. And the Sebenza is a high-end standard of the industry. A McLaren F1 or Gibson Les Paul of the knife world. Not the best knife/car/guitar, but certainly the standard and something a collector should have at some point. I'm going to spend the money on it some day, so it might as well be now.

Walking- I am not a big fan of how the Dominator looks. It is a great knife, for sure, but I have considered it and it really isn't on my list right now. I will look into the DR Combat Elite. Never considered it before. I really like Mayo's designs and am not above buying the Buck version of a Mayo or Strider, but at this point, I just want to splurge a bit, so I would rather get a real Mayo than a Buck version. I know the Buck Mayo TNT is better than any knife I own, and comparable to the knives I am considering, but for my next big purchase, I want to get the "real thing" whatever it is. Even if a real Manix is not better than the Buck Mayo TNT. If I get a Mayo, I want the best one. It isn't logical, but I've finally come to a point where I can accept paying so much for a knife (where I have previously tried to get good bang for the buck knives between 20 and 70 dollars), so I don't want to settle because I might change my mind soon! If a real Mayo is out of my price range (and it may be, I've never checked), then I would rather get a real Sebenza than a Buck Mayo. Again, nothing against Buck versions of knives (I *LOVE* Buck), and I hate to sound elitist. But I am normally the kind of person that would get the Buck version of a Strider or Mayo instead of paying extra for the real thing, but I am going through change where I just want the "real deal" even if I am paying for a name.

I totally agree with you on getting what the heart desires. The other day when I got my Mcusta, I was looking at the Skirmish, Manix, Police, Military, Buck Striders, some KABARs, etc... The salesman even pulled the Striders out of the case before I even pointed to them because he knew they were the kind of knife I was looking for. Almost on a whim, I asked to see the Kasumi before I left (I decided not to buy since their prices were so high compared to the Internet) and I just feel in love. I would never have guess that I would be leaving with a small fancy folder. I am a big fan of smaller knives, but I had put myself in the "your next knife will be a tank with an edge" mindset. But the heart won out over the mind.

The cool thing about the Sebenza is that the store actually charges about the normal price for it. Perhaps because CRK is more strict with dealers about prices. They wanted 280 for the Black/Blue Skirmish, while I can get it for 170 online. I hate waiting for things in the mail, but not *THAT* much. With the Sebenza, I can try it out and, if the heart wants it, put it on lay-away and get it in a month or two, picking it up as soon as I can afford it, rather than ordering it online at the same time and having to wait. With a Skirmish or Manix, I would have to buy online since my heart doesn't have a job so it won't pay an extra 100 bucks to save a few days of waiting :D

Thanks guys!
 
Well, the Skimishes handle will scratch up pretty easy, the Sere2K is almost a mirror polished blade so it too gets marks kinda easy, The Strders tiger stripes will wear off as well. I think you should get a stonewashed blade or a rough satin blade for what you want. I would go with a Manix or a L.C.C. if you can find one.
 
my experience has been i started off liking tantos. bought S&W,Colt you know United cutlery stuff. Then got smart and moved on up to Timberline and got the Spyderco bug and have a few of them. Then I moved up to the Mini Skirmish which to me is a top shelf knife. I was not that all on the Sebenza craze until I saw the ones with computer graphic designs and got interested. I handled one a few weeks ago and was sold especially since it is a framelock and very simple. I fell in love with it but didnt have the bucks. It will be my next BIG buy and maybe a Stryder tanto next. Seems you will always find something else you want and have to have thats the nature of this addiction.
 
i still want a Harley Davidson knife though I believe they are all United cutlery. I checked some of them out at the Harley shop and was surprised they were tight,no blade play. Seemed to be made with decent quality. But you pay for that little Harley Davidson name written on it!!!
 
Your story is a lot like mine, Paul, expect I don't like tantos. We first generation knife knuts have to start somewhere.

I really like the computer graphic Sebenzas, too, but I think I am going to go with a normal one first. I don't mind spending the extra money, but for now I think I'd rather have a normal Sebenza and a Rittergrip for the same price. If I carry the Sebenza as much as I think I will, I can sell it and upgrade to a fancy production or even a custom Sebenza later.

Good info, Sam. I didn't know the SERE blade was polished and would pick up prints. That is a major turn-off for me. I have some knives that pick up prints, and I still love them, but I rotate my EDC, well, every day, so it doesn't get much of a chance to bug me. But with this big purchase, I am hoping to buy a knife I will want to use every day. I don't want to pay over 100 dollars for a "sometimes" knife. And I have noticed that the knives I use the most are the ones I can use and use and use without getting all anal about cleaning.

My Leek is very good about this, and so is my Mcusta. So these knives will see a lot of use from me. My Native and 110 are great, and I bring them with me a lot, but I find myself having to whipe them all of the time, so they see less use than they would otherwise.

I haven't heard anything about the titanium on the Sebenza scratching easily. Does it as well?

Does anyone have a ceramic-coated Skirmish and can comment and how well it holds up?
 
Save your money and buy the Sebenza. There just isn't a better made knife around today. It's beautiful, cuts well, and since it doesn't have that ridiculous recurve, you can actually sharpen it. It'll hold its value better than any BM, and should you decide to ever get rid of it, you can put it up here and it'll be gone in just a few minutes, assuming you didn't just completely abuse it. CRK customer service makes BM look like the lunch line at a gulag, and they'll refinish it and even upgrade it later if you want (for a fee, of course). Save your funds, and get the original and best high-end production knife made today. You won't be sorry. I just traded off my small Sebbie (like a dumbass), and have been scheming a way to get another one ever since. Just wait and get the Sebenza...you won't be sorry. That being said, my next purchase is a Mcusta Yoroi.lol. They're right...a knife addiction is worse than heroin, and you're always seeing something else you want...I just bought a Lone Wolf Loveless folder and a T2. If I can pick up the Yoroi and a large Sebenza, my knife life will be complete. Until something else comes along.
 
"Once I just get a ... my knife life will be complete" is something I have said to myself every week :)
 
Until you get a Sebenza, you will always want one!! Trust me on that!! The knives you have chosen are excellent!! Do yourself a favor and GET yourself a Sebie! If for some unGodly reason, you DON'T like it, I am sure you can sell it or trade it for something that YOU like!!
 
Sebenza is a great knife but if you're worried about scratches any titanium bead blasted handle will scratch.I've got 3 different types of Sebbies and their terrific working folders.You may want to look at some custom folders.There are dozens of makers you can choose from in the $400 to $500 range.In my opinion R Hinderer is one of the best.
 
There was a good "Skirmish vs. Sebenza" thread awhile back in the Reviews Forum.

In the Pass-around Forum, a Sebenza from Straight River Knife is on a permanent passaround. You'll probably have to wait a couple of months to try the knife if you're interested, but you get to carry it for a whole week and see if you like it.
 
TheKnifeCollector said:
Until you get a Sebenza, you will always want one!! Trust me on that!! The knives you have chosen are excellent!! Do yourself a favor and GET yourself a Sebie! If for some unGodly reason, you DON'T like it, I am sure you can sell it or trade it for something that YOU like!!
Click to expand...


TheKnifeCollector said it perfectly. From your posts you sound like you really want a Sebenza. I have a Sebenza and several skirmishs. I like both. If I could only keep one it would be the Sebenza. I like the idea that I can break the knife all the way down and clean it. CRK even encourages it. I also like the bushing around the pivot pin on the Sebenza. If you check the for sale section you can pick up a lightly used one at a good price. You can then add a skirmish next year. Good Luck!
 
I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the knives you have listed. You have clearly done your homework, and personal preference will guide you the rest of the way.

I think a classic Sebenza with micarta inlay would probably be a good way to go: the bead blast finish doesn’t show pocket wear, the micarta is maintenance free, and the tumble finish blade looks fine after use. It is a great utility knife, and you can trust everything about the design, manufacture, and materials.

I have a SERE 2K, and it is my favorite folder after the Sebenza (this may change when my Box Elder Mnandi arrives). I have no problems with the liner lock, the VG 10 blade is very robust, and the fit and finish is better than most knives in its price range. If you want an intermediate step the SERE 2K might be a good choice.
 
If I had to recommend one knife, it would be the Sebenza. But the titanium will scuff. I won't say scratch, unless you are real rough on it. The scuffing evens out into a random pattern that I personally like a lot. My tanto Sebenza, though, has a sivery polished face on the graphics side that does not scuff the way the darker gray lockside does.

Eventually, too, you should look at a Strider, an SnG or SMF. These are less polished or elegant looking but extremely tough, sharp knives that will out-beat your beaters. The distinctive handle shape is an excellent grip.

If you want a real nice knife to assuage your lust for steel until you can decide on a more expensive fix, go for the original Buck Mayo. Beautiful, strong, sharp, compact.

Before you get too carried away with production knives, I would hold off on the Skirmish and SERE2K, great knives though they are, until you're sure it's worth buying them anyway, since it will keep you from getting the Sebenza or other high-end knife that you seem to be going for anyway. And don't forget that at the price you're willing to pay, you can get some NICE customs, like Darrell Ralph or Rick Hinderer.
 
I love titanium grips myself, but I would not recommend them if scratches bother you. Your best bet is probably either the Manix or the similar Chinook II. They are tough, but also genuinely great cutting tools. Both will stand up to hard use and wear without showing it. And they offer far better grip security than anything else on your list.

--Bob Q
 
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