I'm ready to spend $400 to $500 on a knife that's worth it - ideas?

As for the Umnumzaan vs the large Sebenza? As much as I love the Umnumzaan I like the Large Sebenza more. It has a thicker tip, and very smooth flowing lines, I have had a ton of $300-$900 knives and the knife that feels the most worth the money are always the sebenzas. Striders are always a let down and I always feel like I paid too much for them... but they do have a way of working their selves into your pocket allthe damn time once you pay for them. So I guess, over all in that sense they are worth it, but be prepared for a little let down when you buy one brand new and they may have a few scratches and bumps on them and the blade may not be centered, the action will be rough... and the lock will probably be very sticky. Get over all that and break it in and you will find yourself with a nice lightweight EDC that can handle damn near anything you can throw at it. :D

I know it's not really the answer your looking for, but with the Sebenza's smooth flowing lines and thicker Ti scales they really are a "hard use" knife that looking in place anywhere it goes. From church in your back pocket to remodeling your kitchen... To out around the campfire whittling hotdog sticks, the Large Sebenza just fills the role perfectly. Did I also mention it has a much thicker tip than the Umnumzaan? :)
 
Last edited:
Shameless plug, maybe poke around the link in my sig, I have a ton of YouTube porn with a lot of these higher end production knives listed so far :cool:
 
Then you have the HTM knives. Darrel Ralph makes some sweet knives. I have a DDR Gunhammer 2.0 on the way, should be here Wednesday. After shipping it's around $310. I could not find a decently priced Trigger Maze which was my first choice.
 
Yeah, get the Sebbie. I got a user off the exchange, which was good because I never thought to baby it. Right away, I started stabbing refrigerators, and whacking spines.
 
Thanks, everyone for your time and comments. I just bought a standard Large Sebenza while the 10% off everything over $99.00 deal was still on plus the $6.10 shipping credit - total discount is $44.60 for a grand total of $347.90 shipped for a brand new Large Sebenza from a top notch dealer :D

I had NO idea I would be buying a Sebenza now or in the near term but the consistency of CRK knives OOTB for an expensive knife was the compelling factor . . .

I might have to wait a week for it to ship but it will be worth it with the discount
 
If it was my cold hard cash, I'd have to take a long hard look at Yuna or RJ Martin, not that I don't like Striders or CRK'S (I definitely want an Umnum and more than a handful of Strider blades) I just feel like those two are a little more off the beaten path...
 
Reeek said:
Thanks, everyone for your time and comments. I just bought a standard Large Sebenza while the 10% off everything over $99.00 deal was still on plus the $6.10 shipping credit - total discount is $44.60 for a grand total of $347.90 shipped for a brand new Large Sebenza from a top notch dealer :D

I had NO idea I would be buying a Sebenza now or in the near term but the consistency of CRK knives OOTB for an expensive knife was the compelling factor . . .

I might have to wait a week for it to ship but it will be worth it with the discount
Click to expand...

Nice! You got a great deal on that. After you have used it for a few years, you could probably make a profit on that. lol I have no doubt you will be happy with a sebbie. CRK are top of the line folders. Briefly touching on the CRK v Strider debate, i think its split down the middle on how many people like one or the other. They are very comparable, just down to preference really. I love my umnum. I have the utmost respect for CRK's in general. The sebenza is a tried and true favorite among forumites. Good deal, and good decision sir.
 
Reeek said:
Thanks, everyone for your time and comments. I just bought a standard Large Sebenza while the 10% off everything over $99.00 deal was still on plus the $6.10 shipping credit - total discount is $44.60 for a grand total of $347.90 shipped for a brand new Large Sebenza from a top notch dealer :D

I had NO idea I would be buying a Sebenza now or in the near term but the consistency of CRK knives OOTB for an expensive knife was the compelling factor . . .

I might have to wait a week for it to ship but it will be worth it with the discount
Click to expand...



Congrats on your first Sebenza Reeek:thumbup:
You're gonna love it!
 
Are you dead set on a folder ?
I'll make you a hand crafted knife for 500$
It wont have gold plate and silver LOL.. it will be a use the hell out
of an abuse the hell out of quality of knife. A knife that you probably
will never need to sharpen.

What I offer is this.
I video your knife from start to finish. From the steel spring I break off.
To the finished product. I then burn it on a DVD which goes with your hand made knife.
To this day. I am "THE" only knife maker who provides video proof!
IN this video proof. You get to see your knife endure my abuse test.
I cut a brass bar. To ensure the blades edge is tempered properly. **remember it gets video'd so you see your knife take this abuse and you know it will perform for you**.
If it's a bowie sized blade you want. I hack a 2x4 in half 3 times, and then shave my leg which gets video'd as well to show you that this knife doesn't dull if your in a survival situation you know the knife will cut and cut. I warranty it until I stop breathing. I video my wife making your custom sheath, and your initials get tooled to the sheath. I will steel hot stamp my initials on one side of the blade, and if you wish I will steel stamp your initials on the other side of the blade enforcing owners property markings!

You watch your knife get built every time I upload videos of it being hand made.
I dont use machines, I have something against them. I am a neo tribal metal smith to the primitive nature.

Here is an example bushcraft survival bowie. The owner wanted the hammer marks left to show it was hand crafted, and he likes the look of a smith-ed blade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPbnRzkjMF8
For that bowie I charge 800$. For something smaller, but same quality and style + video burned on DVD for authentic proof of knife made FOR YOUR.

I will charge 500$. Sooner you want to get rolling the faster I get to hammering.
This Bowie was made for a 6ft5, 270lb man with big hands. So to accommodate you better I would need to know the widest width of your hand to suite the knife to yourself.
 
You done good on the full size Seb. Real good.

Although you will still want a Strider and will buy one down the road... Not saying that's a good or bad thing, just sayin'.

I don't own any CRK/Hinderer/Strider anymore - just pricey little buggers.
 
if i was yourself i would wait it out to see what the market is going to show us in the near future as to new models. models you've mentioned certainly are'nt going to be hard to procure & when one is considering a lot of money you may want to see if something more desirable appears shortly. remember the germans, italians, & even russians are really starting to bring out some fantastic knives.of course the great fountianhead of new innovations [america] is almost weekly showing up with newbies.
dennis
 
Thanks, Everyone. As stated, I'm still in the market for another high folder too :D

Looking forward to my first Sebenza, JTR357 ;)
 
Reeek said:
Thanks, Everyone. As stated, I'm still in the market for another high folder too :D

Looking forward to my first Sebenza, JTR357 ;)
Click to expand...

That Sebenza should be smooth and plenty tough enough, I would let that be my higher end production piece. With that said, now it's time to pick you out a custom maker and have one made just for you to your specs!!!! Sebenzas are excellent knives but there is just something about having a excellent custom made to your specs!!
 
I had similar fears about buying a Strider, worrying that I would get one that had problems with centering, blade play, ect.. Talk to Dan at Plaza Cutlery. They have great prices, good stock and will hand pick one for you. I got a perfect PT CC from them. They are a great store.

I own both a small Sebenza and the CC. I love my Sebenza, but the Strider is a thing of beauty. I will never part with either.

... That and I live in NY and will probably never get to buy a knife online again. So I better enjoy what I have. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
 
I would get a ZT 0300 and spend the rest of my money on a nice buchcraft knife from Fiddleback Forge or Nick Allen NWA.
 
I've owned two 0200's and three 030x's at one time. I have a 0551 to fit that bill right now and LOVE it. I have a second one coming and a 0550 when they are released too. I also have two production HEST Folders coming and an LE Sterile on the way ;)

I agree that the ZT's rock. Unfortunatley, we're dealing with addiction here. Not absolute need :D


shaving sharp said:
I would get a ZT 0300 and spend the rest of my money on a nice buchcraft knife from Fiddleback Forge or Nick Allen NWA.
Click to expand...
 
DDR (Darrel Ralph) HTM Gunhammer or Trigger Maze. Can get the HTM model or custom from Darrel. IMO it has no match. Great in assisted Flipper. Ergonomics, materials ,fit and finish are 1st class. Blade geometry is very practical. Pick one up and you will know many hours of thought and research went in to designing the perfect knife.

IMO the Strider is a good knife but poor ergonomics, and will tear your pockets up.
The Hinderer is a great knife but IMO very overpriced and a bit rough on the pockets as well. Blade on Hinderer looks cool but not really as usable for daily life chores.
I do like my Sebenza. You will not go wrong with a SEB. Simple and smooth. Very well made.
 
Last edited:
I had a SMF-CC and traded it. Fun, tough knife but not the fit and finish I'd like in $500 knife. Had a production XM-18 and traded it as well. Outstanding fit and finish but the spanto blade profile is not something I wanted to carry daily for cutting. Prying open a paint can or a car door maybe, but not cutting cardboard or food.

The CR knives (Sebenza and Umnumzaan) may not appear as "tough" as these other two, but their fit and finish is uniformly impeccable, the customer service is amazing, and I would venture that either will perform 99% of the tasks you would ask of one of the other two makers. Practically speaking, at this level all of these knives hold their value well, so you can recoup most of your money if you don't like the one you've chosen.

I'd recommend looking at the Umnumzaan Tanto or Sebenza Tanto if you are concerned about tip strength.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top