Inkosi vs Small 21 Consensus?

T

TrojanSteel

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Jul 22, 2013
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Have we generally decided that one is a better design than the other? Or still just a matter of personal preference? Which do you y'all prefer?
 
I am thinking that this thread would work well in the Chris Reeve section.

As for the question that was posed, I think it is essentially down to hand size and comfort.

Though I am not definite if the inkosi had a bushing design or just washers. So while that may result it a differing "feel" over time, it is still a CRK and covered by the same Fantastic warranty.
 
I've owned both simultaneously. Sold my small 21.... If you've got big hands neither would be great but the small 21 does allow for (slightly) larger hands.

I doubt you'll find a consensus.
 
I'd vote for the Inkosi! Being just a tad bit shorter doesn't really effect your grip too much imho. Just the pinky being partially on or fully off while in my hand. I like the smaller size and don't lose much if anything in the grip.
 
I just sold my small 21 today. Didn't need both and found some other knives - wanted to free up some cash, so I decided to sell the Sebenza and keep the Inkosi.

The taller blade is what ended up doing it for me in the end. The Inkosi is just growing on me more and more.
 
This is a hard call! Honestly too close for me to call right now. But I don't plan on getting rid of either one!! I believe the Inkosi is getting a little more pocket time only because I am a little protective of the wood inlays on my small now that I have the Inkosi. Both cut great . . . In my mind that's a tossup. I do like that the small can be dressed up with inlays so that is a plus to me.
 
I don't think one design is necessarily better but I am a bit surprised at how much I like the Inkosi in comparison to the Small Sebenza. Even more surprising is how much I like the Inkosi over the LARGE Sebenza now.

I think the thing the Inkosi does best is that it's both big enough AND small enough (if that makes any sense.)

B
 
Small 21, the Inkosi does not have the pivot bushing and imo it's less streamlined compared to the small 21. I like the overall design of the 21 better. I also prefer the thinner blade on the small 21.
 
I looked at/fondled an Inkosi last week. Nice knife, and of course the fit and finish were as perfect as any CRK I own. That said, I love the simplicity of the Sebenza. No fuss to get the pivot "just right", and only one size tool needed to take it apart/put it together. Not disparaging the Inkosi in any manner, but my small Sebenzas fill the sub 3" blade niche for me.
 
stevekolt said:
I looked at/fondled an Inkosi last week. Nice knife, and of course the fit and finish were as perfect as any CRK I own. That said, I love the simplicity of the Sebenza. No fuss to get the pivot "just right", and only one size tool needed to take it apart/put it together. Not disparaging the Inkosi in any manner, but my small Sebenzas fill the sub 3" blade niche for me.
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Couldn't agree more. I think the 25 should have been named large Inkosi and not a sebenza...sebenza is synonymous with pivot bushing and no loctite.
 
To complicate things, there is the Insingo blade. I really like the Small Insingo, many people do.

I also think I could like the Inkosi blade but not the Standard blade.

Consensus, not from me, sorry.:o
 
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I tried both and got the Inkosi, but I can see getting a small Insingo 21 at some point. They really are not that different in how they feel. If there is any way you can handle them in person you will know the right answer for you.
 
Brian_T said:
I don't think one design is necessarily better but I am a bit surprised at how much I like the Inkosi in comparison to the Small Sebenza. Even more surprising is how much I like the Inkosi over the LARGE Sebenza now.

I think the thing the Inkosi does best is that it's both big enough AND small enough (if that makes any sense.)

B
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This is EXACTLY how I'm feeling as well.
Driften said:
I tried both and got the Inkosi, but I can see getting a small Insingo 21 at some point. They really are not that different in how they feel. If there is any way you can handle them in person you will know the right answer for you.
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To me the 21 and Inkosi feel different. Although the 21 has more real estate on the handle, my hand locks in better with the Inkosi due to the grooves and the raised spine like the 25. I currently have 4 CRKs, and if I could only keep 2 it'd be the Inkosi and the small micarta Insingo.
 
I think the real answer to this question is both. They are different enough to not be either or in my opinion.

As CR said the Inkosi is the first knife in the Inkosi family I think the next question will be, large Inkosi or Seb 25.

Again a large 21 and large Inkosi/25 wouldn't be comparable.
 
JustinFournier said:
I think the real answer to this question is both. They are different enough to not be either or in my opinion.

As CR said the Inkosi is the first knife in the Inkosi family I think the next question will be, large Inkosi or Seb 25.

Again a large 21 and large Inkosi/25 wouldn't be comparable.
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I don't think one design is necessarily better than the other, they're just different. Granted if the Inkosi had a pivot bushing we might be talking possibly EDC perfection IMO, but the design is what it is.

Now matters of preference are a different thing entirely. I think most anything within the CRK family is worthy of comparison for discussion sake, and the Inkosi and small 21 are similar enough being small CRKs that people want to know why they should buy either one. I mean, one of the most common questions that pops up here everyday is "should I buy a large 21 or 25?" "Umnumzaan or Large 21?" "Small 21 or Mnandi?"

Really anything can be compared against each other. Ultimately, most people compare everything to the 21 because it's the "standard" and rightfully so.
 
TripleF100 said:
This is a hard call! Honestly too close for me to call right now. But I don't plan on getting rid of either one!! I believe the Inkosi is getting a little more pocket time only because I am a little protective of the wood inlays on my small now that I have the Inkosi. Both cut great . . . In my mind that's a tossup. I do like that the small can be dressed up with inlays so that is a plus to me.
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I forgot to mention the 21 uses a pivot bushing while the Inkosi does not. It hasn't been an issue for me yet but I do wish the Inkosi used that CRK pivot bushing! Just makes re-assembly so much easier.
 
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