Insingo vs. regular? Completely torn on second sebenza purchase! Help please!

cooldaddyfunk286

cooldaddyfunk286

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Mar 9, 2010
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Hey guys...so im suuuper freakin torn on what i want!! Im loving the shit out of my first sebenza 21 large lefty that iv had for a few weeks now. Iv been EDCing this puppy every day and she cleans up so nice!! :) ...anyway...its now time for my second sebenza and im totally torn on what to get!! Im really diggin the micarta inlay, so im pretty set on that, altho im also diggin the wood inlays, and these i can find in lefty, which is a plus. I think i might actually get a righty sebbie this time tho. The lefty is awesome and very comfy...but im sooooo used to righty knives, i dont think id have ANY problems w that. Is CRK even making lefty micartas? Iv seen some small but no large, seems hard to find...

so I'm digging the insingo blade. It seems really functional as an EDC for me, because basically I'm cutting a ton of cardboard and opening up a ton of boxes and cutting open pallets on a daily basis.the geometry of that blade just seems perfect for that. I just don't really like how you can't stab with it. I like my EDCs to play a defensive roll if they had too.1 of the biggest things, is that I'm in love with the traditional sebenza blade shape. When I got my first 21 in my hands, I was blown away and absolutely fell in love with the profile of the blade. I'm feeling like I might regret getting a micarta without that awesome blade that i love. How do you guys feel about the insingo? Did anyone have the same reservations? Let's have a discussion!!

also, the question of large versus small comes into play. The insingo seems like it may be better in the small version? You guys I am so torn, help me out! I know every last 1 of you knows how I'm feeling lol. The funny thing is, since I got my first 21, I haven't even looked at any other knives!!
 
actually now that I think about it guys...even tho Im a 100% lefty, I think I prefer righty knives. Im just SOOOOO used to opening with my right hand and then passing it to my left to use it. after so many years of using right handed only knives, shit, Im just completely conditioned to opening a thumb stud folder with my right hand, almost feels weird to open with the left! as crazy as that sounds to me, because Im useless as a righty, in all ways except this one!! ...and maybe one more...gross...JK! ;)

thinking alittle deeper into it too, I figure a right handed sebbie might be easier to sell off in the future? true?
 
I can understand you frustration in deciding which to get, they're all awesome. My personal preference is the large drop point, and the insingo for the small sebenza, i think the blade shape works better on the smaller knife. If you don't like a smaller knife i would just get a large Insingo with micarta inlays, since you already have the drop point blade.

If you do get the small get a small micarta insingo.
 
I understand completely! I was having the same battle in my head. I am lucky that a friend of mine is a fellow knife hound and had an insingo that he loaned me for a few weeks. After using it- I had to get one! I am going to get a small insingo with micarta inlay:)
 
I own two folders. They're both small micarta insingos. I've had several others (emerson, spyderco, benchmade, bradley, and even an umnumzaan and mnandi), but in the end, nothing suits my EDC needs better than the small insingo. My only real complaint is that it doesn't hold an edge as long as I'd like, but still lasts fairly long. I've given up buying any more folders, they all just get sold; but I'm confident I will always own at least one small insingo. YMMV.
 
lots to think about. I appreciate any insight fellas. thank you. I think its narrowed down to...(both standard right handed)

Large micarta 21 drop point

or...

small micarta 21 insingo

hmmmm.....decisions decisions!!

I know I already have a large with the original blade shape, but I think the righty will suite me better, and Im completely drooling over the micarta inlays. do the micarta models come with leather slip sheath?? man this is a tuffy!

for the sake of getting something thats totally different, you would think the small micarta insingo would be the ticket...but man, that drop point blade and the large size has me pretty stuck. never know until you try tho, right?

Ernie - thats awesome that your buddy owns sebbies...no one I know even knows what one is until I boast, brag and shove it in everyones face!! ;) The only person Iv ever met in person, who owns a sebbie is the kid who works at the gun shop in town...at the time I wasnt into CRK yet. I should go shoot the shit with him! (no pun intended lol) I remember he said his was a safe queen. wonder what hes got?
 
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Well, I'm a lefty too. Since there came folders with a clip that could be mounted on the correct side, I stopped buying knives that are only righthanded.
My first real lefthanded knife was my Large Lefthanded Regular 1999 BG42 Custom De Wit Micarta Inlay Sebenza

8582763291_bc80e6b36c_c.jpg


Next was my lefthanded HEST 2.0 F

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NEVER will I buy a righthanded Sebenza. Who cares about reselling. It's my knife and only mine. I use it and don't buy it with the intent to sell it.

My advice would be to buy only a lefthanded Sebenza. Get used to use it and open and close it with your right hand in your pocket. :)

Math.
 
Math - that 99' sebbie is beautiful bro! I know what you mean, Iv been atleast a month with my left handed 21, I must have opened and closed it atleast 1000 times, probly not even exaggerating! For some reason, it still just doesnt feel as natural to me as opening with the right hand. its messed up, it almost seems like the knife being left handed deployment is getting in the way! I tend to forget that its left handed opening, thats how righty-trained Iv become on folders...kinda sad. Im going to try a right handed this time, Ill have to make the comparison myself. hell, might even make for a good thread for all my lefties out there. then I will be able to truely decide which feels better. and I totally agree with you, I wouldnt let resale have anything to do with my purchase, I plan on never selling lol, just thought of that real quick, thats all.

not only that tho, but with the lefty, the only thing that feels natural is flicking it open! (which I just learned is a big NO NO in the CRK world! sorry!) Thats kind of when I realized that I should try the right handed and see whats up, because my hand just feels handicapped when I open the lefty with the thumb stud...I never saw that commin a million miles away!

so flicking open a sebenza is really THAT frowned upon? It really can wear out the lock alot faster? Im done with that.

does CRK even make lefty micarta small insingos? or even lefty insingos period? sorry if I come off super noobish fellas, its because I kind of am, but Im picking up real quick. ;)

thanks guys!
 
I've had quite a few Sebbies...of both sizes, although I generally prefer the large as it fits my hand much better.
I did buy one ANIB large Insingo, and it was a great knife, but I never carried it, and sold it very soon after purchase.
The Insingo blade design just doesn't seem to be my cup of tea, although I don't knock it at all. CRK is my pride and joy.
Sonnydaze
 
I have had large/small 21's and have large/small Insingo's, the Insingo is my favorite for edc tasks-hands down!

My first love has always been a Tanto but so far nothing has outperformed my Insingo's for daily tasks. I carried my small for about 2 years and it never left me wanting more knife, may have even saved my life while hunting once too. I pretty much only carry large's now, I switch between a Tanto Umnum, a 25, and the Large Insingo; the Insingo gets 8 out of 10 days in my pocket- it's " my knife ", I love it so much that I may send it out to get engraved.

Don't think that they can't stab well or wouldn't serve well if pressed into self defense either. The small is " pointier " than the large and stabs materials very well, plus it cuts like a larger knife. The large is not quite as pointy with the way the swedge and edge come together but still stabs through everything I've poked with it like a sewing machine! The large is a vicious slicer! I was destroying some cardboard of varying thickness today for the recycle bin and was so impressed with how it slashed the thicker board that I found myself pausing for a moment to admire its devastation, did I mention that I LOVE THIS KNIFE!
You can't go wrong with either one. When I was around the public all day I carried the small, now that I don't have to deal with people I carry the large- no sheeple conflict. Nobody was scared or put off by the small that I ever noticed.

Good luck, I'm looking forward to pics.

I'm anti Micarta inlays for some reason but they do feel nice in the hand.
 
Just food for thought, but I too am a lefty and carry, and open, all of my knives right handed. Well, that was until I bought a left handed Sebenza. I still carry it in my right pocket, but there is just some right about opening a knife with my left hand.
 
Wow! It does seem like you're torn. Breaking it down
1. Large vs. Small - unless the small is too small for your hands, I'd suggest it. You already have a large, so the small increases your options. To me, the small blade is plenty large, with the added bonus of easier, stealthier carry, and less of a chance of freaking people out.
2. Blade configuration - Err toward utility value vs defense value. The odds of you actually getting in a knife fight are probably very, very low. The odds of the blade shape making the difference are even lower. To me, the Insingo blade is the perfect edc blade, especially on the small, where the additional slicing area is a real bonus. If you can't tell by now, the small insingo is my favorite knife.
3. Left vs Right - if you're left handed, lefty is the only thing that makes sense. I'm not sure why you'd want to open righty, then switch hands to work. I'm sure you can order micarta lefty from CRK.
4. Micarta vs plain - i've never held a micarta, so not sure I can help, other than to say I love my plains.
 
My first and currently only is a large insingo. I never appreciated the insingo until I had it in hand, but once I did I couldn't walk out without it. I know I will end up with a few regulars and maybe another insingo or two, but I know the large fits my hand so well I can't imagine a smaller knife. That said, I'm sure ill end up with a few of them too.
 
I'm struggling with the same choice. I think ultimately I will end up with a small Insingo and large regular. I have a number of large folders at the moment so personally I'd get the small first. From what I recall from owning a BG42 classic Sebenza the small is the perfect size for edc and the sorts of tasks I need a small knife for...food prep, opening boxes, cutting threads, etc. The Insingo's blade would only make it more effective for these duties.
 
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