Is It Just Me..............

My feelings are that while the Umnum and Sebenza may be made to extreme tolerances and all that jazz, they are not super "user friendly"...

By this i mean, opening and closing. I have Benchmades and Spydies that are extremely comfortable to open and close, making them more delightful to carry. I had an Umnumzaan, while friggin awesome no less, a real pain in the ass to open without concentrating on the action, and closing without killing your thumb cause the lockbar is so tight. As for the Sebenza, i think the worst design on it is the thumbstud.
 
SpartanSaint said:
not tryin to insult rev, but i hear people saying their spydercos, benchmades etc are just as nice as their sebenza and this is what comes to mind. its like when my buddy was buying his 2011 mustang. "dude car and driver said it scored better than the bmw 3 series" yeah.... its just as fast and half as much but its still not a bmw. iff you think you're paying for a name, you don't get it.
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I understand, however my point is that .005" doesn't make a knife great. Some people prefer to have excellent ergonomics. Some people dislike Ti handles (they feel cold and unyielding). Other people want to ahve a blade that holds an edge without having to sharpen it daily. I collect and use knives both. I appreciate the closely machined tolerances, but that is only part of what makes a knife great. The other things I mentioned are the others. Just because you have one, doesn't mean that the rest are automatically a A+.

As far as your friend, maybe he prefers to have an American car over a German one. Could be that when it comes to replacing parts, he doesn't want to pay $1200 for an alternator. The reasons are many, and just because they are not all understood, doesn't make them bad or less worthy of "status". Just my thoughts at least.
 
Or over 1k for an ABS modulator. Or worry about not having problems with the windshield wipers when the rain sensor goes bad. Plus having to pay 120+ an hour for a mechanic to work on a BMW. When I was in college BMW STEP was the holy grail to get into. The recruiters told us that if we choose to be BMW techs that we could expect to make 6 figures in 10 years.
 
RevDevil said:
I understand, however my point is that .005" doesn't make a knife great. Some people prefer to have excellent ergonomics. Some people dislike Ti handles (they feel cold and unyielding). Other people want to ahve a blade that holds an edge without having to sharpen it daily. I collect and use knives both. I appreciate the closely machined tolerances, but that is only part of what makes a knife great. The other things I mentioned are the others. Just because you have one, doesn't mean that the rest are automatically a A+.

As far as your friend, maybe he prefers to have an American car over a German one. Could be that when it comes to replacing parts, he doesn't want to pay $1200 for an alternator. The reasons are many, and just because they are not all understood, doesn't make them bad or less worthy of "status". Just my thoughts at least.
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:thumbup: very well said..
 
I carry my zaan all the time on weekends, and I like it more now than when I got it.
 
I generally carry my LH Sebenza as my EDC. Sometimes my Umnumzaan can kick it out, and sometimes my blue ZDP Stretch can kick it out. It's a matter of preference.

I happen to like the thumbstud on the Sebenza. More than BM's thumbstuds (which I find kind of slick), and more than even the vaunted Spyderhole. Which isn't to say that I dislike them, it's just that I prefer the Sebenza's. The Umnumzaan's thumbstuds I'm sort of meh/ambivalent on.

If you don't carry knives that you buy, then you are probably more of a collector than a user. Which is perfectly fine, and some of you guys and gals have collections that absolutely make me drool! Me, I start feeling antsy when the number of knives I have (excluding kitchen knives!) approaches double digits.

Also, I dunno what you guys are doing with your knives, but the only times I've been able to roll the edge on CRK S30V is when I'm cutting metal--and I'm honestly thankful that it rolled rather than chipped. I have my Sebenza at about 30 degrees and my Umnumzaan at about 35.

Edit: Oh, and to get back on topic: you should carry whatever your preferences and tastes give you predilections for. Mine just happen to make me lean towards the Sebenza. Of course, being a lefty doesn't hurt either :)
 
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RevDevil said:
I understand, however my point is that .005" doesn't make a knife great. Some people prefer to have excellent ergonomics. Some people dislike Ti handles (they feel cold and unyielding). Other people want to ahve a blade that holds an edge without having to sharpen it daily. I collect and use knives both. I appreciate the closely machined tolerances, but that is only part of what makes a knife great. The other things I mentioned are the others. Just because you have one, doesn't mean that the rest are automatically a A+.
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Though I perfectly understand the points you are making the other side of the coin (because there are always two) should be noted. Many people like the block feel, simplicity of the Sebenza and feel that the handle offers more comfortable grip options then some other ergonomic designed handles. I cant find the threads but they are out there where people have stated this.

Also there is one user I greatly admire since he has been using his Large Regular daily on a ranch cutting up everything he needed to. He has reground his knife and it is still in use. He has never complained that he had to sharpen it every day.

At the end some people will like a CRK (well heck insert any company/makers name here). Others wont. We are spoiled for choice when it comes to makers. Some will have good or bad experiences with every company. The forums are littered with prays and complaints about everyone out there.
 
marthinus said:
Though I perfectly understand the points you are making the other side of the coin (because there are always two) should be noted. Many people like the block feel, simplicity of the Sebenza and feel that the handle offers more comfortable grip options then some other ergonomic designed handles. I cant find the threads but they are out there where people have stated this.
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Marthinus, I'm one of these people. I picked up a LH Military a few months ago, and was honestly surprised when it didn't feel as good in the hand as I thought it would--and a lot of guys say that the Military is one of the most ergonomic knives out there. I'm not saying that it's uncomfortable, but I definitely prefer the Seb's ergo's.

The Para2's ergonomics are right up there with the Sebenza's, but I have come to realize that I am not a fan of G-10--I like FRN and titanium much better.
 
Hey guys, I started this thread with the topic of do you carry your less expensive knives more than your $400 knives. Can we Please get back subject on the thread. This isn't
meant to be a back and forth discussion of Just CRK knives!! :):)
 
clockman said:
I bought my first CRK, a Zaan, a couple years ago and edc it for about 3 months for the most part. I bought a cgg( computer generated graphic) and a few varitions of the large seb.

I very seldom carry the CRKs and a couple of customs I have because I like the Spydies, Kershaw, and especially ZTs I've bought in the last 2 years or so more than the CRKs and customs.

Are there any other CRK owners or guys that used to have CRKs that feel the same about their CRKs or am I the odd man out.:eek:
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clockman said:
Hey guys, I started this thread with the topic of do you carry your less expensive knives more than your $400 knives. Can we Please get back subject on the thread. This isn't
meant to be a back and forth discussion of Just CRK knives!! :):)
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Read your first post and then your last one. First you want to know if you're "odd man out" beause you don't carry your CRKs as much (or at all) anymore because you like the Spydies, Kershaw, and especially ZTs you've bought in the last 2 years. You ask for opinions and I've quickly re-read this thread and there are plenty addressing your question. Some do and some don't.

Now you want to restrict the discussion to CR knives only? That doesn't make sense since you asked if other knives have changed how much we carry our Chris Reeve knives. What do you want yes or no replies? :confused:
 
I purchased a CG large Sebenza I think at the time it was about $500. CAD
Never really liked it,as much as my Spydies and Benchmade's, so I gave it to my son.
 
I am selling off all of my remaining folders - CS, Kershaw (except I might buy the flipper), Spyderco, and Benchmade, because I don't use them.

I'll only keep my BM 710 (a gift) and Spyderco Military (love to carry this beast IWB and under my un-tucked shirt).

I have 2 "new" lg Sebenzas and they're starving for pocket time (and I love the feeling and simplicity of my plain jane Sebbies) but everything has been bumped out by Hinderer XMs! ;) :D
 
cziv said:
I am selling off all of my remaining folders - CS, Kershaw (except I might buy the flipper), Spyderco, and Benchmade, because I don't use them.

I'll only keep my BM 710 (a gift) and Spyderco Military (love to carry this beast IWB and under my un-tucked shirt).

I have 2 "new" lg Sebenzas and they're starving for pocket time (and I love the feeling and simplicity of my plain jane Sebbies) but everything has been bumped out by Hinderer XMs! ;) :D
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Sound good! I really wish I could do what your doing, but I have suspicions I'm a hoarder ;)
 
dc50 said:
Sound good! I really wish I could do what your doing, but I have suspicions I'm a hoarder ;)
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I went through the whole gammet of buying the knife of the month and had about 3 dozen folders (maybe more) that never got used. I started selling them off about a year ago and have about 6 more to go. I should end up with 8 awesome folders when I let this last batch go. I'l never need another. I have hard use, medium duty and light duty covered. All classy (last a lifetime) pieces too IMHO.

The madness has finally left me. I've lost the desire to pull the trigger on this knife or that one anymore. :)
 
If you are turned off by the Sebenza's pointy thumbstud, it's easily fixed with a dremel and some wet/dry paper. I also didn't find it comfortable to open, putting it down in place of my spyderco sage, until I got up the nerve to make the mod. It makes a massive difference to me... YMMV.

5873874806_aa7815dcd7_b.jpg
 
I ditched my BG-42 Sebenza for a Ti William Henry B-15 and a Ti Benchmade 943. The Sebenza's blade was too tall, point too obtuse, and handle too prone to scratching. The W/H and BM's can be flicked open and closed. The W/H has ZDP-189 steel. My favorite large folder is a Camillus Talonite MADD MAXX.
 
macmiddlebrooks said:
If you are turned off by the Sebenza's pointy thumbstud, it's easily fixed with a dremel and some wet/dry paper. I also didn't find it comfortable to open, putting it down in place of my spyderco sage, until I got up the nerve to make the mod. It makes a massive difference to me... YMMV.

5873874806_aa7815dcd7_b.jpg
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That's a nice job guy! :thumbup: I've heard of guys using benchmade "screw together" thumbstud mods. The dremmel job looks way nicer, I'm too scared of destroying my Sebenzas to even dream of trying it. :eek:
 
Thanks Cziv. I was a bit apprehensive too and this was actually my second attempt with a different Seb. The first time I ended up taking the stud down too low :(....there's definitely a fine line not to cross. Learn and live.
 
Just got my Umnumzaan in this morning. First impression, I definitely like it over the Sebenza:thumbup:.

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The thumbstuds are a big improvement. Mostly because both the lack of a pointed tip and the placement near the pivot makes it MUCH easier to open. I admit I was a bit apprehensive about closing the knife, but the framelock actually protrudes enough for you to catch it with your thumb. As for the tension, frankly my ZT 0551 has more tension than that. Fit and finish is absolutely perfect, not a wiggle in any direction. You can flick the blade open if you want, but frankly I can see why they advise against that. The ceramic ball more or less hits the other side of the titanium frame if you flick it open.

About the only imperfection I can find on the knife is that there is a small burr on the left side, probably because it was ground to have a toothy edge. This baby is going to be fighting for pocket time with my R.J. Martin Overkill
 
Noctis^ it looks like you got the newer Umnum with the deeper cutout for the lockbar??
 
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