Is Sebenza the Best?

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Brutus013

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Is the Sebenza really the best folding knife money can buy (production knives, of course)? Compared to other production knives in the same price range or even less (around $250, or, obviously, less), things like Mcustas (the MC-14 series), high end Spydercos (Phoenix, perhaps), Klotzlis, and plenty of others, is a small Sebenza really going to be noticeably better?
 
Probably not much. Sebenza's are nice. Especially the embellished ones look very good. The plain ones are good workers.

But there's a law of diminishing returns. You probably won't really notice a performance difference with a folder costing half or even a quarter that made with the same blade steel.

Sebenza's are great but they aren't for me I think. But each to his own.
 
Brutus013 said:
Is the Sebenza really the best folding knife money can buy (production knives, of course)? Compared to other production knives in the same price range or even less (around $250, or, obviously, less), things like Mcustas (the MC-14 series), high end Spydercos (Phoenix, perhaps), Klotzlis, and plenty of others, is a small Sebenza really going to be noticeably better?
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Chris Reeve and Strider are at the top of the heap, anything less is well just less.

So if you can afford them then go for it. :)
 
I'm not talking about cutting performance, mind you. Obviously, there are cheaper knives that cut better. Opinels, for instance, are better slicers than a Sebenza, but the quality is obviously much, much lower.
 
Whether you think a Sebenza is the best depends on what you're looking for, I guess. I have knives that do my kinds of cutting better than my Sebenzas; I have knives that have better ergos for me than my Sebenzas; I have knives that will probably outlast me, just like my Sebenzas will.

For me, the thing about Sebenzas is that the total package is worth the price I pay. From the selection of materials to the overall design of the knife to the final fit and finish, nothing I've seen in production or custom is a better value to me than a Sebenza. I can depend on a Sebenza to be very nearly like every other Sebenza in QC & F&F. I've seen this for myself in the 14 or 15 Sebs that I've had, some brand new, some pre-owned and several years old. And if necessary, I can pick up the phone and replace the knife in 3 days with another one almost exactly like it.

My wife and I carry one of our small Sebenzas everywhere. A lot of times, those are the only blades we have on us. When I go to work, I also carry a UKPK because of it's slicing ability and ease of maintenance, and because I prefer a slipjoint for work. When I go to the woods for a day or a week, I add a Paramilitary for my wife and a Millie for me to have some additional cutting power. My wife keeps a ZDP189 D4 in her desk at work for really dirty, long distance cutting.

But the Sebs are the ones that go eveywhere with us and handle non-specific EDC chores quite nicely.
 
Short answer is yes they are when it comes to fit and finish! They have not been voted manufacturer quality of the year at blade year after year for nothing. Who does the voting you might ask? Well. Their 'competitors' in the knife industry.I put competitors in brackets because I feel it is not the right word. I like to think of them trying to push the boundaries of the knife industry together rather then undermining each other.
 
Every knife is a compromise between things like toughness, cutting ability, smoothness, fit of the handle to your hand, ease of sharpening and looks etc. The trick is to find the combination that works best for you. So far, the Sebenza is the folder that fits my list the best.
 
Yes it will be better. Not necessarily performace-wise. But like others already said if you really want the best overall quality the Sebenza will be(with a few others) the best.
 
Sebenza's are great knives, and one of my favorites of all production models. That said, you can get a Benchmade for $150 or so, and it will be every bit as good in all ways. Matter of fact, Benchmade's (Axis models) are smoother opening and lock up just as tight IMHO.
 
There are no corners cut with the Sebenza. That is why it is worth it. If you examine one and have a keen eye, it is obvious why they cost what they do. It is most certainly a luxury product though... but, then again, so is a Golden made Spyderco, or a Blue Box Benchmade.. Compared to the rest, Chris Reeve is very thoughtful in his design, has a dream, accomplishes it and crosses his fingers that others will understand. I think my YouTube review will say it better:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ9DPUU0l0U
 
I think, overall, it's the best folder I've owned. It's almost shocking how good the action is, how solid the lockup. The hollow grind helps make it a nice slicer, the s30v holds a great edge. My Strider works great, slicers almost as well but there is a huge difference in the feel of the action and while the lockup is solid, it's not quite as confidence inspiring as the Sebenza.
The only other thing I would do if I were looking to spend that type of money, is browse the custom makers @ True North Knives. But then, without actually handling them, you don't know what you're getting!
 
Just ordered a new SNG a hour ago, the Sebenza is nice but not the best imho.
I like the feel and look of the SNG more.
 
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Yes if you want the extra "luxury", now if you just want a workhorse, then there are better options which will give you far higher bang-for-the buck. There isn't anythnig a Sebenza will do that a high-end Spyderco, ZT or Benchmade won't... Performance-wise, Sebenza is not the best of the best.
I don't mind playing a lot for a blade as long as I'm getting an extra high performance along with the extra price tag, like with Busse Combat products, for example. I cannot say the same about most Chris Reeve blades, though. Beauty or fit-and-finish alone ain't worth the dough to me. I buy users, not pretty looking safe-queens.
 
Outdoors Fanatic said:
Yes if you want the extra "luxury", now if you just want a workhorse, then there are better options which will give you far higher bang-for-the buck. There isn't anythnig a Sebenza will do that a high-end Spyderco, ZT or Benchmade won't... Performance-wise, Sebenza is not the best of the best.
I don't mind playing a lot for a blade as long as I'm getting an extra high performance along with the extra price tag, like with Busse Combat products, for example. I cannot say the same about most Chris Reeve blades, though. Beauty or fit-and-finish alone ain't worth the dough to me. I buy users, not pretty looking safe-queens.
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Have you ever owned a Sebenza? The use of the words "safe queen" rarely applies to Sebenzas here or on any forum. It seems as if you did own one, it was not used much... hence the use of the "safe queen" term...

I have owned ONE knife that I think really compares to the Sebenza, and that is the Spyderco Military. Sure there are others... Zero Tolerance comes to mind, but then again an 8oz knife does not appeal to me. Bradley... You are paying $200 for a sebenza copy... why not just spend the extra $100 on the real thing? Benchmade... um, well...IMO... they're pretty much toys... very nice toys...but then again, so is anything other than a simple fixed blade.

The Military is easily as at home in my pocket as the Sebenza. As far as usability and fit of the moving parts, I'd say the two are comparable. But the Seb is obviously a higher quality knife all things considered. From the all Ti Handles to the chamfering of every edge inside and out to the tasteful milling of the "CR" logo to the robust, beautiful screws to the jewel-like precision machined thumb lug to the inlaid pocket clip to the gorgeous rounded blade spine to the thin hollow grind to the reliably centered blade to the almost complete inset of the blade when closed...

Are these things worth twice the price of the almost perfect Spyderco Military? Yes, they are.
 
The fit and finish and QC of a Sebenza is top notch. It's a good thing when you buy a knife and you now you won't be getting a lemon. I don't know about some of you guys but I'd rather not have to send something back to the manufacture the day after I buy it to get it right.
 
I've handled quite a few Sebenzas and I've found that the Mcustas and Klotzis are just as nice (for me). In terms of quality, Spyderco and Kershaw put out a heck of a product for very little (in comparison to a Chris Reeves). I'm just as happy with my Mcusta basic as I was playing wiht my buddy's Sebenza.
 
Yes. I mean no. I don't know.

JK, I really don't know, being a newcomer to the hobby, but I just got one, and I really dig it. It is noticeably higher quality then the couple of knives I have in the < $100-150 range.
 
archieblue said:
The use of the words "safe queen" rarely applies to Sebenzas here or on any forum..
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Not so sure about that , checking the for sale area and only going back 5 or 6 pages , most if not all are sold " never carried , never used ".

Is a Sebenza the best for everyone , nope , no knife is , all that is really important is what the individual feels is best for them , nothing else outside of that really matters does it ?

** and yes I have owned numerous Sebs over the years , and they are not the BEST folder for me , pretty close , but not quite. I think either the Carson small # 4 or small Mayo TnT will do it for me **
 
Nothing really to add, but yes, I think the Sebenza's are the best production knife/folder in terms of F&F. One thing that amazes me, after 6 different Sebs & an Umnum, is that they're so consistent. Amazing. Even the Striders (I've had 6 different SnGs & PTs), while very nice, aren't as consistent with their F&F.

They are more expensive, yes. Are they worth it, it depends, however, I've done quite a few trades on the Forums & NO production knife brings the attention/offers/etc. as a Seb does, period.

If there's a way for someone to get one, especially if they don't have to plunk down hard $, people will trade quite a bit for a Seb, they're that popular & I think for good reason.
 
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