Is sebenza worth the money?

I basically asked this question about a month ago and had replies from both yay or nay parties. I picked one up to decide for myself and had a second one within a couple weeks. So that shows where I stand with CRK stuff. BUT...I will freely admit that currently my Spyderco's still have a little more pocket time.
 
If you decide to try one, I suggest you pick it up on the exchange. You likely can get most if not all your money back if you find it isn't for you and if you buy at a decent price can have CRK refurbish(if needed) and still have a deal-relative to CRK's.
 
Only you can decide if they are worth it. You've handled one which is more than many can say before they buy. They are well made modern knives. You can get customs for the price of one. For me, I would rather have three or four $150 knives as they cut just as well. So, for me.... nope.

Why do I spend more money on a Toyota versus a Ford? Because ultimately I think they're worth it. So, the decision is yours.
 
My weakness with knives are fixed blades. I just love them just for what they are..... I don't even have to need or use them. I seldom honestly need one outside the kitchen, but I still buy them and yes, I have spent as much money as a Sebenza as for one.

I guess part of the Sebenza thing for me is that I have settled into using SAKs day in and day out. Lately I have a Benchmade Mini Presidio II with me if I feel like a second folder.
 
Alsharif said:
It was great when it debuted, it is overshadowed by the competition at it's price bracket. CRK don't want to adapt.
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Don't need to adapt. It's like a bakery that keeps pumping out the same good bread. You know what you get when you buy one, but there is little interesting about it. I like mine, I wouldn't sell mine, but I don't think I'd recommend one to anybody if not for the "you need to experience one for yourself"-factor.
 
There is no better example of a modern folding pocket knife made. There are many as good and many with features and at prices that some people may find more to their liking but as an iconic example of knife making there's nothing better.
 
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Yes. The best thing for me is the take down and reassembly process requires no tuning. You can mix the hardware however you like, and you just tighten every screw down, all the way, including the pivot. Knife centers up and has perfect action every time. You never have to fiddle with it or "tune" the action or centering.
 
Is sebenza worth the money?
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In a word : Yes.
The amount of precision work that goes into one, including hand fit up, the quality of the materials and the finish applied as far as polishing, precisely applied texturing, attention to tiny details that one can appreciate the first time one picks up the knife all add up to an equatable exchange !
Bucks for a superior knife.

Whether or not the person buying it can appreciate the details or whether they find the product worth it to them that is variable.

Since before I was a teenager I was buying high end hardware, even making and selling such. For me the price is worth the product.
If you haven't watched the Videos on YouTube by Chris Reeve leading you through his factory I recommend seeing them.
Personally I bought the knife then watched the vids. From years of reading and seeing photos here in the forums I knew exactly what to expect and finally bought the knife.

I was not disappointed. Just the opposite, I found details and subtleties that I didn't expect.

I'm totally happy with my purchase.

A far as sharpness goes . . . I have a little test, I don't shave hair, any dambed sort of sharpened edge can shave hair even if the edge is'nt properly refined. If the edge can cut a full length finger nail "clipping" off in one pass . . .
then the edge is exceptionally well prepared.
See my second photo. That was out of the box. I didn't touch up the edge in any way.
Nuf said.
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First of all my vote is yes. IMO the value of the Sebenza is revealed over time. They age much more gracefully than most knives in their appearance, and to me, seem
to maintain out of the box performance longer than other knives as well. I think the Sebenza is the best all around pocket knife.
Honestly though, the knife that keeps finding its way back in to my pocket is the Spyderco Delica. At this point, I always carry my Delica and the only question is which knife I am going
to couple with my Delica for the day.

If the CRK bug has you just go ahead and buy one so it will stop bugging you. Make sure to carry and use it for at least a month before you decide you don't like it.
I was somewhat disappointed when I found out my Small 21 was after all, still just a knife, nothing more. You quickly realize that it doesn't cut any better than a much less expensive Spyderco,
and often times the Spyders arguably cut better. You will notice that over time the CRK really does maintain value in that they often look better with age and they tend to get smoother with use.
I'm quite sure my CRKs will still be around and cutting just fine in 20 years whereas the Spydercos will likely need to be replaced much sooner.
 
Korean Hog said:
....I'm quite sure my CRKs will still be around and cutting just fine in 20 years whereas the Spydercos will likely need to be replaced much sooner.
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Interesting comment on knife longevity. What about all the simple slip joints that 50-75 years old and still going strong... and a knife that probably cost <$100 in today's dollars? Most people don't use their knives hard and they last and last unless they loose them or for some reason use them as a pry bar and mess them up. I expect Spyderco knives to be perfectly functional 20 years from now if you want to use them.

Sebenza's are costly. Just depends on your perspective on knives, value, and money as to whether or not they're worth it. I would like to own one. But I know I won't use it much as I am fairly set in my knife carry ways for now. So, it's mostly about blowing what I consider a fair amount of money that I don't have to. Things could change and I guess they always do to some degree. I would rather spend that money on a handgun that might save my life.
 
Absolutely. It has been, and continues to be THE yardstick to which all folding knives are compared. Buy it, use it like you would any other knife. Sharpen it when it gets dull. A better jack of all trades knife does not exist.
 
22-rimfire said:
Interesting comment on knife longevity. What about all the simple slip joints that 50-75 years old and still going strong... and a knife that probably cost <$100 in today's dollars? Most people don't use their knives hard and they last and last unless they loose them or for some reason use them as a pry bar and mess them up. I expect Spyderco knives to be perfectly functional 20 years from now if you want to use them.

Sebenza's are costly. Just depends on your perspective on knives, value, and money as to whether or not they're worth it. I would like to own one. But I know I won't use it much as I am fairly set in my knife carry ways for now. So, it's mostly about blowing what I consider a fair amount of money that I don't have to. Things could change and I guess they always do to some degree. I would rather spend that money on a handgun that might save my life.
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Interesting response to my interesting comment, but since you seem interested I'll explain a bit more.
I use my knives a lot every day and tend to wear through them faster than most. Not that most knives won't cut in 20 years or more. It just irritates me when enough of a knife has been worn away that the blade shape is different from new or it needs to be reprofiled/ have primary bevels reground to get razor sharp. So far, I think FFG Delicas and Hollow ground Sebenzas are two of the best at avoiding the problem of having the edge thicken up on you.
 
lonestar1979 said:
A buddy of mine just got new sebenza,and i checked out the knife yesterday,excellent fit ,finish,looks,and very nice hollow grind.The only thing is the price.....All opinions welcome!should i save up for one,or just stick to inexpensive classics that i really love?...Fit,finish and looks wise this thing blows away all spydercos ,benchmades and cold steels that i have,but its 4,5x the price.
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If you have to ask this question, the answer is "no"

It is worth the money once you make enough money so the price is inconsequential.
 
Quit buying other crap you don't need and you'll have Sebenza money quicker than you think. You'll probably wind up kicking at least one bad habit too.
If you still don't buy a Chris Reeve, you'll be minus a bad habit and still have like 500 bucks you otherwise would've spent on candy bars, soda, cigarettes, etc.
 
brownshoe said:
If you have to ask this question, the answer is "no"

It is worth the money once you make enough money so the price is inconsequential.
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Even then, it may or may not be worth it to you. For me, I like knives that are unique and fun to mess with. I have ADHD and anxiety issues. Flipping/flicking a knife open and closed actually calms me down. Yes, that makes it an expensive fidget toy, but it's also a tool I use throughout the day.

At the end of the day, I'll take my similarly priced Bailey Model 2 geek edition flipper over the small Seb. It has more "soul" if you will.

However...

I do think if you can swing it, at least try a used one out. Mine had the bocote inlay. Plain ti bores me. It all depends on what you are looking for.

CRK gets so much love, and since the brief period I owned one, I've often thought about trying again. This is a recurring thing with me. Darlings of the community like the Seb, Spyderco Southard, Hinderer/ZT, I've often thought about trying again. Just to see if I could figure out what I was missing.
 
I bought a righty large 21 about 3-4 years ago. I liked it so I decided to sell the righty and get a lefty. Never pulled the trigger. Flash forward to a week ago. I join the BF and see the umnumzaan and think" ya that's the one. I'm getting one" and met Dcdavis. He had one, he posted up pictures of his. I feel deeper in love with the umnumzaan. Well last Friday bought his so he could step up and get a new CRK. Then one day later I bought a lefty inkosi. Someone else said if you have to ask then no. Some one else said when the cost becomes negligible. I say if you have a few knives you already like but you ask if its worth saving for. Then you already know you want one. Your looking for others to justify what you already feel. So ya save up. Pick one up second hand. If you decide it's not for you put it back on the forums and walk away even or very close to it with the knowledge that you owned one Nd it wasn't for you. Then take that 300-400 and buy the 3-4 knives you already like. Its simple CRK don't really lose there value. But your sydercos, benchmades, crkt, Kershaw, zt, kiser, ect do and will. Till they are discontinued. Then you have a slime window to get back what you put in. If you don't then it's just an old discontinued regular brand. Out side of sydercos and the limited edition or limited runs. This is the case. The older CRK are going for double the price of a new one. Can't say any of my discontinued sydercos or benchmades are.
 
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