Is the Sebenza a tactical folder?

I was referring to the term "tactical" as I know it to mean.

I may be wrong, but when I hear "tactical" I instantly think of Special Forces, Navy SEALs, SWAT teams, etc. If you can find ONE person in any of these units who carries a Sebenza in the FIELD, well, call me a monkey's uncle! :rolleyes: :p

And now to get cliche; Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines "Tactical" as: of or relating to combat tactics : as a (1) : of or occurring at the battlefront <tactical defense> <tactical first strike> (2) : using or being weapons or forces employed at the battlefront <tactical missiles> b of an air force : of, relating to, or designed for air attack in close support of friendly ground forces

This is also my definition of "Tactical." I think according to this definition, that we can safely say the Sebenza is NOT a "tactical" folder.

I am NOT trying to knock it at all. I'm sure its one DAMN great knife, and maybe some day I'll own one. Just don't get overzealous when defining its intended purpose, use, and ACTUAL use.

Like I said, ask any military guys here if they ever carried one into COMBAT, and I'll change my definition.

drjones
 
I think in "knifedom" the term "tactical" has a much broader definition than the dictionary one. I'm not sure exactly what it is, but somehow it refers to the general idea of carrying a knife that can be used for self-defense purposes.

IMHO, no knife can be considered "tactical" unless the person using it as such has the requisite training and background to even consider using a knife as a self-defense weapon. A nailfile in the hands of the right person could be called a tactical weapon.
 
I don't think a person needs any training at all with a knife to be able to hurt even an experienced martial artist. Someone posted a while back where some expert invited a bunch of regular joes to try and cut him with a sparring knife with paint on it.....he got painted by everyone of those guys.
 
My large Sabenza would be useful in a defensive situation, but it does not have certain physical traits that I would look for in a tactical knife: Finger guards, pinkie guard or swell at the rear, super fast opening, blade with some belly for slicing and a point for thrusts, ambidextrous handling, more secure scales.

Compare the Sabenza to, say, a Kasper fighting folder or Kasper Worden Tactical, just to name two, and you would immediately see what some of the differences are.

In a pinch, the Sabenza would do well, but there are designs out there that are more purpose-built.
 
I wouldn't feel under-knifed with a Sebenza. As Joe T. and others have written very sharp and great lock. You can't ask for much more.
I never want to find my self in that kind of situation, but if I did, the Sebenza would be as good as any.

I think that to survive any encounter, the true determining factor is mental attitude. It is the man behind the knife, not the knife. Skill, determination and a will to live, that's what counts.

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Chad
 
This is also my definition of "Tactical." I think according to this definition, that we can safely say the Sebenza is NOT a "tactical" folder.
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If you insist on this definition, then the dominant "tactical folder" is the SAK! Like I said a few posts back, from that viewpoint, the phrase "tactical folder" is an oxymoron. I doubt very many soldiers carry <i><b>any</b></i> folder into combat, <i>other than</i> a SAK! If you won't broaden your definition of what "tactical" implies for the modern knife world, then you are left with nothing...
 
If it's a knife fight, everyone's going to get cut, So you better get busy sooner rather than later. If you dance around like in the movies, the other guy's walking away and you're going to lay there bleeding. Extreme violence usually happens in a fraction of a second and often unexpectedly. The only weapons you really have are situational awareness, mental acuity and training. From there it's whatever's in your hand.

Just my opinion.

jmx

PS I never feel unprotected with my little Sebbie in my pocket even though it's not a tactical knife and I'm not a warrior.
 
yep, hell, prisoners kill each other with toothbrushes. The weapon doesn't matter nearly as much as the guy weilding it.
 
ok... Why don't listen to what the MAKER of the knife says?
"Sebenza" is an african word which means "work", so it's pretty clear that this is an utility knife.

I don't classify knives on their color, or if they have this or that fashionable cahracteristic...
I'm no expert in knifefighting, I actually have no formal training, but I know perfectly what those which are say: a good fighting knife should offer a good, safe, plain grip, have a blade suited to stabbing, with its point on the same axis as the handle axis, and higher than the blade rotation axis if it's a folder, so that stabbing in axis with the blade will make the blade "open" and not "close" against the lock.
The lock should resist abuse.
The blade should be decent at cutting.
If it's a knife I'll have to do anything with, and not just a fighter, the blade should be sturdy enough to be used in heavy chores and good enough to cut whatever I'm expected having to cut in the typical situation.
Everything else is marketing hype and unnecessary stuff that will add to your knife cost without giving you anything more.

Edited to add:
Anyway, in a knifefight the knife counts only so much. An idiot with a rusty screwdriver can beat a master with the best fighter ever, if chances go in his favor.
 
ok... Why don't listen to what the MAKER of the knife says?
"Sebenza" is an african word which means "work", so it's pretty clear that this is an utility knife.
Click to expand...

Right, I think it's clear Reeve doesn't look at the Sebenza as a tactical folder. Otherwise, he'd have colored it black and called it the "Lion Killer" or something :) When I read questions like, "is the SEbenza a tactical knife", I tend to interpret that question to mean, "can the Sebenza function as a tactical knife?" A few years ago we had the same conversation about the Spyderco Wegner, which was purpose-designed as a hunter. However, the Wegner has some features that can make it out-tactical the tacticals, IMO. So I'm not willing to let the maker's intentions completely determine what the knife can be used for.

Also, I'm going to moderate my views on this somewhat. Now that I know what people mean by tactical -- hard combat-utility type usage is what it sounds like -- I'll go back and say that the Sebenza is a bit weaker choice here, although still a personally fine one. However, if you're talking about prying, torquing the edge, and other unpleasantries, a super thin edge on relatively softer steel is not the recipe for best success. While the thing cuts like a madman, and will probably take plenty of edge stress, I don't think it'd be at the top of my list for this.

For some "tactical" uses -- like any straight cutting -- the Sebenza will excel. For the defensive role in tactical use, I think it can be a better choice that many "tacticals". While it has weaknesses in this area, specifically the opening mechanism and handle security, it also has a great blade shape, higher-performance edge geometry than most, and a much more reliable lock than any liner lock. Which means that it's a tradeoff versus many other tacticals for defensive use -- are blade geometry and lock security more or less important than handle security and opening mechanism? Obviously, I'd rather have them all, which is why I'd pick the axis AFCK D-2 and thin the edge way down.

Joe
 
This comes from the Chris Reeve guarantee:

" This knife will be your most trustworthy companion, helper,
defender. Look after it and it will look after you."

This does not convince me that Chris Reeve designed the Sebenza as a tactical knife as that term is generally understood in the knife community. As I stated above, it all depends upon the capablities and training of the person handling it.
 
i carry a large or small seb daily and use them for utility purposes....they could be employed in a pinch as a "tactical" piece but then again so could any edged object....the sebs to me are utility blades that keep on working....since i have had my large seb mayoized as tom outlined in his post it fits the tactical genre better....feverdoc out
 
any knife which can stab or cut is "tactical"

most common in the trauma center

1. cheap paki or chinese lockbacks
2. kitchen knives
3. box cutters
4. broken glass

have seen a couple of those fine "as seen on tv" fantasy blades sticking out of people


sebenza would work......
 
I have had 2 sebenzas in the past, they are nice knives.

Lets compare a sebenza to a reese weiland wasp for a tatical knife.

Both were Ti framelocks, so lock strength was a moot point. Neither was going to fail on me.

The Weiland had MUCH better ergonomics and held more securely in the hand. Its butt was also pointed enough that if i had to do a Butt Strike or hook someone's hand with the grip of the knife it was god for that too.

THe sebenza's handle is not bad, but it does not have the regonomics of locking into your hand. It may slip on a hard thrust. Its not slippery, but not as secure at the Wasp.

The action of the wasp was smoother, but I think that cause of the bigger blade, more mass for me to snap the knife open with.

As for blade geometry and steel, sebenzas had BG-42, the wasp had ATS-34. I really did not find much difference in the cutting ablility of the blades. Both were very good on cutting. Sebenza and wasp were able to be sharpened to hair shaving sharp.

the blade shape, well, the wasp won that for a tatical knife. It was a Large hook blade that slashed like a MF, thrusted well cause it had a false back edge and as i mentioned its ergonomice were more sucure in the hand.

The sebenza's blade was no slouch either, as it is a jack ao all trades, but if in a fight i were to have a choice, Its the Weiland wasp for me. (o, actualy, its my weiland frame lock commander, but still...)

Is the sebenza a tatical knife, yes. If i had one on me and was assaulted i would not have any fear that the tool would fail on me. It is not a "fighter" that the wasp is, but it serves adaquatly.

If however i was a soldier and going to be deployed, I'd take the sebenza, its smaller, lighter, easier to sharpen due to blade shape and if i loose it in the field(or in someone's back) then I can come back to base, gamble at poker and win, then hop online and check knifecenter or BFC and get another in about 2 weeks.
With a weiland, you are going to have to find one or wait till you get one made.

Hope this confused the issue:rolleyes:
Mitchell
 
One of the best knives made if that counts! :) I would, however, pick the AFCK for defenvsie purposes - never under-estimate the importance of the appopriate handle shape and could have a better point - as could, say, the Commander. Wild card - why does the Sebenza have a new, soft :confused: steel? I wouldn't mind if it were 59-61? ;)
 
emerson commander's tip is:
#1 razor sharp
#2 Ats-34
#3 harder than a human body.

Its a broader blade tip than a lot of other knives, but tantos thrust well and so do broad recurves.
 
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