Is the Sebenza the best folder that money can buy?

STR said:
Can better be defined? Now that is obvious.
Click to expand...

If you admit that you can judge one knife better than another it is trivial to realize that you can judge one knife the best by simply comparing it to others and seeing which is better.

The reason these threads are rarely of any use isn't because the question is invalid, or even difficult to answer, but simply that people don't take the time to post a useful answer.

If you think it is the best, or something else is, then you simply say why you think so, what other knives you have compared it to and found to be superior in which areas.

Is it possible for someone to disagree with you, of course and then a meaningful debate about performance can take place.

-Cliff
 
Cliff Stamp said:
The reason these threads are rarely of any use isn't because the question is invalid, or even difficult to answer, but simply that people don't take the time to post a useful answer.
Click to expand...

Ah, and i suppose you are one of the few who gives "useful" answers? Gimme a break, Cliff. The question was posed in loaded terms, on a topic that has been covered literally hundreds of times, by a poster who admits that he couldn't be bothered to do a thorough search on the matter.

And as for you, Cliff, despite your bizarre efforts to claim the contrary, the concept of "best" applied in abstract necessarily involves a subjective judgement. You can determine the "best" knife for a given task because you can establish parameters of use. But deciding on the "best" knife in a manner that is entirely detached from the use of the knife means relegating the choice to a simple question of taste.
 
Nathan S said:
...the concept of "best" applied in abstract necessarily involves a subjective judgement.
Click to expand...

Yes but there is no need to do that. You can simply address the question objectively by defining the criteria used and measuring the performance in those areas in a quantitative manner.

And yes, the origional post was likely an attempt to start something, there is however no need to follow that path. There is nothing stopping people from making it a productive thread if they chose to do so.

Assume you carry one, you should actually have something new to say each thread because you are constantly using the knife and have tried other new knives in comparison each time a new thread starts.

If nothing new has changed and you have already said your perspective in the past then you can just put up a link to it.

-Cliff
 
The original post was not intended to start anything. I have already searched on the sebenza and mostly have not seen too many useful threads (most of them were like this one). I knew people were going to tell me to search...that's why I said (rather directly) 'Don't tell me to search...just answer the question.' The grin was supposed to soften that a bit...I guess it didn't work. You see, people are going to interpret things however they see fit...I can't control that.

The biggest thing that I learned in this thread is what not to do...ever again. The fact is that I am a member of other forums (Guns, Trucks, etc...) and this forum is the least friendly. I remember my first post about a Ritter RSK1 knife question, I was told to search. I really don't understand why people respond when they don't have anything useful to say...when I don't like a thread, I simply ignore it.
 
The problem here is that no one has handled and used every knife that applies to the question.

So any answer has to be prejudiced by the experiece of the person giving the answer.
 
I think the iritability comes from several things:

1) If you where to hang around more then 1 week you woould see a sebenza thread. I posted a link to a very good thread did you read it? I guess no. We get tired of rehashing this, a sticky would be nice but who knows if that will happen.

2) The whole idea of what knife is "best" is laughably naive, as has been mentioned here and on many previous threads, the answer is "It depends". For someone to come in and insist on a simple answer when there is none, and when they are too impatient to hang around long enough to understand that is also irritating.

3) Lazy people are irritating, you've shown you're too lazy to do a search, too lazy to read what's been provided, too lazy to recognize your question can not be answered (see #2 above).

If you want a lazy answer, then add up the yes's and the no's and see what there is more of. Or is that too much work too?
 
mathman said:
The biggest thing that I learned in this thread is what not to do...ever again.
Click to expand...

You just ignore the people who are not helpful, there is an actual ignore feature you can use so you don't even see their posts. Not everyone is so sensitive about what they carry and comparisons of it to other knives.

The Sebenza is a well made knife, however you can easily match the cutting ability and edge retention in other knives costing far less and easily exceed the lock strength/security, grip ergonomics/security and customer service.

It is however one of the few knives to use a pivot bushing and sleeve on the stop pin. Though it is rare to see high end knives die from piviot slop, and Reeve warns about intertial openings where others do not.

-Cliff
 
Thomason said:
It is without a doubt the best folder for generating threads that have been posted countless times.
Click to expand...

Amen, brother. :)

(and, I am sure, often done just to stir things up a bit on a slow day)
 
Post like this remind me of a quote from Braveheart.

"The Almighty says don't change the subject; just answer the forking question" :p
 
DaveH said:
I think the iritability comes from several things:

1) If you where to hang around more then 1 week you woould see a sebenza thread. I posted a link to a very good thread did you read it? I guess no. We get tired of rehashing this, a sticky would be nice but who knows if that will happen.

2) The whole idea of what knife is "best" QUOTE]


ummmmmmmm two points:

1- In reply to your first point, So you don't like the fact the sebenza is frequently referred to as the best knife? or you don't like the fact that is mentioned quite allot?

2- In reply to you second point, If I give you three knives, wouldn't you be able to say that one of them is the best? What if I give you 10? 100?

Also, when people re4fer to sebenza as the best knife, they normally ask about an all purpose utility knife. They are not asking you about the best rust resisting knife or the best skinner. Should be easy to answer the question. Do you think its best? why? Do you think something is better? what? why?

Thank you
Click to expand...
 
mathman said:
Don't tell me to search...just answer the question :D .
Click to expand...

All I have to say is.....:rolleyes:.
 
DaveH said:
If you where to hang around more then 1 week you woould see a sebenza thread.
Click to expand...

There are also threads every single week on most topics. Jeff Clark for example has posted on sharpening many times, yet he doesn't get irritated when people ask again.

The whole idea of what knife is "best" is laughably naive ...
Click to expand...

The very maker in contention uses the phrase "Optimal quality, optimal performance" with no qualifiers in the description of his product so how can you possibly critize someone for asking if they make the best product. Is Reeve "laughably naive"?

Mathman, if you wade through some searches you will come up with three common arguements used as to why the Sebenza is "best" in its price range :

-the consistency of execution
-the level of fit and finish
-bushing and stop pin sleeve

Are these worth the increase in price, they are to some, some will argue that any of them alone define it in another class. I don't think so because :

1) Nothing is perfect, they all have problems, my Sebenza's edge was half of spec, I have not seen that much variance on a Spyderco, though I don't doubt they probably exist. I have seen a few dozen high end folders and the defect rate is low, like one and some would argue it wasn't a defect anyway (liner lock on Military being white knuckle instable). Plus it isn't like you are stuck with the defect, you just return it and get it fixed, so customer service is critical.

2) Finish is irrelevant on a working knife which is how this knife is promoted, my used Sebenza looks horrible finish wise compared to any NIB FRN model which will also open and close smoother.

3) There is a complete fabrication of an arguement for the bushing and stop pin on the Sebenza with little to no actual evidence that this causes unfixable problems for high end production knives.

I have seen several wear down to the blade needing replacing and the pivot and stop pin still being functional. And I have not seen any reports of a 710 or Paramilitary having to be retired due to blade slop and the company refusing service.

Bastid said:
So any answer has to be prejudiced by the experiece of the person giving the answer.
Click to expand...

As with any comments on performance, so by the same logic you should not ask questions like "Does Shapton make the best benchstones?".

Obviously what you know is limited by your experience and so you share yours which gives someone the ability to point out something which you have not seen which could change your opinion.

-Cliff
 
Mr. Stamp just said it better than anyone could. His last post should be made into a sticky in my opinion. :D

Mathman, I also ment no disrespect to you, I should have worded my posts better.
 
I think the Winchester China made at Walmart is better....

Glenn
 
I don't know if a Sebenza is the 'best' folder. To me, the 'best' folder is the one I have on me when I need it, and it does it's job to my satisfaction. I think those requirements can be and are filled by a $50 knife as well as a $500 knife.
 
It seemed rather difficult to open. Several forum members mentioned adding graphite to framelock. I liked it's look and feel.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top