Is the Umnumzaan actually better than the Sebenza (trying to decide).

Well, it's started....

I sold off a few of my nicer knives, and now I have an Umnumzaan and Sebenza 21 on the way!!!

4 months ago, I'd never owned a folder over $150, now more than half of my collection is in the $200-$400 range. I didn't add a cent to my knife fund, I just sold off a few of them to get a couple nice ones. I can't wait for them to get here.
 
Thanks for buying that Umnumzaan. I saw right after it was posted and actually typed in "I'll take it" into the quick reply, but I wasn't able to pull the trigger. Are you getting a large 21?
 
TrickyVic said:
Thanks for buying that Umnumzaan. I saw right after it was posted and actually typed in "I'll take it" into the quick reply, but I wasn't able to pull the trigger. Are you getting a large 21?
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It was a great price for a New Umnumzaan, I replied as soon as I saw it without even fully reading the description or studying the pics. Sorry about that, better luck next time. If I hate it, I'll sell it to you for a slight profit :D.

Yup. I have a Large 21 coming in the mail tomorrow, and that Umnumzaan will be some time next week. I liked my Regular so much that I wanted to try them all, so I sold it to try out a 21. I think I'm going to like the 21 more because the funky scallops in the finger groove kinda bothered me.

The only thing I don't like about the 21 is that the edges of the scales are chamfered (strait cut) instead of filleted (radius cut). I did like how smooth the handles were on my Regular.
 
Nah, I don't think I want it. I would've beaten you to the punch, but I really didn't want and was buying it just because of the price. Be sure to post a comparison of both. Good score.
 
TrickyVic said:
Nah, I don't think I want it. I would've beaten you to the punch, but I really didn't want and was buying it just because of the price. Be sure to post a comparison of both. Good score.
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My Jedi powers are working! Or was it the protection spell I put on all the Umnumzaan threads in the exchange area...



And I will post a review after I've had a good amount of time to try them out. I have a hiking trip coming up the middle of this month. I bought a Ritter Grip just for it, but now I'm tempted to carry something a little nicer into the woods.
 
I owned a Sebbie for a long time, and handled the Umnumzaan.
Here is my opinion, based on what I handled.
I feel the Umnumzaan is a step back rather than forward:
1. The clean look of the Sebbie is gone.
2. It has lateral blade play (the two I handled). Minimal but it's there, open or closed. The lack of bushing, I guess. Could be that the couple of knives I handled are exceptions but I doubt it.
3. You need a special tool to open it. A deal breaker for me, unless the tool is provided.

The large Sebbie is the best production folder ever IMO.
 
Well stated, Flava. I've often thought the exact same thing, point for point. The #1 glaring step backwards, IMO, is the lack of pivot bushing. It wouldn't be a deal-breaker for me(if I wanted one), but the bushing has been one of the Seb's claims to fame. Without it, CRK can't really claim it's really any better, tolerance-wise, than its major competitors.
 
Here are my observations:

Umnumzaan plus - Can get the piviot action as smooth or smoother than a Sebenza if you have the adjustment tool. Thicker blade, Traction grooves on the scales. Ceramic lock and blade detente.
Umnumzaan minus - Need special adjustment tool. When I press down hard on the blade the lock bar moves far to the right almost touching the scale. Lockup is still solid

Sebenza plus - If you include the piviot, there are 3 solid spacers to ensure the scales are rigid. The piviot design ensures no blade play will develop during use. Blade is thinner than the Umnumzaan and cuts a bit better IMO.

Sebenza minus - Because of the tight tolerances necessary to ensure the smooth action it probably requires hand fitting and adjustment. This extra work is eliminated with the piviot design of the Umnumzaan.

Both designs are well, just great and you cannot go wrong with either knife.
 
I got the 21 today, and at first I was a little disappointed compared to the Regular. Overall, it seems a little less quality because of the chamfered scales and sandblasted finish (the regular had a lot smoother finish). I completely disassebled, cleaned it out, lubed the entire pivot, reground the tip where the bevels were uneven, then put it in my pocket. I now like it at least as much as my regular, if not a little more. The handle does fit my hand a little more, and I think I like the slightly different blade shape. After cleaning and lubing, this one is almost as smooth as my Regular was, but the Regular had 3 more years of use on it and these things seem to just get smoother over time. This 21 has buffed blade bevels and I like that. It seems to smudge and scratch a little easier, but it looks real nice.

If they filleted the edges of the scales, this would be the perfect knife. It is very close and the Umnumzaan is going to give it a run for it's money.
 
Keep us updated on that umnumzaan, I just ordered one from Heather at CRK and it should be in next week!!!

Now I have to go and sell off half of my current collection to make up for it :o

ps. this does NOT come from my wedding fund (regardless the missus cannot find out either :eek:)
 
I'm going to have to say no....in the same way that chocolate is not better than vanilla. It's just a different flavor. You can like one more than the other but neither is the better ;) I've had both, I STILL have the Sebenza.
 
pbubsy said:
I'm going to have to say no....in the same way that chocolate is not better than vanilla. It's just a different flavor. You can like one more than the other but neither is the better ;) I've had both, I STILL have the Sebenza.
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That is putting it perfectly. I agree. :thumbup:
 
Well now that I have both, I'm trying to trade the Umnumzaan for a Strider! I like it, but it's almost a little too fancy for me. I like the Sebenza because of it's utter simplicity in form. The Zaan is a little too curvacious for me and unlike what everyone has said here, I find it to be too similar to the Sebeza to warrent keeping both knives. My collection is completely supported by trades and selling knives to buy other ones. Having two similar knives is not worth it to me.

Having said that, the Zaan is an amazing knife. If I didn't have a Sebenza for the last few months, I would have easily chosen the Zaan over the Sebie to EDC. I guess the Sebie grew on me.
 
michaelmcgo said:
Well now that I have both, I'm trying to trade the Umnumzaan for a Strider! I like it, but it's almost a little too fancy for me. I like the Sebenza because of it's utter simplicity in form. The Zaan is a little too curvacious for me and unlike what everyone has said here, I find it to be too similar to the Sebeza to warrent keeping both knives. My collection is completely supported by trades and selling knives to buy other ones. Having two similar knives is not worth it to me.

Having said that, the Zaan is an amazing knife. If I didn't have a Sebenza for the last few months, I would have easily chosen the Zaan over the Sebie to EDC. I guess the Sebie grew on me.
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Not to change your mind on that strider trade, but I know I had the XM-18 bug this past week before taking the umnumzaan plunge :o

Now THAT is a beefy knife that I would have dropped $600 for if I had seen one cheap enough (there was a red one for $550 but it sold before I made up my mind :grumpy:)

I'm still looking forward to the umnumzaan. My first sebbie was bought from pbubsy here, a large 21, and I absolutley loved that knife. I foolishly traded it for (coincidentally) a strider SMF plus a little extra. Great knife but NOT a sebenza. So I'm glad to hear that the Zaan is similar to the sebbie :)
 
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