Is there any more polarizing knife than the Sebenza?

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ShooterMcgavin

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I just had to bring this up, as we see question and comparison threads involving the Sebenza devolve into the same analogies and even insults all the time.
NOTE: This thread is not about debating the Sebenza, but about the polarizing effect of that knife, and the effect of other knives to bring out the passionate dichotomy of us knife aficionados.

Are there other knives which are, or have been, as hotly debated amongst "us" in terms of value and reasons to own? The Sebenza is brought up often, in comparison threads or threads asking the timeless question of "is it worth it?"/"Should I?". There seems to be this hazy middle ground of folks who don't know from experience, but like to speculate, and then there are the two sides of the discussion who know exactly where they each stand... Is there another knife, or knife manufacturer, which brings out this set of proponents and detractors as passionately?

I don't know if there exists another... Hinderer? ...I don't think so. Cold Steel? ...not really the same type of debates - the intangibles of fine craftsmanship and high cost. Maybe there is another polarizing debate from another industry that you think parallels the CRK Sebenza discussion?

ETA: This is not a recreation of the debated topics of different knives. This was meant as a look into the reasons we debate knives.
 
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The amazing trio of Sebenza (Is it worth it?), Strider(personal history of maker) and Cold Steel (Silly videos) will bring out the hordes and create massive dissent in the ranks. Thanks for asking, though. BTW, in before the lock or move to W&C.
 
Sounds like the knife version of Glock versus 1911.

I don't personally care one way or another about Sebenzas. From what I can determine from my time here they are a high quality knife that I can't afford and that I am not especially interested in owning. I really don't care what someone else chooses to own, or their opinion about what I choose to own. So no polarity from me.

It seems to boil down to the age old argument of "is this expensive thing worth the cost difference compared to this less expensive thing that performs the same task?"
 
There are plenty of knives/brands that bring up similarly lively discussions: Microtech, Cold Steel, Strider, etc. But you rarely see the zealots massed together more than in a "Is the Sebenza worth it" type thread.
 
I would second Strider for most polarizing.....it seems either love or hate with little in between. Hinderer is somewhat polarizing but mostly due to marketing and secondary market pricing. Sebenza isn't so much polarizing as it is a cult following.....this isn't a slam but rather an observation. People who love their sebs truly love their sebs more than any other knife.....it is truly slavish loyalty. Most other knife followings don't rise to this level.....they love their knives but probably not to the level of sebs.
 
I think Microtech is fairly debated. Some people say it's an American company making great knives, and others say the company is based entirely on design theft and poor quality control.
 
I think there is more debate on the sebenza than any other ; i think the shop tours on youtube speak for themselves.
 
Maybe it is just a question of scale then?...
The other brands and knives are hotly debated, having their lovers and haters, but the Sebenza just appears more frequently because of the numbers of units sold??
 
ShooterMcgavin said:
This was meant as a look into the reasons we debate knives.
Click to expand...

Well, I think we debate knives because this is a knife Forum. It this was a sports Forum, we'd be debating teams, stats and athlete performance in the same manner. But if you're looking for another group of knives that inspire a lot of mud-slinging and thread-locks, anything 'made in China' is one for the books...

-Brett
 
Chris and Mick designed two of the finest folding knives ever.
"Where there is much light, there are many shadows."
rolf
 
timberweasel said:
Well, I think we debate knives because this is a knife Forum. It this was a sports Forum, we'd be debating teams, stats and athlete performance in the same manner. But if you're looking for another group of knives that inspire a lot of mud-slinging and thread-locks, anything 'made in China' is one for the books...

-Brett
Click to expand...

I meant something slightly different... Using the Sebenza example, it is debated because of cost, materials, heat treat, fit and finish, quality control, ergonomics, warranty, etc. For some of those topics, there are staunch supporters and detractors. The same is not typically evident of the Delica, for example :)
 
There is a certain class resentment towards people willing to spend $500 or more for a pocket knife - they boast of their own favorite budget knife as being just as good as a Sebenza, Hinderer, or Strider. Because they would never spend so much, they seem to resent those who do, and criticize their choices.
 
After having owned about half a dozen Sebenzas, two Umnumzaans, one Insingo and an Mnandi, I have to say that CRK is at the top of the production game. Even though I sold most of my one handed openers to pursue slipjoints, both production and custom, I still appreciate Benchmades, Spydercos and Kershaws/ZTs. They are very well made knives, but they cannot hold a candle to the Sebenza. The Sebenza is an expensive knife, and while I would not pay full MSRP for one, I think they are worth MOST of the asking price. These knives are luxury items though. There is no reason why I should have anything more than a SAK, a Mora, an Estwing axe and a Wards .22 for camping etc, other than luxury. There's no reason why you can't carry an Opinel everyday, other than luxury (some may say the Opinel is a luxury in and of itself).

I own three CRK folders, I'm glad I have them, I carry one daily, a large micarta Insingo. They are comfortable, they are reliable, they are well made. The customer service backs them up, and they have provided great customer service. If people don't like the high prices, don't pay them. If people are tired of members talking about them, this is a discussion forum. You won't know until you carry one. I got great prices from a dealer on my first knives, and traded for most of my other ones. I don't have a one hand opener collection, my three CRK folders, two Benchmades and two balisongs are it for one hand openers, I got rid of everything else in favor of slipjoints and bushcraft knives. I feel that I can own those three CRKs as a luxury for myself. I don't beat my chest and holler Sebenza whenever I enter a show or a knife shop. Some think CRK owners are snooty, others think those that don't have a CRK knife are beneath them. That's not me at all. They're the best production knives out there, their prices could be better, but if you don't like it, don't get one. I complained about the price of the new Case Bose 2013 wharncliff trapper. If I don't like it, I don't have to buy it. Simple as that. I tried to wrap my head around how they could charge 450.00 for a wharncliff pattern, even if it had the crisp clean lines of a Bose. Well, I can either buy it or not. Someone will be more than happy to take your place and buy either knife.
 
Man, I'm not even in to knives that much, it's just part of my daily EDC but I would have to say that he Sebenza is just too expensive for me. It's like buying an Apple product, people feel like they are part of an exclusive club.
 
Yep! What LDB said.
And this is another reason why I don't show my knives to just anyone anymore.
 
Oh man, if my family or friends who are not knife nuts knew what my Sebenza/Umnumzaan/Insingo are worth, they would have a heart attack. First the why did I buy such an expensive knife, second the why do I carry such an expensive knife?
 
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