Just got my first small Sebenza

Wandering_About said:
The small is just right for me, but I'm also not a very large person. Also, my area has a 3.5" blade length limit so larges are not legal unless you grind a bit of blade off. Legality aside, I do tend to prefer a blade more toward 3 inches that is slim and trim in pocket for daily carry. There are times I'll carry something bigger but I'm completely comfortable with a 3 inch blade.

I've spent a lot of time hiking and fishing with my small Sebenza and have not found it lacking.

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3 inches of blade is enough to do a lot. You see a lot of backpackers and survivalists with the victorinox classic most of the time as their only cutting tool. Great pictures!
 
I own 2 small Sebenzas. One is because it has a very important date to me, including day, month, and year. The other is part of a set with a large and small CGG and is even more special to me. The CGG was in my pocket for the delivery/stillbirth of my first son, and was the only keepsake I had on me for photos since we couldn't bring him home from the hospital. It's the only thing imof mine I cherish that appears in a photo with him. When my second son was born, I had it with me and made sure to take photos then too. So it was the only thing I own that made contact with both of them. It's in my pocket as a backup every single day. You could offer me 7 figures for that knife, and I'd pass.

But yeah, the smalls are smaller than I prefer for primary carry for sure.
 
In the nearly thirty years of carrying smalls I’ve never felt under-knifed when using one. But hey, YMMV and that’s why they make a large as well.

Funny thing - the originals only came in the larger size and they later introduced the smaller version because so many people were clamoring for them.
 
I like my smalls. They’re not perfect, but the large is just more blade than I need in a pocketknife. For me at least, the complaint with a small Sebenza is that blade to handle ratio is too efficient. The blade is a great size; the handle is a bit too small. Of course, if they made the handle say 3/8” longer, we’d all expect the blade to grow to match. Medium Sebenza, anyone?
 
Would anyone happen to have a pic of a Mnandi & a small Sebenza 31 side by side? I've always liked the look of Mnandis. Are the handles the same size?
 
353 said:
Nice pic.

Could be discussed on sebbie vs inkosi size, think the sebbie is slightly larger but the inkosi is slightly heavier.
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I believe the Inkosi has a slightly thicker blade and handles than the Sebenza, so that wouldn't surprise me.
 
JTR357 said:
Would anyone happen to have a pic of a Mnandi & a small Sebenza 31 side by side? I've always liked the look of Mnandis. Are the handles the same size?
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Yeah I'd say the Mnandi is about as small as the Small Inkosi, but something to note is that it is way thinner in the handle, and also it has much less handle to grip onto. Very small.

 
JTR357 said:
Would anyone happen to have a pic of a Mnandi & a small Sebenza 31 side by side? I've always liked the look of Mnandis. Are the handles the same size?
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The Mnandi was actually designed by Chris Reeve for his wife so she could carry a knife in her purse. Seriously. Also, because it's just a very nice knife as well.
 
iacchus said:
I carry my small 31 far more often than my large.

I'm 6'7" and around 250lbs. Not a small guy, large hands.
I adore that little knife. It gets everything done I need it to and carries like it isn't there at all.
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I'm only 5'7" but have big old bear paws for some reason. I don't really care about blade size. It's the handle that counts with me. I was disappointed with the Bradford Guardian 3 for the same reason.
 
JTR357 said:
Thanks. I could actually warm up to the Mnandi as a traditional knife.
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If you’re going traditional I’d really suggest Great Eastern Cutlery over CRK. Not bashing the Mnandi, but GEC just does it the best. Of course, they are not stainless for the most part and not able to be taken apart. You can find some nice sized GEC for larger hands, and they have some great handle materials to boot.
 
Slice-E said:
In all seriousness, yeah the Small Sebenza is too small for me as well. Oddly enough, even though the Small Inkosi is even smaller, the finger choil, thickness, and weight of the knife makes it usable for me with my hands. My hands seem to be about the same size as yours. The Large Inkosi is of course way more comfortable. If you can stand the pocket clip positioning, the Umnumzaan is also pretty good for large hands as well.

I know a lot of people like the Sebenza 31, but I didn't like it for a lot of reasons. I do find the Inkosi to be way more up my alley.
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Ajack60 said:
Been there, done that. I’ve only got one small Sebenza and it’s a regular. Can’t say I carry it.
I prefer the large also. Don’t ever get a small Inkosi if you don’t care for the small Sebenza.
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I love my large 21s, but did not like the small 21 at all, and sold the one I had. Something was wrong in how it fit my hand as well. However, I too love my small Inkosi. I got one way back when they were introduced and have kept it ever since, and likely will always keep it.
 
nbp said:
I love my large 21s, but did not like the small 21 at all, and sold the one I had. Something was wrong in how it fit my hand as well. However, I too love my small Inkosi. I got one way back when they were introduced and have kept it ever since, and likely will always keep it.
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Glad Im not the only one. I do have the Micarta Insingo Small Inkosi, so it does fit a lot into a small package. Haven’t felt under knifed in usage, although for my own tastes I like my large more because it’s bigger. I carry my small more however.
 
Slice-E said:
If you’re going traditional I’d really suggest Great Eastern Cutlery over CRK. Not bashing the Mnandi, but GEC just does it the best. Of course, they are not stainless for the most part and not able to be taken apart. You can find some nice sized GEC for larger hands, and they have some great handle materials to boot.
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I have a couple of GECs & love them. They are just too hard to get. As soon as a dealer emails me with them in stock, they're gone.
 
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