Large or Small?

JSMcustoms

JSMcustoms

Joined
Feb 2, 2012
Messages
1,792
It's probably a question that's been asked many times around the forums, but large or small Sebenza? I've looked over both of them til my eyes bled (not literally, but you probably get the idea). Both are great knives. The question is more what's going to best meet my EDC requirements? Carrying a big knife has never been an issue if I like the thing, though doing so certainly has it's place too. On the other hand, the small simply seems as taking up less space in my pocket. It'd be nice being able to afford both... for for a good while, it's gonna have to be one or the other. Your thoughts people?
 
I got yesterday a small one and I like it.
But at the evening after playing with a friends large one I decided to change mine to the large.
A great hand full of steel and titanium! Very comfortable!
 
I'd say that it depends on the environment that you're going to use it in. I work in an office environment where people even wonder when I pull out a Victorinox ("what, you always got a knife on you?"). That's why I got a small sebenza, because people might freak out when I pulled out a large one at lunch... Plus, one-handed locking folders are not entirely legal to carry in Germany... A large folder just draws too much attention here.
 
There's nothing you can do with a large that you can't do with a small. Even though I prefer the large, I have several smalls also. It's just a personal preference between the two.
For me, I like the feel of the large in my hand, to have the Ti slabs protrude beyond my palm gives me a better sense of control, even though in reality it really doesn't.
I've always liked a bigger knife, but that's just me.
 
Peter S. said:
I got yesterday a small one and I like it.
But at the evening after playing with a friends large one I decided to change mine to the large.
A great hand full of steel and titanium! Very comfortable!
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bp_173 said:
I'd say that it depends on the environment that you're going to use it in. I work in an office environment where people even wonder when I pull out a Victorinox ("what, you always got a knife on you?"). That's why I got a small sebenza, because people might freak out when I pulled out a large one at lunch... Plus, one-handed locking folders are not entirely legal to carry in Germany... A large folder just draws too much attention here.
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It's a hardware store/warehouse environment, so no one's really going to bat an eye towards a larger knife. I've not heard much of anything in regards to my 551-1 which has been my EDC for the past week. Certainly no 'oh my god, he's got a knife' reactions. That being said, some of the mid-summer customers during the main season can be somewhat jumpy (folks with high end vacation homes in the area). Only thing that makes me lean slightly towards the large is... a larger handle which is nice for cutting those plastic bands (upward pull cuts). It's actually why I stopped carrying my Mini Grip at work cause it felt a bit small for that one particular task.
 
For me, the small just seemed to fit my hand better. But you can't go wrong with either one!! Do what I do when I can't make up my mind . . . I flip a coin!!
 
The best advice I can give is to watch the exchange for a good deal and buy a small and large. Alternate between them for a few weeks, you'll make up your mind. After you choose what's best for you sell the other on the exchange, you'll only lose a few bucks.
I can promise that If you only get one you'll always wonder if the other would've served you better.
 
I couldn't decide either..ended up buying a small.Carried it for 6 months,and just bought a large..if I was buying my first over..it would be a large.
 
I just got my first CRK, a Umnumzaan. About the same size as a large serbenza. To me it is not that large of a knife to EDC. I don't think I would want to carry any larger. If you have big hands I would get the large serbenza. I don't think you could go wrong either way.
 
for me it's the large. Tried smalls and even though they would do everything they were asked to do and took up little room in my pocket, I like the feel of a large for leverage on the harder cuts.
 
I prefer the small, I would not EDC anything larger than that.
 
I like both, but prefer the large more often than not. It just feels better in my hand. I could get by with the small, though. For over a decade, I got by with only a single SAK with the longest blade being about 2.5". But the opening and closing is more natural for me with the large Insingo than with my small one.

My workplace is a massage and wellness center. Some people might think that people who work in this type of place would be scared of knives. Not at all. I regularly use my large Insingo to cut strapping and sometimes break down boxes, and nobody bats an eye. They know me and that I carry a knife as a tool. I've also used a Spyderco Police, Tasman, Delica, etc. A co-worker of mine now carries an S30V Kershaw Blur. Again, nobody, even the owners, is bothered by it.

Jim
 
I have been carrying a small for about 2 years. Recently, I got a 25 and am not completely sure I would rather carry it over the small. I definitely like the feel of the 25 in my hand, but in the pocket it is heavier and takes up more room. At work, I wear khakis and may just continue use the small there, but the 25 everywhere else.

I must say the 25 is an awesome knife. It just has a substantial feel that the Small 21 doesn't have. If I were to choose one at the point, it would be the small 21 or the Inoski.

Martin
 
JSMcustoms said:
It's a hardware store/warehouse environment, so no one's really going to bat an eye towards a larger knife. I've not heard much of anything in regards to my 551-1 which has been my EDC for the past week. Certainly no 'oh my god, he's got a knife' reactions. That being said, some of the mid-summer customers during the main season can be somewhat jumpy (folks with high end vacation homes in the area). Only thing that makes me lean slightly towards the large is... a larger handle which is nice for cutting those plastic bands (upward pull cuts). It's actually why I stopped carrying my Mini Grip at work cause it felt a bit small for that one particular task.
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Actually, you've already answered your question with your above post... [emoji16]

I work in a warehouse environment too and prefer to use my umnumzaan rather than my small sebenzas. I do EDC my smalls though...
 
Boy, tough choice. The 21 carries very well, I find. Tucked IWB it's nigh invisible, even in an office environment, or carried in a jacket pocket, like a cell phone would be.
 
If you feel like your Mini Griptilian was too small, then get e large Sebenza. As I recall, the small Seb and the Mini Grip are the same size...
 
bp_173 said:
If you feel like your Mini Griptilian was too small, then get e large Sebenza. As I recall, the small Seb and the Mini Grip are the same size...
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Good point here. My experience with the small grip was the same. It was just too small in the hand for heavier cutting tasks.

However, the one small Seb that I owned, did not give me the same impression. I'm not sure if it's due to the fact that the Ti slabs are straight and not curved like the grip, but I loved using the small. There was nothing that I could not do with it that I do with my large. There was also never a time where I felt unsure/uneasy about the smaller handle. And I have XL/XXL hands.
 
I agree with this. The small 21 feels much better in hand than the mini grip. I too think it's how the end doesn't taper. I started with a 25 when they were first introduced, a year later I bought a small with wood inlay for the office. I prefer the small for EDC (but I usually carry my starlit instead) and carry the 25 while doing yard work or hiking. Actually bough a plain Jane small insingo a month or two ago. I don't see myself buying another large.



Gizler00 said:
Good point here. My experience with the small grip was the same. It was just too small in the hand for heavier cutting tasks.

However, the one small Seb that I owned, did not give me the same impression. I'm not sure if it's due to the fact that the Ti slabs are straight and not curved like the grip, but I loved using the small. There was nothing that I could not do with it that I do with my large. There was also never a time where I felt unsure/uneasy about the smaller handle. And I have XL/XXL hands.
Click to expand...
 
I have fairly large hands so tend to lean towards the large. That being said, I did have an opportunity to try out a few small models and found the micarta inlays made a big difference. It filled my hand nicely and gave me confidence in the thought that I'd be fine using it. Of course if I went small it get the insingo model.
Food for thought.

YMMV
 
I forgot who said it, but someone (around these parts) said it best:

"The Small is everything you NEED in a knife. The Large is everything you WANT in a knife."
 
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