Large Sebenza vs. Umnumzaan

Toyz

Toyz

Joined
Nov 2, 2006
Messages
1,838
I am posting this under "General" because I am hoping to solicit feedback from a wider audience.

I think I am going to purchase my first CRK.

I know, I know - everyone is shaking their heads at this point. I have been buying and carrying knives for over 30 years, and the question you are now yelling at your computer screen is "I can't believe you waited this long dummy"!

I can't either. I guess after reading, researching, researching and reading and trying a lot of other knives I am ready to get one.

Here's my situation - I want to edc during the week in an office scenario - so that means the pocket clip comes off and it goes in the pocket of either dress pants or khakis. I carry a SAK also - so I'm not worried about the sheeple crowd.

I LIKE tactical knives and heavy duty knives. I also do not want something that is going to eat thru my pocket in a week or two like some other knives have. I am NOT scared to pocket carry a larger, heavier knife.

It will be used indoors and outdoors, and I do not want to "not" use the knife in certain situations out of fear of scratching or damaging the knife. It will get used.

I will more than likely continue to carry one of my 3 ZT knives during the weekend - so the CRK will get some rest 2 out of the 7 days.

I am leaning towards the Umnum - but after searching this forum and reading the reviews it seems like everyone is partial to the Sebenza.

Please do not recommend other makes / models of knives, as I have tried a LOT of production knives. I spend WWAAYY to much time looking at catalogs and researching.

Any feedback is appreciated - I only want to do this once - I do not want to have to sell this only to get the other.

Please help a confused forum brother out.

Pics are appreciated.:D:D
 
Subscribing ....
(Thanks for starting the thread covering the exact topic that is on my mind at the moment ... ;))
 
I like the overall looks of the Sebenza over the Umnum, as I am not fond of the criss-cross handle pattern and the name of the knife inscribed in the handle. I do like the blade shape of the Umnum over the Sebbie.

There are some Sebenza patterns I like - night sky for example. If I decide to buy a Sebbie - I will more than lilely just get the base model to try. If I like it, I will get a more ornate model in the future and maybe pass the base model onto my son.

However, I am not one to buy a knife because it looks better than another. I want the best one for the task - not the one that looks best.

In my opinion - it appears that the Sebenza is the more refined knife vs. the Umnum which is the more "tactical" hard use.
 
I have both.They're both excellent tools.

If I had to choose between the two,it would be the Lrg. Sebenza.The only reason being is the ease of taking it apart & reassembling.You really can't go wrong with either.
 
If you want the umnumzaan then get it.

I know what it's like, you are going to have a hard time with second guessing yourself. For me it was all about should I really spend that much, but when I got my large sebenza I was so happy. I knew I had made the right choice which was my FIRST thought.

The large sebenza is great too, but its a plain folder without many of the cool features of the umnum (the fancy stop pin, the special detent, the grooves, the swedge, etc) so decide if that's what you want.

Either way CRK makes a little pocket sheath that you might want to check out since closed retention becomes a real issue when carrying it loose.
 
You will not be disappointed with either. I have both carry both, just depends on what my mood is.
If I had to choose just one I think it would be the Umnumzaan, but I hope it never comes to choosing just one.

ETA: I will add one thing, the swedge on the back of the blade of the Umnum I have used to scrape things when I did not want to use the knife blade and dull it.
 
I've had both & now have my 2nd Umnum. It's definitely a personal choice, but if you tend to like more "tactical" folders, then I think the Umnum's the way to go.

As for the cross sections on the Umnum, it definitely helps with the gripping of it. I've had 6 or 7 different Sebs (Small & large). My favorite is the micarta inlay models. However, I've had plain ones & then had a G-10 scale made for them. On the large, it made it a little lighter & improved gripping it.

If I needed to start all over again, I'd probably get the Umnum, since, IMHO, you don't have to modify it.

Good luck with your choice.
 
Id get the Zaan. Im partial thou I have 2 regs. and one tanto plus a couple

of lg.sebs. The zaan is much easier to take apart(if you have the take

down kit).Better ergos,better blade shape(reg. model).I think its sturdier

than the seb..not that I abuse either one.

Get one and youll getting the other..a lot of CRK guys do.They grow on

you..youll see after a while.One wont be enough.:D:D

Ive been edc a zaan most of the time for the last 3 months.
 
It's a tough call to be sure but either will be as good a choice as the other at the end of the day.

I carried a Seb for a long time before getting the Umnumzaan and did find the Seb hard to put down as I was
quite at home with it. The Umnumzaan has pretty much been in my pocket from the day I bought it though.
 
I have had both and sold the Umnumzaan. I prefer the ease of opening and unlocking the Sebenza (Classic and 21 models) to the Umnumzaan. If I were choosing between a regular Sebenza and an Umnu, I would probably choose the Umnu, subject to the consideration in the next paragraph.

If you are thinking of using the knife around non-knife people, you might consider that a Sebenza can be less "threatening" visually if you carry an inlay version, whereas I had even "knife people" tell me they thought the Umnu was "aggressive" looking (which really surprised me, but I mention that FWIW).
 
Toyz said:
I like the overall looks of the Sebenza over the Umnum, as I am not fond of the criss-cross handle pattern and the name of the knife inscribed in the handle. I do like the blade shape of the Umnum over the Sebbie.

There are some Sebenza patterns I like - night sky for example. If I decide to buy a Sebbie - I will more than lilely just get the base model to try. If I like it, I will get a more ornate model in the future and maybe pass the base model onto my son.

However, I am not one to buy a knife because it looks better than another. I want the best one for the task - not the one that looks best.

In my opinion - it appears that the Sebenza is the more refined knife vs. the Umnum which is the more "tactical" hard use.
Click to expand...

Don't let looks fool you. Sebenza means work in Zulu. It is a very strong knife. I love my plain large Sebenza 21. It is as close to a perfect knife as you can get.
 
Question: How strong is either model's blade detent in closed position?

If carrying loose in pocket, one wouldn't want to have the blade jiggle open and make some unwanted ventilation : )

If anyone can compare blade detent in terms of spyderco millie's detent strength it would be very helpful.
 
The earlier post about detent not being strong has me a little concerned for loose in-pocket carry.

It looks like CR sells a pocket case for Sebbie but not for Umnum.

I recently sliced a finger open on a knife that was in my pocket that opened partially due to a weak detent. Don't want to do that again.

Can anyone speak to the detent strength on each model?
 
Toyz said:
Can anyone speak to the detent strength on each model?
Click to expand...

Detent is identical on all. But the way the handles are designed makes me think the Umnumzaan would be less likely to open accidentally.
 
Hey toyz, have you handled either one of them yet? That can be somewhat important too.
 
Toyz said:
I like the overall looks of the Sebenza over the Umnum, as I am not fond of the criss-cross handle pattern and the name of the knife inscribed in the handle.
Click to expand...

The name was only on the first made. I had one this past year and it had no name in the handle.
 
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