Large Sebenza vs. Umnumzaan

Toyz said:
Hands are around 4 1/4"-4 1/2" across the palm, and I wear XL gloves. The smaller knives tend to create a hotspot where the back of the scales digs into my palm.....
Click to expand...

I only have personal experience with Lg and Sm Sebenza's, but from your hand size I think that you should go for the large. My hands are similarly sized and I feel much more comfortable with the large. I typically only carry a small around in business clothes or on Sunday mornings. Recently, I've been eyeing the Umnumzaan after handling one at a local gun show. Very nice ergonomics, handle is slightly bigger than the Seb, extremely smooth, great balance.... mmmmm.
 
For the price of the Umnum I would rather get a Large Seb with Micarta inlyas. I prefer the Seb to the Umnum. Simpler to take apart, the new ones have the same wahers as the Umnum and the new Sebenzas have a detent that goes through the blade so that pocket lint does not affect the blade detent. Seb also has the pivot bushing that I prefer. So IMO you get all that the Umnum except the glass breaker.
 
I ground a clip point on my large Sebenza. It still weighs 133 gms. This is a little heavy for pocket carry, although the Ti Military weighs 162 gms. My Willliam Henry/Tom Brown Quest "survival knife" weighs 56 gms, a more pocket friendly package.
 
razorsdescent said:
This is why i love thsi forum a great sense of community, My family lives in the bethesda area. do you mind if i ask where you guys shop for high end cutlery in that area?
Click to expand...

Ok - to answer razorsdescent question and update:

I usually buy knives from a shop in downtown Frederick - called Edgeworks. Great selection of low, medium and high end knives.

I found a place about 25 minutes away from work that carries Chris Reeve knives (White Marsh Guns - Reisterstown Road). I went there today - they had 7 in stock - 5 were large and 2 were small. They did not have the Umnum. I ended up buying a new large classic with right hand thumb stud and blue spacer in rear.

The small Sebenza was WAY small, and I was actually surprised of the size of the large - its smaller than I remembered.

Sweet knife - and it has been in the display case for a little bit as it was born in late 2008.

After reading all posts here and doing a little more research - I felt the Umnum was going to be a little too big and tactical for it's intended use.

Funny - the guy behind the counter wanted to know if I was a collector - if this knife was an investment. I told him it was going to be a user and he almost choked. He told me he would never spend over $20 on a knife.

To each his own...

Now to tell the wife.:eek:

Thanks to everyone who weighed in on this matter!!
 
I too am debating this. Its time to retire the Mini Socom and am thinking I want something slightly larger. After having both in my hand i think I am going to choose a Lg LH Seb with dual thumb studs. Now my question is do I go plain or one of the fancy contrast cuts.......???????????
 
which one sells the quickest when it's put up for sale? you have the answer....

I don't like the spine of the umnumzaan and the fact that it requires a special pivot tool.
 
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.
Click to expand...

the name on the handle is only for the Umnumzaan prototypes, which for some reason CRK still uses the picures of for their website.
 
I have a small classic, large regular and umnum. Out of them all I find the umnum to be the most comfortable and ergonomic but I love all three. If I could only keep one I think it would be the umnum but it would be a hard decision.
 
Here are two plain simple facts:

1) As soon as a CRK is in your pocket and actually being used, you won't be carrying the ZT's anymore.

2) No matter which one you buy, Sebenza or Umnumzaan, you will end up purchasing the other one also.
 
freq18hz said:
Here are two plain simple facts:

1) As soon as the Sebenza is in your pocket and used, you won't be carrying the ZT's anymore.

2) No matter which one you buy, Sebenza or Umnumzaan, you will end up purchasing the other one also.
Click to expand...

this is probably true for most, but I just ended up buying two Umnums, though I'll definitely be getting a Sebenza soon
 
I may just trek over to a yuppee sporting goods store to look at The Um & Sebbie - again. For me - it's a silly desire.

I have a between the two current Sebbies wannabe - a Buck 172. It was a steal - 3.125" x .125" S30V/lightened (holes) Ti frame - and < half MSRP - new. Super smooth Buck - a treasure - nice blade, good hand fit. Then there are the BM's - 630 Skirmish - huge - smooth - well-babanced. The 635BK mini-Skirmish - nice EDC, if a bit short in the handle. The newest - 790 Subrosa - super fit/finish and handfit - nice package. All Ti-framelocks - with S30V blades .125" - .160". Not CRK fit/finish - but not far off, either. The M4 bladed 760BK is a nice knife - but would be far better with a different edge geometry.

Yeah, I could sell my collection - and nearly afford one large Sebbie and an Um - but, I like the assortment. I'll still make the trek... maybe tomorrow. One must have something to lust after.

I'll bet that was a tough decision!

Stainz
 
I have a small Sebenza 21 and an Umnumzaan. My vote would be for the Sebenza, for simplicity of maintenance. You don't have to fuss with buying a take-down kit and having to buy the low-strength loc-tite for the pivot.

You can play the "what-if" game and dream up situations in which you'll need something just a hint beefier all you want. But if you keep doing that you may as well just carry a fixed blade.
 
I have a large and small Classic Sebenza as well as a Umnumzaan. If I was forced to let one go it would be the large Sebenza. I do love my large Seb but the only issue I have is the hot spot it creates on my palm due to the sharp edge on the back end of the handle.
 
This thread has a little age and a twist. Since generating this thread, I have bought, carried and sold my large Sebenza. I am now the proud owner of an Umnumzaan. The large Sebbie was a great knife, but I felt that the Umnumzaan was more of what I was looking for.
 
Congrats, you can't really go wrong with either.

Here is my Reeve/Wilson Umnumzaan.

003-8.jpg

001-8.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top