Longest you've owned a Sebenza?? Lifetime knife??

Toyz said:
I am seeing a lot of "is a $400 knife worth it" threads pop up lately.
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Those threads kind of drive me nuts, especially when people accuse us of being snobs. I've recently sworn off reading or posting in them, which helps.
 
KeithAM said:
Those threads kind of drive me nuts, especially when people accuse us of being snobs. I've recently sworn off reading or posting in them, which helps.
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That's what you've got to do.

Interesting how someone would be surprised by someone else, met on a knife afficianado website, could possibly spend that on a knife. We'll be passing down our Sebenzas to future generations who will continue using them when other folks' $500 Ipads and golf drivers are in a landfill.

And to be honest, with what some other "semi-production" knives are going for these days on the aftermarket, Sebenzas are a friggin' bargain in my book.

Just my .02.

Here was my 7 1/2 year Seb edc testimonial posted back in '09: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=672720&highlight=professor

Professor.
 
That's a great thread, Professor.

I think your initial reaction is shared by many. I've seen a more than a few posts over the years in those "are they worth it" threads where someone says, basically, "I handed a Sebenza and wasn't impressed." I can understand that. You have to use it a while to really appreciate it, IMO.

I'm glad you gave it a second chance.

My appreciation grows longer I use mine.
 
I agree Professor - I cannot begin to tally the untold thousands of dollars I have spent on electronics and cell phones - starting in 1987 when I bought my first computer.

At one point I had an entire drawer full of old pdas and cell phones - I finally had to throw them away. it made me sick every time I looked at the pile and began adding up what I spent on them.

I paid $3500 for my first laptop many, many years ago - and it's fermenting in a landfill somewhere as I type this. I venture to guess if I had purchased a Sebenza back then that I would still have it today.

Glad to see people are actually using and carrying their Sebenzas. I don't have many miles logged on mine - hope to change that.
 
I have had my Insingo close to a year now, before that I had a small Regular Sebenza for a year and a half till I was mugged. Would have still had the small if it did not happen. Loved that knife. The Insingo is a beast of a blade in its own right, but the small had a special place in my heart since I bought it when I finished with my first degree.
 
Bought my EEC small plain Sebbie in 2004 and carried it for almost six years before I sent it back to be fitted for a damascus blade. Been carrying it that way ever since.

I rotate between the Sebbie (in jeans) and a Mnandi in blackwood with damascus blade when in slacks.
 
KeithAM said:
Those threads kind of drive me nuts, especially when people accuse us of being snobs. I've recently sworn off reading or posting in them, which helps.
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Always best to remain above that sort of thing :rolleyes:

I believe if I dropped one in a lake I'd follow it with a large weight and a buoy and do a little scuba diving.

I would really like to see some more pictures of well used Sebenzas that haven't made a rejuvenating trip to the motherland. Incidentally professor, great post. Your son will value that knife for a whole lot more than just the fact that it is a great knife. I haven't even handled, much less actually used or carried one but it's obviously a brilliant design. I can't imagine one failing in normal+ use. I will likely own one sometime but with my penchant for loosing knives; I don't think I could carry it like I do most knives.

Other than loss; I can certainly picture it as a lifetime or multi generational knife.
 
I carried a large BG-42 at work for over ten years, retired it at the beginning of 2010 in favor of an Umnumzaan. As soon as the Insingo comes out with a Micarta Inlay I'll EDC that instead.
 
I've had about a dozen Sebenzas over the last 7 years. I didn't carry all of them but always had one in my edc rotation. I bought my BG-42 classic about a year and a half ago. I think I'll keep it for a while. The other day I picked up a really nice damascus, mammoth ivory inlay that I have to decide whether I will carry or not. I told myself I wouldn't keep anymore safe queens. We'll see.:)
 
Mal2 said:
I would really like to see some more pictures of well used Sebenzas that haven't made a rejuvenating trip to the motherland.
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Recent thread:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=815911

IMG_0126_2.jpg


IMG_0127.jpg
 
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Well I can kind of understand the threads that ask if high dollar knives are worth it. It's a lot of money on one item. Especially since most that are considering it have been carrying a variety of knives that don't cost near that.
I had my own wonders if it was really that much better than the knives I've been carrying forever. But instead of asking it on a forum I just searched for other threads that were along similar lines.
It didn't surprise me that knife users and collectors would spend it. When I bought my first high dollar blade it was a tough sell. $227 but I found I was happy with my purchase.

I've only had CRK knives since last Nov so I can't say to longevity in my hands. A Spyderco Delica 3 lasted 12 yrs in my pocket and it's still ready for more so I know I won't wear out a Sebenza.

I would like to know why people that retired their Sebenza did so. Was it sentimental reasons? Were they just wanting something new? (Steel, features)
I retired my Spyderco D3 because I liked the newer model and started carrying it. Had nothing to do with the old Delica being bad or worn out. So I'm guessing the Sebbies that are retired to safes aren't worn out.

I'm guessing my Sebenza, LG and SM, will last me the rest of my life.
 
My first CRK knife was a small decorated Sebenza. I bought it in 2005 and still have it and use it, so that's going on 6 years. My large regular Sebenza is just about as old and also still works flawlessly, though the blade is dull as heck right now. Both I believe are S30V steel.

It seems I don't carry either one as much as I used to, I think mostly because for the past few years, I've gone the custom route and do have a Lochsa, and carry custom knives made by my friends, especially Gerry McGinnis. Also, I work in financial services so I usually carry a smaller knife, so my Mnandi and some other slipjoints are usually what's in rotation except for the weekends with the Sebbies come out.

-Troy
 
I bought my first probably less than a year ago. Unfortunately I bought every knife under the sun looking for that perfect one (customs&production) for me anyway. My first was a Small 21 and it just did'nt do it for me, then I got a Large Regular and the rest was history. I've had just about all the CRK folders and I keep going back to the Plain Large Regular, I love that knife. I'll never run out of Large Regulars:D.
 
Paradiggum said:
Well I can kind of understand the threads that ask if high dollar knives are worth it.
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I can understand asking the question, but there are people who haunt those threads who seem to have a chip on their shoulders and make it their special "cause" to debunk Sebenzas and characterize those who own them as deluded and/or snobs. In most cases, the naysayers have never held let alone used a Sebenza. And it goes on an on.

A common argument in those threads is that a Sebenza is not the "best value," as if knifenuts are practical people. I suspect at least some of those who argue along those lines have 25 or more knives that cost $120+--"practical" is out the window for them too whether they recognize it or not.

Another theme is that Sebenzas are all safe queens that nobody uses. The link and photos above debunk that.

Anyway, my stock answer in the "is it worth it" threads used to be along the lines of, if you really want to know, buy a used one from a reputable member, and if you decide you don't like it, you'll get every penny back--a no-risk venture. In other words, people who ask the question should decide for themselves.

But now I just ignore the threads.
 
KeithAM said:
I can understand asking the question, but there are people who haunt those threads who seem to have a chip on their shoulders and make it their special "cause" to debunk Sebenzas and characterize those who own them as deluded and/or snobs. In most cases, the naysayers have never held let alone used a Sebenza. And it goes on an on.

A common argument in those threads is that a Sebenza is not the "best value," as if knifenuts are practical people. I suspect at least some of those who argue along those lines have 25 or more knives that cost $120+--"practical" is out the window for them too whether they recognize it or not.

Another theme is that Sebenzas are all safe queens that nobody uses. The link and photos above debunk that.

Anyway, my stock answer in the "is it worth it" threads used to be along the lines of, if you really want to know, buy a used one from a reputable member, and if you decide you don't like it, you'll get every penny back--a no-risk venture. In other words, people who ask the question should decide for themselves.

But now I just ignore the threads.
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I know exactly what you mean. It's like that with any tool/hobby that people really get into. I find it on music/guitar forums all the time.

But as your last line says, I just ignore them now. :)
 
Nice thread! I have often thought about how these knives are super rugged and built much better than old fashioned knives I can remember for my youth. I remember an old man that lived a few houses down from us that we called Pappa Joe and he was a retired cobbler and had a large garden in his back yard. This was back in the early 70's. He had old fashioned farm tools, and a garage full of shoe making equipment and he carried a old folding knife that handle was worn rounded and had a 50 year old patina on it. It was like a jigged bone handle. As a boy, this old man was a dinosaur to me and he had tools and abilities that my father didnt have and I remember asking him if I could see his knife and he handed it to me and I marveled at how old and worn it was and opened so smooth and stuff. That was one of the things that motivated me to want a "lifetime knife". So now I have a Large Classic and Large Regular Sebenza as well as an Umnumzaan and I figure these will serve me my whole life. Im sure they are made better than Pappa Joe's knife, and time will tell. Pappa Joe used his every day in his garden, cutting saplings and rope and roots etc, and mine generally sits clipped to my pocket and used maybe once or twice a day, mainly for paper cutting and package opening. I suspect I could use it in a garden if I had one and other hard use tasks and Im reasonably sure it could last 50 years, as long as I didnt try using it as a screw driver or to open paint cans, etc. These knives have been around 25 years or so, so I doubt anyone will know for sure how long they will truly last until another 25 years passes. This is why I have a spare or two that I will keep maintained and safe, just in case they become unavailable and I lose mine or its gets destroyed or whatever. Hopefully some day some little kid marvels at my old worn knife.
 
I've owned and carried my plain Large Regular Sebbie, born March 7, 2005, for over five years and she is still going strong. I've handled an Umnumzaan at a gun show and although I will eventually get one, I know that the Large Regular is the one CRK that I will always go back to and never let go of.....especially since they've been discontinued.
 
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