Looking for a new knife!

HelixKing

HelixKing

Joined
Feb 25, 2014
Messages
67
Hey Everyone,
I'm new here and if a topic like this has already been posted then I apologize for wasting your time and energy with this. I love collecting knives, quality knives that are practical mostly and I realize that in a lot of cases especially with knives you get what you pay for. For weeks I've been looking for a new knife or maybe a few new knives. I've recently become a member but for years on and off I would just read the message boards here for what you all have to say and it's been very helpful. So I have a few questions (one of them being sebenza related sorry).

So I want a couple of new knives, one a work horse everlasting never die type of deal. And I was thinking about the Fallkniven A1 from what I've read around here. FallKniven A1

I also get deployed a lot, so I was looking for a good combat knife, so there were a couple options I was thinking of (Randall, Busse).

Randall Stiletto:Fighting Stilleto
Randall Combat:All Purpose Fighter

Busse Team Gemini:Team Gemini

Right now I have a Chris Reeve 5.5 inch Green Beret that I was thinking about selling because I never use it or carry it. So with that money I'll put it towards something new. Now I've been wanting a sebenza for quite some time, but I just couldn't put the money down on a folding knife. I just wanted to know why you all think that knife is worth that kind of money. My green beret FIXED BLADE costs $100 less than that folder so it just confuses me, and I'd love to hear about some of your personal experiences with the sebenza. I'm particularly interested in the sebenza 25:Sebenza 25 and does anyone know anything about the Umnumzaan? I just saw it on Chris Reeves webpage and I really like the look of it. I'd like to see/know how it stacks up against the sebenza. Has anyone used them both and prefer one over the other? Umnumzaan

I know this was a long post, but I'd love to hear what you think of the knives I've listed, especially your personal experiences with them. And as always I'm looking for suggestions of any kind. Thank you all very much for your time and help.

-HK
 
For many of us, carrying a fixed blade is not convenient. Therefore, nice folders are a great alternative. The Sebenza is one of many good choices.
 
If you want to buy a Randall, you're looking at the secondary market - new orders are scheduled for 2018 delivery. Back when I ordered mine, it was posted as an 18 month wait...and it took 3 yrs.

Most of the military people I know wouldn't bring a Busse on deployment - we've had the "what's the best knife to bring" discussion, and they've said anything too nice is likely to disappear. That's your call, though.

Can't comment on the sebenza - never really fell under the CRK spell.
 
The Umnumzaan is beefier than the Sezenza. They have a high price because they are like a fine Swiss watch. Tight tolereances and basically perfection in manufacturing. They are nice but for deployment anything that cuts should work. I would recommend the Spyderco Paramilitary II or Military. Both are designed for military use and are EXCELLENT knives.

Also if you are willing to drop the cash on a Busse and use it, the Team Gemini is likely my favorite blade of all time. I wish I could carry it everywhere. You can do just that if you are deployed. Good luck!
 
For deployment I recommend the Gerber LMF.
It's cheap. It works. If lost who cares.

You deploy with nice stuff,
it's likely to disappear into another GIs hands.
 
I wouldn't deploy easily with a 400+ USD Busse. For the reasons uxo2 already mentioned. A nice ESEE or Scrapyard is expensive enough and just as good (only not rust resistant). But you stated you "get deployed a lot", so you have a lot of first hand experience with how much and how easily stuff get stolen or lost on deployment... Also you have first hand experience on how realistic carrying a 13 inch/20 ounce knife is on deployment... (wouldn't be my choice).

Personally I think Fällkniven's VG10 is just a little bit too chippy for a deployment knife. It's easy to be very careful with your blade on a camping trip, but I guess that is often not the case on a deployment. And if we are talking CRK and Busse money anyway, I would certainly recommend looking at some coated CPM 3V blades from Survive! and Fehrman Knives as well.
 
Work horse.
870BB-500x.jpg

(870BB) General Purpose 6 1/4 "

655B-500x.jpg

(655B) Curved Skinner/Sticker/Boning 6 "

DFB090-A.jpg

DFB090 Army $162.00
12cm 4 3/4" D2 tool steel, 4.5mm thick blade, Australian timber handle
DFB090A Army - antler handle $195.00
12cm 4 3/4" D2 tool steel, 4.5mm thick blade, Antler handle

DFBABK.jpg

DFBABK Dewey Bush Knife - ABK $279.00
14cm 5 1/2" D2 tool steel, 4.5mm thick blade, full tang, Australian timber handles

Combat
HB-500x.jpg

(HB) - Hog Beater 11.5"

DFB152-A.jpg

DFB152-W DEWEY Pig knife - BBBB Mk2 - wooden handle $215.00
195mm 7 5/8" blade length, D2 Tool steel, 4.5mm thick blade, brass double guard & pommel with sheath
DFB152-A DEWEY Pig knife - BBBB Mk2 - antler handle $248.00
195mm 7 5/8" blade length, D2 Tool steel, 4.5mm thick blade, brass double guard & pommel with sheath

DFB150-W DEWEY Pig knife - BBBB Mk1 - wooden handle $255.00
210mm 8 1/4" blade length, D2 Tool steel, 4.5mm thick blade, brass double guard & pommel with sheath, overall length 390mm
http://www.svord.com/
http://www.deweyknives.com.au/index.html
 
Thank you all for the suggestions and input. It's been really helpful and I'm looking up all the suggestions. I'm excited to keep reading the upcoming input. And thanks hhmoore for the info on Randall. Is it worth the wait if I order one? I've had no experience with Randall knives.
 
When it comes to deployment I would go with basic and inexpensive like a KA-Bar because nice knives tend to get beat up quite a bit or stolen, but I do admit that I have never been deployed, just going off what friends tell me.
 
I think that any of the Bark River Bravo series might fit your needs. Multiple sizes, steels, handles, ramped or rampless. I have a bravo 1 in cpm 3v that I'v beaten the hell out of with no problems. There STS 5 is a bit more of a fighter, in stainless. If you're comfortable with convex grinds, they can be very easy to maintain in the field.

Like some of the above posts stated, Kabar (especially Beckers) are always up for some heavy duty tasks. I have a BK2 as my go to workhorse. I do recommend the micarta handles though.

The Esee 5 falls alongside the Becker Bk2 of course, but a bit more money (unless you go for micarta handles and the nylon sheath for the BK2. In that case they are pretty close)

I also have a Survive! Knives GSO 5.1 which I have ultimate confidence in. Those are sold out from the manufacturer, but are supposed to be back in production this spring. I've seen them pop up on ebay recently but are going for ALOT more than retail cost. They really are worth the wait if you're a patient fellow.

Almost forgot about my Fallkniven S1. Not as large as the A1 but a bit bigger than the F1. A great midsize knife with fantastic laminated VG10 steel and a razor convex edge. Holds its edge very well and the "plastic" sheath is pretty basic but serves its purpose well. There is a leather sheath available to but I've heard that retention is not the best...especially if used over in the sandbox.

That's my $0.02 anyway.
 
Last edited:
Thanks Dan, I checked out the GSO and I really like it, I'll have to see if I can get my hands on one whenever they are available again. All great choices, it's always hard for me to get a new knife becuase of all the wonderful options out there. Still, thanks again man.
 
If you want to peek beyond the cliche knives check out Grayman knives, both folders and fixed.

As to your Sebenza question, I own Sebenzas because they approach the quality and durability of a Grayman.
 
I got a production update from Survive! and the GSO 5 and 5.1 are expected to be available in April. They are sometimes delayed by the handle and sheath suppliers but they seem to have worked out a lot of the delay issues. Quality is a high priority with them and the handles and sheaths are no exception. I believe that the handle and sheath companies are on the smaller side, and keeping up with the success and demand of the GSO series is a challenge for them as well. As I mentioned... well woth the wait for a 100% USA made tool.
 
Knivery said:
If you want to peek beyond the cliche knives check out Grayman knives, both folders

As to your Sebenza question, I own Sebenzas because they approach the quality and durability of a Grayman.
Click to expand...

Ahh..the Ground Pounder! EPIC. Grayman is a great suggestion as well.

Sebenza is on my wish list also...some day.
 
Might I suggest the Cold Steek SRK? It's a great all arounder that weighs only 8 some ounces. As a former Canadian soldier, I know all about weight lol. It's strong, just about the right length/shape for general purpose/combat roles. Well proven over the years, and if you believe the press, this is the knife issued to US Navy Seals. Worth a look.
 
Knivery-Grayman Knives are killer! I'm sorry that I've never head of them before. I'm really likeing the ground pounder and the sub-saharan. Does anyone know how the Grayman knives stack up against busse?

Dan-Thanks a lot for the updates on the GSO 5, they may be available just in time for my birthday!

Quillan-I'm definintely going to get myself an SRK, I do know that they use them in BUD/S training, weather or not they use them in deployment is another thing. But yes, I know SRK are a pretty cheap (as far as good knives go) knife to use and abuse so thank you for furthering my decision on getting an SRK!
 
Also does anyone have any info on how Grayman folders stack up against the Sebenza/Umnumzaan?

Grayman Satu

Chris Reeve Umnumzaan

Chris Reeve Sebenza 25

SurvivorDan-You said you like sebenzas becuase they approach the quality and durability of a Grayman, are you saying Grayman has better quality and durability and CRK's folders are almost as good?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top