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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Looking to buy a sebenza. what do you like about yours. Pros cons etc
- Thread starter Cimino
- Start date
Vaporstang
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You asked about cons...you go broke because you can't stop at one.
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- Joined
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Let me elaborate...
Remember this is my own experience only.
I have owned many, many different brand of knives and liked most of them. "Liked" being the keyword in this last sentence I have always gone back to my sebenza(s), I love them! I even went thru a period where I thought this is bullshit, too expensive and sold all my Chris reeve knives... Never again! Yes I'll sell some buy some but in the end if I've got to have something in my pocket it will be a sebenza or an umnumzaan, or a regular, or an inlaid sebenza... You see what I mean...addiction that is what as happened.
Hope that helps.
Remember this is my own experience only.
I have owned many, many different brand of knives and liked most of them. "Liked" being the keyword in this last sentence I have always gone back to my sebenza(s), I love them! I even went thru a period where I thought this is bullshit, too expensive and sold all my Chris reeve knives... Never again! Yes I'll sell some buy some but in the end if I've got to have something in my pocket it will be a sebenza or an umnumzaan, or a regular, or an inlaid sebenza... You see what I mean...addiction that is what as happened.
Hope that helps.
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Pros- great edge retention, easy to clean, strong like bull, safe lockup, smooth like virgin lamb testicle skin, tight like like a Ferrari.
Cons- grease likes grime, lockup is a heart warming clunk of quality but when you open in public it can be alarming to the unexpecting, titanium likes to show snail trails
I have a plain 25 and a large 21 CF that I edc this time of year. The 25 is a brut with ti on both sides. I prefer the 21 CF for the weight a agility as well as I can't really see any signs of normal use on the cf side
Cons- grease likes grime, lockup is a heart warming clunk of quality but when you open in public it can be alarming to the unexpecting, titanium likes to show snail trails
I have a plain 25 and a large 21 CF that I edc this time of year. The 25 is a brut with ti on both sides. I prefer the 21 CF for the weight a agility as well as I can't really see any signs of normal use on the cf side
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^^^ This!. You'll start off with one, then................
I've had dreams of having that kind of collection... Pretty sure in that dream my wife divorced me....😅
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One of the biggest pros is that after ten years of use, it will still be dead center with no blade play.
On the 21, there is no pivot tension to set; you just tighten it snug and go.
The washers are perforated and will hold grease for a long time
One of the few knives where the manufacturer actually encourages the customer to disassemble.
CRK can make the knife brand new again for minimal cost.
CRK has the best customer service. Period.
The value can't be beat if you consider that you won't be buying knife after knife just to learn that a Sebenza is what you wanted all along.
The resale value is there, especially if you buy a used one. If you don't like it, just sell it and get most if not all of your money back.
There is a lot of info on these knives and a great community here that you can bs with, ask questions, and learn from.
On the 21, there is no pivot tension to set; you just tighten it snug and go.
The washers are perforated and will hold grease for a long time
One of the few knives where the manufacturer actually encourages the customer to disassemble.
CRK can make the knife brand new again for minimal cost.
CRK has the best customer service. Period.
The value can't be beat if you consider that you won't be buying knife after knife just to learn that a Sebenza is what you wanted all along.
The resale value is there, especially if you buy a used one. If you don't like it, just sell it and get most if not all of your money back.
There is a lot of info on these knives and a great community here that you can bs with, ask questions, and learn from.
Last edited:
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That should be the guide to why buy a Chris reeve knife...well said!
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Hahahahahhaha!
Maybe you should have married me instead!
Ahahah then we would really be broke...
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Ajack60
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It's the only knife I own that came tight out of the box and required a break in period. It became pleasantly smoother.
It's the only knife that I can send in after I've marked up the slabs and it come back looking as new as when it was bought. I can order a new blade for it.
It's the only knife I own that I can confidently pass down that will perform for my grandson when it's his time to have a knife.
It's the only knife I own that comes with the break down tools to take it apart and if I screw it up, I can box it up and send it in without issue.
It's the only knife I own that holds it's value and actually goes up in value the older it is.
It's the only knife I own that really isn't pleasing to the eye, but the simplicity/ tight tolerances, material used just makes it so damn sexy.
It's the only knife I own that is addictive, I've got more CRK's than I'll ever use in ten lifetimes, but I cannot bring myself to stop owning them.
The cons of a CRK................hmmmm, I'll have to get back to you when I can figure out the cons of owning a CRK.
It's the only knife that I can send in after I've marked up the slabs and it come back looking as new as when it was bought. I can order a new blade for it.
It's the only knife I own that I can confidently pass down that will perform for my grandson when it's his time to have a knife.
It's the only knife I own that comes with the break down tools to take it apart and if I screw it up, I can box it up and send it in without issue.
It's the only knife I own that holds it's value and actually goes up in value the older it is.
It's the only knife I own that really isn't pleasing to the eye, but the simplicity/ tight tolerances, material used just makes it so damn sexy.
It's the only knife I own that is addictive, I've got more CRK's than I'll ever use in ten lifetimes, but I cannot bring myself to stop owning them.
The cons of a CRK................hmmmm, I'll have to get back to you when I can figure out the cons of owning a CRK.
Great points everyone. Ive bought Benchmades, spydercos and other brands but this is my first step into higher priced stuff 400 plus anyways. But I believe a sebenza will not only be a great investment but a great user. Their quality and simplicity are second to none from what Ive seen and read.
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I too am taking the plunge and getting my first CRK Sebenza or Unumzaan. could the dirt attracting grease issue be fixed with some use of a dry lube like tri flow or any of the dry lubricants in the market?
Last edited:
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Everyone has covered the pros very well. I will say there is one more con though: you have to carry a cheap knife with you as well because you don't want to let people borrow your sebenza 
One thing to note is that the love for sebenzas grows over time. When I opened my first sebenza up a few weeks ago. My first thought was "I spent $400 for this?" Being a simple knife, it isn't impressive out of the box. However, that opinion quickly changes once you start using it. I went from questioning my decision to buying a $600 one within two weeks!
One thing to note is that the love for sebenzas grows over time. When I opened my first sebenza up a few weeks ago. My first thought was "I spent $400 for this?" Being a simple knife, it isn't impressive out of the box. However, that opinion quickly changes once you start using it. I went from questioning my decision to buying a $600 one within two weeks!
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- Feb 3, 2004
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In terms of fit, finish, materials, workmanship, and the company that stands behind them, my Sebenzas are the standard by which I judge my entire folder collection. They've stood the test of time and maintained their popularity for a reason. Are they my favorite knives? No. Are they my most expensive knives? No. Are they the knives I carry most often? No. Would I ever part with them? No.
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This is a quote that I copied and saved from a similar thread a while back. Not my words but it says it all.
Lemme see if I can make a list........
Most of this stuff is for the sebenza 21, but a lot of it overlaps to the other knives as well
1. CRK is VERY innovative in the knife industry
-First to ever use the RIL (framelock) on a folding knife
-First to widely use Ti handles
-Invented the double dip pocket clip that helps with in-pocket retention
-One of the first companies to start using the technique of stone washing blades
-The only reason s35vn exists today is because of CRK, and to some extent the same is true for s30v
-First to use the ceramic ball detent that makes the knife even smoother because it avoids any sticking problems that traditional steel detent balls have
-Pioneered the minimalist design that is extremely durable, easy to maintain, and can be taken apart and put back together a million times without any issues.
2. Tolerences are tighter than the aerospace industry
-CRK builds their knives with machines that they built specifically for making their knives, and have had to develop over many years
-The knives are built to such tight tolerences that everything is absolutely flawless in how it fits together
-The knives are much more durable and long lasting because of this. They will last a lifetime if you don't abuse them
3. They are perfectly designed folders
-The blade to handle ratios are amazing
-They have all the features you could need, and none that you don't
-Ti is sandblasted for grip
-Detent is great
-Great lock geometry, and a very strong lockup.
-Ergonomics are impressive considering how straight the profile of the handle is
-Thin in pocket, both in width and thickness, making carrying the knives much easier
-Lightweight for their size because of the Ti, the compactness, and the minimalist design that doesn't require heavy steel liners in addition to scales
-They are simplistic in their design, which adds to their durability. Not much to break, and super easy to clean
-The Ti framelocks have been refined over the years to be absolutely the best on the market
-CRK has been constantly fine tuning the few designs they already have rather than making subpar new ones every year, so they are able to really get things as perfect as possible
-The 21 has a true hollow grind that is actually slightly thinner a little ways back from the edge, providing years of sharpening life before the cutting performance is negatively affected by the blade thickening up. The 25 is similar but has a shallower hollow grind to add a bit more strength to the blade.
4. The fit and finish is impeccable
-You won't find a more aesthetically flawless production knife out there
-looks fall under personal opinion, but the fit and finish is unquestionably awesome on CRKs
5. Premium materials
-S35vn at the hardness CRK runs it at is not the ultimate in edge retention, but its perfectly fine for everyday uses and will last a good long while, especially if you strop it regularly
-The steel is easy to sharpen because it's run a little softer
-The steel is tough enough to keep the blade from snapping or chipping at the edge
-Ti is very light and strong
-Hardware is high quality so the screws won't strip out on you
6. The pivot bushing system
-Combined with CRKs legendary fit and finish, this system makes it so that the knife is rock solid with absolutely NO blade play
-Centering is typically perfect
-the action is glassy smooth
-after being broken in, the blade will usually fall freely even though the pivot is tightened all the way down
-The pivot has notches cut out of the inside for grease to go in. This allows for the knife to stay lubed for longer
-the tight tolerences give it a "hydraulic" feel when opening and closing. The action isn't the fastest, but its very satisfying to the discerning knife user
7. Warranty and customer service are excellent
-As long as you don't abuse the knife, CRK will always be willing to fix anything wrong.
-Very good company to deal with that truly cares about its customers
-small shop that has few employees and is closely monitored by Chris Reeve and his wife. They're right on the border of being midtechs
-many of the knives are personally inspected by Chris before they leave the shop
-excellent QC that very few companies compare to
-They offer a free spa treatment for all standard sebenzas that includes sharpening, re-sand blasting the handles, and tuning the knife back to perfection
-they will replace blades for a fraction of the price of the knife, or for free if it turns out that they failed because of a manufacturing defect
-The knives come with a tool to take them apart because CRK trusts its customers and knows that it's almost impossible to mess the knives up
-they also come with a small complimentary tube of CRK flourinated grease, which is arguably the best stuff to use with their knives
8. Exclusivity
-each knife has a birthdate and comes with a signed card
-not too many are made compared to many other companies
-the high price makes them less commonly found among the general population
-CRK has been making sebenzas for almost 30 years, so they are well respected in the knife industry
-CRKs are the culmination of decades of constant improvement
-CRK has won a rediculous number of awards over the years, usually dominating the competition every year. Keep in mind that this isn't because they're putting out the latest and greatest gimmicks and craziest new designs; it's because they've been consistently putting out the best quality production knives for many many years, and what they do, they do better than anyone else.
-Oh and you get to join the CRK club and look super cool compared to all your friends that don't have CRKs
Well, that's all I can think of right now......oh boy, I have far too much time on my hands
Please feel free to make suggestions for additions or offer corrections if you notice something is incorrect. This is just what I've gathered from my research over the past year when I was looking into getting my first sebenza.
Lemme see if I can make a list........
Most of this stuff is for the sebenza 21, but a lot of it overlaps to the other knives as well
1. CRK is VERY innovative in the knife industry
-First to ever use the RIL (framelock) on a folding knife
-First to widely use Ti handles
-Invented the double dip pocket clip that helps with in-pocket retention
-One of the first companies to start using the technique of stone washing blades
-The only reason s35vn exists today is because of CRK, and to some extent the same is true for s30v
-First to use the ceramic ball detent that makes the knife even smoother because it avoids any sticking problems that traditional steel detent balls have
-Pioneered the minimalist design that is extremely durable, easy to maintain, and can be taken apart and put back together a million times without any issues.
2. Tolerences are tighter than the aerospace industry
-CRK builds their knives with machines that they built specifically for making their knives, and have had to develop over many years
-The knives are built to such tight tolerences that everything is absolutely flawless in how it fits together
-The knives are much more durable and long lasting because of this. They will last a lifetime if you don't abuse them
3. They are perfectly designed folders
-The blade to handle ratios are amazing
-They have all the features you could need, and none that you don't
-Ti is sandblasted for grip
-Detent is great
-Great lock geometry, and a very strong lockup.
-Ergonomics are impressive considering how straight the profile of the handle is
-Thin in pocket, both in width and thickness, making carrying the knives much easier
-Lightweight for their size because of the Ti, the compactness, and the minimalist design that doesn't require heavy steel liners in addition to scales
-They are simplistic in their design, which adds to their durability. Not much to break, and super easy to clean
-The Ti framelocks have been refined over the years to be absolutely the best on the market
-CRK has been constantly fine tuning the few designs they already have rather than making subpar new ones every year, so they are able to really get things as perfect as possible
-The 21 has a true hollow grind that is actually slightly thinner a little ways back from the edge, providing years of sharpening life before the cutting performance is negatively affected by the blade thickening up. The 25 is similar but has a shallower hollow grind to add a bit more strength to the blade.
4. The fit and finish is impeccable
-You won't find a more aesthetically flawless production knife out there
-looks fall under personal opinion, but the fit and finish is unquestionably awesome on CRKs
5. Premium materials
-S35vn at the hardness CRK runs it at is not the ultimate in edge retention, but its perfectly fine for everyday uses and will last a good long while, especially if you strop it regularly
-The steel is easy to sharpen because it's run a little softer
-The steel is tough enough to keep the blade from snapping or chipping at the edge
-Ti is very light and strong
-Hardware is high quality so the screws won't strip out on you
6. The pivot bushing system
-Combined with CRKs legendary fit and finish, this system makes it so that the knife is rock solid with absolutely NO blade play
-Centering is typically perfect
-the action is glassy smooth
-after being broken in, the blade will usually fall freely even though the pivot is tightened all the way down
-The pivot has notches cut out of the inside for grease to go in. This allows for the knife to stay lubed for longer
-the tight tolerences give it a "hydraulic" feel when opening and closing. The action isn't the fastest, but its very satisfying to the discerning knife user
7. Warranty and customer service are excellent
-As long as you don't abuse the knife, CRK will always be willing to fix anything wrong.
-Very good company to deal with that truly cares about its customers
-small shop that has few employees and is closely monitored by Chris Reeve and his wife. They're right on the border of being midtechs
-many of the knives are personally inspected by Chris before they leave the shop
-excellent QC that very few companies compare to
-They offer a free spa treatment for all standard sebenzas that includes sharpening, re-sand blasting the handles, and tuning the knife back to perfection
-they will replace blades for a fraction of the price of the knife, or for free if it turns out that they failed because of a manufacturing defect
-The knives come with a tool to take them apart because CRK trusts its customers and knows that it's almost impossible to mess the knives up
-they also come with a small complimentary tube of CRK flourinated grease, which is arguably the best stuff to use with their knives
8. Exclusivity
-each knife has a birthdate and comes with a signed card
-not too many are made compared to many other companies
-the high price makes them less commonly found among the general population
-CRK has been making sebenzas for almost 30 years, so they are well respected in the knife industry
-CRKs are the culmination of decades of constant improvement
-CRK has won a rediculous number of awards over the years, usually dominating the competition every year. Keep in mind that this isn't because they're putting out the latest and greatest gimmicks and craziest new designs; it's because they've been consistently putting out the best quality production knives for many many years, and what they do, they do better than anyone else.
-Oh and you get to join the CRK club and look super cool compared to all your friends that don't have CRKs
Well, that's all I can think of right now......oh boy, I have far too much time on my hands
Please feel free to make suggestions for additions or offer corrections if you notice something is incorrect. This is just what I've gathered from my research over the past year when I was looking into getting my first sebenza.