Microtech Socom (in its various models) Vs. Sebenza... Your thoughts, please.

A

alan aragon

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Dec 10, 2003
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and don't say, "do a search" or i'll find you & force you to smell my armpits.

i don't know why i haven't really delved into a thorough investigation of microtech (the socom models in particular), but i was just cruisin around, & noticed that it seems like a handsome piece of engineering. yes, i know, i'm a little slow. i have been aware that microholics are very rabidly dedicated, but i just never thought of checkin them out till now.. and, it also looks like i can get it for almost 1/3 the price of a sebenza. granted, the seb has more expensive materials (titanium handle w/s30v blade), but the socom has a look & "vibe" that's more my taste. the socom has an aluminum handle & 154cm, i'm not too sure what the weight difference or bottom-line wearability would be. anyone ever compare these 2 knives mentally like i'm doing? anyone have both knives & wanna share some thoughts? i haven't physically handled either of them, so for all i know, the seb is worth hundreds more.

one last question which i know i can probably find out by emailing the manufacturer but i'd rather ask it here, thank you - is, does microtech cater to lefties?

thanks guys.
 
I don't know much about either knife so I can only say what I've heard on this forum in the past. With that frame lock, the Sebenza is really simple and is easy to take apart, clean, and put back together. On the other hand, the Socom seems a little safer because its handle flares out to help stop your hand if it's sliding toward the blade.
 
Are you talking about the SOCOM or the Mini-SOCOM Elite? Manual or auto?
 
Alan, I had picked up a manual SOCOM Elite. I was really impressed with its precision and fit and finush, and the strength of its lock-up. It was extremely sharp and seemed to hold that edge well as I used it in the kitchn and the woods.

Then I got my first Sebenza. I cleaned up the SOCOM Elite, packed it back into its box, and left it there ever since. It's a great knife but just not up to the clean, simple, strength of the Sebenza.
 
This is comparing two very different knives. Different in size, design, and price. Kind of like comparing a Sebe to a Mayo. All are great in their own category. IMHO
 
I don't have to mentally compare these brands, I just have to reach over and grab a sample of each. I have a small Sebenza and think it's nearly perfect for a knife in it's size range. Now if I could only bring myself to carry it more. It's an inlaid unique decorated model that I'm afraid of beating up. I used to have a small plain model and used it all the time, until I left it in a taxi in Las Vegas:( Chris Reeves knives are built as well as any production knives, better than most and on par with many better customs. Fit and finish are awesome and they love to cut. As much as I love the ergos of the small Sebenza, I still haven't been able to fall in love with a large model enough to buy one. To me the thumb stud location and opening just aren't comfortable enough to me. But there's no doubt it's a great cutting tool.

What I really need is to find a good deal on a slightly scuffed decorated small Sebenza for EDC as the plain ones are just too plain to me, having owned one for a good while. Oh, that and some cash to buy it with:)

Regarding Microtech; while I'm not a Microholic, I do own more of their knives than from any other manufacturer (4). While they use more pedestrian materials like aluminum and 154CM, they are rugged, well built knives with a top shelf fit and finish (most of the time). There's a couple differences betwen the two companies in my mind. While Microtechs are usually near very well executed, Chris Reeves seems to be just a bit more consistant in their near perfect execution of their designs. They are great working knives.

Microtech on the other hand has a much wider variety to their designs and are generally more tactical in design.

One of my favorite designs of all times is the Socom Elite. I liked it enough to buy a back up to keep in reserve in case anything happened to my first one. I have an older grind version with a satin blade and a plain edge and it's probably the knife I carry most when in jeans or shorts. If I know I'm going to a questionable place (like my office) then it's the first knife I reach for. I've beat on it (literally, used the baton method to split firewood) and it just keeps on going. it's tough as hell and really quick to deploy. It indexes quickly and is fast in the hand. The Microbar lock is as solid as any lock I've used, frame locks included. If you really want a more exotic steel, you can find a limited edition model with S90V like my back up model has:) The point has better penetrating ability than a sebbie, and with a 4" blade has more reach, but is probably not quite as sturdy as a large sebbie for prying.

One knife you didn't mention that fits in this class but I think is often overlooked is the Microtech Amphibian. It slices as good as the Sebenza, and better than the Socom Elite. I love the ergos on the Amphibian! It's really a great working knife. With that high flat grind and recurve blade, it's my first choice when there's a lot of cardboard to cut up. The 154CM seems to hold an edge well, if not quite as well as S30V.

The other consideration is price. As you mentioned, you can get a Microtech for a much lower price, at least on the secondary market. But my real feeling is that you shouldn't limit yourself, you should get one of each.

John
 
My brief thoughts:
The mini elite is a great knife--I prefer the auto to the manual, however. The manual just isn't nearly as smooth as the Sebenza. The skate tape is a little annoying, although it does provide a good grip. One very important thing to consider is that CRK encourages you to take the Sebenza apart (they even provide a wrench for it). The newer microtechs, on the other hand, cannot be taken apart unless you obtain a special set of drivers. The really great thing about the mini elite is that it is small and light, but somehow packs an almost 3.5 inch blade in the handle.

If you are interested in the automatic version, I would encourage you to also take a look at the Microtech UMS. Comparable in size to a large Seb, it is hell for stout with an S30v blade.

I also recommend the Amphibian, as mentioned above. It is larger than the Mini Elite--probably more comparable to a large Sebenza. They're now making them in S30v, but they have the skate tape and the dreaded proprietary screws.
 
I like them both, but the Sebenza gets the nod, based on the fact that they encourage you to take it apart and clean it.

Now, about those smelly armpits. :barf:
 
Both the Sebenza and the Socom Elites are great knives. :cool: I have one of each and find the quality of each to be very high also. There is no question that the materials of the Sebenza, and the total commitment to quality seperate the Sebenza from most any of the production folder makers.
That said, both of my Socoms are perfect in every way and I can find no flaws in their quality either. The Socom Elite was my first of eight Microtech knives and it does scream Tactical. The Sebenza is a subtle knife with great cutting ability and strength of materials and manufacture that can't be beat. The mini is tiny to carry compared to its big brother, yet is only about a half inch shorter in the blade length.
As was mentioned by another before me, the Amphibian is also a great choice of knives, that is a sweet cutter and the recurve blade really appeals to me. It is one Microtech you should look into if you go the Microtech route. A picture is worth a thousand words I guess. ;)
 
I'll assume you can tolerate the cold feel of an all metal handle, by nature of your focus on Microtech and CRK.

Microtech's I owned (past tense) were nice... near the top of the heap for production knives, but then there's Reeve at the very top in terms of consistency, quality, fit, [blahblahblah insert the usual here].

Microtech's heat treat of 154CM always seemed to be quite good. And I could always get a great edge on their blades for some reasons that I don't fully understand (some 154CM is weirdly hard to sharpen, and I suspect it's in heat treat).

Only thing I didn't like about the Socom was the butt of the handle... it got narrower as you got closer to butt, which does NOT help grip on a draw stroke, and just always felt insecure to me. On the other end, the Socom has a flared handle at the blade junction, so a thrust does feel reasonably secure.

The Amphib solved the narrowing butt "problem" IMO in it's design, but you also got a recurve in the deal (which is neither good nor bad, depends on what you want out of the blade).

The Socoms are flat ground... so in theory you can't get quite the super slicin' performance out of these vs. hollow Sebbie. However, the blade could be a bit stouter overall, but heck, these are folders in any case.

I always liked the Amphib from an ergo standpoint, but I just never quite bought one before my new/old home and the attendant renovations thereof stifled my hobby.

I continue to enjoy the 4 Sebbies I still own, two large, two small. 3 of them get used. That might be the proof of the pudding... what do I still own.
 
Mongo said:
Hey... do a search!



Now bring it on armpit boy! :D
Click to expand...
LOL!

i just found out that sebbies have a swedge option.. whoa, that gives me more to consider; makes the knife actually look aesthetic beyond just a pure utilitarian sense.
 
AA, as a dyed in the wool microholic I would have voted for MT knives, and this is just my .02, but I recently got my first sebbie (with swedge and dual thumbstuds) and have carried it for several weeks now and I'm very impressed with the quality. But I think comparing them is like comparing apples to oranges, both have different designed usages. The sebenza is a working knife, MT's are mostly tactical. I have an old grind socom that
I would stake my life on, as well as my LCC d/a's. I have at last count 11 MT's and 1 CR (but need more!) and I think the quality differences are minimal at most. The big difference is customer service, which MT is notorious for screwing up. But on the plus side, I've heard they are getting a lot better. I've never had to send one of mine in for repair and they are mostly the older models, CFO, LCC's, socom's. So I guess I don't have any reservations about buying MT's.
As to your lefty question, MT does cater to lefties- it's called CFO, Halo, CT II, UT-6 and it's cousins, to name a few!!! :D
 
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