New Sebenza Owner-Initial Thoughts

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apdb90

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Jan 22, 2010
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So my new Small Sebenza 21 (partially serrated), S35vn...born March 23 2011 arrived today. I'll save the bandwidth and not post pics...it's like any other plain Jane small partially serrated. When I was making the decision to buy, I researched the hell out of it here, YouTube, and anywhere else I could find anything on them, the biggest debate being what many go through....large or small. I can see a large in my future, but for an EDC, I'm glad I went with the small for my first. While researching it, I found one of the most useful topics were initial thoughts from new owners, so I thought I'd add mine. This isn't going to be a Sebenza "fanboy" post, nor is it a criticism of what is without a doubt one of the if not nicest, most iconic folders on the market.

My initial impression of this knife is that it is larger, and smaller than I hoped. What I mean is that the blade is probably the perfect size for 99% of most people's EDC tasks, and if it's not, you're either honestly in that other 1%, or perhaps you have some Freudian size issues:jerkit::p It's larger than I expected..yes, I know, just under 3", but a 3" Benchmade McHenry & Williams is much smaller in perception than a 3" Sebenza or a 3 3/32" Paramilitary. The grip on the other hand....well, I don't have large hands, and it could stand to be just slightly longer and it would be perfect. It is going to take a little getting used to, but I am already positive I will get used to it. It's already comfortable, and I wonder if my issue with it isn't due at least in part to previously carrying a D2 Paramilitary more often than not, who's blade is just slightly longer than the small Sebenza, but who's grip is significantly larger and longer.

I actually think CRK's serrations are one of the best in the industry at least from a maintenance standpoint. Most serrations, IMO, are a royal pain in the ass to sharpen. Small scallops/teeth, large scallops/teeth, the entire bevel on one side of the blade, etc. These serrations are essentially a continuation of the regular edge (bevel on both sides), with a single large scallop, alternating side by side. I personally think this design is SIGNIFICANTLY better..again, at least from a maintenance standpoint..and appear to be yet another example of CRK's "lifetime use" knife/owner upkeep and maintenance philosophy.

I love this clip. I know that sounds kind of stupid and/or trivial. I've seen people, and some other makers say things like "It's just a clip". Yes, it is. It's the thing that keeps your knife exactly where you want it and makes sure it stays there. If it is so trivial, why do you have to look harder to find a knife without one, than one with now days? Anyway, the extra bend in this clip is the difference between night and day compared to other makers clips that I've seen and/or used. A definite :thumbup::thumbup:

Finally, what everyone rants and raves about....fit and finish. Everything you hear about it is true....and then some. You know your favorite production knife, that's perfect in every way and has the best fit and finish you've ever seen? Nope, not even close. All kidding aside, it really is something that has to be seen.

There really isn't a lot I don't like about it. I would like to see an ambi thumb stud as a standard, at least on the 21's. I understand Sebenza's come with a stud on one side, and always have (in standard form). With that in mind, maybe offer a Classic, with the one sided thumb stud. I know it's not going to change, and it's just as easy to send it in for one, but just a thought. Another issue...which quite honestly isn't nearly what I expected it to be...is the "Idaho Made". I can respect pride in where you live/work. It's not nearly as noticeable as it seems in pictures, and I really don't mind it, but I would rather see "US Made", or "Made in the USA" or something similar. I don't know. I just think from an overall marketing standpoint, more people equate products from the US (at least within the US...I'm also familiar with at least some of the world market views on the US and American's, positive and negative) with a quality product and/or pride in where it was manufactured, than products made in Idaho. No offense to Idaho or it's residents, but when I think Idaho, I think potato's, and a Sebenza certainly ISN'T a potato :D Again, just my thoughts on it. That's really it. I'll add quickly that I'm not one of those "new toy" guys who thinks his new toy is the greatest thing in the world if for no other reason than it's a new toy. I'm actually the opposite (maybe from 25 years of LE experience and as a general rule, cops hate change), in that it takes me quite a while to warm up to new and different things, and I find I prefer what I'm comfortable with and used to. That said, having only 2 "gripes" about this knife, and more importantly being as comfortable with it as I am already is a huge testament to CRK and the Sebenza:cool::thumbup:

For those that already have or have had a CRK, I'm sorry to waste your time with this. I just wanted to share my initial thoughts for people debating whether to make the investment or not. FWIW, I use that term purposely. Yes, for a production folder, they are a little pricey. But there is a reason they are, there is a reason they have the following they do, and there is a reason they are considered a lifetime knife. Failing all else, get one and see for yourself. Absolute worst case, you can sell it for nearly, or even what you paid for it.:thumbup:
 
I'm a new small sebenza owner too. I purchased the small because I work in an office environment and thought the small would be more "accepted".
I have large hands and once returned an Izula because the grip, for me, was ridiculously small. I was very surprised that the small sebenza gives me a full 3 1/2 finger grip and with the "fancy" lanyard, I get a firm hold.
Great knife and the hype is not exaggerated.
 
I appreciate the long review(thoughts).

I have one on order from them, and can't wait to get it.
 
Ill admit the first time I saw a small sebenza I was pretty underwhelmed with the size so I put off buying one for a pretty long time.
Then I went ahead and bought a starbenza and quickly realized the size was pretty much ideal for every day use. I can get a sturdy
comftorble four finger grip and have complete control of the knife. And the blade to handle ratio is great. Theres no wasted space.
 
Add me to the list of new small sebenza owners. I've owned a ton of knives, but decided that circumstances were such that I should finally get the knife I wanted for EDC, and this is it. I will post some photos after a few months of carry and use as all I see in my wanderings around the forums are collector's knives that are beautiful, but unused. I have a bunch of knives, but am only interested in those that I have used and that acquire a history.
 
I agree that the small Sebenza is the perfect size. I have owned and do own large and small Sebenzas and I find myself carrying and using the small most often. I have never found it to be lacking in sufficient size.
 
Great thread and thanks for your thoughts! Always good to hear others opinions, your post reminded me a lot about what I thought when I received my first Sebenza.
 
Sebenzas are knives - this is rare IMO - that continue to impress long after the novelty has worn off. It's a knife for years, or even life. There aren't many knives you can say that about. :thumbup:
 
I just got my first Sebenza, a Small 2008 Limited Edition Annual. I've handled a few before at Plaza Cutlery. The Small 21 is too small for me. The added thickness of inlays make the Small Sebenza easier to handle. I have girly man fingers too, so it's not that I have large meat paws. Haha.

The fit and finish is fantastic. I love it. The pocket clip is just about perfect. Just the right amount of tension and grip. Just enough to grip, but not too tight that it is difficult to remove from my pocket, and doesn't "eat" pockets like others often do.

Having a few knives with M390 steel, I'd really love a Sebenza with a super steel like M390.
 
Rather than starting a new thread, I thought I'd add this here. So I'm now 2 days in. So far, I am pleased with the blade design..perfect for 99% of what I use an EDC knife for. I like the blade size. I am getting used to the handle size although I'd still like it to be just a bit bigger. It's not the smoothest folder I own (believe it or not, a D2 Paramilitary holds that distinction), but it is VERY smooth, and seem to be loosening up just a little with use, and it's been getting a lot of open and close, just playing with it....do you go blind from playing with a new knife like playing with.......:jerkit::eek:...so much so that the blue anodizing is already wearing on the thumb stud. Here comes that other shoe dropping......

BUT, I am VERY unhappy with the edge retention on this knife! As I said, I have an S35vn. Yesterday, I used this knife as I promised myself I would, and cut open a grand total of 3 boxes. Keep in mind, 3 boxes isn't cutting cardboard. I'm talking 2 boxes had the clear, almost heavy duty scotch tape, type packing tape. One cut was 4-6 inches, the other 10-12 inches. I cut open one box that had the paper packing tape with the twine running through it in a criss cross pattern at about 1" intervals. That's it. When I got home and tried to cut open my mail with it, it wouldn't cut. I'm talking about trying to cut VERY thin, light fabric with it in a repeated sawing motion, with fairly heavy pressure on it, and it wouldn't cut. I could literally saw back and forth with the belly of the blade, and not break skin!

I broke out the sharpener, and it did take an edge very nicely, and took one hell of an edge. I almost posted last night about this, but decided maybe it caught something I didn't see or realize cutting open those boxes, so I decided to hold off. My son decided he wanted one of those cook it in the microwave on the little silver cooking surface, flat bread sandwiches (turkey bacon ranch if that matters...the turkey was chunk type, which may matter in a minute as the point is I was just cutting bread). He only wanted half, so I cut it in half with the Sebenza. A sandwich folks Bread. Now yes, I understand it was on a plate, and understand that ceramic, etc can dull as much as sharpen, but one cut, and it was back to couldn't cut skin sharpness.:eek:

WTF????? Any ideas?:confused:
 
apdb90 said:
BUT, I am VERY unhappy with the edge retention on this knife! As I said, I have an S35vn. Yesterday, I used this knife as I promised myself I would, and cut open a grand total of 3 boxes. Keep in mind, 3 boxes isn't cutting cardboard. I'm talking 2 boxes had the clear, almost heavy duty scotch tape, type packing tape. One cut was 4-6 inches, the other 10-12 inches. I cut open one box that had the paper packing tape with the twine running through it in a criss cross pattern at about 1" intervals. That's it. When I got home and tried to cut open my mail with it, it wouldn't cut. I'm talking about trying to cut VERY thin, light fabric with it in a repeated sawing motion, with fairly heavy pressure on it, and it wouldn't cut. I could literally saw back and forth with the belly of the blade, and not break skin!
..............................
WTF????? Any ideas?:confused:
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's probably the "weakest" point of the Sebenza is the steel. (that said, I have an S30V Small Sebenza) For such an expensive knife, I'd like to see options for better steel. You have a lot of customization options for Sebenza's, but they're nearly all purely decorative, never an option for different steel type. I guess I've just been becoming spoiled by M390 knives I have right now, so I'm rapidly becoming a steel snob.

If you're used to harder tool steels like D2 or M4, you simply cannot compare edge retention to S30V or S35VN. You'll just have to get used to sharpening more often, but it's at least easier to sharpen. Sharpen more quickly more often, or sharpen less quickly less often.

-Ed
 
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I've never been a fan of S30v. Just a personal preference thing. But obviously, your choices in a Sebenza are limited. But you hear folks talk about using their Sebenza day in and day out, hard use, etc and months later is "still hair popping/shaving sharp". I can't imagine cutting a few pieces of tape or cutting a sandwich in half is harder use, or my definition of shaving or hair popping sharp is that much different.

Maybe you're right. D2 certainly is my preferred steel. It just works for me and the way I use a knife as well as the way I sharpen a knife, but I really expected quite a bit more out of this knife and the S35vn.
 
About a week ago I cut two boxes down into small pieces. These "boxes" fold out into dog food displays, so it's not exactly correct to say box. Anyways, they have a considerable amount of cardboard criss-crossing and forming smaller boxes inside, and an additional stand upon which it sits.

I'd venture to guess that I made the linear equivalent cut of about 300 or so feet in cardboard, and filled up four grocery bags with cardboard squares approximately 6 x 6 inches.

My Sebenza is in S30V, but I was rather surprised at how well the edge held up after all of the cardboard. It was a far cry from "hair-popping", but I could, very uncomfortably, shave a few arm hairs with the edge. You should note that tape gunk will really degrade the performance of your edge, and that cleaning it off will often take a knife's edge from "dull" to a working edge.
 
I have a S30V blade in my Para2 and it slices and cuts very well. You may want to send it back to CR and have them reprofile/resharpen it. I had to send another higher end brand not CR or Spyderco and after the reprofile, it was razor sharp.
 
I make sure to strop my edc sebenza at the end of the day and have been able to maintain factory sharpness. Im planning on doing a cut test and see how many feet of
cardboard I can cut until the working edge is gone. Ill make sure to document my results and post it here in the future.
 
I know a lot of people say that you have to really sharpen a blade a few times to get to "good steel". I'm not sure how Chris Reeve sharpens their blades at the factory, but i would venture to guess it is with a belt sander or something similar. That can overheat and weaken the very edge of the knife just a little bit, and you might notice a significant increase in performance after a couple of good sharpenings.
 
I haven't heard that, but it certainly makes sense. Even more in that while I haven't done any real cutting with it since this last sharpening, I have cut enough to equal the last two combined, and so far, it's holding up well now.
 
Nice report on the small Sebenza, I am waiting for one as I type. I guess mine will be S35VN as well. Was not expecting that, I was thinking S30V.
 
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