-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
New Sebenza Owner-Initial Thoughts
- Thread starter apdb90
- Start date
kreole
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2009
- Messages
- 4,494
Yep, via Anne Reeve, found in the Unofficial Sebenza FAQ stickied at the top:
We really have no secrets - it's just that Chris has spent over 20 years studying cutting edges and angles and generally the best way to do it. Considering the number of knives we have made, and he sharpened every single one of them up till about 3 years ago, he has had a lot of practice! He has been able to impart the skill to Scott and Bryan who take care of the sharpening now. They grind the bevel on a belt grinder and polish the edge on a hard felt wheel, using an aggressive polishing compound.
Belt grind sharpening is fine, so long as proper technique is used. If you push too hard and linger, it will heat the edge up too much and weaken the steel.
On another note, I took apart my new (to me) Small Sebenza LE. I'll have to say it's definitely the easiest folding knife I've ever taken apart and put back together. I lubed up the washers and pivot bushing very lightly with Krytox, and it's ridiculously smooth now. I thought it was like buttah before, but wow.
On another note, I took apart my new (to me) Small Sebenza LE. I'll have to say it's definitely the easiest folding knife I've ever taken apart and put back together. I lubed up the washers and pivot bushing very lightly with Krytox, and it's ridiculously smooth now. I thought it was like buttah before, but wow.
OK, so I figured I shared day one thoughts on a small Sebenza, I'd do the same with day one thoughts with the new Umnumzaan (yes, I've been buying toys lately...thank God for an understanding wife!) and how it compares to the small Sebenza for anyone kicking the idea of which to buy around.
As much as at least the grip size of the small Sebenza took some getting used to, the Umnumzaan is a BIG knife. It's certainly not the biggest I've owned, and it's not in the "holy #(%&$(%, what am I supposed to do with that" big, but it's big. With that, comes some weight. It's not heavy, more substantial feeling. Probably the best, and quickest way to do this is in direct comparison to the Sebenza, since the Umnumzaan is touted to be taking everything learned from the Sebenza and improving on it.
The titanium feels very similar in texture to the Sebenza, and the cross hatch pattern adds some extra grip while still staying with the general understated utility look of a CRK. The blade has a bunch more belly than my Sebenza (a 21), which to me is good, and bad. I find I like the thinner profile of the Sebenza for the mundane day to day tasks. But for any "real" cutting tasks, the Umnumzaan blade is the way to go. I actually love the semi sharpened swedge. I also like the ambi thumb studs, and the design of them. This may be blasphemy, but I hate the Sebenza studs. Too sharp, too small. If the Sebenza's action wasn't so smooth, I think they'd be a major problem. The rounded, larger profile of the Umnumzaan's thumb studs isn't to the level of a "Spyder Hole", but it's WAY better than the Sebenza's thumb stud.
Moving on to that incredibly smooth action, we get to the biggest difference between the Sebenza and Umnumzaan, the pivot. Quite honestly, I just don't get it. Now I'm not a machinist, nor am I an engineer. But the pivot on the Sebenza is absolute perfection in my eyes. There is NO way to screw it up. Leave it too loose, the blade and action is perfect. To tight? Yep, perfect. While the system on the Umnumzaan may be stronger, it isn't better in my eyes. Although it works MUCH better than other similar pivot style production knives, you have to play the "find the perfect balance" game with it which I often lose
The action of the Umnumzaan itself was grittier (is that a word?) out of the box than the Sebenza...seemed to be the bead blasting of the scales....but it smoothed out incredibly quick, and it's already smoother than my Sebenza which has been opened and closed literally thousands of times since I bought it (I've sat here, and whatever I'm doing otherwise, as long as my right hand is free, I'm opening and closing the Sebenza, and now am doing the same with the Umnumzaan). The thumb studs as a stop is an interesting concept, and the rubber rings isolate the lockup from the really crisp "snick" of the Sebenza to a much more muted feeling. Speaking of which, access to the lockbar is MUCH better on the Sebenza.
All in all, I feel it breaks down like this.....the small Sebenza is a much better EDC knife IMO. While I'd like to see a slightly larger handle, the blade is pretty much perfect for 99% of the EDC tasks most people would use it for. It absolutely disappears in the pocket, and feels much more refined than the Umnumzaan.
The Umnumzaan has an almost "I dare you to try to hurt me" attitude, and has a feel to match that personality. While it's much more refined than a good majority of folders out there, it has an all business, "lets go to work" then when we're done, cut a beer keg open and tie one on feel where the Sebenza's is more of a refined, yes, I can work if you really want me to, but I'd rather have some 20 year old Single Malt and a Cigar.
As much as at least the grip size of the small Sebenza took some getting used to, the Umnumzaan is a BIG knife. It's certainly not the biggest I've owned, and it's not in the "holy #(%&$(%, what am I supposed to do with that" big, but it's big. With that, comes some weight. It's not heavy, more substantial feeling. Probably the best, and quickest way to do this is in direct comparison to the Sebenza, since the Umnumzaan is touted to be taking everything learned from the Sebenza and improving on it.
The titanium feels very similar in texture to the Sebenza, and the cross hatch pattern adds some extra grip while still staying with the general understated utility look of a CRK. The blade has a bunch more belly than my Sebenza (a 21), which to me is good, and bad. I find I like the thinner profile of the Sebenza for the mundane day to day tasks. But for any "real" cutting tasks, the Umnumzaan blade is the way to go. I actually love the semi sharpened swedge. I also like the ambi thumb studs, and the design of them. This may be blasphemy, but I hate the Sebenza studs. Too sharp, too small. If the Sebenza's action wasn't so smooth, I think they'd be a major problem. The rounded, larger profile of the Umnumzaan's thumb studs isn't to the level of a "Spyder Hole", but it's WAY better than the Sebenza's thumb stud.
Moving on to that incredibly smooth action, we get to the biggest difference between the Sebenza and Umnumzaan, the pivot. Quite honestly, I just don't get it. Now I'm not a machinist, nor am I an engineer. But the pivot on the Sebenza is absolute perfection in my eyes. There is NO way to screw it up. Leave it too loose, the blade and action is perfect. To tight? Yep, perfect. While the system on the Umnumzaan may be stronger, it isn't better in my eyes. Although it works MUCH better than other similar pivot style production knives, you have to play the "find the perfect balance" game with it which I often lose
The action of the Umnumzaan itself was grittier (is that a word?) out of the box than the Sebenza...seemed to be the bead blasting of the scales....but it smoothed out incredibly quick, and it's already smoother than my Sebenza which has been opened and closed literally thousands of times since I bought it (I've sat here, and whatever I'm doing otherwise, as long as my right hand is free, I'm opening and closing the Sebenza, and now am doing the same with the Umnumzaan). The thumb studs as a stop is an interesting concept, and the rubber rings isolate the lockup from the really crisp "snick" of the Sebenza to a much more muted feeling. Speaking of which, access to the lockbar is MUCH better on the Sebenza.All in all, I feel it breaks down like this.....the small Sebenza is a much better EDC knife IMO. While I'd like to see a slightly larger handle, the blade is pretty much perfect for 99% of the EDC tasks most people would use it for. It absolutely disappears in the pocket, and feels much more refined than the Umnumzaan.
The Umnumzaan has an almost "I dare you to try to hurt me" attitude, and has a feel to match that personality. While it's much more refined than a good majority of folders out there, it has an all business, "lets go to work" then when we're done, cut a beer keg open and tie one on feel where the Sebenza's is more of a refined, yes, I can work if you really want me to, but I'd rather have some 20 year old Single Malt and a Cigar.
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2011
- Messages
- 467
My 'Zaan arrived Friday and I agree with your assessment. Very well put.
A lot of people don't like the pointed thumbstuds. But I think it's because they like to push on top of the thumbstub, rather than put your thumb to the side of the thumbstud and push out. You shouldn't be putting your thumb directly on top of the thumbstud. I don't have problems with the pointed thumbstuds because I push against the thumbstud, not on top of it. Then again, I have somewhat slender fingers.
Moving on to that incredibly smooth action, we get to the biggest difference between the Sebenza and Umnumzaan, the pivot. Quite honestly, I just don't get it. Now I'm not a machinist, nor am I an engineer. But the pivot on the Sebenza is absolute perfection in my eyes. There is NO way to screw it up. Leave it too loose, the blade and action is perfect. To tight? Yep, perfect. While the system on the Umnumzaan may be stronger, it isn't better in my eyes. Although it works MUCH better than other similar pivot style production knives, you have to play the "find the perfect balance" game with it which I often lose
The Pivot bushing system and the lockbar tension against the blade is THE reason for the Sebenza's "buttah" smoothness, and what primarily drew me to the Sebenza. I'm not even considering the Umnumzaan because of the lack of the pivot bushing system.
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2009
- Messages
- 908
I've had a small S30v Insingo for over one month and used it to cut cardboard, plastic ties, paper, 550 cord, and even leather. The edge is still sharp enough to cut hairs off my arm.. I've had a manix 2 in s30v for over four months, use it daily at work, and though not shaving sharp, it can still widdle paper with little encouragement. It's pretty surprising your seb lost its edge soo quickly..
I agree. Although I'm not a huge fan of S30V, I was pretty surprised as well. That said, now that i've run it through a few sharpening cycles as it's dulled with use, it is currently holding an edge like I would expect. My only guess is the heat from initial sharpening idea may have been spot on, because now it's acting like S30V.
