New To Chris Reeve Knives So I Have To Ask ...

Wolverine666

Wolverine666

Joined
Dec 7, 2009
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Hey Guys , like the title says : I'm new to Chris Reeve Knives. But not new to knives in general. I have been using , carrying and collecting BM's , Spydies and ZT'z for years. I'm happy with these three brands. BUT ... I have always been curious and somewhat interested in Chris Reeve Knives. But the price tag has kept me away thus far.

So I have to ask : Are they really worth the price ? What is it that makes them worth that price anyway ? For the price of one small Sebenza you could buy (3) Spyderco Para Military 2's. Or (2) ZT 0550's.

I'm just looking for some education from the guys who own and use Chris Reeve Knives before I drop $400 on one. Thanks.
 
First, watch the video, then hold one in your hand ... that will tell you all you need to know ... and if you are not convinced, you can recover most of your money so very little risk involved. I think they are priced just right, and their customer service is second to none across any industry.
 
franzdom said:
The best way to understand is to watch the new videos, I was sold purely on the hype but this really explains it from the inside:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...e-Shop-Tour-Part-1-and-Part-2?highlight=video
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Wow .....I am 100% sold. The attention to every little detail is awesome. I like his initial statement : " I want to make THE finest product on the planet ". And it looks like he is.

Now to decide between the large Sebenza or small one. And should I go with Micarta inlay ? Decisions decisions.
 
Wolverine666 said:
Wow .....I am 100% sold. The attention to every little detail is awesome. I like his initial statement : " I want to make THE finest product on the planet ". And it looks like he is.

Now to decide between the large Sebenza or small one. And should I go with Micarta inlay ? Decisions decisions.
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What model ZTs do you own? If you like bigger knives start with the large sebenza...
Like many people said here before:large sebenza is all you will ever want, small sebenza is all you will ever need..:)
 
Kinagoo said:
What model ZTs do you own? If you like bigger knives start with the large sebenza...
Like many people said here before:large sebenza is all you will ever want, small sebenza is all you will ever need..:)
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I'm on the fence about the Sebenza size. I have a ZT 0550 , 0350 and 0700. But I carry my ZT 0550 the most. It's a hefty knife. I wouldn't mind something a little smaller and lighter (more discreet). So maybe the small Sebenza would be better for me. I will have to compare size and weight between the 0550 and Large Sebenza.
 
Wolverine666 said:
I'm on the fence about the Sebenza size. I have a ZT 0550 , 0350 and 0700. But I carry my ZT 0550 the most. It's a hefty knife. I wouldn't mind something a little smaller and lighter (more discreet). So maybe the small Sebenza would be better for me. I will have to compare size and weight between the 0550 and Large Sebenza.
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Any of those ZTs will feel bigger, bulkier than a large sebenza, the small sebenza is much smaller.
That's the beauty of the large sebenza in my opinion... It packs the same blade as a 0550 in a much slimmer package.
I would get a user large sebenza here on the exchange and down the road if you want a smaller knife then the small insingo would be my choice.
 
Insingo ? I will have to look that one up. Glad I have today off to research CRK :) Also , I like that wood inlay I have seen on the Sebenzas. Not sure where to find that.
 
Id definately go for the large....u wont get the initial WOW factor with the small sebbie in my opinion.Im one that feels the large is the perfect size and the small is too small.Id also definately get a user with nothing too fancy that way ur not afraid to use it.
 
Agreed in that there's not really much risk as long as you have the cash. Don't like it? Sell it and recoup most of your money. They hold value well.
 
So maybe stick with a plain titanium handle ? What about Micarta ? What does Micarta feel like ? I'm beginning to think that maybe the small Sebenza is a bit too small for me. I'm a big guy and I'm used to a beefy knife. So the large Sebenza looks to be better suited for me.
 
There are many kinds of micarta, as it is fabric soaked in resin. I have a knive with smooth micarta but some knives have rough textured. I'd say from photos that Sebenzas are in the middle, but I've never handled one. My is smooth Ti. If you are a big guy, go with the large size. IMO. I personally like the small, but they both have slim profiles (the smooth Ti ones). And all are solid as tanks.

As for micarta vs plain, look at photos and pick what visually appeals to you, although the insets will fill out your hand more. I prefer aesthetics of the plain slabs, and like how they age.

Wolverine666 said:
What does Micarta feel like and look like in person ?
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the micarta is grippy and has a rougher texture than a polished smooth micarta. it looks almost greyish, black / od green when its dry, it changes a bit in different lighting. when its wet it turns jet black. I have both micarta and plain and i prefer the micarta. it gives the knife a fuller feel in the hand and definitely more grip. I do prefer the slimmer profile of the plain seb in dress paints though.
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
There are many kinds of micarta, as it is fabric soaked in resin. I have a knive with smooth micarta but some knives have rough textured. I'd say from photos that Sebenzas are in the middle, but I've never handled one. My is smooth Ti. If you are a big guy, go with the large size. IMO. I personally like the small, but they both have slim profiles (the smooth Ti ones). And all are solid as tanks.
Click to expand...

Spot on. I only like large sebs. Im just not one for small knives. para 2 is as small as i go.
 
Hey Wolverine--welcome to the CRK forum. You have made a wise choice in deciding to purchase a CRK Sebenza. You already know the "technical" reasons to own one from watching the shop tours. You have heard the "hype" reasons to buy one--CRK has a rabid following. You will also hear from many of us who have "real" reasons to own CRK's--fit, finish, design, materials, etc, etc. For me, in addition to all the aforementioned reasons to own a CRK, I find that a Sebenza seems to fill that little empty spot in my heart that aches for an unknown "something." I know that is odd, but don't let any of these other CRK forumites fool you--they have that little hole too and they fill it up with CRK's too--I am not alone.

For fun:

Large Reg 3.jpgSmall Reg (9).jpgIMG_0880[1].jpgIMG-20111121-00148.jpg
 
These good folks can certainly offer a better appraisal of CRK than I can, but I felt compelled to offer what little I have. I'm sort of a beginning knife person and had saved up a few hundred dollars for my first higher end knife. I went down to the closest knife store of any size and actually held, opened, closed, gripped, and looked at pretty much every knife I had read about here in the forums. There were lots of great knives, and even some that exceeded my expectations by quite a lot, but then I got to the CRK case. I fully expected to not really like them- I have always associated myself with more "hard use" knives. After picking up the large sebenza 21 and then the umnamzaan (which I think I actually liked better), I had absolutely no interest in buying anything else. Despite being quite light and with thinish blade stock (compared to stay a strider or socom) it felt like a workhorse. It looked great (way better than any picture ever captured for me), and I wanted. I actually walked out of the store empty handed in favor of saving a bit more (I had not anticipated being so taken with a $400 knife that I couldn't consider $250 knives). Then I got home, and on the recommendation of the guy at the store watched that very video. I really can't say what it is- it's certainly more than just the old "fit and finish" bit for me, but it really felt like the perfect every day, every situation knife.
 
The thing about the Sebenza--and I have the 21--is its simple elegant perfection. What sets this knife apart, for me, is the fact that you can take it apart, clean it, and put it back together again. Everything fits perfectly. The tolerances are extremely close. It's just cool. What can one say?
 
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