Recommendation? Noob looking for present!

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boop

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Apr 30, 2020
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Hi! Not sure this is appropriate here, but here we go!

So my boyfriend mentioned having a CRK sebenza a while ago and losing it. He's wanted to get one a few times but hasn't because of like "punishment" for losing a $500ish pocket knife! haha. Soooo i want to get him one.

I've been reading posts here and elsewhere, and I think i want to get him a small sebenza 21 (maybe large?)

That narrows it down SOME! Now i can't decide on blade, inlay, design, etc!

BLADE:
Insingo seems like a winner as far as reading forums and practicality/EDC. Easier to sharpen, more weight behind the pokiness, good for like boxes and apples and stuff?
I also read on here if you buy the insingo, you can get a drop point blade for it but if you buy drop point, you can't get insingo?

Drop Point - Seems easier to find designs and stuff. Lots of them are out there so am I missing something as to why they are so popular?

DESIGN:
Classic-
I really love the way the classic/simple ones look. Especially after a lot of use! I think they break in beautifully. However! this is like the cheapest/most basic option and I really want to make this a nice gift.

Custom designs -
I really like some of them! but I can't find any of the design ones that have the Insingo blade though. I like the Koi Pond one! and some of the purple/blue ones like this

and I wonder how do they age? if they get like dirty in the recesses? are they too "pretty" for a man to EDC? Is it worth not getting the insingo blade? is it more "art" than knife?

Inlay -
He mentioned once that micarta might be nice for grip (but I think they are kinda ugly and take away from the classiness of the knife! LOL! But its for him sooo)

SIZE:
Large or Small?
The big one looks to me more like a utility/outdoorsy kind of knife whereas the small seems like the perfect "pocket" size. But I could be wrong on that? Opinions?


So i feel like the knife that is my favorite, is also the "cheapest"
but I want to get him the knife that would be HIS favorite. So what do yall think about these things? Would you be happy with the classic one with an insingo blade? I don't want it to seem like i cheaped out? If you could pick one to receive as a gift, what would you prefer? Should I look at other models?

Any input, info, aging photos would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! :)
 
Ok .. I'll start off w a couple questions...
Is he a blue jeans dude or a suit or a casual wear person ..very important for size of knife he can carry comfortably.
What size did he have before?
Does he carry a knife now and if so what does he do with it?
 
PS the micarta isn't a bad choice for an insert. That stuff has been around since the 1920's and holds up real well
 
If you know what he had, maybe get him something similar-he already made the decisions.
also a correction-you will not be able to get a drop point replacement blade for the 21. It is a discontinued model and they are only supplying blades for warranty work.
My favorite is the micarta inlay, but you can't go wrong with any and I am sure he will greatly appreciate the present.
 
As soon as you buy him one, the lost one will get found.....Sort of the law of losing guy stuff.

I ended up with a plain jane large inkosi and have never been happier since I just started using it day one years ago. I wish I had done the micarta inlays, actually red is the one that speaks to me.

I would say look at the big online players who have a lot of in-stock inventory. Most have great pictures with inlays and plain jane models of each Chris Reeve knife. A few retailers have exclusives, like the red micarta inlays, the carbon fiber scale, and the carbon fiber inlays, so make sure you google them and check those exclusives out. Then there are the unique graphics engraved, colored with and without cabochons. And of course regular or damascus steel are options as well. Good luck.

Buy the one that speaks to you as your boyfriends knife. He should be happy with any Chris Reeve someone wants to buy him. If not the forum will crucify him accordingly.
 
The toughest decision, I believe, is choosing a small or large. I would start here with him. People swear by both, so it’s a huge preference deal. I’m exclusively a large advocate. That’s cause I’ve got big hands and want a full handle. He may be in this camp, or he may like the small better. Some people are more comfortable carrying smaller knives in public.
 
Try to find out if it was a large or small, that will make all the difference as to what he is used to carrying. Don’t get too fancy with the designs/ CCG or Unique, he may not carry it because it’ll get all scratched up. If you do see a CCG ( like the chain mail),make it something that he’ll use.
The plain or micarta inlays can be sent back to CRK for a spa treatment and come back looking new. The insingo blade is a useful all around blade style that a lot of people like.
 
What an awesome and thoughtful gift! The Insingo is a great choice. I particularly like it in the small 21 because it somehow looks prettier in the narrower blade and maximizes the cutting edge IMO. Regarding the plains--I would not think of them as the cheap ones. I think of them as the original ones. Later on they offered fancier options--the inlays, graphics, etc. To my eye the plains have a beautiful simplicity--nothing more could be taken away, nothing else needs to be added. The ti scales develop character over time and with use and eventually they have a story to tell. If the knife is going to be a user, IMO plain is the way to go. But... they're all great so you can't miss. Some people (myself included) have trouble putting the wood inlaid or graphic versions to hard use. Micarta is nice for slight improvement in grip, but it's a little bulkier and, to my eye, looks a little more cluttered visually. Small vs large: I like them both. The small is a lot smaller in the hand and the way it carries, but it still has plenty of useful blade. As an example, the small Seb has the same amount of cutting edge as a Spyderco Paramilitary 2, which when closed is actually bigger than a large Sebenza. As for the large, it's not really that large, but it is intimidating to people who are uncomfortable around knives and it carries best in jeans and work clothes. My personal favorite 21: The retailer KnifeArt carries a special "exclusive" version of the small and large with one scale made from carbon fiber. This makes the knife very noticeably lighter without giving up any strength. Even though I prefer the aesthetics of the plains, I personally own the CF versions because of the weight (I'm a cyclist so maybe this matters more to me than to most). I hope he deserves you!
 
Good point about not wanting to use it much if it's a design one. The CCG ones don't seem as cool now knowing that the other designs are all unique one offs anyway.
It seems people like the inlays and knowing we will be able to send it off for a "spa treatment" is really helpful.

I think I will try to find a small Sebenza Insigno with Micarta! and this way i can always get him a large/fancier one some time later too! HA

Thank you guys so much for the helpful information! Really appreciate it! :D
 
boop said:
Good point about not wanting to use it much if it's a design one. The CCG ones don't seem as cool now knowing that the other designs are all unique one offs anyway.
It seems people like the inlays and knowing we will be able to send it off for a "spa treatment" is really helpful.

I think I will try to find a small Sebenza Insigno with Micarta! and this way i can always get him a large/fancier one some time later too! HA

Thank you guys so much for the helpful information! Really appreciate it! :D
Click to expand...


BTW, buy from an authorized CRK dealer, stay away from eBay and Amazon.
 
You may want to check out a wrist attachment first and what a wonderful girl friend you are
 
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