Nothing Magical About Sebenza

Tell me why..........I dont see that much in that knife! (and btw Phil AND Tim are friends of mine)
 
Originally posted by Artsig
Flips my burger, flips my burger, flips my burger, flips my burger, flips my burger, flips my burger, flips my burger, flips my burger, flips my burger, well you get the idea........the Sebenza.....................well, it just FLIPS MY BURGER!!!!
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You got a sebenza with a spatula attachment?:D
 
The Sebenza is a great knife, but it seems to have become nothing more than a status symbol with the knife elite. It's one of those "must haves" when in reality, the same task can be accomplished with a less expensive production knife. I'll freely admit that when I bought my Sebenza, I "babied" the knife and was afraid to drop it, let alone loose it. Again, it was because of the high price I paid. When I finally decided to use it as I would any other knife, I came to realise that for my everyday tasks, I could have easily bought 2 maybe 3 high quality production knives and I would have enjoyed them more.

Some people would argue that if the price of the Sebenza goes down, so will the quality, but I disagree. Look at companies like Outdoor Edge and CRKT who are able to take advantage of CNC technology to make very well mage knives at a fraction of what a Sebenza costs, albeit overseas. Look at Microtech, Benchmade, Spyderco, SOG and other companies who produce very well made knives as well.

There is nothing wrong with buying a Sebenza, and if you can afford it, more power to you. It's just that I would not spend that much money on a plain grey handled mass produced knife.:)
 
el cid brings up a very good point. As good as the Sebenza is, it may be too overbuilt for many users. If you just use a knife for slicing fruit and opening envelopes, an Opinel would do just fine. A Sebenza could surely accomplish the same task, but might be a waste of money for these simple chores. I often wonder how often knifenuts buy more knife than they actually need. I have a feeling that our hobby is sometimes more about pride of ownership and bragging rights than actual use.

The same is true for self defense knives. People pay large amounts of money for these big honking knives in exotic steels, just in case a mugger someday confronts them. This always makes me laugh. Unless you plan on chopping up bad guys on a weekly basis, that exotic steel is a complete waste of money. Are we really concerned that our knife will go dull in the middle of that single knife fight we may be involved in? Will that D2 steel give our untrained fighting skills an advantage over the bad guy? Nope. We’d probably just be better off with a can of pepper spray than that Socom Elite.

Nevertheless, I do carry a large Sebenza. I don’t have any fantasies about defending myself with it, but I use it for many everyday cutting chores. Most of these chores could be done just as easily with a large CRKT Point Guard, and all of them could be done with a plain old Buck 110. I guess my ego just needs that big boost of having a knife that will do anything I’ll ever need it to.
 
I have owned both a small sebbie and a 154CM EDC. Both are GREAT knives. The fit, finish, and durability of the sebbie is IMHO far superior to that of the EDC. But the EDC is so good, does it matter?

Someone else mentioned the law of diminishing returns, i.e. after a certain point, twice the price doesn't equal twice the knife. But so what? Consider a used volvo vs. the BMW M5, the world's greatest sports sedan. Volvo will get you wherever, last forever, is very safe and reliable and fairly comfortable. It does the job. Whereas the M5 is super-sleek, fast, classy, smooth, a glorious feat of engineering and (I'm told) the pleasure of driving it is almost a spiritual experience. Difference in actual functionality (unless you drive a 100 mile commute on the autobahn) exists but is relatively small. Difference in pleasure of use and ownership is great. But difference in price is 10x, $8k vs. $80k. Is the M5 "worth" it? Think of all the other things you could buy with that much cash!!! Some people say no, some people say "of course!" This is NOT an objective judgment, it's an asthetic one.

BTW, another good point is that the sebbie really IS a work knife, and if you use it side by side with a lesser knife for a couple years, the difference in quality of construction should become apparent. As compared to William Henry, say, classy & expensive "gentlemen's knives" that are not meant to be used on the ranch, etc.
 
This argument that other knives will do the job just as well at a much lower pricepoint applies to this whole knife knut business! I have $30-$50 knives that perform just as well on a daily basis as my $100 knives, and those, cut about the same as my <i>two</i> $300+ Sebenzas. They all perform acceptably in normal operation, given time and ability to maintain them, keep them sharp, etc. Sure the Sebs would likely out last any of the others if I really was lost in the jungle somewhere for a year, or trapped for weeks by an earthquake in some remote third world village, but until I actually go to the jungle or the village, neither scenario is likely to come about.

So yes, it is about bragging rights and aesthetics and potentials, but it is absurd to single out Sebenzas because the argument applies just as well to knives that are half their price.
 
You hit the nail on the head Matthew


I was perfectly happy for years with a cheap Buck knife. It did what I needed it too. Needed to sharpen it alot, but it was easy to sharpen.

I now like knives 30 times its price. Sure they are better but I don't need them, I buy them because I like them :).
 
I read this entire thread. Took quite awhile.

I think the posts near what is now the end hit several nails headwise. We buy for qualities vastly different than our needs. Still, just the other day rented Castaway. Makes you think a bit.

One thing I truly appreciated about this thread is that unlike most of its "peers" there were virtually no comments of the snobby variety. Too many threads about Sebenzas in the past have really aggravated me in that way. This one is refreshingly different.

To my own great surprise, I became a Sebbie owner about a month ago. Excellent price for a knife in beautiful condition, with a glass-like action. The only knife I own that makes you feel like the first person to benefit from a roller bearing every time you open it. I find the handle to be relatively uncomfortable for me, largely because it is too short for my tastes. WOuld never consider a small Sebbie for that reason.

Mainly because I feared loss by theft, I have carried it ever since I bought it. That really bothered me for awhile. FInally realized it was because I really wanted to carry at least my new Wegner and new Apache. Solved by putting Sebenza in sheath on belt. Now, am happy!

I really use knives so little, it is unlikely I'll ever really truly appreciate my Sebenza. But, it has grown on me. I love the rounded blade spine. Only knife I have that is "finished" by Ed Fowler's standards. I have to admit the Sebenza gives me a sense of durability that few, if any, of my other knives do. Both my CRKT M16 and my OE Magna are even better upside down than the Sebenza. Both have real straight handles, that somehow are far more comfortable in the normal grip than is the Benza. But, the handles are both much longer also. WOrks better for ME.

The Camillus EDC was mentioned several times. I bought the OE Paragee recently. Wrote a thread in the OE forum comparing the Paragee with the Sebanza, and the EDC with my S-2. For those of you who like your EDC, I strongly suggest you get a Paragee, and learn why Knife Center of the I-net makes no bones about which they prefer. At a significantly lower price. I guess I didn't get a very good EDC. It would be a great California knife, because the ball detente keeps the blade in the handle better than any of my lockbacks. So, when it finally lets go, the blade flies 3/4ths of the way open. Would never want to rely on it in an emergency, for fear I'd drop it, or fling it good ways.

I've only gotten rid of 2 of the knives I've bought. Gave them both to my son. One as a genuine gift, one because I didn't like it. Just can't see letting go of my Sebenza. Oops. Forgot to mention that after reading my post about not getting an allen wrench with my used Sebenza, Anne Reeve saw to it that I got one. In my mind, one of the best examples of customer service of which I know.

At least, if I ever get marooned, I'll have the Sebenza with me, and mightlearn just how good it really is.
 
What's going on over here? I saw flames when I was cruising through the general forum.

Regards,

Tom Carey
 
If you dont keep a pyramid crystal in your pocket with your knife it will never live up to its full potential! :)
 
Well here's my $.02. I think that need/want price/value are relative terms. The reason that Chris Reeve prices his knives the way he does is because people buy his products and his shop is perpetually backordered. When and if the demand for his products decreases to where he is not backordered, he will have a choice, cut the price or retire. The same with Mayo, Ralph and others. Some knifemakers have even stopped taking orders due to the tremendous demand for their products. I can't afford a Rolls Royce car but I can get a Rolls Royce of pocket knives. I'm not a hard knife user. What I use knives for could easily be done with a less than ten dollar knife. Why have I purchased four Sebenzas, an Apogee, Crawford Leopard, two TNT's, an Elishewitz Striker and many Benchmades and Syderco's? Because I want to and I enjoy collecting knives. I have a decent job and a decent house, a wife and a beautiful daughter. The way I look at it is that I save some money from each paycheck and when I get enough I get a knife that I like. Do I need to? No. To me it is like collecting wine or cigars or motorcycles or coins. Cut up a bad guy? It's not likely. I use knives to open things and cut fruit for lunch. I may seem extravigant and foolish to many people but I've been ga ga about knives since my grandmother gave me my first little folder when I was 5 years old. I really don't know why I like knives, I guess it's in the genes. I don't feel superior to others that can't afford these knives. The fact is that I very rarely admit to my friends how much I spend on knives. I just like them and I think that life is too short not to enjoy what you like.:cool:
 
I have never handled a Sebenza, and am new to the knife fourms, but it seems most people say its what works best for you. I guess its true unless you are talking Sebenza. The guy was just voicing his oppinion, last time I checked that was everyones given right. He didnt say it was a bad knife, just that he didnt like it. Relax, and cut the guy some slack.
 
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