One reason I am glad I bought a sebenza.

[MRaymond]

I still look at the other manufacturers forums from time to time. Despite being completely satisfied with my Sebenza, I still covet a few other production models. For instance, I kinda want to try a ZT 0560 still. I had a 0550 and it was a little blocky for me, so I sold it. In searching these other forums, every once in a while you see a thread pop up about fit and finish issues. When I see those I kinda get a zap of reality. The knives in the $100-200 range that I would like to try have a chance of showing up to my mail box and needing some kind of work to get "right" (fix centering, blade play, pivot tension, etc). Be it my own tinkering or sending back for warranty work, etc. I am not saying that it doesn't happen to CRK too, I just get the feeling it happens less than some of the big manufacturers. I am not by any means trying to disparage the other companies. They make some terrific knives. Many of them with fit and finish close to my CRK. The Taiwan Spydercos, my pm2, to name a few. I am still planning on getting another Gayle Bradley down the line, it's just a great knife. My 0550 was even perfect after it broke in a bit. I just get the feeling I am "rolling the dice" a little more if I buy non CRK. Is my perception off?

 

[RiverRat84]

Yes and no.

I'm actually not a production knife kind of guy. It's either CRK or full on handmade for me. When you get into handmade custom knives there are bound to be a few "issues" here and there. That's to be expected when something is made by hand and I don't get nit picky about it.

However, when you've experienced something as close to perfection as a CRK, well, sometimes it's difficult not to compare.

When I get a CRK I'm 99% that I'm getting a product that won't have a single "issue". That's probably why I go through so many

 

[US-STEEL]

Ray - I think you've hit on the very reason why most folks have such high expectations from CRK. Not to beat a dead horse, but blade centering is one of those focal points. Personally, it's not of paramount concern to me, especially if the knife is going to be a user. However, as my experience in different knives progresses, so do my expectations. I really do expect that a $400 folder be near flawless, but it's not a show stopper for me if it's not, unless I never plan to use it.

I just purchased a Para 2 and the blade is so off centered that I'm amazed how well it still performs. Everything else about the knife is perfect, so I'm 100% happy with it; again, it's about expectations. I didn't expect my $127 knife to be perfect, but it's fit & finish and usability is spot on (minus the blade centering). Therefore, I'm 100% satisfied because it met my expectations 100%, especially for it’s intended purpose; if the blade was centered, that would have just been a bonus. Many of my Benchmades are the exact same way, but I'm 100% satisfied with them.

It’s funny, because my daily user is my Zaan; yet, I have a $19.00 traditional folder that I’ll never subject to daily use. I find it beautiful and really couldn’t even care less about the quality of material used or that it’s fit and finish doesn’t compare to my CRK, as it meets my full expectations just the way it is. I think it’s important to establish a baseline, identify a reference knife in each category and use that to compare all others. But first, designate the purpose of the knife (collectible, user, hard user, display art, etc…), then formulate your expectations accordingly. For example;

BASELINE REFERENCE: My Zaan is my reference knife for a $400 folder. Therefore, any other folder in that price range will be compared to my Zaan.

DESIGNATED PURPOSE: My Zaan is designated for EDC, which sets the mark of measure for my expectations, in terms of what's acceptable to me.

EXPECTATIONS: That the knife be 100% usable, sharp blade, open/close with no resistance, premium parts and exceptional fit/finish. If the blade is off-centered; I don't care, it’s my user. However, if my designated purpose for the Zaan was as a collectible, resale or display art, then my expectations would dictate that the blade is dead-centered.

 

[Maprik]

I've been experimenting with finishes on my Sebenza for 5 months and I have probably taken my knife completely apart at least 100 times. It goes back together perfectly every single time. Dead center blade, smooth as silk deployment. There are only a few small scale manufacturers that can come close to this kind of refinement/tolerances...and you pay big $$$ for it.

 

[dasknife]

CRK's tolerances...the greatest thing I'VE experienced and also the worst I'VE experienced in the knife world. After a year or so of buying spyderco and Benchmade knives, I began doing research into others brands. Long story short, for the next purchase it was between a sebenza or a sng. I finally bought the crk, and was amazed. The first thing I did was disassemble the knife and marvel at its construction. After using it for about 6 months, i picked up the SnG. Took it home and said that's it. I returned it the next day, after sleeping on it for a few days, I went back and bought it again. Carried it for a bit and picked up an emerson and love it. Point being, the sebenza is awesome, great quality and materials but at the end of the day its just a tool designed for cutting. While they all cut, some better than others and designed for different environments/tasks.

On a side note, I will always support US made before anything else. While I no longer carry it anymore, my carbon fiber sage I would say is almost as smooth if not smoother than my Seb. And it was spawned out of the...of Taiwan.