Opened the can of worms...

drrickso

drrickso

Joined
Nov 5, 2014
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Hi all,

So I used to collect pocket knives based solely on looks, and decided that I wanted to get a few higher end blades to rotate for EDC than the cheap stuff I had... I decided to get a Spyderco Pacific Salt (H1 serrated), a Kershaw Leek (D2 blackwash plain edge), and a Benchmade 581s Barrage (M390 combo edge).

I figured I covered 3 different blade types, 3 different steels, and 3 different uses amongst those three solid knives. All good so far?
Well I thought so, until I realized I'm still spending most of my internet time looking up more blades, more expensive blades, and reading/watching countless reviews on knives that seem infinitely more expensive than that BM I just bought.

Now I'm thinking of taking the next step value-wise and was considering the BM 710-142 (Gold Class), a CRK Sebenza, or a CRK Umnumzaan. Looks wise, I love that Benchmade, review wise nothing seems higher rated than the Sebenza, and the balance in between the two for me seems to be the Umnumzaan.

So I'm wondering for very light duty and as a gentleman's folder, will the Gold Class be sufficient or is that purely a safe queen?
Are the CRK blades worth the cost for that same purpose or are they meant for heavy duty to get the value out of them?
Finally, aside from how they open, is the quality on the Umnumzaan as high as the Sebenza?

Thanks for listening... I'm new here- sorry for the long winded post.
 
You are talking knives. Get what appeals to you. Altho, classics are just that and are worth it, imo. re: Sebenza, Strider SnG.
I went from high-end to inexpensive.
rolf
 
Here's my concern with the Sebenza... I get that it's a classic rock solid knife, and was a pioneer for many knives that we see today, but aren't many of the same features available for a lot less money from other reputable high end companies?

While some will argue "often imitated never duplicated," I just can't understand the price tag for a plain blade when a Damascus Benchmade is in the same price range... All that said, I AM curious about it, and countless reviews can't be wrong- but I simply don't understand.
 
drrickso said:
Here's my concern with the Sebenza... I get that it's a classic rock solid knife, and was a pioneer for many knives that we see today, but aren't many of the same features available for a lot less money from other reputable high end companies?

While some will argue "often imitated never duplicated," I just can't understand the price tag for a plain blade when a Damascus Benchmade is in the same price range... All that said, I AM curious about it, and countless reviews can't be wrong- but I simply don't understand.
Click to expand...

You asume that damascus is better.... In real use, that's not necessarily true
 
I don't care for the Benchmade Gold Class. Its like putting a turbo and a body kit on a Honda Civic. Deep down, its still a Honda Civic. With the Sebenza, your stepping up to a BMW (etc).
 
Only carried Benchmades for several years, and recently branched out. I carry one of my Sebenzas every day and there isn't a Benchmade I've ever owned that rivals it's quality. In the end of the day, all high quality knives will cut similarly (depending on blade shape, edge, etc), but you aren't paying the extra money for the cutting performance. You're paying for the fit and finish, the reliability, and longevity.

Quality on all CRK is going to be equal. They are all made by CRK. CRK doesn't segregate their products into classes, they are all very high quality. The Umnumzaan is just not for me, but it's definitely an impressive knife. I've seen people get Sebenzas and decide they don't like them, but I've never seen anyone say that it wasn't a quality knife. A knife has to be pretty impressive if you dislike it but still respect it.

drrickso said:
Here's my concern with the Sebenza... I get that it's a classic rock solid knife, and was a pioneer for many knives that we see today, but aren't many of the same features available for a lot less money from other reputable high end companies?

While some will argue "often imitated never duplicated," I just can't understand the price tag for a plain blade when a Damascus Benchmade is in the same price range... All that said, I AM curious about it, and countless reviews can't be wrong- but I simply don't understand.
Click to expand...

The 710-142 is a very cool looking knife, that's for sure, but to me it's just a decorated knife. The answer is very simple, as to why this costs as much as an S35VN Sebenza. Quality. Benchmade is not in the same class as CRK. The quality is notably better on the Sebenza, in every way. Also, the 710-142 costs as much as most Large inlayed/CGG/UG Sebenza's not just a regular ole plain Jane. Heck for a few extra bucks you could score a small Damascus Sebenza brand new, or a used Damascus Large Sebenza in great shape. Damascus Sebenza > all BM Damascus.
 
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drrickso said:
Here's my concern with the Sebenza... I get that it's a classic rock solid knife, and was a pioneer for many knives that we see today, but aren't many of the same features available for a lot less money from other reputable high end companies?
Click to expand...

Absolutely. If you like the Spydie you should try one of their higher end models like the Southard, Gayle Bradley, or even a Ti Sage. I sold my Sebenza as it didn't hold an edge as long as my Stretch ZDP, and frankly I didn't like the operation of the thumbstuds.
 
My suggestion is always the same on the Sebenza thing: just buy one and find out for yourself. I say this as someone that doesn't even like the Sebenza; I bought one and sold it quickly because it didn't do anything for me at all.

The reason I think folks should just buy them is that you'll always wonder if you don't, and even if you find them intensely "meh" the way I did, you won't lose much money because they hold their resale value very well.
 
Everybody has their own likes and dislikes, and everybody has their own price range. Buy what you like and try it out. Realize that you will sell a certain percentage of what you buy, and your tastes will change over time.
 
Out of the Umunumzaan/25 group, functionality on designing their ceramic ball location/captivation kept me away from their contention of ownership. Out of the CRK camp, my choice is the large double thumb lug Insingo with its proven bank vault, yet simple design, at the same time, without being gaudy or having superfluous amount of identification/advertisement markings all over the blade. Although I have an Insingo, wonderful as it may, with flawless ambidextrous butter smooth operations - capable of thumb or middle finger launch. But, all the while, wishing it would have better steel or at the very least, higher heat treatment, which so badly deserved.

I do like large knives to play. With my other robust folders or basically broken down fixed blade with an pivot, as fantasy toys, along with Wicked Edge to keep them razor sharp. I don't carry them around or have a need to, just something to have fun, flip or flick while I usually doing some mindless things. For other "Hard Use", I have my trusty box cutter with disposable blade or Gerber MuliTool, for prying, I have multiply sized pry bars and......

On the note of practicalities, I like my William Henry GenTec - my choice as an precision cutting instrument, not only with its non aggressive appearance, light/compact with butter smooth innovations and its blade steel using laminated ZDP-189 @67 RC, certainly is pure icing. So much performance packaged, along with fit/finish, yet I don't know its there on my person, until I need to slice open an envelope or cut open an occasional fruit. :)
 
This is an interesting thread and one of the reasons we like knives... there are so many choices.
After years of knife insanity, I finally have it down to a few favorite folders that I edc in rotation.
rolf
 
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