Opinions on small vs large.

R

rushane

Joined
Dec 31, 2006
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For your first CRK, were any of you apprehensive about the size? I prefer blades in the 3.2-3.5 range. My favorites are the PM2 and a ZT 0566. Anything larger, and honestly I find it unwieldy, smaller and it's not enough blade (except for the Delica, that's the one sub 3" blade I really like).

This of course had me at a crossroads with wanting a Sebenza. If I go large, it'll be the 25. But it looks enormous on YouTube and in most photos. By contrast, the small looks to be too small.

Yes, I'm Goldielocks. If anyone else was in this situation, which way did you go? Regrets? I want to get it right the first time, my wife wants to get me one when I put on 1st class (USCG) and I can't make a choice. I don't want to exchange it either, I want it to be the knife that she gave me the first time.
 
Size should be good if you are comfortable with the Para 2
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I only have a 25 , and love it. I carried a para2 for some time and find the overall size of the 25 is similar. Far from an expert here, but the 25 is a great size for my needs.
 
I have a small 21 and its a perfect size for everyday, not so big that I can't get away using it in public without raising an eyebrow yet still big enough to take on most daily tasks with ease.

The large 21 always felt conspicuously big in my pocket, feels great in hand but the looks more intimidating to civilians/normal non knife people.
 
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I think from what you're saying. You should go with the 25 or a large 21. The 25 has the same blade length just beefed up. The 25 is my favorite. Need to get another one sometime...
 
I own nothing but Small Sebenzas. But I've handled enough Large Sebenzas to know that they're definitely more comfortable in the hand . . . at least in my medium-sized hand. The reason I stick with the Smalls is that they're lighter and easier to EDC. There is an interesting alternative available, however. Check out the Knifeart.com exclusive Carbon Fiber Large Sebenza 21. It's a full sized Large Sebenza but it only weighs 3.7 ounces. :thumbup:
 
I went through this same thing when handling my first CRKs. I didn't know what to expect, and photos and videos are pretty misleading. When I first opened a large 21, it was surprisingly big. Although it's almost the exact same size as a Para 2 when both are open, I couldn't imagine myself pulling it out at dinner or in some other public settings. The small was surprisingly small, and I felt it was the best all-around knife. I remember wishing that the small was smaller so I wouldn't like it more than the large. I knew I'd eventually want both though and I own both. My large is more fun to handle and play with and just like to have it on me a lot of the time, but if I only had a small, I'd probably carry it everywhere, everyday. I briefly had a 25 and felt it was somewhat too aggressive for an EDC. To me, the 21 though the same size as the 25, is more refined. If I had all the money in the world, I'd still have the 25 just because it's cool, but I err on the side of what's practical for me.
 
I own three small 21s and (until recently) three large (Umnumzaan, 21, 25).

One of the small 21 s gets carried at work every single day. The small 21 disappears in slacks/khakis. The large will not. Therefore, the large models get carried only after work and on weekends.
 
I have owned both large & small 21s. For me...the large is where it's at! In fact, it may be the the most "perfectly" sized knife I have ever held. It's big-bladed (at 3.625"), but not big-handled (4.71") and the way the clip point blade disappears into the handle makes it even more svelte feeling when closed and/or in the pocket. It has an incredibly good open blade:handle ratio (0.77:1).

The small for me was just too small (though if I had to have a sub-3" bladed knife a small Seb would be a good choice).

I was (and continue to be) impressed by how economical the large 21 uses its physicality... how relatively compact it feels for how big its blade is. As I said above...it may the the most "perfectly" sized knife I've ever encountered. YMMV
 
The large takes up less pocket space(in width, same length) than the Para 2 you like so much, so I would go with the large.

I once mostly carried a small Regular, or a small Micarta, but now I mostly carry a large Regular.
 
My first was a small. Then I got a large.

I love the size of the large blade, but love the small overall, it feels better clipped.

A medium would be perfect, I would not need a small or large if there was an option for medium.
 
Isn't the edge length in the small and para2 the same? I might be wrong, but pretty sure I read that here. Anyway, my small gets all the pocket time. Let us see pics once you decide.

Best,
 
I would get a large unless you work in an office everyday and want to EDC the Sebenza. In that case I would choose a small.
 
I work in an office-type setting, and even there, my newly acquired Large Sebenza 21 never feels too big. In fact, for the first few days I've been carrying it, it has felt extremely slim and compact. I've gotten used to carrying a Spyderco Military Titanium, Benchmade 710, Spyderco Police G10, etc., so the Large 21 doesn't seem so large. I would definitely go the route of the Large, for that. I can't imagine a Small Sebenza not being comfortable to handle, but for large hands, the Large Sebenza would be my suggestion for ideal comfort.
 
Unfortunately CRK doesn't make the 3.25" Goldielocks Sebenza. Both the small and large are great knives. The small is a small knife, but can handle most tasks though limited in a few. The small has always reminded me of a traditional pocket knife such as a Case(but with upgraded materials and locking mechanism) The large looks fairly large to sight, but is not awkward to handle and carries very well. If you don't have office situation problems to deal with I think the large would work well for you.
If you decide to go small, I highly recommend the micarta inlay-fills the hand a little better than the flat scale and gives a bit of grip.
 
When I started collecting CRK's, they were the large. I had a couple of other small folders and put off getting a small. When I finally picked up my first small, instantly fell in love with it. Now, I have no preference between the large or small. What I love about either size is the slim design compared to other knives. I've put the 25 next to my 0770 and the 25 being longer is not as bulky as the 0770. I like to carry the small in my front shirt pocket clipped and my 25 rides in a pocket sheath.
I've yet had anybody ask me when I'm carrying my 21/25 in my pocket: " is that a knife in your pocket or you just happy to see me" :). The large carry comfortable in my pocket and the small even better in the pocket.
I don't think you'll be disappointed either way you go.
 
I think it depends on two factors, the size of your hands and the intended uses for the knife. My hands aren't that large so I find the small to be a perfect fit in my hand and the blade has, to date, been big enough for everything I've tried to use it for.

If you have large hands or need a larger blade then the large would probably be a better fit.

Another point - If you wear jeans or jean style pants you may find it is hard to reach into your pocket around a large . . .
 
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