Opinions on the Sebenza 25

U

USMCO3

Joined
Feb 28, 2014
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Hello all,
I'm new to the forums and excited to be here. Been a knife nut for a long time but am just starting to develop a Sebenza itch.
For my first Chris Reeve Knife, what should I go with? I like the thicker blade stock on the 25 and the Umnumzaan but I also like the classic 21. Opinions?
 
Different knives, all have their places based on your preferences and usage. 25 is more hard use, 21 has more universal ergonomics. Put on in your hand if possible before you make your decision.
 
I like where your head's at. However, I can only afford one at the moment. Do you have a 25?
 
JustinFournier said:
Different knives, all have their places based on your preferences and usage. 25 is more hard use, 21 has more universal ergonomics. Put on in your hand if possible before you make your decision.
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Thank you. This is very helpful. I like a hard use knife. I wear large size gloves, do you think that the ergos on the 25 will work well with my sized hand?
 
Just from my reading on the forum here, I hear the 25's clip could dig into your fingers. I don't have personal experience with the 25, yet. :)

I have 21's and a Zaan. If I had to have 1 for the apocalypse, I'd take the Zaan. But for me, the 21 is the reference CRK to own first. Big fan of the pivot bushing and single tool takedown.
 
I have not had that clip issue with mine, but I could see that happening if you had unusually wide fingers or larger hands than mine.
 
I'd go with the 21. Classic CRK. I think the 25 is a work in progress. 21 is tried and true.:thumbup:
 
Any of the three will be fine even with gloves. It's going to be a matter of choice. The 25 does have more aggressive jimping than the other two. The ergo's on the 25 IMHO are better for work than the others, If you prefer not to have a lanyard, the 25 is the way to go. Personally I don't care for the zaan or 21 without the lanyard. I think the 25 is the ticket, I've got 3 of them, the TNK silver edition, the blue edition and a very special one. If I was in your court, I'd prefer the 25. Love all my 21's and the one zaan I have, if I had to get rid of them all and keep just one, it would be the 25( of course that's just silly, that will never happen)
 
I wear a large or sometimes medium glove size 9 or 10, ring size 9 so not fat fingers and the clip on the 25 fits perfectly in my hand, very close to where the 21 ends. I think the difference is the 25 has finger groves to place your fingers for you where as the 21, people vary positions of their fingers to avoid the clip. 25 is my keeper, all of my 21's have been sold, or will be sold.
 
25 just didn't feel like a CRK. It didn't have that refined feel that the Classic or the 21 had. The odd blade between the spine and the jimping just hurt the eyes and the finger groove are unnecessary since it sent my fingers right on top of the pocket clip. I didn't have any ergo problems with Zaan or 21. I do like the features on the 25 like the large hollow grind and the ceramic ball lock face.

don't underestimate the 21, it's tougher than it looks.
 
I'd say it would be best, but I know not possible for everybody, to hold them in hand first. Some have problems with the clip on the 25 but it's fine for me. It doesn't hit my finger at all but for some it digs in and causes annoyance. It's my favorite. Good luck with your choice, don't think you can go wrong.
 
I have no issues with the clip at all. All 3 are great choices but I prefer the 25.
 
I have all 3 and no issues with any of them. I prefer the Zaan but that's just me. I like the 25 so well that I just ordered another one yesterday. I don't think you could go wrong with any of them.
 
I'd get a 25, but all of CRKs offerings are special. I like the entire line up lol.
 
I had a 25 and didn't particularly like it. Mine was extremely difficult to break detent on, and the finger grooves forced one specific grip placement which I hated. Frankly, I honestly don't understand how one could claim the clip didn't interfere for them, as the upswept tip is precisely where the aforementioned grooves force your finger to be. I can get used to the extra wrench and requisite locktite, but if I'm going to do that I prefer the ergo's of the Umnumzaan (and it's gorgeous blade). I ended up trading my 25 away to get another Zaan (startac).

For the first Sebbie itch, 21/Classic all the way.
 
I have multiples of the 25, 21, and the Ummumzaan, the one that I don't use is the 25.
I carried both the Umnumzaan and 21 for years (at different times) and never found a fault in either, I tried carrying a 25 and couldn't.
The 25's grooves force me into a grip where the blade edge is too far from my first finger so the edge goes to the Umnum there, I also feel the clip slightly when forced into that grip, as others have mentioned. The. 25 is also more difficult to open for me. The detent took a long time to break in but even after it did and after some adjusting of the pivot I find that I need to hold it in an awkward grip where the knife is too low in my hand to be "right". Neither the 21 or the Umnum have this problem- in fact it's hard to find a knife that opens better than either of those 2 designs, especially the Umnum.
I do prefer the shape of the 25's blade over the other 2 and like the high hollow grind, the rounded spine on both the 21 & 25 is a favorite feature of mine.
I constantly think of selling off my last 25 but everytime I pick it up I think that it's just such a nice knife that I don't do it, even though I don't use it. It "feels" more solid than any other knife I've ever had in hand, it's very nice- just not for me.
I've used a 21 to do everything a knife should ever be asked to do, don't be fooled into thinking it isn't a tough knife, it's a beast! The 25 may be tougher but I think that it's overkill past the point of a 21.
If you can check them out first it'd be in your best interest but if you can't don't worry about it, eventually you'll have them all ;)
 
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