Pistol guy needs knife pre-purchase hand holding - initial BladeForums post

M

MusProd

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Nov 2, 2015
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I know my way around hand guns, but am a near novice regarding knives. I can use some hand holding on a selection, so first let me give you some background and criteria.

I like high end kit. I'll sacrifice numbers for quality. In hand guns I tend toward SIG, and even there it's the P210 Legend Target and X5-L1 "Black and White" for competition and a very few other similar quality pistols. I use what I own... no safe queens.

In knives I have a Spyderco Dragonfly now supplanted for EDC by a Spyderco Chaparral. My dress is business casual, and I carry the Chaparral clipped in my rear pants pocket. My use is for typical things that come up during a day. Package opening, tape slitting, cardboard knock down and the like. I don't need a work, hunting, or camp blade. I really like the Chaparral and really don't need more, but I find that "need" has little to do with desire to own.

Too much time on the Net has me at either a CRK small Sebenza or a Ti-Lock. The quality and beauty of the simplicity of the Sebenza is very appealing. Likewise, assuming the same quality across the CRK line is the same, the Ti-Lock's unique features appeal to me. Also important to me is that the size of the knife does not scare people. I am concerned that going larger than the Chaparral might do so.

I am looking for comments about how these two CR knives would fit my desires for a quality EDC folder. I would not at all be opposed to being directed away from either or to a different brand.

I haven't made a purchase yet, so I am wide open to suggestions. All help would be appreciated.

Thank,
MP
 
Seems like a Mnandi would work for you while looking great also

cd44d260913ffcfa302bcd37b88ea359.jpg
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Im also a gun nut, I own over 40 rifles, shotguns, handguns, etc, I shoot IPSC/USPSA/IDPA, I can tell you most gun nut friends I have own emersons and zero tolerance (being cqc 7 and 562) the most used, I also like knives a lot, I own about 50, to me, my favorite knife which I think goes really well with my carry Glock 23 is the zero tolerance 562 CF, also love my emersons, but a week ago I bought a large Carbon Fiber 21 Sebenza, and I can tell you, its in a league of its own, beautiful knife, I just ordered the Uz and the 25. They are beautiful knives, but they lack that tactical no non sense an emerson or a zero tolerance gives you. They feel like a glock feels, while the sebenza is a custom STI/Kimber
 
Agreed, Mnandi all the way for "business casual" attire. Hell, the Mnandi will go good with anything.
 
MusProd said:
I know my way around hand guns, but am a near novice regarding knives. I can use some hand holding on a selection, so first let me give you some background and criteria.

I like high end kit. I'll sacrifice numbers for quality. In hand guns I tend toward SIG, and even there it's the P210 Legend Target and X5-L1 "Black and White" for competition and a very few other similar quality pistols. I use what I own... no safe queens
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You're a man after my own heart, you mention two of my favorite hand guns, regarding the choice and based on my experience, I'd probably start with a small sebenza, it is cheaper than the tilock and the quality is superb, I really don't have any small sebenzas but I have handled them and they are the perfect size for EDC, the tilock' blade I think is a little bit bigger than the small sebenza 21 and it is beautiful to behold, it takes a while to get used to because of the lock, I just got one and it is very nice, fits perfectly in my hand and it is the same high quality construction.
Either one would work for your needs, also remember the inkosi, which just came out, for what I have read about it (I don't have one but will eventually) it is pretty much a small 25. If you get a chance, stop by a store where you can handle all of them and then pull the X5 trigger on the one you like, I hope that helps you a little bit. Just be prepared to buy more than one[emoji3]
Good luck.
 
R.palace said:
Seems like a Mnandi would work for you while looking great also

cd44d260913ffcfa302bcd37b88ea359.jpg
f4050682c91cc24813824b96b03f2d4f.jpg
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I agree, I totally forgot the Mnandi even though I don't have one yet, they seem to fit in every situation, and they're beautiful, just look at those pics, very cool. I got to get a camera and learn to shoot like vaporstang!!
 
makariotes said:
I agree, I totally forgot the Mnandi even though I don't have one yet, they seem to fit in every situation, and they're beautiful, just look at those pics, very cool. I got to get a camera and learn to shoot like vaporstang!!
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I know the pics are from Ralph, and they're very cool. Thank you Ralph.
 
The Ti Lock is superb if you want a knife to cut things and be uber-unique in a top shelf quality sort of way. What it is not is a good "worry bead". It does not like to be repetitively opened and closed - soreness will ensue. What it is, is the best blade to handle ratio, cutting angle, and all around grip-able folder I've encountered. All that said, it is NOT the first CRK I would recommend. Your needs as best I can ascertain would be best met with a small micarta insingo.
 
My vote would cater towards a classic Sebenza 21 or WC Umnum. Only other consideration might be towards the SIG Legion series that come with the XM-18 in the same finish. I will say though the CRK is a more casual knife, love both though.

Stole this pic so you can see what I'm talking about. Wish my old WG 226 was that purdy.:grumpy:

Screen-Shot-2015-10-05-at-9.22.22-PM-900x604.png
 
For your first CRK, I would go for the sebenza. There will be plenty of time to later pick up a ti-lock, Mnandi, or some sort of decorated knife!
 
Officer's Match said:
The Ti Lock is superb if you want a knife to cut things and be uber-unique in a top shelf quality sort of way. What it is not is a good "worry bead". It does not like to be repetitively opened and closed - soreness will ensue. What it is, is the best blade to handle ratio, cutting angle, and all around grip-able folder I've encountered. All that said, it is NOT the first CRK I would recommend. Your needs as best I can ascertain would be best met with a small micarta insingo.
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I agree. Small Insingo for certain!!
 
I do think the Mnandi is the less intrusive looking knife and will more than hold up to anything you described. I don't own a Ti-Lock, but that probably looks a lot more intrusive than the Mnandi. As for the micarta, here is a picture alongside a plain Janie small Seb. I have a small Insingo micarta Seb (that Officer's Match mentioned) - but just realized I do not have any pictures of it. I will try and post one later.

IMG_1779 by brw713, on Flickr

And a plain Jane vs Mnandi (vs Large Seb)
20140503_225851 by brw713, on Flickr
 
Welcome to Bladeforums!

Own a few Sigs myself :)

My own preference would be towards a micarta inlay- Large or small, although, large 21 would edge out the small for me due to the size of my hands.
Large Micarta Insingo- Fairly people friendly as the blade isn't "pointy" per se. Good slicing blade..Can pierce, but is limited given the blade shape
Large Micarta 21 (serrated)- Don't think they offer the serrations anymore. Good piercing and slicing ability
Small Micarta 21- Same as large, just smaller- Probably less scary to the general populace
Any of the micarta inlays have superb grip when wet or dry- The ONLY inlays that can be refurbished with a trip to CRK spa

I have been here a long time..Really can't think of a single time where anyone has regretted a Micarta Sebenza as a good first CRK :)


Of course..Dress anything up and it becomes people friendly- Perhaps a large damascus 21

Dang..now I am thinking I need to send in one of my Micarta's to have a damascus blade fitted
 
Ernie1980 said:
For your first CRK, I would go for the sebenza. There will be plenty of time to later pick up a ti-lock, Mnandi, or some sort of decorated knife!
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^^^ This. My first was a small, added a large very shortly after that.
 
Lone_Wolfe said:
^^^ This. My first was a small, added a large very shortly after that.
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I agree. If you like the smaller knives the small Seb will give you a better introduction to CRK knives than the Ti-lock. I love my Ti-lock while not interested in the smalls because for some reason the Ti-lock "feels" bigger. It is sort of a one off CRK, not typical style, but definitely the CRK quality.
 
From the OP

*edited out some stupidity*

Based on the feedback from all here and personal preference, it will be a small Sebenza.

In looking at various online retailers' Web sites, I see that all have the same pricing. While in certain circumstances manufacturers may legally make their retailers abstain from lowering the price, these circumstances are few, and to me (a "Chicago school" economist) the practice stinks even when legal.

This being said, are there particular retailer to patronize or avoid?

Many thanks for all the feedback.

MP
 
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Nothing at all wrong with picking one up on the Exchange here. Lot's of "as new" get traded around, plus the beauty of a CRK (IMHO) is their simplistic durability - they can be brought back to new appearance (and function) quite readily.
 
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