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I wonder if the judges that vote for CRK to win the Blade manufacturing quality award 12 out of the last 13 years "buy" into that tighter tolerance marketing as well?
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PM2 or wait longer and buy a Sebenza?
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I wonder if the judges that vote for CRK to win the Blade manufacturing quality award 12 out of the last 13 years "buy" into that tighter tolerance marketing as well?
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Right? Clearly, those judges are all bought off.
What I'm seeing here is the same sort of thing I see on car boards (I'm a member of more than a few) when you get people attempting to use cheaper products to disparage more expensive products that they can't afford (or can, but just don't understand the quality the extra money is buying). In the end, trying to talk people out of buying a Sebenza because people who do are "drinking the cool-aid", or insinuating that the quality of an item is all "hype"...well, it actually comes off as sour grapes to the tune of "I can't afford a $500 knife, so I'll talk up this $150 knife and claim that it's just as good."
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Ps: this thread feels empty without pics. Feast your eyes on this deliciousness:
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and whatever your wallet can afford.
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After handling quite a few Sebenzas, I've come to the conclusion that they aren't for me. Are they well made? Sure they are; ridiculously so. Do they have some of the best fit and finish of any production knife? Absolutely. But, it just didn't tickle my fancy. The handles didn't feel right and the thumbstuds were difficult for me to use. I'd pick the Para 2 up first and get a chance to handle a Sebenza in the mean time to make the decision whether or not it's for you. Like "they" say, different strokes...
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I never gave advice to NOT get a Sebenza...the OP asked if he should save up for one or get a PM2. My "suggestion" was to split the difference and get a Sage 2 instead of the PM2 for now because, it's sort of a marriage of the two. They're not much more than a PM2 and, he'd be happy with it while he/she continued to save for the Sebenza.
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I consider myself very fortunate to be able to own several Spydercos (including the PM 2,) a couple of CRKs, and several other nice knives. If I was struggling to pay the bills and put food on the table, I wouldn't buy either, to be honest. I'd drop a $10 SAK in my pocket and it would do everything I'd ask of a pocket knife. Nobody needs a PM 2 or a Sebenza, imo.
So for me, it's more about want. Put the price issue aside for a moment and ask yourself which one do you want more. That'll be the one to get. Either way, you'll end up with an excellent folder.
Good luck, OP!
-Brett
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I consider myself very fortunate to be able to own several Spydercos (including the PM 2,) a couple of CRKs, and several other nice knives. If I was struggling to pay the bills and put food on the table, I wouldn't buy either, to be honest. I'd drop a $10 SAK in my pocket and it would do everything I'd ask of a pocket knife. Nobody needs a PM 2 or a Sebenza, imo.
So for me, it's more about want. Put the price issue aside for a moment and ask yourself which one do you want more. That'll be the one to get. Either way, you'll end up with an excellent folder.
Good luck, OP!
-Brett
Words of wisdom. Words of wisdom...
Only you can answer that question, and you may not really be able to answer it until you buy and own both knives.
I don't really like any of the CRK folding knives and have no desire to own one, not to mention them being beyond the amount that I am comfortable spending for EDC gear. I do however have a green Para2 in my EDC rotation and I really like it. I have (or had) some significantly less expensive knives in my EDC rotation and ended up taking them out because I didn't "respect" them or appreciate them because of their low price. So I have a lower price limit and an upper price limit. These price limits will vary from one person to another.
I do notice that nobody that owns a CRK knife really has any criticism of it, and many people consider them fine for EDC.
I consider myself very fortunate to be able to own several Spydercos (including the PM 2,) a couple of CRKs, and several other nice knives. If I was struggling to pay the bills and put food on the table, I wouldn't buy either, to be honest. I'd drop a $10 SAK in my pocket and it would do everything I'd ask of a pocket knife. Nobody needs a PM 2 or a Sebenza, imo.
So for me, it's more about want. Put the price issue aside for a moment and ask yourself which one do you want more. That'll be the one to get. Either way, you'll end up with an excellent folder.
Good luck, OP!
-Brett
This is the best answer!
For what it is worth I will add my 2 cents ....
I have the original 2 options as well as the Sage 2 that became a third option. From personal experience a CRK needs time to grow on you. An initial handling and playing with one for a day or two doesn't let you "get it". I owned my first CRK, a small Regular for months before it clicked. The Insingos clicked more easily for me and I carry both sizes fairly often.
The Para 2 has never really worked for me. The pointy tip I perceive to be delicate but probably isn't if you handle it with respect. I would have preferred not to have the finger choil (once again very subjective) since the handle is big enough. It is a well built and very capable knife and deserves the following it has - it just isn't my "go to" knife.
Sage 2 - once again a well built knife but I found, like other above have mentioned, it is huge in your pocket. Again, for me, same issue with the choil as the Para 2.
Even tough it has the choil, I find my Caly 3.5 as part of my rotation way ahead of either the Sage or Para. Folded it is the size of a Delica with a 3.5 inch blade. Just thought I'd muddy the water a bit more.
I don'y have the steel knowledge or use my knives hard enough to comment on S30V vs S35VN and CRK heat treat vs Spyderco heat treat - both work fine for me. I haven't had rolling issues with my CRKs or chipping in my Spydercos - the average user isn't going to be able to tell the difference unless he goes out trying to roll or chip the blades.
And as someone said, we need more pictures ....
agreed.
I didn't read every post but enough to know that both have a devout following. I EDC a Small Regular Sebenza Pheasant Tail. It was a large financial purchase when I bought it but I have never once regretted the purchase. I wanted one for a long time and tried many other folders thinking one would satisfy my desire. I knew it was right for me from the first instant and it has probably saved me money by ending my quest for the perfect folder. If you really want the Sebenza my answer is yes it is worth a wait and the extra money. I would look at the secondary market where I have seen them with no wait and more affordable price tag.
That's the truth.
No... I sold my smaller Sebenza seven years ago and not one day goes by that I regret it!
I carry either a Para2, Manix 2 C.F. S90V or a Benchmade 710 M2HS and I'm very satisfied.
It blows me away how folks talk about the 'cutting power and the strength of the Sebenza' and about the only thing the Sebenza and other 'grail' knives have cut is an occasional piece of paper!
These 'pocket queens' see very little real world action!
So many Sebenzas I see on this forum have never been used!
Personally I think a Sebenza is one of the finest knives made.
But if you add up what I paid for my three Excellent knives... it's less than the cost of a Sebenza 25.
And I'll take my combo of my three knives over a Sebenza... ANY DAY!
Get a Para2 in 30V, save yourself good money , use it and enjoy!
Unless you want a 'pocket queen' for the sake of bragging rights.
It all comes down to a financial decision. Do you have the money without going broke? Now that I think about it, I don't think I could buy a Sebenza just for the fact that I'd be afraid of losing it when hiking, backpacking, anywhere. I remember losing a $20 golf hat about 7 years ago and I still miss that damn hat. 
If you have money to burn go for it.
If you have money to burn go for it.
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What is a pocket queen?
I have many different knives and many cost less than my Sebenza. It doesn't diminish them to me that they cost less. I do carry and use my Sebenza most of the time along with a slip joint but that doesn't mean I don't like my other knives. I like knives, period! Do I need a Sebenza? No one needs expensive knives. We get them because we love knives. If the OP wants a Sebenza he will get it eventually. That said he may be underwhelmed. Not everyone gets it, but I do. I payed $379 new for my large 21 and I really held off for a long time getting cheaper folders but when I finally bit the bullet my folder buying slowed down dramatically. I have been concentrating more on slip joints. Well I've said too much already.
I have many different knives and many cost less than my Sebenza. It doesn't diminish them to me that they cost less. I do carry and use my Sebenza most of the time along with a slip joint but that doesn't mean I don't like my other knives. I like knives, period! Do I need a Sebenza? No one needs expensive knives. We get them because we love knives. If the OP wants a Sebenza he will get it eventually. That said he may be underwhelmed. Not everyone gets it, but I do. I payed $379 new for my large 21 and I really held off for a long time getting cheaper folders but when I finally bit the bullet my folder buying slowed down dramatically. I have been concentrating more on slip joints. Well I've said too much already.