pro's and con's of the Sebenza?

What Joe said. Lots of good, great lock, marvelous precision in the production quality, excellent cutting edge.

Bad: slab handle construction does not provide comfortable distribution of force during hard cutting, making the handle less comfortable than say a Benchmade 700 series or a REKAT Pioneer. Bead blasted Ti marks up easily. I find the blade on the big Benza too wide for a lot of small utility chores, but that's just my use profile.
 
Handle comfort is a very individual thing. I like my large sebenza (and my small), and find it perfectly comfortable compared to other large folders I own. Maybe not the most comfortable of them, but close enough.

Personally, the only downside of the Seb that I can relate to is the price. True it isn't a pretty knife, but as some have pointed out, form follows function, and functionally this knife is a superb example of the aesthetics of engineering simplicity.

As for the thumb stud, I have to agree with many that functionally, nothing beats the spyderco round hole, but given that a knife maker doesn't feel like paying spyderco a royalty for every knife they sell, I can understand their desire to use other methods. I too thought the cone-shaped stud on the Seb. might be uncomfortable, but it hasn't been at all, I've had no problem with it.

I am curious about the user who found a problem with the stud catching on pants as the knife is withdrawn... I don't quite understand this... I'm right handed, the knife is right handed, and they ride on my right side. That means the thumb stud is on the inside, pointed towards my shirt, or into the pocket, not the outside. I've never had a problem with the stud catching on anything, but I guess I don't understand how it is being carried in that user's case.

You'll enjoy your knife...
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">I am curious about the user who found a problem with the stud catching on pants as the knife is withdrawn... I don't quite understand this... I'm right handed, the knife is right handed, and they ride on my right side. That means the thumb stud is on the inside, pointed towards my shirt, or into the pocket, not the outside. I've never had a problem with the stud catching on anything, but I guess I don't understand how it is being carried in that user's case.</font>
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I carried it clipped to my right front pocket, against the back seam

Here is a thread from KFC that goes into detail about my Sebenza's problems. At least four other people posted that they had identical problems with their knives. One was cut badly enough to require stitches.

http://www.knifeforums.com/ubb/Forum25/HTML/000052.html

While most people haven't experienced the same problems, I stand by my opinion that the combination of a tip-up configuration, a "catchy" thumb stud, and a ball detent is not the safest way to carry a pocket knife.

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Kelly
My Custom Knife Collection

Member NCCKG, SCAK, and AKTI

Deo Vindice
 
I'm curious about the statements about 'form follows function'. This idea is being used to justify an aesthetically displeasing shape, and imply that a truly functional folding knife Must be ugly. I think this is wrong thinking. Line and form have a great deal to do with function. Some of the most pleasing And functional knife designs are simple, elegant, And beautiful.

If some attention was paid to the sebbies handle ergonomics, I am sure I would find it a more pleasing shape. The sebenza is a simple, utilitarian design. But I do not think it Has to be ugly. It is very simple, strong, and probably relatively easy to manufacture. It certainly is a better looking knife than some other keep it simple stupid designs. But adding some curves to the Sebenza's handle might make it even more functional, as well as prettier.

My main objection to the sebenza is its price. It seems way out of line for a production knife, no matter how good the quality control. Obviously some folks disagree
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Paracelsus
 
I think it has been said before, but the Glock is the Sebenza of the Gun world. UGLY but works. Like G2, I have a gaggle (I think that is the proper term) of Sebenzas, alwys seem to go back to the Sebbie over time.

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"Life's tough, it's tougher if you're stupid."
copfish@aol.com
 
i know the sebenzas are awesome, but i wonder if anyone knows how the benchmade pinnacle holds up against it?
 
When people start talking about production knives, I wonder if they are imagining that Sebenzas roll off assembly lines like automobiles? I've always found the term "production knife" a fuzzy term, just like the term "handmade knife".

BTW, I guess I'm one of the few that does not see the Sebenza as an ugly knife. I find great beauty in it's simplicity and often think some overly curvaceous knives as just too gaudy. Guess that's just me.

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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
Nope, I agree with you. Simplicity in engineering along with a close match between form and function appeals to me aesthetically too.
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Paracelsus:
I'm curious about the statements about 'form follows function'. This idea is being used to justify an aesthetically displeasing shape, and imply that a truly functional folding knife Must be ugly. I think this is wrong thinking. Line and form have a great deal to do with function. Some of the most pleasing And functional knife designs are simple, elegant, And beautiful.</font>
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That's just what makes Sebenza beautiful. It's not ugly!!
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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Paracelsus:
If some attention was paid to the sebbies handle ergonomics, I am sure I would find it a more pleasing shape. [...] It certainly is a better looking knife than some other keep it simple stupid designs. But adding some curves to the Sebenza's handle might make it even more functional, as well as prettier.</font>
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More functional, or perhaps a bit better ergonomics - but certainly not prettier! (And it's ergonomic enough
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) Quite the contrary. It would then look just like any other folder with some curves here and there. Just look at the cutout for the dual thump stud. There is no other plane/curve like that anywhere else on the knife. Not even at the original thump stud. Maybe more functional, but doesn't belong to the design of the knife. Breaks the flow of the lines, and looks like it was added later on (as it of course is) and thus reveals that the original design didn't have it there. You can not mess with Sebenza, you'll have to create something completely new.

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Paracelsus:
My main objection to the sebenza is its price. It seems way out of line for a production knife, no matter how good the quality control. Obviously some folks disagree
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</font>
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I don't. It's the only objection that I have. Specially after the last price increase (and dare I say now... the pri... no I don't - I'll get missunderstod and attacked again
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)

Hugo.

 
Hmmm, ugly, heavy, hollow ground, uncomfortable handle, stiff action ... you talked me right out of a Sebenza. My Speedtech, on the other hand, is beautiful, good weight, flat ground, very comfortable contoured handle, smooth. The only thing I don't like about it is that I used it so much the blade got all scratched.

I am one happy nonSebenza owning guy. I wonder why there are so many sebbies in the FSBO forum and so few SpeedTechs?

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Ouch! Dang, that's sharp!

David

[This message has been edited by Mr. Dave (edited 01-26-2001).]
 
Got my Sebenza. Fit and finish are excellent. It isn't uncomfortable, but it isn't really comfortable either. Obviously they sell at the current price, but personally I think they are about $100 too much. The quality of production knives has improved so much that other quality knives are available for less. I don't want to take anything away from the Sebenza. It is a nice knife.

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Dennis Bible

mylogosmall.gif
 
It's all going to come down to whether YOU like it or not, and whether or not YOU think you got YOUR money's worth. There are going to be people on this forum who like your decision, and some who think you could have done better. But in the end, only YOU can decide if it was a good purchase.

I'm with Paracelsus on this one, though. I think the price of the Sebbie is high enough that I will spend the cash on a custom knife. But that's me. UW MItch likes the fact that it is a knife he doesn't feel guilty USING. Heck, I say that about all my customs; I use them faithfully. You mentioned that you think that the price is about $100 too much. I have never said that about any of my custom purchases. If you order a Sebbie, you pretty much gotta take it like it comes. Not so with a custom order.

Here is a definite upside to your purchase. If you end up not liking it, you will have no problem whatsoever selling it around here. ('Course you can say that about alot of customs too.)
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Ugly? Totally subjective, depending on who looks at it. And YOU are gonna do most of the looking, my friend.
 
I agree. I like it but would purchase a custom before I would pay $345 for one. Everyone is different though, that's just my take on it.

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Dennis Bible

mylogosmall.gif
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by shootist16:
Got my Sebenza. Fit and finish are excellent. Obviously they sell at the current price, but personally I think they are about $100 too much.

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Yeah, that's how I feel as well. Another member poised the question awhile back: Take an LCC in one hand, and a Sebenza in the other, and try to justify the difference in price based on finished quality. I did just that with my LCC, and found that it is a valid point- especially when you figure in the difference in price. My small Apogee cost the same as a Sebenza, and I'm freakishly attached to that knife, the way I used to be with my Sebenza three years ago.

I still love my Sebenza, as I do all my knives- but I'd feel a lot stronger about it if it cost me $245 vs. $345.

But, hey, that's a personal thing- to each his own, right?

Firebat

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Name's Ash......Housewares.

[This message has been edited by Firebat (edited 01-27-2001).]
 
I finally found a Sebenza to replace the one I sold about 9 months ago! Can't wait as this one is a Classic version.

Lotsa talk about the Production versus Custom part and I had the opportunity to stop and tour CRK when I was driving through Idaho last year. No previous notice, I just stopped by thinking perhaps I'd get a chance to peek at a knife or two and maybe see the huge one piece that I had seen pics of here and it was just off the highway so even if they didn't have 10 minutes to spare I was going to be no worse for wear. Anyway, I walk in and got to see a couple knives and asked if they did tours or if there was a chance to look around and they told me to hang on as I was looking at some blades and then Scott came in and introduced himself and began the tour. He was a really cool guy and took us to each and every nook and cranny of the place explaining in perfect detail how all the machinery worked and especially the anodizing part. Complete patience with any questions and all in all the tour lasted over an hour! He was a fantastic resource for information and I felt as if I was being taken through a buddies home rather than a business of some kind. The people working there were really nice and each looked happy and content and had the time for a smile and to say "Hi" or add anything to the info given (not at all like some Production Factories I've seen though I've yet to be through a large knife plant) and I hardly think you can call the atmosphere that of a Production Knife Factory. I was absolutely amazed at the courtesy and kindness displayed there! I don't know how many people work there but what I saw was less than 10.

The point being, I'm sure you could get the price on the Sebenza down if they sold out to a large corporation with great marketing teams already on staff and replaced the people working there and supporting their family while being happy, content, and challenged with their job with minimum wage earning 18 year old idjits burning enough time and doing a crappy job just to earn enough for their next six pack or packet of date rape pills but to me that is what has contributed to the brutal destruction in this world already! If I pay $100 more to help maintain what I experienced and saw in those people's eyes at CRK then I feel like I'm contributing to the type of life that MORE people should enjoy here in the US and don't feel I should slam someone who refuses to 'sell-out' in order to please people who are in essence already paying $244 too much for any knife as a $1 razor will do the job fine!
I'm sure that buying Customs is the same thing in that you are supporting that Maker and his family but the way I see CRK is no different. They simply have a little bigger family.

Just my 2 cents worth!
Shawn
 
Pros:

BG42 steel
High hollow grind
Strong lock
Titanium handle
Precision built
Owners

Cons:

Tip up carry

No "backstrap"- coins or other debris can come in on that side and damage edge

Must put hand in front of blade while closing, unlike other designs such as Axis lock

First two are only things keeping me from buying one.

Danny
 
Chris built the sebenza without a backstrap for a reason.....Its BETTER that way. He could have done it the other way but he chose not to. I think the beauty of the sebenza is its simplicity. end of story.
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http://www.mayoknives.com
John 1:14
 
Shawn--I agree 100%.Also your post was the most interesting and well written post i have read in a long time.I felt i was on the tour too!
Sky


 
Very well said Shawn. The folks I have met from CRK are fantastic.

No matter how they are made, high quality knives do not come cheap and the Sebenza qualifies easily along those lines.

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" Life is too short to carry an ugly knife." Calvin Cooledge.

[This message has been edited by Gus Kalanzis (edited 01-28-2001).]
 
Hi Tom,

It would seem that a lot of people agree with you about the open back being better. I understand that it gives a lot of room for debris to fall out as well as fall in. I prefer a closed back. I feel it looks better and is more practical for what I would use it for. As far as Chris making it that way, only because he prefers it, I disagree. He told me that because of the design it has to be an open back. This was in response to my request for a closed back Sebenza. Thanks for your input. The more people who weigh in, the more we learn.

Danny
 
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