putting the "sebenza" to "work"

O

Old Painless

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Apr 10, 2006
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Been thinking about saving up for a sebenza to be my edc.
But after I spend that kind of money, I know I am going to feel hesitant to use it. My question is, how hard do you use your sebenzas? What are your boundaries and limitations with it? I wouldn't bang away on any of my folders by batoning fire wood or anything, but at the same time, I don't want a $400 letter opener either.
Thoughts?
 
The sebenza will do anything a proper knife will do, and well.
This does not include opening paint tins or scraping concrete drains.
Greg
 
If you DON'T use it, it's a 400$ paper weight! Now THAT'S expensive.

I use if for everything from cutting plastic pots from plants in the garden, to sharpening pencils, making stakes and all other regular knife things.
 
Just use your Seb for common-sense knife utilities. There is way too much knife abuse going on. The Sebenza "could" be your last folder.
 
I felt the same way about my sebenza ,then I got it and I can't imagine another knife that I would have as an EDC, But I also carry a leatherman for NASTY cutting jobs, so just don't cut concrete with the sebenza use your back up.
 
I am waiting on my Sebenza which is tagged for EDC use. However I have other expensive, high end tools both knife and automotive. My feelings are that a large part of the joy of owning them is using them. If you want something nice to look at, you can find something cheap that doesn't perform. :):thumbup:
 
My suggestion is buy a used one for less moeny, that will help.

Second suggestion is to use it as much as possible, that way you'll get your money's worth.
 
I've been remodeling my house for over a year now (when WILL this project end, anyway? :rolleyes: ), and my sebbie has been a constant companion throughout the project. I've used it for everything from cutting open packaging, to scouring sheet rock, to stripping insulation from wire, to trimming back holes in studs that aren't quite big enough, to cutting rolled insulation to size, to knocking old termite tunnels out of the walls, to, well, to ever gnarly, ugly cutting problem that you can imagine once you start tearing a house apart and then putting it back together again.

Yes there are other cutting tools that would be better for a lot of those things, but sometimes when you're deep into it, you just use what's handiest. Quite often, that was my sebbie.

Upshot is, don't be afraid to use these knives. After all, once I get all done with this house (soon now, very soon), I'll send my sebbie back to CRK and get them to make it almost like factory new.

You really can't do better with any other folder in the industry, you know.

The only problem with sebbies is once you own one, you start lusting after number 2.... :D
 
Well said, my good man. :)

Think of the Sebenza as an inexpensive custom folder (though it's considered semi-production). While an $800+ Tom Mayo could probably be used on a daily basis to deburr drill holes in steel, would you use it for that?

I trust my Sebenza as much or more that a comparably-sized fixed blade, and as such, have used it for everything from carving oak to cleaning fish, and then some. You won't be disappointed.

After all, if you're into folding knives, you owe it to yourself to have what many consider the best. I plan to give my 7-year-old Son a small Sebenza just like mine when he goes off to school (hopefully he will, anyway!), but more than likely he'll inherit my old small Seb beater when I'm gone, which I'm guessing will still be cutting just fine. Just my .02.

Professor.
 
Lycosa said:
Just use your Seb for common-sense knife utilities. There is way too much knife abuse going on. The Sebenza "could" be your last folder.
Click to expand...

i must say "should" instead of "could", it will last forever if used as a knife, but if used incorrectly well, a smart man once said " A knife is the most expensive screwdriver or pry bar you will ever use, on the same token its also the least effective" or something to that effect
 
It's impossible to fully appreciate a Sebenza unless you use it a LOT. Real life performance is where they shine. You also need to take it apart and put it back together a few times to get the full picture.

As long as you don't use it as a screwdriver, pry par, or sidewalk scraper, it will outlast you. The limits I've placed on using a Sebenza are simply common sense for most any knife.

As for scratch marks and other signs of use, keep in mind CRK will refurbish any of its knives to look like new for a nominal fee.

Here's three years worth of scratches on my most-used Sebbie:

IMG_0127.jpg


It's in the shop right now.
 
Hmm, lots of good thoughts here.
I think I have a pretty good idea of what constitutes good use versus ab-use, but that's based on my experience with folders that I am not quite so "worried" about. I felt that suspicion was confirmed when I read the few replies here that mentioned carrying back-ups. My thought is, If I am going to carry two folders -- one for looks and gentle-use, the other for more serious knife work -- then I would just carry the backup only which could ostensibly handle both lighter as well as harder uses.
But then I am encouraged to read others of you who don't seem to carry a back-up and use the sebbie for all the tasks I would use any back-up for anyway. If that's the case, it is worth investing in a life-long EDC I think. :thumbup:
 
Even if you really screw up the blade of your Sebenza you can have it replace by CR. I think the cost is close to the street price of a good Benchmade.
I find that comforting even though I'm pretty careful with all of my knives.
 
If it's a cutting job for a 3" blade, then I use my EDC Sebbie. I've carried a small regular Sebbie since Dec 22 and used it for everything that I used to do with my Buck 112 or my Spyderco D4. That includes warehouse work, home chores, hiking with my dogs... whatever. If it's a job for a 3" blade, my Sebbie does it.

I've used every part of my Leatherman Charge EXCEPT the blade. If it's a cutting job, my Sebbie does it. I sometimes carry a larger knife for bigger jobs, but if the small Sebbie can do it, that's the one I use.
 
I find the large Sebenza, either Classic or Regular, a really nice size for lots of the cutting chores in the yard. Now and then I'll use a BM710 or BM806 for the same chores but that little extra blade length I find gets in the way more than it helps. I also find the frame lock more natural than the AXIS. Although, both locks are outstanding.

Rich
 
dalefuller said:
If it's a cutting job for a 3" blade, then I use my EDC Sebbie. I've carried a small regular Sebbie since Dec 22 and used it for everything that I used to do with my Buck 112 or my Spyderco D4. That includes warehouse work, home chores, hiking with my dogs... whatever. If it's a job for a 3" blade, my Sebbie does it.

I've used every part of my Leatherman Charge EXCEPT the blade. If it's a cutting job, my Sebbie does it. I sometimes carry a larger knife for bigger jobs, but if the small Sebbie can do it, that's the one I use.
Click to expand...

Yep, the small Sebenza works just fine, too.
 
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