Sebenza 1st timer- for anyone else thinking about it here were some surprises

There's really nothing new to say here--if you appreciate something and have the funds to acquire it, then the price is worth it to you. If not, then don't buy it or move on. Once you own more than a few different pieces, knife ownership becomes a hobby more than just having a few useful tools. There's really no convincing someone that a particular knife is or is not worth the cost to acquire, or getting someone to dislike or like something they do or don't.

I've got $35 drawer queens and work users that cost up into the high-hundreds. I tend to carry the "higher-end" pieces as I enjoy handling and using them. Some of those get used more lightly and some bear the marks and scars of harder service.

I gave my Vermont neighbor a like-new Buck Duke a while back as he'd done us several kindnesses. I asked him later if it needed sharpening. He told me he'd seen the price somewhere and no way was he gonna carry such an expensive knife. $54 at the Buck website. YMMV.
 
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I saved for a long time to get my one and only Sebenza, and I'm glad I did. My fund got depleted and rebuilt many times before I was comfortable finally getting it. I have bigger hands and still got a small figuring it would be more versatile which has been pretty accurate for me. I, personally, never thought it was too nice to use and I do just that. I think the simplicity is part of the allure and that's fine with me.

People getting bent because they think it isn't worth it for this reason or that reason is pretty wild to me. I can't stand purple anodized, nightmare grind, ball bearing flippers...but you wouldn't know it because I don't normally talk about all the things I DON'T like. Seems like a waste of time, but I reckon that's just me....
 
...and just to be on topic re the OP's queries and remarks...

I always found the the small Sebenza to be, well, too small. I believe the small Inkosi is even smaller. All my CRKs--21's, 25, Inkosi's, and 'Zaan (of course)--are larges with a Mnandi thrown in for good measure.

If the OP wants to hang onto the knife as a collectible because he likes it and wants to keep it nice that's all well and good, but holding knives as appreciating investments is a crap-shoot. Of course if you don't pay a premium price for a CRK to start with you won't suffer a major loss either.

I never knew there was any issue with CRK thumb studs until I read about it. They always seemed fine to me.

And just because it was mentioned here somewhere, I never thought the Sebenza clip bearing fully on the lockbar was an issue. I prefer the way it looks with parallel alignment and figured CRK took that increased pressure into account when setting the lockbar tension. I really don't have an issue with the change either as it's still the best clip around IMHO.
 
I think most people buying their first CRK (Sebby or any model) they are expecting the be all- end all knife because of all the hype. When you open the box and see a normal, yet well built knife, it stings a little. That’s when you start knit picking.
 
Im just amazed that double thumb lugs are still not standard after all these years.Its my only negative; the wilson combat models seem to be the only models that get them.
 
I really like my large 21 Insingo and its blade shape. I like how the blade stays sharp and how the blade shape cuts and is easy to sharpen. The thump studs work good but not great. But, I like how flippers open! Lol
 
ChazzyP said:
There's really nothing new to say here--if you appreciate something and have the funds to acquire it, then the price is worth it to you. If not, then don't buy it or move on. Once you own more than a few different pieces, knife ownership becomes a hobby more than just having a few useful tools. There's really no convincing someone that a particular knife is or is not worth the cost to acquire, or getting someone to dislike or like something they do or don't.

I've got $35 drawer queens and work users that cost up into the high-hundreds. I tend to carry the "higher-end" pieces as I enjoy handling and using them. Some of those get used more lightly and some bear the marks and scars of harder service.

I gave my Vermont neighbor a like-new Buck Duke a while back as he'd done us several kindnesses. I asked him later if it needed sharpening. He told me he'd seen the price somewhere and no way was he gonna carry such an expensive knife. $54 at the Buck website. YMMV.
Click to expand...

You live in my kind of neighborhood!
 
ChazzyP said:
I never knew there was any issue with CRK thumb studs until I read about it. They always seemed fine to me.
Click to expand...

Me neither.

I just could not understand all the complaints about it untill I figured out that the guys complaining probably was placing their thumb ON the stud instead of BEHIND it.

So you could actually say that it's a user error, not a legit complaint.
 
I have ALMOST bought a large CRK Inkosi dozens of times on line. I had a huge crush on an Inkosi for years. Finally handled one in person, and was like........all this money for two pieces of titanium, and a piece of S35? Nah. Easy pass. Just couldn't do it. Especially now that they are Chris Reeve's Ex Wife's Knives. Now.....with all that said sell that same knife for under $200 bucks, and I'm in.
 
I didn't check this much after the first week- but I know how to use a thumbstud, thank you very much. Putting my thumb in the "wrong" place. sheesh. It's not a bad knife, but like has been said a thousand times before it's hyped. Overpriced.
There is no reason to spend 3X as much on a Sebenza as a comparable Spyderco. After putting it down and picking it up 2 months later I am certain it's going up for sale soon. The guys that collect these demand rather pristine specimens which defeats the purpose of me owning a knife. No sense in me using it and making it worth $100 less. My safe is for guns, not knives.
 
The snail trails from drawer storage on my unused Knife Arts CF Insingo horrified one guy who was looking to buy.
 
the original inspiration for the Sebenza was a hard use knife that can be easily serviced. Chris Reeve did not envision designing a safe queen that appreciates in value

at the time of its release it was an overbuilt folder that you can use in unpleasant places (ocean, mud, sand etc) that won’t fail during use and that can easily be disassembled, cleaned, reassembled, and used the next day by the owner. Thick one piece Ti ergonomic handles, a revolutionary lock that was more stable than a linerlock and can be operated single handedly, a thick, sharp blade and a tool that was backed by a company that can service and/or repair the knife for as long as you owned it.

2 pieces of strong, lightweight titanium, a blade, a few screws and a washer. That’s it. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

BTW the thumbstud was designed to be used with gloves on


It still serves this purpose. Perhaps better than any other hard use folder


Yes..you can use a SPYDERCO or Cold Steel or Benchmade or “fill in the blank” but try using those knives under harsh conditions and trying to clean & reassemble them.

Sebenzas are not made for collectors. They are made for users. Hard users

Ok. My 2 cents are up
 
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I agree that was the original intent- but you can't call a knife with a cabochon and easily scratched graphics a hard user. I shouldn't be adding fuel to this, it's none of my business what people do, but it's to the point now where every Joe Schmo is selling their version of a folder in S35VN for northwards of $350, and I have no idea if that's barely scraping by or making a killing.
I guess it is just weird to me that a pointy tool commands so much more than say a screwdriver. .... Oh wait a sec I take that back, just got sent me an email for a $120 screwdriver:https://www.gpknives.com/scout-leat...inum.html?mc_cid=e1ce88617e&mc_eid=3e2343e17e
And don;='t you dare call this dealspotting, this is dealLOLing. : )
 
I was the exact opposite. I even owned two Inkosi cuz I didn't want to fall for the Sebbie "hype". Then I picked up a good Seb user. Now...the Inkosi is gone, I'm three deep in Sebbies & working on a fourth. F...me...really.

Edit: 4th one on the way. :rolleyes:
 
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Lol, I received that email for the Screwdriver too, I even had thought to buy it until I saw the price...
 
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