Sebenza 21 or Umnumzaan?

kawr

kawr

Joined
Jun 22, 2010
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I'm about to pull the trigger on either a Large Sebenza 21 or an Umnumzaan. I'm pretty torn on which one to get. This will be my first CRK and be used for edc purposes so I guess my question is which would be better for my purposes. Dont want to make this a Umnumzaan vs Sebenza thread since I think both are great knives.
 
kawr said:
I'm about to pull the trigger on either a Large Sebenza 21 or an Umnumzaan. I'm pretty torn on which one to get. This will be my first CRK and be used for edc purposes so I guess my question is which would be better for my purposes. Dont want to make this a Umnumzaan vs Sebenza thread since I think both are great knives.
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Wilson Tactical StarTac Umnumzaan Like The One I Got This Morning

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I was waiting for Rickster to post that. Hahahahaha. Nice knife.
Anyway, I am partial to the Large 21. I find it much easier to open and close and is a timeless knife. Your first should be a Sebenza because believe me when I tell you it will NOT be your last CRK.
 
For your first one I say go for the sebenza, the umnum is better from a strictly utilitarian point of view but the sebbie is more simplistic and comfortable for EDC use and it's action
just feels more tight and crisp if that makes sense.

BTW: I like that new one you bought Rickster! looks awesome.
 
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I've had both and for all around EDC I would suggest the Sebenza. For me it was just a bit better than the Umnum for EDC, not that the Umnum is bad its just that the Sebenza is that great.

Also for your first CRK I think it should always be a Sebenza.
 
I got a Sebenza first, and an Umnumzaan after, then more Sebenzas. :D

You won't stop with one. I recommend the Umnumzaan though. It's an excellent knife. Afterwards you can really dig in and select from the range of Sebenza variations that are available to you.
 
Overall the sebenza is my favorite, but lately i have been carrying my umnum more and i have to say it is really awesome. It's also a little bit newer to me, which obviously makes it more fun, but it's definitely close. I agree with some of the gentleman above though that the sebenza's simplistic design and slightly thinner blade makes it much much more practical for my EDC purposes.

What type of cutting do you think you'll be doing mostly?
 
chadridv said:
Overall the sebenza is my favorite, but lately i have been carrying my umnum more and i have to say it is really awesome. It's also a little bit newer to me, which obviously makes it more fun, but it's definitely close. I agree with some of the gentleman above though that the sebenza's simplistic design and slightly thinner blade makes it much much more practical for my EDC purposes.

What type of cutting do you think you'll be doing mostly?
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Mostly be used for edc cutting tasks and some outdoor/camping use as well.

I've been wondering how fragile is the tip on the sebenza? From pictures and what I've read it's supposed to be a very fine and needle like point. I definitly wont be prying with the tip or anything like that but I will be using whichever knife I get thoroughly and I dont want to worry about the tip crapping out on me. Anyway thanks to everyone for their input.
 
kawr said:
Mostly be used for edc cutting tasks and some outdoor/camping use as well.

I've been wondering how fragile is the tip on the sebenza? From pictures and what I've read it's supposed to be a very fine and needle like point. I definitly wont be prying with the tip or anything like that but I will be using whichever knife I get thoroughly and I dont want to worry about the tip crapping out on me. Anyway thanks to everyone for their input.
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The tip is probably more robust then a needle tip like say the Military. I wouldn't pry much with any knife, but honestly it doesn't look flimsy. See the thread about the guy who managed to straighten the tip of his Umnumzaan out without breaking it.
 
kawr said:
Mostly be used for edc cutting tasks and some outdoor/camping use as well.

I've been wondering how fragile is the tip on the sebenza? From pictures and what I've read it's supposed to be a very fine and needle like point. I definitly wont be prying with the tip or anything like that but I will be using whichever knife I get thoroughly and I dont want to worry about the tip crapping out on me. Anyway thanks to everyone for their input.
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I really think you'll be fine with either, but it's tough man. obviously you know that or you won't have start the thread. really though when it comes down to it, i think owning both really makes you appreciate the other.

as for the tips, i'd be pretty confident in either... but worse case scenario you can send it into CRK to get fixed if anything ever happens.

since you mention the tip concern, it seems as if you want the tougher of the two, which although the sebenza is tough as nails the umnums blade is thicker which might be the deciding factor!
 
I'd go for the 21. Lighter weight makes the 21 perfect for most of what I need a knife for.
 
I wanted to make sure the tip on the Sebenza would stand up to normal hard use. Not really looking for the toughest folder just one that can function as a good edc and handle hard use outdoors/camping. I guess I'll go with the Sebenza since like people have said it's lighter and more suited for edc and I'm really looking foward to not having to spend ridiculous amounts of time perfectly adjusting the pivot tension and loctiting. I'm anal and it takes me a long time to adjust the pivot perfectly on all my other knives :P. It's going to be a long wait till I can get the Umnumzaan down the road :mad:
 
If you want a camp knife then you need to look into a good quality fixed blade. I prefer ESSE or Bark River. I have never used any of CRK fixed blades but it is tough to beat an ESSE for a survival/camp/beater. Especially for the money.
 
I have both a Umnumzaan and a large Classic. I do carry the Umnumzaan more because of the way fits my hand but the Sebenza is just so basic and easy to take care of. That being said I would recommend the Sebenza for your first. You may find that you end up with more anyway.

Here's the ones that I EDC on a regular basis. As you can see, based on all the scuffs, that they do get used.

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kawr said:
I wanted to make sure the tip on the Sebenza would stand up to normal hard use. Not really looking for the toughest folder just one that can function as a good edc and handle hard use outdoors/camping. I guess I'll go with the Sebenza since like people have said it's lighter and more suited for edc and I'm really looking foward to not having to spend ridiculous amounts of time perfectly adjusting the pivot tension and loctiting. I'm anal and it takes me a long time to adjust the pivot perfectly on all my other knives :P. It's going to be a long wait till I can get the Umnumzaan down the road :mad:
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you make an excellent point in here that the post right before mine makes as well. It's funny I didn't mention this earlier on, but it's one of my favorite aspects of the sebenza. Care and maintaince!! It's unbelievable easy to maintain a sebenza. I even find it relaxing and fun to take it down and clean it.

Actually the umnum is pretty simple too, but there's no better designed knife than the sebenza, IMO.

You're not looking for a lefty by any chance are you?
 
Get the Sebenza. It is more user friendly and carries better than the umnum due to its light weight and smooth handle. It is the definition of form following function. As much as I like the umnum, it doesn't quite live up to that credo, IMO.
 
sebbie is more simplistic and comfortable for EDC use and it's action
just feels more tight and crisp if that makes sense.
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Nope, it makes no sense. I find that the pivit action on the Umnum is smoother, and lock up is tighter. The Umnum is a bigger knife, very robust, I have beat the hell out of mine. along with being a bigger knife the Umnum may scare the sheeple more than a large Sebi.

The Large Sebi is a very nice knife, kind of the Rolex of knives. I EDC'd one for years. Never had any issiue with it. I just prefer the beefier Umnum. YMMV.
 
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