I've been using a Sebenza 25 with Micarta inlay on and off for a few weeks, it's my first Sebenza. Overall, I love it, and no longer have much of an urge to use most of my other knives. I wanted to try a 21, to see which is better for me, so I ordered a serrated Sebenza 21 with micarta inlay. I can't decide which I like more.
The handle of the 25 is smaller around, it's a bit narrower. The finger notch is cool, and although it's way smaller than my middle finger, it does a great job of locating and centering the knife to my hand. The model 21's handle is wider, and is far more comfortable for me.
The 25 has perfect balance while the 21 is a bit handle heavy.
The lock and detent of the 21 feel like other high end framelocks from ZT, Hinderer, Benchmade, Strider, or whoever. The detent is secure, but not overly so. The 25 uses the much bigger ceramic ball for it's detent, and both locks open and closed much more solidly. The model 25 is, by far, the strongest and most stable lock I've ever experienced. It must be tried to be believed. My 25's thumb lugs hurt me when I open and close it several times, and I don't have weak, dainty hands (I crush over 200 lbs on my Captains of Crush grip trainers and my fingers are made of callouses). The detent of the 25 is very strong, and sucks the blade shut from farther out because of the size of the ceramic ball.
The pivot of the 21 is way smoother and slicker than the 25, even though the 21 is a day old and the 25 several weeks. The 21's blade glides open, while the 25 has much more of a bank vault door opening feel.
The jimping on the 21 is normal, and perfect. The jimping on the 25 is odd, different diameter cuts, with a big divot at the end. I really don't get the jimping on the 25.
The shallow hollow grind of the model 21 does not cut any better than the deeper hollow grind of the 25. Good hollow grinds cut very well, bad hollow grinds don't, just like any other grind. I don't think CRK is capable of putting a bad grind on a knife, so with the Sebenzas it's a non issue. Both blades are thick at the spine and thin at the cutting edge, I'm not worried about either breaking or being poor cutters.
My 21 is serrated, my 25 is not. The Sebenza has the unique CRK style serrations cut from both sides. They are amazing, making straight cuts (because the serrations are on both sides of the blade) that absolutely zip right through anything that a plain edge won't. They are far superior to a plain edge for a great many commonly encountered materials, and the only downside is that it is harder to carve with the serrated portion of the blade. I don't carve much so it's a non-issue for me.
I don't like lanyards on either, but the 21's lanyard was especially annoying because the pin rattled around in the holes.
If you have big hands, I'd recommend the 21. If you like a detent that is easier to disengage, I'd recommend the 21. If you want a strong detent that hurts your fingers, feels like a bank vault locking when opened, and absolutely will not let your blade open unless you do it intentionally, get the 25. If you want a crazy strong lock that "clunk"s open, get the 21. If you want a lock that is just like many other quality Ti framelocks out there, get the 21. If you want a superior cutting tool, I'd recommend serrations. CRK's serrations are different from any I've ever seen, far superior. Must be tried to be believed. It's a shame that so many are brainwashed into thinking "plain edged only" by forums like this one, they'll never know how effective serrations can be when done right. If you use your knife to carve things, do not get serrations, otherwise I recommend them.
After getting a chance to use both, I can't imagine not owning both. For EDC use I think I'll prefer the 21 because it is more comfortable to my hand, but I doubt I'll sell my 25 because it is the definition of "solid lockup".
Which do you prefer?
The handle of the 25 is smaller around, it's a bit narrower. The finger notch is cool, and although it's way smaller than my middle finger, it does a great job of locating and centering the knife to my hand. The model 21's handle is wider, and is far more comfortable for me.
The 25 has perfect balance while the 21 is a bit handle heavy.
The lock and detent of the 21 feel like other high end framelocks from ZT, Hinderer, Benchmade, Strider, or whoever. The detent is secure, but not overly so. The 25 uses the much bigger ceramic ball for it's detent, and both locks open and closed much more solidly. The model 25 is, by far, the strongest and most stable lock I've ever experienced. It must be tried to be believed. My 25's thumb lugs hurt me when I open and close it several times, and I don't have weak, dainty hands (I crush over 200 lbs on my Captains of Crush grip trainers and my fingers are made of callouses). The detent of the 25 is very strong, and sucks the blade shut from farther out because of the size of the ceramic ball.
The pivot of the 21 is way smoother and slicker than the 25, even though the 21 is a day old and the 25 several weeks. The 21's blade glides open, while the 25 has much more of a bank vault door opening feel.
The jimping on the 21 is normal, and perfect. The jimping on the 25 is odd, different diameter cuts, with a big divot at the end. I really don't get the jimping on the 25.
The shallow hollow grind of the model 21 does not cut any better than the deeper hollow grind of the 25. Good hollow grinds cut very well, bad hollow grinds don't, just like any other grind. I don't think CRK is capable of putting a bad grind on a knife, so with the Sebenzas it's a non issue. Both blades are thick at the spine and thin at the cutting edge, I'm not worried about either breaking or being poor cutters.
My 21 is serrated, my 25 is not. The Sebenza has the unique CRK style serrations cut from both sides. They are amazing, making straight cuts (because the serrations are on both sides of the blade) that absolutely zip right through anything that a plain edge won't. They are far superior to a plain edge for a great many commonly encountered materials, and the only downside is that it is harder to carve with the serrated portion of the blade. I don't carve much so it's a non-issue for me.
I don't like lanyards on either, but the 21's lanyard was especially annoying because the pin rattled around in the holes.
If you have big hands, I'd recommend the 21. If you like a detent that is easier to disengage, I'd recommend the 21. If you want a strong detent that hurts your fingers, feels like a bank vault locking when opened, and absolutely will not let your blade open unless you do it intentionally, get the 25. If you want a crazy strong lock that "clunk"s open, get the 21. If you want a lock that is just like many other quality Ti framelocks out there, get the 21. If you want a superior cutting tool, I'd recommend serrations. CRK's serrations are different from any I've ever seen, far superior. Must be tried to be believed. It's a shame that so many are brainwashed into thinking "plain edged only" by forums like this one, they'll never know how effective serrations can be when done right. If you use your knife to carve things, do not get serrations, otherwise I recommend them.
After getting a chance to use both, I can't imagine not owning both. For EDC use I think I'll prefer the 21 because it is more comfortable to my hand, but I doubt I'll sell my 25 because it is the definition of "solid lockup".
Which do you prefer?
