Sebenza 25 - The Be All End All Knife aka "The One"

I am feeling verclempt...
Now I REALLY want a 25.
The thought even crossed my mind to sell my Large Reg to fund a 25.

...all I can think of...is...WOW! That is some heavy-duty emotion...

I have one of those early 25's from last November. If my blade-steel is that good...better than s90v, 20cv, m390, then I'll NEVER sell it.
I suspect that he just knows, from experience, how to handle a knife.
Good luck to you, Steel Addiction.
Sonnydaze
 
Great info and pictures Steel Addiction! Even though I don't post much, I do read the forums quite a bit and have appreciated your input here. It's great to see that you've found your "one" knife. I wish there was such a thing for me! :glee:

Goodluck in starting your company and best wishes knife brethren.
 
Best of luck to you! I don't get nearly the use out of mine that you do but I do have to agree on all counts. It is as close to the "perfect" knife that I have ever had or handled.
 
I agree 1000% it is the pinnacle. I gave up a large starbenza. That was hard but worth it.:)
 
Nice review! I've wanted one ever since I got my 21.
Is there ever going to be a small Sebenza 25? The normal size is a bit on the large size for my tastes.
 
The newest batch has a different stop pin. It is not press fit into one scale, it has a screw on both sides.
 
The newest batch has a different stop pin. It is not press fit into one scale, it has a screw on both sides.

I noticed that when comparing mine to the older ones. It also does not have the groove on each side of the stop pin either which dressed it up a tiny bit.
 
I noticed that when comparing mine to the older ones. It also does not have the groove on each side of the stop pin either which dressed it up a tiny bit.

I noticed a few differences, stop pin lacks grooves - first batch had them, top scale screws are flush to the handle - first batch they sat higher on the scale, the blade bevel stops with the end of the handles - first batch it extended under the handles, also the jimping has sharper points - first batch was more squared off.

Ill have my wife capture some pics with the dslr later today as I wouldnt be able to take such detailed photos.
 
I couldn't agree more with Steel Addictions initial post. The 25 (to me) is about the best it's going to get.

I had one of the first run 25's, sold it, and then just recently purchased a new one. I'm SUPER stoked that new ones have the original jimping like on the prototype from Blade 2012. I was a little disappointed with the first run that Chris decided to blunt down the jimping. Couldn't be happier now though!
 
Here are some up close shots of the differences that I noticed from the first batch to the second batch.

First batch shot first and then second batch with description in bold above each photo:

Jimping is sqaured off



Jimping is sharper




Blade grind extends under handles



Blade grind ends with handles



Tip of lockbar 90* cut



Tip of lockbar has 45* cut



Screws sit above the scale a little




Screws sit flush with scale




Stop Pin has fancy groves



Stop Pin lacks fancy groves



Lockup at 80% verified by blade tang wear
Hasn't moved a mm from day one
Also just noticed that the blade has some extra grinds behind the tang.




Lockup at 60% verified by blade tang wear




No date stamp



Date Stamp

 
Miss it already lol. So what do you think about the differences? Like, dislike, or neutral?
 
Miss it already lol. So what do you think about the differences? Like, dislike, or neutral?

I actually prefer everything about the original than the second batch lol.
But that could just be because I have bonded with it over the last 8 months.

The fancy stop pin, the screws sitting above the scale a little are level with the pivot so if sitting on a table it doesn't wobble; and you can see the nice machining around the screws, the not so harsh jimping, and the uniqueness of no date stamp. The other points are kinda moot.

I guess the big kicker is the jimping, not sure how the sharper jimping would feel with hard cuts with acsr, but hopefully I don't have to find out, and the first one lasts me many moons which I'm sure it will.
 
Awesome Post Steel Addiction with amazing pics to point out the differences. I have one from
The current batch.
 
Oh man, really glad you posted these pics. I love everything that's new on the most recent batch...especially the more aggressive jimping. Its perfect!
 
Just got mine today, birth date June 12, 2013. Very nice, I like the new jimping, but it will probably not replace my classic small Sebenza for everyday carry. More of a hiking/camping sized knife for me. Great finish and fit, as usual. The edge was not as polished as I have come to expect and not as sharp as usual. I fixed that with a few passes over a strop with fine polishing, but I was kind of surprised that it was not at hair shaving sharpness direct from the source.

T
 
Great pics, they show the differences very well.
I have one if the first 30 from Nov as well, I love that knife but while I'm sending it in to get the broken screw fixed I found a 25 with a birthdate that I couldn't pass up, can't wait to compare the two of them.
I had two from the first 30 in my hands and found differences with the pair, posted a YouTube vid of it quite a while ago if anybody is interested.
If I notice anything that you missed, which is unlikely, ill post some pics.
 
The cutouts/grooved outs for the lanyard on my early 25 were uneven. I'll try and find a pic.
 
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