Sebenza aesthetics & other confessions

S

swedgie

Joined
Feb 17, 2008
Messages
47
Got a Ritter Griptilian for Xmas, loved it, and have since become knife-crazy. Been buying knives & spending a LOT of time looking at folding knives online. I've got four now, including an Al Mar Classic Eagle with talon blade & micarta -- a real stunner. But I need to stop all this because it's taking up too much of my time. And really, how many "EDC's" does a fella need? I didn't even know what "EDC" meant 3 months ago, and now I spend my time wondering whether the 440A is gonna clean my nails as well as the VG10. I've got, like, 100 jpegs of knives in a wish list folder. I buy knives for friends & fam who could care less. Shipped to me first, of course.

I'm going a little bonkers from all the internal seesawing ("the Caly3, no the Delica, no the 940, no the 710, no. . .") and have finally decided to buy two more and get out. Think that'll work? The BM42 Bali looks like fun & it's beautiful, and it'll probably satisfy my flipping compulsion. Then, to close the book on the EDC need, the small Sebenza. These two knives seem to sum up what attracts me to knives. We'll see. I've never even held a bali. . .

Now about these Sebenzas: I have no doubt these knives will perform wonderfully and be gratifying to use, but what's the thinking behind the color? It's a modest design to begin with, but then to finish it with the same color as the utility cutter in my junk drawer. . ? What gives? It's a working knife and it's so well made that it doesn't need a lot of "flash"? Is that the idea? I mean, I'll buy it anyway. I really like the confident silhouette of it and I'll have the balisong & the Al Mar for looks. That blue thumbstud is kind of growing on me. Also, doesn't the laser etching look a bit tacky? Can I get a witness?
 
Sometimes less is more. Its got a nice simple design. I think of it as more of a gentleman type knife
 
IMHO even the plain Sebenza is beautiful. It features simple clean lines and also looks like it's meant to work instead of sit around on a shelf. The blue thumbstud and backspacer are simple accents that really "make" the design, oddly. There's nothing I'd change about the Sebenza, except I'd like a wire clip like the Caly3.
 
The BM 42 is outstanding.

The Sebenza is a working knife. It's sturdy but not bulky. You can buy them with "silver" thumbstuds and back spacers. The blue finish rubs off pretty easily. I prefer the "silver".

Sebenzas also come with wood or other inlays, and some come polished and engraved. Check out the Chris Reeve section of BF.
 
Nothing wrong with the aestetics of my Sebenza:

P-CK3187.jpg
 
Sounds like a good plan. You will love the bali, and will love the Sebbie even more.

I did the same thing a while ago, now I'm looking at MORE bali's........and MORE Sebbies all while STILL looking at Spydercos.....AND Kirby Lamberts!

So yeah, it did not really help.
 
Entertaining! I'm with you 100% on the plain aesthetics. But i do really like the small classics w/ wood inserts. A much better look, to me. Check these out at onlyfineknives.com
David
 
I really like the Classic w/wood inlays.

But you might as well forget the "2 then get out" You are already hopelessly hooked on "the knife". All the symptoms are there, spending hours online looking at knives, got your first one 3 months ago and now have 4, a wish list of knives with 100 jpegs, going bonkers trying to decide which knife. Yes my friend, you have the "Condition", and a fine condition it is!! Just accept and enjoy.:D:D:D
 
swedgie said:
Got a Ritter Griptilian for Xmas, loved it, and have since become knife-crazy. Been buying knives & spending a LOT of time looking at folding knives online. I've got four now, including an Al Mar Classic Eagle with talon blade & micarta -- a real stunner. But I need to stop all this because it's taking up too much of my time. And really, how many "EDC's" does a fella need? I didn't even know what "EDC" meant 3 months ago, and now I spend my time wondering whether the 440A is gonna clean my nails as well as the VG10. I've got, like, 100 jpegs of knives in a wish list folder. I buy knives for friends & fam who could care less. Shipped to me first, of course.

I'm going a little bonkers from all the internal seesawing ("the Caly3, no the Delica, no the 940, no the 710, no. . .") and have finally decided to buy two more and get out. Think that'll work? The BM42 Bali looks like fun & it's beautiful, and it'll probably satisfy my flipping compulsion. Then, to close the book on the EDC need, the small Sebenza. These two knives seem to sum up what attracts me to knives. We'll see. I've never even held a bali. . .

Now about these Sebenzas: I have no doubt these knives will perform wonderfully and be gratifying to use, but what's the thinking behind the color? It's a modest design to begin with, but then to finish it with the same color as the utility cutter in my junk drawer. . ? What gives? It's a working knife and it's so well made that it doesn't need a lot of "flash"? Is that the idea? I mean, I'll buy it anyway. I really like the confident silhouette of it and I'll have the balisong & the Al Mar for looks. That blue thumbstud is kind of growing on me. Also, doesn't the laser etching look a bit tacky? Can I get a witness?
Click to expand...


Whoever said that a working knife has to be Blah.Sebenzas are not only one of the best designed and constructed knives made today but unlike a lot of others out there they can be as personalized as you would like, and besides one mans "Tacky Laser Etching" is another mans art.

daylight2.jpg
 
The laser etching IS tacky! I am absolutely going to buy me a Sebenza. But I have always found the look of the knife rather unappealing.

I have seen what owners call some extra special artwork on many knives in all the threads on this beautiful forum but to be honest I find them all a bit tacky, even the woodwork.

I think the artwork on this knife, the Sebbie, is being done by a man or woman who makes some of the finest knives in the business and from the heart, an artist knifemaker no doubt, BUT NOT a truly gifted graphics designer! But rather one who dabbled with it and is stuck 20 years ago.

Like the blue one in the thread above me, a very sad looking quality knife. Disastrous graphics.

You can always tell when a homepage has been set up by the knifemaker himself and his friends instead of a professional.
 
lorise said:
The laser etching IS tacky! I am absolutely going to buy me a Sebenza. But I have always felt the look of the knife rather unappealing.

I have seen what owners call some extra special artwork on many knives in all the threads on this beautiful forum but to be honest I find them all a bit tacky, even the woodwork.

I think the artwork on this knife, the Sebbie, is being done by a man or woman who makes some of the finest knives in the business and from the heart, an artist knifemaker no doubt, BUT NOT a truly gifted graphics designer! But rather one who dabbled with it and is stuck 20 years ago.

Like the blue one in the thread above me, a very sad looking quality knife. Disastrous graphics.

You can always tell when a homepage has been set up by the knifemaker himself and his friends instead of a professional.
Click to expand...


Why in the world would you buy a knife that is unapealing to you. I gues I'm just not meant to understand some folks sense of sense.:confused:
 
There are a lot of Sebenzas floating around with engraved patterns on their handles. Not all of the graphic designs on Sebenzas are something I would select. One I replaced the side with the engraving with a plain bead blasted Sebenza side plate. I had bought that Sebenza because its Damascus blade had a very nice pattern and at the time the engraved handle looked pretty good in the dealer's photo.

One problem is making a good photo of the engraving. I have yet to make a good photo of a couple of my Sebenzas with engraved patterns on handles. But, they are beautiful in hand.
 
Could someone explain to me the comments about laser engraving?

I don't think CRK does any laser engraving, it's all millwork.

Also which blue one? there where three above.
 
Right. The design is milled into the side plate and often the milled in lines are colored. I guess by heating.
 
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