Sebenza any good?

Different strokes for different folks. Or is that different tastes for different folks. :confused: I always get that confused. ;)

Any whoz. . .

You can almost compare our knife gathering to a kid in a candy shop. They walk into the candy shop. . .and their eyes become filled with all of the rich sweet sights. They begin to drool (if not physically ~ mentally). They zoom in on a particular piece that catches their eye. Their pocket, that holds their coinage, begins to smolder. They grab the piece of candy and make immediate way to the counter. They plop their moolah on the counter and out they go. The anticipation is so strong they can hardly wait to get outside to pop their new wonder into their mouth. The initial taste is sweet and so enjoyable. As they stroll down the street. . .new flavors tingle their taste buds. As they pass the 2nd street, the flavors begin to change. The once sweet piece of delight is now becoming BLAH !

The only problem. . .used candy can't be bartered off like a cool knife !

Like I said. . .different strokes for different folks. Yeah, you may have picked something up that won't remain in your possession. Join the club. ;) :D Talk to just about every knife knut out there and they'll give you that daja vu look. LOL But sometimes. . .certain things tend to grow on you and become your favorite. No tellin' !

Hang on to it for a couple of months. Make sure that you shove it into you pocket often and give it a good test drive. If you like it. . .you've got yourself a very cool knife ! If you don't, send it back to CRK, have them refurb it, and then sell it.
 
Hey, Klesk...just out of curiosity, did you get it from Power Edge? That's the only place I've seen any Sebenzas down here.
 
Klesk - I think you need time to let your Sebenza reveal its specialness to you. The Sebenza is certainly one of the most unexciting knives to look at, but hard to beat as a user. The two things I love most about the Sebbie are:

1) Lockup. It's the strongest I've ever seen, we're talking folding fixed blade here.

2) Simplicity. Three screws hold the whole thing together. Get it dirty, gunk it up, hey, no problem! Taking it about and cleaning the Sebbie is a breeze and, unlike most folders, will not void your warranty.

These are great aspects, but hard to appreciate straight out of the box. Like I said, the Sebenza grows on you the more you use it.

That, of course, doesn't make the Sebenza perfect. I'd rather have tip - down carry, for example, and can't understand why double thumbstuds are not standard. Still, I'm a Sebenzaholic. I hope you enjoy your Sebbie.
 
I hear what you're sayin', Klesk. I bought a lg. plain last yr. and promptly sold it...it just didn't "grab" me at all. Then, early this yr., I bought a lg. Classic woody, and it's definitely a keeper. The polished Ti and inlays look almost elegant; and the wood gives the handle a much better purchase/feel. Presently, my M2 Stryker, S30V Military, and MT Socom see much more carry - but they're great knives too! But when my mood/tastes change, like they always do, it's nice to know the Sebby (plus a couple of other sweet cutters)is waiting in the wings. So, I guess what I'm saying is get yourself a "dressed up" Sebby and see if it doesn't kinda justify the cost and become a permanent addition to your carry rotation.
 
For a variety of reasons, I knew a large sebenza was not for me. I tried to buy a small one, at less than list price at a knife show. However, I found a mirror polished ATS34, rosewood scale, titanium lined, anodized, bolstered and fileworked custom pocket knife, the same size as the small sebenza for less money. The knife is prettier, fits my hand better and has better fit and finish. Sebenzas may be rocks, but they lack sex appeal and are over priced. CRK gets a nice chunk of change off each one, that's OK, but you can get a pretty custom cheaper. Klesk, if you have a Shabaria, I can see why a sebenza is not impressive. Spyderco got that knife perfect, mine is flawless, for only $90 retail, and it's got a lot more pizazz than a sebenza.
 
No, the Sebenza is not for everyone. Some find it ugly (:confused: ), others don't find it "ergonomic" enough. Everyone's ideas about beauty are different the same as everyone's hands are different. IMHO, those who truly USE a knife will find the Sebenza among the best. I only wish I had bought one sooner.

Paul
 
I retired from the Sebenza wars :) but since this is such a friendly thread ... yes, I have a few Sebenzas, an Umfaan, a Mnandi. Some like them, some don't. I agree with everyone who feels that a knife can be so individual a taste that there's nothing wrong with liking another knife better.

Maybe a decorated Sebenza would suit you, or maybe you'll come to appreciate this one's plebeian virtues as time goes by. If you do decide to keep it, you may also decide to send it in to CRK for a personalized decoration: you make up the design, he'll do a great job engraving it.
 
I have carried a decorated Sebenza for about 6 months now and it impresses me more and more every time I carry it. I really appreciate having a knife that I trust. I find it very easy to maintain the edge (once you get the knack) and CRK has one of the best warranty services around. I also know that if I ever tire of it, I can turn around and get almost all of my money back.
Take care,
Matt
 
well I wondered what all the fuss was about for a couple years. I worked in a knife store so i had the opportunity to play with the knive sbut never got to carry them. finally I was able to get my hands on a mayoized one through a trade and fell in love with them. the plain ones aren't the prettiest I deff agree with you there. but I own a mayoized one, a leather inlay, and a cg graphic and love them all, the last two picked up in the last 2 days. So I love them, i like taking them apart, i like the quality, basicaly i love the knives. but everyone has their own opinion.
trevor
 
Originally posted by ZENGHOST
Hey, Klesk...just out of curiosity, did you get it from Power Edge? That's the only place I've seen any Sebenzas down here.
Click to expand...

Yep, another forumite, Kokoro from Kaneohe, reminded me that Peter has them on hand.

Some may wonder why I bought it when I had a chance to handle it first, and had a chance to form an opinion. It had something to do with all the good reviews that the Sebenza has. I was not impressed in the store, but I felt that I should give it a shot, since so many people like the knife.

On the other hand, if everyone said that the knife is crap, I probably would have put it down and bought a Hinderer instead (or saved up for a Cook Lochsa - see what you did, Kokoro?). As I said earlier, I'll give it a chance. I also have an e-mail in to Tom to see if he would work his magic on it. That might make me want to carry it and use it, so that would give me more opportunity to find out if I really like it or not.
 
Esav, you're right, this is probably the most civilized Sebenza thread ever. (Hope I didn't just jinx it :( ). Klesk, I think you're right to play with it a while before you give up on it; My Camillus EDC isn't the most exciting knife in the world at first sight but it's the one I carry day in and day out, in jeans and in BDUs and out in the field, it gets the job done and grows on me more with each passing day. I think the Sebenza is similar in that regard, it's just a lot more expensive. Good luck with it.
 
I have been thinking about getting a Sebenza when I get some money...But is a Sebenza any more functional then my emerson specwar? Or is a Sebenza just a status symbol knife (like a Mercedes). Ive always been a Chevy 1500 kind of guy...so maybe I should stick with an Emerson.
 
Many consider the Sebenza a status symbol. :confused: Maybe in a way, it is. What I can honestly tell you is that the lock up is much more secure and stable than a liner lock. The fit and finish are second to none and WAY ahead of most. The Sebenza was designed for cutting, which it performs exceptionally at. Only you can decide if it's a knife for you.

Paul
 
One of the deciding factors in my decision to buy a 'benza, other than everyone highly recommending it, was a question I asked myself. I asked myself what knife I could see myself carrying when I was 50. The only things I could think of was a slipjoint or a Sebbie. Not some big black tactical folder that would wear out in a year or so from daily use, but a simple looking knife that works better than nearly everything out there and is built to last a lifetime. And since I'm not interested in slip joints at the momment, I decided to pick up a Sebbie. Although I ordered the thing about 2 months ago, it still hasn't got here yet, there have been several delays on the left handed models. So I can't give my own opinion on the knife yet, I just trust everyone else's.
 
when i compared a lg classic with a bm pinnacle, the pinnacle started loosning up and then wobbled and then sorta fell apart after 6 months of hard, overuse. back to bm it went and it got fixed. after a couple more months same thing and that is when i bought a sebenza. 2 years now with the sebenza and no issues whatsoever. end of story. guess i am lucky or the sebenza is a working mans knife. i have never taken it apart or even lubed it and it is perfect for me. however my sm custom with damascus makes me scared to use it, lol.
 
I may just buy one then. I USE my knives...I am a borderline abuser...I stick my emerson through bags of quick creet routinely, and I jab it through whatever needs to be jabbed. It has help up awesome, but the liner lock is a bit scary now, it has failed once on me back when I worked at albertsons...and had it closed all the way I would have had a seriously cut finger...or no finger. I just think 300 bucks on a small seb is alot, but if it lasts forever it would be worth it.
 
I've spent well over $300 (way over) in my search for a knife that satisfies me. Right now, the only folders that I carry are my CRKs and alox SAKs.

Paul
 
Originally posted by Roadrunner
My Camillus EDC isn't the most exciting knife in the world at first sight but it's the one I carry day in and day out, in jeans and in BDUs and out in the field, it gets the job done and grows on me more with each passing day.
Click to expand...
I've got more knives than just my CRKs and the one that replaces my small classic Sebenza a lot is a 3" Darrel Ralph EDC, basically the original of your Camillus. Very comfortable, very strong design. Wherever did he get the idea for a titanium framelock ... ? ;)
 
I try to rotate the Sebenza with a Buck/Mayo, and AFCK, and a SERE 2K. I think I carry them mostly in the following order:

Buck/Mayo - 50%
Sebenza - 15%
AFCK - 15%
SERE - 10%
Other - 10%

I think the Sebenza is rather drab looking. But, it always gives a feeling of confidence - it is just plain solid.

Give it time - it will probably grow on you. I was originally going to sell mine - at first I thought it was a total waste.

If I need a knife for something hard - the Sebenza is my pick.
 
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