Sebenza EDC choices

dwcliff

dwcliff

Joined
Jun 19, 2012
Messages
432
I've only recently bought my first Chris Reeve knives. A plain small sebenza insingo and a snakewood inlayed small sebenza. I find myself very willing to edc the plain sebenza but am reluctant to do the same with the snakewood. The plain sebenza just feels like a work knife while the inlayed knife feels like it should stay in the safe. What's your experience and preference?
 
I too do find my self reaching for the plain when I go to work and leaving the nicer ones at home. But when I go out to dinner or town I'll grab the nicer ones and leave the plain at home.
 
I only have one, a large insingo with micarta, but I was told by someone on this forum to buy the plain to use and the inlays to collect. I think, even though micarta is an inlay, the rest of the finish screams use me. Personally, other than micarta, I think the nicer wood inlays are almost too nice to use as an edc. I would however carry a small wood inlay as a dress knife to be used on special occasions (weddings, fancy dinners, etc.).
 
which is why the wood inlays don't appeal to me, I can see the beauty but like you said, wouldn't be able to use it
 
I have a plain large regular seb and it is my user. The only 21 I ever had was a small african blackwood, very nice but I traded it for a SNG as I didn't want to use it because it was so nice. I would however love to get my hands on a mammoth inlay for collection purposes. The only inlay I would ever use is the micarta and I plan on getting one very soon.
 
i EDC my snakewood small 21 everyday. I'm not planning on ever selling this guy, so I'm okay if it starts to build "character" from daily carry.
 
What's the fun in owning a nice knife if you aren't going to carry it. It's like getting a new car, once you get that initial scratch or dent it's OK at that point to just use and enjoy it. I just got my first scratch on my micarta insingo and now I feel free to just use (not abuse) it and let it build character.
 
snyper1ad said:
What's the fun in owning a nice knife if you aren't going to carry it.
Click to expand...

Fondling it, playing with it, flipping it open 9000 times while watching SportsCenter, and posting pics of it on BF are fun reasons too. I agree that a used knife is a happy knife, but just owning and admiring a knife is not so bad either.
 
powernoodle said:
Fondling it, playing with it, flipping it open 9000 times while watching SportsCenter, and posting pics of it on BF are fun reasons too. I agree that a used knife is a happy knife, but just owning and admiring a knife is not so bad either.
Click to expand...

I hear you, I have a Paramilitary 2 that's whole purpose in life is just for me to practice pinkie flipping it open. I've sent it back to Spyderco twice to fix the lockup. That knife also has more scratches on it then my first car a 1976 pea green pinto. (laugh if you want that car rawked) had an 8 cylinder.
 
I got in a small NIB snakewood today also. Must be a run on them. :)
I carry my Zaan always, and I have a fondness also of a couple of older large Sebenzas which are plain Janes. I've traded or sold the NIB inlaid wood knives so far without carrying them.
 
Ya, ive been just admiring my small snakewood too. I have decided to keep it for dress up days like dinners etc..
 
dwcliff said:
I've only recently bought my first Chris Reeve knives. A plain small sebenza insingo and a snakewood inlayed small sebenza. I find myself very willing to edc the plain sebenza but am reluctant to do the same with the snakewood. The plain sebenza just feels like a work knife while the inlayed knife feels like it should stay in the safe. What's your experience and preference?
Click to expand...
There's no wrong answer when it comes to tools, especially for those of us that see them as functional pieces of art. I see and enjoy my firearms in the same way that I do my knives; some get shot and some don't, some slice and some don't.

Doesn't matter if it's a $50.00 knife or a $5000.00 knife. What makes these obsessions so great is that it’s up to the owner to decide what the tool's purpose is ~ Function Art -or a User. Neither of which is wrong and anyone else's opinion (mine too) is purely subjective, because it's expressed as how it relates to themselves; but they aren't the owner, thus our opinions really aren’t even relevant.

Some folks will buy a premium knife and decide its main purpose is for their viewing pleasure. Others will spend an enormous amount of time planning and coordinating their one-of-a-kind custom build, just so they can use and beat the crap out of it. Neither should feel guilty; so long as the product brings you joy and makes you happy, then I'd have to say it’s worth every penny.

Don’t know how many times I’ve heard, “shoot it, that gun was made to be shot”, “drive it, that car was made to be driven”, “play it, that guitar was made to whale” = WRONG, they were all actually made for profit; it’s the owner who decides how to use/enjoy it.
 
US-STEEL said:
There's no wrong answer when it comes to tools, especially for those of us that see them as functional pieces of art. I see and enjoy my firearms in the same way that I do my knives; some get shot and some don't, some slice and some don't.

Doesn't matter if it's a $50.00 knife or a $5000.00 knife. What makes these obsessions so great is that it’s up to the owner to decide what the tool's purpose is ~ Function Art -or a User. Neither of which is wrong and anyone else's opinion (mine too) is purely subjective, because it's expressed as how it relates to themselves; but they aren't the owner, thus our opinions really aren’t even relevant.

Some folks will buy a premium knife and decide its main purpose is for their viewing pleasure. Others will spend an enormous amount of time planning and coordinating their one-of-a-kind custom build, just so they can use and beat the crap out of it. Neither should feel guilty; so long as the product brings you joy and makes you happy, then I'd have to say it’s worth every penny.

Don’t know how many times I’ve heard, “shoot it, that gun was made to be shot”, “drive it, that car was made to be driven”, “play it, that guitar was made to whale” = WRONG, they were all actually made for profit; it’s the owner who decides how to use/enjoy it.
Click to expand...

Wise words sir. I definitely find myself holding some knives and thinking I'm not sure I want to do anything with this knife except admire. While others I just want to put it to work. I'm sure others as indicated can't imagine possessing a knife if not to put it to work. I guess it might be said that....use is in the eye of the holder, or something like that.
 
I say, use em if ya got em!

Today I changed out an old panel and all the old wires were rubber coated and cloth wrapped, and I didn't even think twice about digging my fresh Large P into that old crusty crap.

Nothing some high percentage iso-alcohol and a blue shop rag can't fix!

Use_01.jpg


Use_02.jpg


Clean_01.jpg


Clean_02.jpg
 
I say don't worry and use all you want! Snakewood Mnandi is my most EDCed CRK to date, though plain small Insingo is going to take its crown soon, only because I am in love with the blade profile, not because I'm afraid of messing up my inlayed CRK. I even regularly EDC 2001 Annual Seb with Curly Maple (Left Hand, which means there are only a couple of them in the world) and enjoy using it.

You've got great knives so being afraid of using them isn't healthy. ;)
 
If you're worried about damaging the wood you could always a leather slip case or belt sheath.
 
The only thing that makes me reluctant to carry an inlaid Sebenza is the satin blade. I just think the stonewashed blade on the plain 21 is much better suited to EDC tasks. However, I know my reservations regarding the blade are misplaced as I'm perfectly willing to carry and use my Mnandi and it has the same finish as an inlaid Sebbie. It's all in the mind.
 
I have had both, small and large. At first I never used the inlaid seb's, thought they were too pretty.
I had 3 new Zaan's, but bought a used Zaan to carry and use. Used it til it went dull. I cut everything with it.
Next went to a new 21 i had in the safe, again, carried and used til dull.
I never got around to sharpening them. I suck at it.
3rd user was the small NIB snakewood, which I absolutely love. Love the feel of the wood.
Once you can get over the obstacle of using a new knife, you will want to use them all in rotation.
It took me about a year to feel comfortable using my CRK's, but believe me, all carry well. The zaan is a little heavy for me, but awesome blade.
Mnandi, too small for me, but I do use one sometimes when I am at the office to open mail.
When you get tired of them, or beat them up, either sell it or send to CRK for a treatment. The knife will look brand new if not better.
I started out with a kershaw blur, $80 bucks, and had a hard time using it cuz I did not want to ruin a new knife.
So use that snakewood and get the satisfaction you deserve! It isn't going to go up in price.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top