Sebenza - I just couldn't do it...

S

ShooterMcgavin

Joined
Jan 20, 2008
Messages
609
I recently found some good deals on some Sebenzas and my true priorities came out. I found a used large for $300, a new condition large for $350, and a new condition small for $315. I passed on all of them, and I'm finally making some good money at my job. I guess the Sebenza just doesn't do it for me. Nothing wrong with them. I simply find so much utility and so much value in knives that cost $30-150.
 
ShooterMcgavin said:
I recently found some good deals on some Sebenzas and my true priorities came out. I found a used large for $300, a new condition large for $350, and a new condition small for $315. I passed on all of them, and I'm finally making some good money at my job. I guess the Sebenza just doesn't do it for me. Nothing wrong with them. I simply find so much utility and so much value in knives that cost $30-150.
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:cool: You are seriously messed up.
 
ShooterMcgavin said:
I recently found some good deals on some Sebenzas and my true priorities came out. I found a used large for $300, a new condition large for $350, and a new condition small for $315. I passed on all of them, and I'm finally making some good money at my job. I guess the Sebenza just doesn't do it for me. Nothing wrong with them. I simply find so much utility and so much value in knives that cost $30-150.
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So nice to see people not drooling uncontrollably over a Sebenza. Don't get me wrong, they are nice. At $200 they would be killer, $250 not too bad. Once you hit $300, though, they lack that certain "oomph". I know the tolerances are high, but that doesn't warrant a price tag of double what a production version would cost. My big turn off is the blade steel using something a little more premium would NOT kill them. I'm not saying use S110V, but some Elmax or something else wouldn't be a bad idea.

Put it this way if your options for a car are a standard Corvette, or something identical to a Corvette that is made a little better at twice the cost (with 0 style or performance increases), which would you choose? I would opt for the cheaper one, and if I was going to spend the money anyways get a second Corvette (in this hypothetical I am filthy rich) or a suped up version of the standard.

I will reiterate- the Sebenza is not a bad knife. It is just a bit overpriced.
 
dkb45 said:
So nice to see people not drooling uncontrollably over a Sebenza. Don't get me wrong, they are nice. At $200 they would be killer, $250 not too bad. Once you hit $300, though, they lack that certain "oomph". I know the tolerances are high, but that doesn't warrant a price tag of double what a production version would cost. My big turn off is the blade steel using something a little more premium would NOT kill them. I'm not saying use S110V, but some Elmax or something else wouldn't be a bad idea.

Put it this way if your options for a car are a standard Corvette, or something identical to a Corvette that is made a little better at twice the cost (with 0 style or performance increases), which would you choose? I would opt for the cheaper one, and if I was going to spend the money anyways get a second Corvette (in this hypothetical I am filthy rich) or a suped up version of the standard.

I will reiterate- the Sebenza is not a bad knife. It is just a bit overpriced.
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What you're paying for is EXTREMELY good warranty, quality, work put into it, etc.
The Senenza is a VERY GOOD knife and not overpriced at all.
 
Sebenza is nice, just not at the price, that is my opinion, I can get better steel with a better lock for much less, all in my opinion based on my experience.

I will say that the majority of owners love CRKs, nothing wrong with that, it's great that he makes knives if a quality and at a price that keeps his company running.

I think another thing to keep in mind when it comes to purchasing anything is the rule of 9s.
 
HALO V said:
What you're paying for is EXTREMELY good warranty, quality, work put into it, etc.
The Senenza is a VERY GOOD knife and not overpriced at all.
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Whats pretty cool is that even when you do wear the knife out, you can just buy another lock bar slab or knife blade and have a newish knife.
 
I was intrigued with Sebenza after I started my life on this forum. Fortunately I was able to handle it on the knife show. Certainly it is not for me.
 
If you prefer 30-150 knives, there's nothing wrong with that.

To me Sebenza is iconic and has stood the test of time. Sure there's nothing wrong with a Timex and will perform more accurately, but some may prefer a Rolex.
 
Buy it used, if you don't like it no worries someone will buy it off you..all you will lose is a little time...
 
I felt the same way, but then I got one in a knife for a knife trade. So, the money thing didn't hit me as hard. Then I started using the knife and I was hooked. Granted the knife was slightly used and totally broken in. So, I didn't have to go through some of the things you hear people complaining about when they get a new one ("tight/stiff" action for example). I got a knife that was everything it was hyped to be. Since then I have bought one new one and several other used blades. I actually prefer lightly used CRK's.
 
Sebenzas will always be controversial. I found that CRKs weren't for me, I just didnt think they were all they're cracked up to be. And yes I did actually EDC mine for awhile and got through the break in period to when it became buttery smooth blah blah blah.

I wasn't a huge fan of the ergos, they're not bad by any means, just not great IMO. I also find them to be a bit lacking in personality, sometimes they seem like cookie-cutter titanium slabs.

Are they well made? Absolutely, there's no disputing that but I do think the price tag is too steep. A large Seb is flirting with custom territory and one with inlays is already there.

As always, YMMV.
 
I have found that folks who buy CR knives usually fall in one of two categories. Either they can easily afford them as a status symbol or they find a way to afford them as they appreciate the aesthetics, fineness of fit/finish, and function. As a retired college instructor, I fall in the latter category. Sure, I tried lesser knives - so called 'Poor man's Sebenzas'. My now long discontinued Buck Tom Mayo-designed 'TNT' is a fine Ti framelock with S30V blade. It was well worth the closeout price, even if it was over half the price of a small Sebbie. It was indicative of what a large company can do to make a fine knife, even if their suggested MSRP was at that of a small Sebbie. Reportedly, it was expensive to manufacture - that spelled it's doom. In reality, as I now have a 'StarTac' Umnumzaan, a small plain Sebbie, and a Nyala fb, I can say that my beloved Buck TNT is not a Sebbie! It's nice - and I won't say goodbye to it anytime soon, but it is not a Sebenza! If you appreciate a well made knife - and see beauty in it's plain-Jane design - you'll find a way to afford one. Sure, it cost more than a dozen el-cheapo far east import knives - hold one and you'll know why. If you have held one - and still don't understand, it doesn't mean you are anything derogatory - it just isn't for you - and they aren't the ultimate knife for everyone (Good thing, can you imagine the waiting list they'd have?). I may add a large Sebbie one day - but I won't feel incomplete if I don't. Enjoy your knives!

Stainz
 
Bradley Alias.. Less than half the price and just as nice. In fact, mine is much smoother than my Sebenza was
 
The price is fine with me and I love mine. As far as complaining over price, I think that should be left for other knives, such as a Hinderer. Try justifying their prices. I like their look and feel but will not pay extra to Rick just because I am not currently active duty. That is malarkey and most people know it. In my opinion, you either like a knife or not, and that includes the price. If I thought a Sebenza was overpriced, I would not have bought one. And if Rick decides to treat all consumers as equal someday and price all his knives at the "discount level" where they belong I will buy one of those.

That is all.
 
A couple of years back I bought a new Mnandi. I loved the look and feel of that knife. It was the greatest knife I had ever owned for opening and closing while sitting and watching TV. That said, I found myself afraid to use it for EDC. I worried about scratches to the blade and leather case. I found myself going to a different knife for general cutting. One day I was with some friends at the gun range and someone needed a hammer strut partially lifted out of their Ruger MK II pistol. The tip of a knife would have worked perfectly. Immediately my buddy whipped out his SAK and fixed the issue. The bloom came off the Mnandi lily. I sold it, and never regretted the sale. On the Sebenza side, I had ordered and recieved a Three Sisters Forge (similiar to a Sebenza) folder and after carefully carrying it for a day or two, realizied I was not a candidate for EDC a high end knife. I now limit my knives to a couple of Kershaws, Spyderco's, and EDC is always a SAK. They are just too versatile to be ignored, and if they are lost, they can be replaced for very little cost.
SAK.jpg
 
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