Sebenza life span

MikeC

MikeC

Joined
Sep 16, 2005
Messages
1,364
How long does a sebenza last (remain functional), I know this is a subjective question as there are many variables, but generally speaking using one for a EDC, for a person who hunts, fishes, dives, camps, etc.

Next part of the question what is the life span of of other folders say benchmade, spyderco, et al? If the life span or economic life is not considerably longer for knives such as sebenza, strider, and other high end frame lock folders, then why not buy say a benchmade skirmish or new lum design, or spyderco military or whatnot? You wouldn't go and buy a $400 hammer that is going to work just as hard and last just as long as $100.00 dollar hammer, would you.

I own five high end knives and am considering a sebenza if I can find regular model, as the classic and 21 design just aren't for me, but I'm thinking about this purchase and wondering am I getting my moneys worth with these high end knives. Are these knives going to outlast these other brands like benchmade and spyderco by that many years, or is it, that they all probably have the same longevity from a functional stand point and I am just buying these higher end knives because I want them. I have been labroing under the premise that these knives are constructed with superior quality materials and workmanship and shoudl therefore last longer, but does anyone have any anecdotal evidence of this?
 
Anecdotal evidence is irrelevant at this point, because Sebenzas haven't been around nearly long enough for valid data to be gathered.

The Sebenza is going to easily last your lifetime. Depending maybe on the lock design, a BM or Spydie may very well too. So you aren't going to get very far with a longevity-based value analysis... unless you leave the project to your grandkids.

Here's how I personally look at the value of a Sebenza: Let's say we are comparing a $400 Senenza to a $150 BM of your choice. Let's also say the Sebenza functions a little better than the BM, but nowhere near enough better to justify the $250 difference. Maybe the Sebenza is a $225 knife with its performance value-adjusted to the BM. That leaves us $175 in the hole.

So, what do you like to do for fun? Go to movies? Drink beer? Run your car at the track? Maybe shoot at the range? All of these things have fiscal cost that you incur for pure pleasure. Sure, they may also have practical benefit. You may go to documentary movies and learn stuff, beer gives you tons of energy, etc. But a large part of what you are doing is exchanging little bits of money for little pleasure jags.

How much is a movie? $10? IDK, not much of a movie guy. Let's roll with $10. I get a great deal of pleasure out of just messing with my Sebenza - like some people do with a pocket watch or pen. Is one session of that pleasure worth a movie to me? Sure. So that's $10. I only have to do that 17.5 times before the 'pleasure equity' in one Sebenza is paid off. Assuming I'm going to live another 45 years or so, and assuming I'm correct that the Sebbie is going to outlive me, that's not going to be much of a problem. Fact is, I'm going to pay that $175 off in about a month. Then it's all gravy.

Now, you may not appreciate knives in that way - which would be just fine. I don't happen to appreciate hammers in that way. It may be that your appreciation for knives derives purely from using them as tools. In that case, you may not be able to justify the $175. But the people who are buying Sebenzas are looking beyond a purely tangible cost-benefit analysis.
 
that's a great response.

I think it's the same reason people buy a BMW vs VW vs Toyota vs [just list any carmaker). from a pure utilitarian view of moving people from one point to another, they all do it. but from design, mileage, comfort, driving pleasure etc, they're all different.

(if I got the names of the auto manufacturers wrong, I'm sorry...I don't own a car, just a scoot, lol)
 
I had to send back my 1997 lg reg seb because the lock failure. They replaced the slabs for me on warranty. I must of opened and closed that blade thousands of times.
 
This is actually one of the reasons I no longer purchase liner locks...they do most definetly wear out given enough time. I wore out an Al Mar S2K in about a year a half.

Can't speak for the Sebenza Specifically.

I'm pretty sold on the BM axis lock because barring spring fatigue/failure (a part easily replaced) the lock should actually become more efficient as the parts wear.
 
Lobo103 said:
This is actually one of the reasons I no longer purchase liner locks...they do most definetly wear out given enough time. I wore out an Al Mar S2K in about a year a half.

Can't speak for the Sebenza Specifically.

I'm pretty sold on the BM axis lock because barring spring fatigue/failure (a part easily replaced) the lock should actually become more efficient as the parts wear.
Click to expand...

Really? I find that my axis lock heckler and koch knife went as loose as a 50 year old mine camp whore within a few months.
 
I look at it this way, I have 20 CRK including 5 sebbies. I know if one Ever Fails for Any reason that is not deliberate abuse, I will get it fixed for free as CRK customer service is legendary. Any knife can fail. None are bullet proof. But I know I can put my CRK through anything and I have enough confidence in them that they will not let me down. As far as price, I feel you only get what you pay for. If you buy a $10 knife, dont expect it to last a lifetime.
 
How long is a piece of string? :p Just kidding. :D

I don't know what it is about the Sebenza but the design just seems to have a certain je ne sais quoi. I've tried more expensive customs as well as comparable and lower priced production folders but, for whatever reason I just keep coming back to the humble Sebenza. Maybe it's just that I'm so used to the design that nothing else feels quite right in my hand or pocket (in fact, I just picked up a large 21 this afternoon, but that's for another thread...).

This small model has been going strong for a little over 13 years and isn't quite ready to give up yet. Of course, as the saying goes, "your mileage may vary".

I've posted these pics before but what the hey... ;)

IMG_0737.jpg


IMG_0747.jpg
 
My hammer analogy was bad, and I apologize. Heres a much better story and my own anecdotal evidence, I had forgotten about and it happen this deer season in late Jan of this year. I was leaving the camp and headed home after a mid day hunt and ran across an elderly man on the side of the road and his air compressor which he had cable locked to his trailer that his 4 wheeler was on, had bounced out and the cable had wrapped around the axle and lodged the compressor under the tire. I had a hack saw in my tool box so I cut through the cable the best I could but because of the trailer and the angle and everything else there was still a small amount of cable that I could not cut through. So he lent me his chinese made leatherman knock off, I was using it as a pair of pilers and trying to torque the last of the cable in half, well the cheap tool broke. I went and got my leatherman charge ti and promptly had the thing off. Yes we were using the mutlti tool in a way it was not meant to be used, but it was our only option.

I inspected the multi tool after I got home and not even a mark, no hair line cracks nothing, nada, zip, even though the tool had been mis used or abused per say. So in hind sight I spent 90 he spent 10, and my tool worked and was seemingly none the worse for wear. Did that justify the additional expense, now I can absolutely. So sorry for the wasted post, now that I think about it the extra money is absolutely worth it in terms of longevity, life span or economic life.

Thanks for the responses.
 
Never apologize, there is never a wasted thread. This is the best forum to come to for questions like these. And only here will you find time proven answers to those questions.
 
I bought a hammer that cost $95.
My boss used a $5 hammer.

They both put in staples and nails and pound out bricks and cement.

My hammer is a titanium stiletto. It weighs ten ounces but hits as if it is a 20 ounce steel hammer. I carry it on my toolbelt day in and day out. I go up and down ladders and steps all day. Every step I take I am saving myself ten ounces of lifting and wear and tear on my butt! Every swing I make takes less effort.

Sometimes things that seem WAY overpriced are just worth it.
 
Time-less design

After you buy one you will understand it's worth it. Plus it will save you a lot of money in the long run, because then you will compare all future purchases to a Sebenza and 99% of the knives out there don't even compare.


So buy a Sebenza, help the economy and save a lot of money, because you will stop buying lower end knives. :thumbup:

aj
 
I don't own a Sebenza, however, it's on the list.

If one uses something daily and it brings them a bit of joy daily (or saves their a$$ a time or two) then I think it it absolutely worth it!

I bought a Benchmade Emerson around 1996. Cost what was to me then a lot of money. Many buddies also bought cheaper blades around that time. The Benchmade has seen years of hard use, many years of overseas tours, and still works fine. When you cost out any good EDC knife over a decade+ it comes down to pennies a day so I think it is well worth it!

I think I paid $160 for it at the time, not sure now. So, $160 divided by 4745 days (13 years) comes to 3 cents a day. A $400 knife bought then would have cost me 8 cents a day which I also think would have been a great deal!!

So, if you paid $400 for a new Sebbie and it lasts you 20 years (very conservative I think) I will cost you a nickle a day (not counting leap years). A real bargain in my mind! Now, if I could just get them to take payment at a nickle a day:D
 
aj1985 said:
Time-less design

After you buy one you will understand it's worth it. Plus it will save you a lot of money in the long run, because then you will compare all future purchases to a Sebenza and 99% of the knives out there don't even compare.


So buy a Sebenza, help the economy and save a lot of money, because you will stop buying lower end knives. :thumbup:

aj
Click to expand...

I agree with this 100%
 
Don't know..Got mine way back in Janurary. It's not worn out yet, but I'm still ready to buy another when funds are available.
 
All of the ones I have and had have been manufactured in the past 9 years. Some have been well used, others were mainly dress knives and some are heavily used. I have been carrying an older small regular as my EDC, and using the heck out of it. It's only about 4 years old.

I have seen some of the P Sebenzas (ATS34 models) still available on different forums. These are approximately from the early 90's, and are still useable, but are mainly sold as collectibles IMHO. I don't know about earlier models, but I am sure that they are still useable.

There are a lot of good folders out there, very collectible, that are still useable. They were the best of the best, like old Remington models, and are still useable. Springs and frame locks might be apples and oranges, but AFAIK about knives, both can be pivotal in the longevity of a knife.
 
You mention the ATS34 run; we've replaced blades in knives from the early years.
We can re-heattreat the lock, re-blast the handles, fit a brand new S30V blade with washers, bushing, pins, screws, spacer and stop sleeve. You'll basically end up with a brand new sebenza that is ready for another 20 years of use. It will get back to you with the original blade and fittings cleaned and stored in a little ziplock bag.
The cost of what could be considered your second sebenza would be considerably less than a good Benchmade and between 1/3 to 1/4 the cost of a brand new Seb. This type of thing is not a hastle, it's part of our production. We refurb and pimp hundreds of our customers sebenzas every year.
The life span of a sebenza? The titanium handle could last for(ever) millenia and all of the parts that do wear out can be replaced as long as we keep making them.
 
MikeC great thread! I will be using some of these lines and the rational to combat the wife on my next CRK expendature. I am sure you will really enjoy your sebbie once you buy one, I have had both of mine since 04 and they had performed flawlessly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top