Sebenza or 3 quality knives?

S

sub40man

Joined
Dec 19, 2005
Messages
4
I have personally never seen or handled a Sebbie but am very intrigued as I have only heard great things about them and have seen pics on the web.

I have 3 very fine quality BM's and am seriously wondering if it is better to have 3 good quality knives or 1 Sebenza? Those of you who have Sebbies please give me your thoughts. Since they are rather expensive I would like to know if they are really that much better than a nice BM or Spyderco.

Also, is the handle "slippery" and does it scratch easily?

P.S. I am being sincere and not trying to stir things up.
 
What's the point of having 3 quality knives if you can own one that is simply excellent in every respect as an EDC? ;)
 
I was wondering about the same thing, so I ordered a sebenza to find out :D

I'll answer your question when I get it and have had some time to use and play with it.
 
Quantity over quality doesn't necessarily mean that you'll be happy or happier (not to imply that BM or Spyderco do not produce a quality product).

Some people prefer several knives due to one knife not possessing the ability to complete all cutting tasks. Others have narrowed their preferences down and rely on a single knife.

Does CRK produce the best knife on the market? It all depends on who you talk to. Many, many knife knuts are on the hunt for the "Holy Grail" of knives. I would wager that the vast majority, after many knife purchases, are still on that hunt. Like me. :D So, I own a bunch of knives. Amongst the gathering. . . .several Sebbies. Why ? Because they have NEVER failed me and rank with some of the best custom knives that I've ever owned.

Everyone seems concerned about the price of a Sebbie. Part of the problem is that buyers are at a disadvantage when they're not able to handle the product before such a large expenditure. That's human nature.

I will say. . . .most that pull the trigger never look back and are elated with their purchase and the performance of the knife. And after-sales support ? Pfffff. . . . .the best !

Pull the trigger. . . .you'll be happy that you did ! ;)
 
Your going to get a very skewed opinion on this website, because for the most part, folks on this website have have made the decision you're considering in favor of the sebenza.

Having said that, I have a lot of quality knives in the $50-$200 range, 80% of which I purchased before I knew about CRK. My personal experience is this -- the sebenza quality, reliability (yes, there's a difference between the two terms-- bug me if you'd like to discuss), and toughness have basically spoiled me. I was just at Blade Show West looking at knives that were 20%-50% more expensive than the sebenza, and although they were stout, well functioning knives, the quality didn't come close to the sebenza. As a result, even though I really WANTED to buy them, I just couldn't bring myself to do so.

I've been carrying the same sebenza for ~ 8 years as an EDC. Everytime I use it, it's the experience I come to expect from a finely engineered tool. (Link using a Milwaukee Holeshooter -- yes, the consumer grade B&D drill would do the job, but is it nearly the joy to use? No.) Would I trade the daily sebenza use experience for rotating 3 lesser, but clearly adequate knives through my EDC pocket? No.

Best of luck in your kinife acquisitions!
 
A couple weeks ago I saw a Sebenza on this forum. Wow, I was just in awe in the quality and workmanship of the knife. Price was an issue for me but I knew I wanted to get one. I started a thread about which vendor to purchase from and a few forum members posted their suggestions. I did a search on Google and Froogle and found a vendor that gave me a good price and fast shipping. I knew that I wanted to get just the plain Jane large Classic Sebenza and that is what I got. I couldn't see myself paying that much more for a graphic or inlay model. A week later I found a small Classic Sebenza new in box with micarta inlays at a great price and I acquired that as well.:D

All in all, I am very happy with my purchases. I could have surely purchased two or three Spydercos or Kershaws for the price I purchased my large Classic Sebenza *BUT* it wouldn't be the same as having just that one Chris Reeve knife in my pocket. It is because of the quality, workmanship, and reputation that is in all the Chris Reeve knives. I hope to enjoy my recently acquired blades for many years to come and I know that these knives will serve me well.
 
The Sebenza is as close to perfection as it gets. I judge every other knife to the Sebenza. It is an exquisite knife. There is no other knife that comes close to the consistant fit and finish consistantly that Chris Reeves does. Once you get a Sebbbie in your hand, you WILL understand.
 
i also have tried and still have lots of other knives, from $20 production pieces to $600 customs, but everday in my pocket is a large sebenza. i will sometimes carry a second blade(i don't really know why) but they end up being traded or stuck in my knife box or safe. i even bought a small sebenza, thinking i would need a small blade sometimes, but the large just sits there in my pocket hardly noticed until needed, then instant satisfaction everytime i open it and used it. the stock finish is in no way slippery, in fact i prefer mine smoother, and "take the edge off" with fine emery. you will not regret getting one....
 
I just posted on the General Discussion about my looking for "The One" and the possibility of thinning my little herd of knives. One thing I didn't mention was that I have a small Sebbie that has been on me since I got it in June and it has me looking at my other knives less often, let alone using them. I don't think everyone here is totally off the mark when it comes to CRK and I was fairly skeptical at first(yep, I thought everyone might have been drinking a bit too much purple Kool-Aid at first). I'd go for it. If it's not for you, at least you can unload it pretty quickly and get most of your money back.
 
Well I used to have a safe full of Spydercos but now I have 3 Sebenzas.
I still have some Spydercos but there is nothing else like a Sebenza.
 
I just found this site, gonna be a lot of great info. for sure, thanks to all. I in fact followed GigOne's advice unknowingly two days ago and ordered a small Sebenza. This after having my new Benchmade Skirmish (small size) for a just over a week. I have a lot of BM's, was a former dealer for same before they changed corp. policy on us. Nonetheless, they are good knives for the most part. For those who don't know, the Skirmish uses a Titanium handle/monolock system like the Sebenza.

After careless handling on my part and the fact that the Skirmish uses the Spyderco style "hole" rather than a thumb stud...I sustained a minor cut. My fault but I now know for sure I want a thumb stud on my folders. The Skirmish is a pretty nice knife that I may or may not keep once the Sebenza arrives.

Doubt that I will regret the Sebenza purchase even with my limited handling of the only demo I saw, some years ago. I liken it to a recent watch purchase I made last year...have been extremely happy with that and expect nothing less from the Sebenza.
 
If I could I'd like to give my thoughts on the sebenza and maybe it will give some other people who are considering it something to think about. I've been a knife guy since as long as I can remember, I used to use my grass cutting money to get them, mostly cheapo's (under twenty dollars). Well when I was around seventeen I got into hunting and saved up for a nice gerber. WOW I was amazed at how well a fifty dollar knife cut and performed. after a couple years with several different gerbers, I saved up for a Benchmade, and once again I was wowed by the increase in edgeholding ability (ATS-34 steel) and all around quality. (I was now buying knives that were around 100 dollars apiece) I read an article in Blade magazine about Chris Reeve Knives and decided that the Sebenza must be the 'Ultimate' folder. I stopped buying other knives and saved up for a Sebenza. I was not Wowed. Yes it is a great knife. Yes it is actually the best knife I own. heres the problem. My gerbers were easily 5 times better than the no name cheapos (for little more than twice the price) . My Benchmades were easily twice as good as the Gerbers. (and twice as expensive) My Sebenza holds an edge a little longer than the benchmades. (I think) The sebenza's fit and finish are flawless, my better benchmades are almost as good. It's the best yes, but it's not head and shoulders above the others. I'm don't feel that the sebenza is overpriced, the level of finish, and customer service Chris Reeves provides are worth the money BUT don't expect it to be three or four times the quality of a good hundred dollar knife just because it cost three or four hundred dollars.

That said I've been wanting an Umfaan (mini sebenza) for years and if Chris Reeve doesn't reintroduce it soon I'm gonna start looking on ebay, and if, God forbid, I lost my Sebenza. I 'd order another one tomorrow. (although I'd miss Chis' signature that runs down the side of the blade on my flat grind) I'm not sure exactly where my 'other' knives are now, I think a couple might be in my toolbox, and I'm pretty sure there's at least one somewhere in my truck box. I always know exactly where my Sebenza is: one of three places, my hand, my pocket or (when I'm sleeping) on my dresser. I won't even lay it down anywhere else. I've got one, and one is all I'll ever need. (except for the umfaam... see sometimes I go out to nice places, and I need a small knife for the sheeple... and to cut my occasional cigar)

As a side note I got a spyderco sharpmaker today. I used to think I did a good job sharpening my Sebbie. Wrong! I now understand scary sharp. If you stare at it your eyes are liable to bleed.
 
gdwtvb said:
If I could I'd like to give my thoughts on the sebenza and maybe it will give some other people who are considering it something to think about. I've been a knife guy since as long as I can remember, I used to use my grass cutting money to get them, mostly cheapo's (under twenty dollars). Well when I was around seventeen I got into hunting and saved up for a nice gerber. WOW I was amazed at how well a fifty dollar knife cut and performed. after a couple years with several different gerbers, I saved up for a Benchmade, and once again I was wowed by the increase in edgeholding ability (ATS-34 steel) and all around quality. (I was now buying knives that were around 100 dollars apiece) I read an article in Blade magazine about Chris Reeve Knives and decided that the Sebenza must be the 'Ultimate' folder. I stopped buying other knives and saved up for a Sebenza. I was not Wowed. Yes it is a great knife. Yes it is actually the best knife I own. heres the problem. My gerbers were easily 5 times better than the no name cheapos (for little more than twice the price) . My Benchmades were easily twice as good as the Gerbers. (and twice as expensive) My Sebenza holds an edge a little longer than the benchmades. (I think) The sebenza's fit and finish are flawless, my better benchmades are almost as good. It's the best yes, but it's not head and shoulders above the others. I'm don't feel that the sebenza is overpriced, the level of finish, and customer service Chris Reeves provides are worth the money BUT don't expect it to be three or four times the quality of a good hundred dollar knife just because it cost three or four hundred dollars.

That said I've been wanting an Umfaan (mini sebenza) for years and if Chris Reeve doesn't reintroduce it soon I'm gonna start looking on ebay, and if, God forbid, I lost my Sebenza. I 'd order another one tomorrow. (although I'd miss Chis' signature that runs down the side of the blade on my flat grind) I'm not sure exactly where my 'other' knives are now, I think a couple might be in my toolbox, and I'm pretty sure there's at least one somewhere in my truck box. I always know exactly where my Sebenza is: one of three places, my hand, my pocket or (when I'm sleeping) on my dresser. I won't even lay it down anywhere else. I've got one, and one is all I'll ever need. (except for the umfaam... see sometimes I go out to nice places, and I need a small knife for the sheeple... and to cut my occasional cigar)

As a side note I got a spyderco sharpmaker today. I used to think I did a good job sharpening my Sebbie. Wrong! I now understand scary sharp. If you stare at it your eyes are liable to bleed.
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One thing you need to remember is that Sebenzas sell for there full MSRP.
Many other don't.BMs that sell for 100.00 are often discounted.The MSP on them may well be 200.00 or more so that makes a Senbenza only about twice the price of a BM.Sebenzas sell at full retail because there is that much of a demand for them.
 
gdwtvb said:
<stuff deleted> Yes it is actually the best knife I own. heres the problem. My gerbers were easily 5 times better than the no name cheapos (for little more than twice the price) . My Benchmades were easily twice as good as the Gerbers. (and twice as expensive) My Sebenza holds an edge a little longer than the benchmades. (I think) The sebenza's fit and finish are flawless, my better benchmades are almost as good. It's the best yes, but it's not head and shoulders above the others. I'm don't feel that the sebenza is overpriced, the level of finish, and customer service Chris Reeves provides are worth the money BUT don't expect it to be three or four times the quality of a good hundred dollar knife just because it cost three or four hundred dollars.

<more stuff deleted>
Click to expand...

Great observation. This is a universal law of product positioning. From a Seiko to a Tag Heuer, a 300ZX to a 911, a Black & Decker to a Bosch, -- as you progress up the line, incremental price doesn't yield a proportional margin of performance improvement.

Our privilege (or struggle) is choosing where to give our scarce dollars. As for me, I allocate for the Seiko, the 300ZX, the Bosch . . . and the Sebenza.
 
Fooj said:
Great observation. This is a universal law of product positioning. From a Seiko to a Tag Heuer, a 300ZX to a 911, a Black & Decker to a Bosch, -- as you progress up the line, incremental price doesn't yield a proportional margin of performance improvement.

Our privilege (or struggle) is choosing where to give our scarce dollars. As for me, I allocate for the Seiko, the 300ZX, the Bosch . . . and the Sebenza.
Click to expand...

well said fooj. i have always looked at the matter in terms of diminished returns. one product can only be so much better than another. is a crk better than a benchmade? depends on one's preference, likes, dislikes, etc. i like benchmades and own a few. however i really appreciate the subtler differences that 'higher end' knives have and am always willing to pay a premium for such.
 
I joined BF last November as a humble hillbilly happy as could be with a $40.00-$50.00 Case or Uncle Henry in my pocket. I did my share of "lurking" on this forum. I thought I would never justify $200.00 for a knife. I read about the Sebbie for quite a few months and thought theres no way I'm spending that for a knife. Then I went down to our local knife shop and actually held one for the first time. After that it was all over. I pulled the trigger and have not looked back. What a beautiful knife! My mini Sere now stays in the drawer.
I also bought a Mountaineer II that I love equally as well. You cannot or will not be sorry.
 
sub40man said:
I have 3 very fine quality BM's and am seriously wondering if it is better to have 3 good quality knives or 1 Sebenza?
Click to expand...

What is the total price off your three BM’s? the same as one Sebbie!? You can never EDC-carry 3 BM’s or use them at the same time. Quality over quantity if you want to spend big bugs on a high quality folding knife.

I have to say I’m pleased whit a Opinel, SAK or Spyderco Delica4 for EDC. I just don’t like the idea of it getting stolen, confiscated or even losing one $$$ knife.
 
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