Sebenza or insingo?

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Aug 26, 2010
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So I got my umnumzaan last week and I am hooked on CRKs so for my next purchase im trying to decide between a Large sebenza 21 or a large sebenza insingo. It's use is going to be just regular edc situations. Anything from breaking down boxes to cutting food. Anything is really fair game. What are your opinions on both?
 
I'll be interested in following the discussion since I just got my first CR last week and it was a Zaan as well. My plan is to get a Large 21 with Micarta Inlays and then the Small Insingo.
 
I have a small Insingo and small 21. I find the Insingo to be more handy overall because things will slip off the curved part of the 21 easy (like with any curved blade like that), and the curve becomes drastic an inch from the tip, meaning about 2" worth of blade is used in many slicing tasks. The Insingo has the full ~3" blade for use in the same tasks. (Since I have the smalls, I can't say if this difference matters as much at the large size, but at this size, the difference is significant.)

For puncturing tasks, however, the 21 wins hands down. It's not overly difficult to puncture with the Insingo because the tip is still pretty small, but the 21's is more acute, and the Insingo's width from spine to blade gets thicker more quickly than the 21, which also makes puncturing tasks more difficult with it.

One thing I didn't realize until I had both in my hands is the thumb stud is set further away from the handle when closed with the Insingo, making the Insingo easier to open. It's a matter of ~2mm (on the smalls at least), so it's not a huge difference, but it is one that can be felt. I wouldn't buy an Insingo over a standard 21 only because it's slightly easier to open, but it's an added bonus.

I've only had the small 21 about two weeks, so maybe my opinion will change, but right now the Insingo is superior for what I do every day.

edit: Rereading your post, I want to also mention the Insingo excels at food prep. I use mine all the time.
 
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Awesome, one question can the insingo be flicked open? I read a lot on the flicking matter and I kinda walked away with as long as your not using your wrist to slam it open it's fine.
 
I have a small Insingo, Large Regular, Small regular.
To me the wharncliffe blade is best when it is of the smaller size. It's a great knife and very useful. I like it for apple slicing.
 
Awesome, one question can the insingo be flicked open? I read a lot on the flicking matter and I kinda walked away with as long as your not using your wrist to slam it open it's fine.

Yep, it can be flicked without your wrist:

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I can't wait to get mine back, and I'm thinking about a Small Insigno. I would say the 21 has more of a general purpose blade while the Insigno has a more slicing oriented blade. Both will puncture; 21 has the edge; both will slice; Insigno has the edge. I really like the thicker (wider) tip and the swedge on the Insigno.
 
Yeah, I think the umnums blade is close enough to a sebenza 21 that I wont really feel out with out it, but the only wharncliffe type blade that I did have was my rock lobster which I got rid of. So I'm going to order the insingo to replace that niche.
 
Small Insingo. I have both a small and large Insingo, large and small Sebenza and an Umnumzaan. The Small Insingo gets carried every day. I really like the small wharncliffe blade for most EDC tasks. Paired with your Umnumzaan you will have an unbeatable EDC pair of knives.
 
You already have a drop point blade in the Umnumzaan, so go with the Insingo. I have the large.

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Yeah I ordered it last night, so I'll let you all know how I like it as soon as it arrives!! :D
 
What dealer are you guys getting your Insingo's at??? I'm thinking about another Sebbie in the not to far off future, either a small micarta or the small Insingo, but I can't find any dealers that show the Insingo on their site.

Thanks
Dave
 
^You can't get them anywhere but knifeart.com (until March, at least).
 
Here's a pic of my small Insingo. I decided that I want a large one so I ordered it today. I called first to confirm that they still make the Insingo sterile without "Idaho Made" and Knifeart confirmed they are still sterile. :thumbup:

Insingo1-2.jpg
 
Get both ;)

Large and dual thumblugs. You can thank me later. :)


Ron LaBella
 
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