well, i'll go for a large sebenza (since i am not going to war). i do not live anywhere near a knife store or i would check them out myself. spokane is only a 6 hr. drive, but crossing the border isn't as easy for us foreigners (canadians) as it used to be. so, i really appreciate the input of the knowledgeable "knifers" of cyberland.
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sebenza or strider ?
- Thread starter rprocter
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You should give Neil at truenorthknives.com a call. He knows his stuff, carries both lines, and is in Canada. Next best thing to actually handling them yourself. I have both and would have difficulties choosing one over the other. If I were to carry just one and could still have a dedicated work knife, I'd probably pick a Sebenza, but if I was planning on using that same knife at work, it would be a SnG. I wish Strider would make a knife in between the PT and SnG. I wish CRK would make a sheepsfoot or tanto blade for heavier use.
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You mean like this (from plaza cutlery):
Absolutely. I mean I wish they would make it a regular offering.
Go with the sebenza.Great knife.easy to use.I carried one for a long while.
I looked at strider folders abunch and owned a couple, that I got in trade.Was not impressed.Fit and finish was crap.Stick with the sebenza,cannot go wrong.I am sure you will be happy with it.
Randy
I looked at strider folders abunch and owned a couple, that I got in trade.Was not impressed.Fit and finish was crap.Stick with the sebenza,cannot go wrong.I am sure you will be happy with it.
Randy
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I agree with the 'get what you like' posts. I have both. Both are great knives. I generally carry my SNG at work since it is definately more robust than my sebbie. I have no problems scratching it up and using the hell out of it. The sebbie is what I carry outside of work. "Out of the box" so to say, my seb out sliced my SNG since the grinds are different and the SNG blade is a heck of a lot thicker.
I reprofiled the SNG to about 12 degrees per side and the thing is insane slicer now. I use it pretty hard at work, cutting all kinds of things, and the edge has held up great. Strop every once in a while and it comes right back. Paul Bos did an incredible job with the heat treat IMO.
I did have a minor lock up issue after a while, but nothing a tighten and tweak couldn't fix. The SNG for me, has held up great after a ton of daily use from everything from cutting plastic banding straps, breaking down cardboard, cutting radiator hoses, wedging open crates, etc.etc.
The Seb is absolutely no slouch either! It's a great slicer, but I wouldn't do to it what I do to the SNG. They are two different knives. I use the heck out of the seb too, but with a thinner blade, I'm just not as hard on it.
I reprofiled the SNG to about 12 degrees per side and the thing is insane slicer now. I use it pretty hard at work, cutting all kinds of things, and the edge has held up great. Strop every once in a while and it comes right back. Paul Bos did an incredible job with the heat treat IMO.
I did have a minor lock up issue after a while, but nothing a tighten and tweak couldn't fix. The SNG for me, has held up great after a ton of daily use from everything from cutting plastic banding straps, breaking down cardboard, cutting radiator hoses, wedging open crates, etc.etc.
The Seb is absolutely no slouch either! It's a great slicer, but I wouldn't do to it what I do to the SNG. They are two different knives. I use the heck out of the seb too, but with a thinner blade, I'm just not as hard on it.
Go with the Sebby. I have 4 and use all of them. Bocote inlay, NICA Tanto,a plain Regular and a Micarta/Partial Seratted. My favorite has become the Micarta Inlay I just bought a week ago. I almost fortot, buy from Todd @ 2TheHilt. His service and pricing is stellar! See or want a Sebenza, make him an offer.
MPE
MPE
If you compare fit and finish, Chris Reeve is in a league of its own. Strider is nowhere as close and I personally think the fit and finish is disappointing as it is made to be a 'hardcore' 'tactical' knife. It is simply too 'hardcore' for me. If you go to war, many consider taking one, although I would personally take a Sebenza over a Strider any day, despite the condition, cost or circumstance.
In terms of tolerances after long term usage, one again Chris Reeve's Sebenza is in its own league. Any knife except the Sebenza will develop blade play after extensive usage in my experience, even Strider. Reeve developed the 'frame lock' AKA Reeve Integral Lock, and seems to do it the best. The part of the titanium handle that makes contact with the blade is heat treated. Frankly I find this important if you plan to use the same knife for years as titanium is naturally soft compared to the steel the blade will make contact with.
Additionally, most companies void a warranty if you disassemble the blade; Reeve encourages it. The fit and finish is so perfect that the knife goes back to normal every time.
As far as blade grinds, the grind Reeve uses on the Seb is an extreme hollow grind. No flat grind will slice like that hollow grind, as it is most similar to a straight razor which is the ultimate cutter. For food prep, this blade design is great! Indeed, flat grinds excel in very heavy cutting, often with materials which are not made to be cut by knives and for heavy wood working. I have used my Spyderco Manix to cut up soup cans without issue. For those questioning the tip strength and grind strength of the hollow ground Sebenza, you need not worry. I baton with my Small Classic and I have not had any issues other than expected dulling. Chipping and blade play have not occurred.
In terms of tolerances after long term usage, one again Chris Reeve's Sebenza is in its own league. Any knife except the Sebenza will develop blade play after extensive usage in my experience, even Strider. Reeve developed the 'frame lock' AKA Reeve Integral Lock, and seems to do it the best. The part of the titanium handle that makes contact with the blade is heat treated. Frankly I find this important if you plan to use the same knife for years as titanium is naturally soft compared to the steel the blade will make contact with.
Additionally, most companies void a warranty if you disassemble the blade; Reeve encourages it. The fit and finish is so perfect that the knife goes back to normal every time.
As far as blade grinds, the grind Reeve uses on the Seb is an extreme hollow grind. No flat grind will slice like that hollow grind, as it is most similar to a straight razor which is the ultimate cutter. For food prep, this blade design is great! Indeed, flat grinds excel in very heavy cutting, often with materials which are not made to be cut by knives and for heavy wood working. I have used my Spyderco Manix to cut up soup cans without issue. For those questioning the tip strength and grind strength of the hollow ground Sebenza, you need not worry. I baton with my Small Classic and I have not had any issues other than expected dulling. Chipping and blade play have not occurred.
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Great post except for this part.
The Sebbie Hollow grind is not that "extreme". In fact they are left pretty thick. Nothing like a Razor. They slice OK until they reach a depth in the media where you are cutting as deep as the spine. Then they drag and bind to one degree or another depending on what you are cutting.
Straight Razors are great push cutters because of the VERY acute edge and VERY thin cross section. It is not a mystical property of a hollow grind. In fact the hollow grind is there to make it easy to resharpen. Just the lay the blade flat on the stone. This does not work well with Factory grind sebenzas.
Again as I posted before with a picture my thinned and convexed SMF WILL out slice a factory sebenza. I have thinned and sharpened several Sebenzas and they do as well but no better than the modded SMF.
Neither knife leaves the factory with a Edge anywhere near optimal.
The Sebenza and Strider are two completely different knives, which makes a comparison useless until the designed intent is considered.
Sebenza's are nice, no doubt, but not built for hard use customers. Striders, especially the SnG, are not for EDC office workers. There is some carry over, but in the main, they are marketed to two different groups. Sebenza's come with leather slip cases and birth certificates, Striders with a plastic ziplock bag.
The are also built for different uses - showy hollow ground vs. utility flat grind, custom graphic vs notched high tactile grips for use with gloves. Humped an M4 with Picatinny rails? You wear gloves - and the Strider is made to maximize handling when wearing gloves.
It works better on the job site, and you don't care about scratching the blade, like I would if I had a Sebenza instead of a SnG. So the whole point of the endless Sebenza vs. SnG posts is that the poster really needs to define his knife usage, then match it to the knife.
If you're not carrying for hard use, get the Sebenza. You'll be happy with the eye pleasing fit and finish. If you need to work it like a tool, get the SnG, it's won't let you down, and it comes to be used.
Sebenza's are nice, no doubt, but not built for hard use customers. Striders, especially the SnG, are not for EDC office workers. There is some carry over, but in the main, they are marketed to two different groups. Sebenza's come with leather slip cases and birth certificates, Striders with a plastic ziplock bag.
The are also built for different uses - showy hollow ground vs. utility flat grind, custom graphic vs notched high tactile grips for use with gloves. Humped an M4 with Picatinny rails? You wear gloves - and the Strider is made to maximize handling when wearing gloves.
It works better on the job site, and you don't care about scratching the blade, like I would if I had a Sebenza instead of a SnG. So the whole point of the endless Sebenza vs. SnG posts is that the poster really needs to define his knife usage, then match it to the knife.
If you're not carrying for hard use, get the Sebenza. You'll be happy with the eye pleasing fit and finish. If you need to work it like a tool, get the SnG, it's won't let you down, and it comes to be used.
I'll have to tell my CRK dealer that as he always compares them to razors. Indeed, I agree both can be much sharper than how they come from the factory; in fact some Reeves are not very sharp at all compared to how sharp the guys in Golden ship 'em.
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This thread makes me laugh. I should call my customer that has 19 sebenzas, who is an electrician by trade, who uses his sebenza daily to cut wire and various other "hard use" tasks and tell him he's abusing his knife.
The Sebenza will take anything you throw at it. Let's be honest folks. Just because it looks pretty, it doesn't mean it's not tough as nails. Get the knife that appeals to you most, with the best materials, that you'll carry daily. Don't get a knife based on hype.
The Sebenza will take anything you throw at it. Let's be honest folks. Just because it looks pretty, it doesn't mean it's not tough as nails. Get the knife that appeals to you most, with the best materials, that you'll carry daily. Don't get a knife based on hype.
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Whatever you get, if you're going to be paying high-dollar for any tool, it should be well made. Fit and finish should be closer to perfect the more money you spend on it, not the other way 'round.
Hammers, Prybars, even cement drilling bits and saw blades come looking like new, in new condition out of the box. Yes, the paint coat on them won't last long, and they may eventually scratch, rust, ding and scrape.
But any manufacturer or fan of a manufacturer who tells your expensive new tool should look used and not be perfectly put together when you buy it, because it's meant to be used--well now, that just doesn't make any sense, does it?
Hammers, Prybars, even cement drilling bits and saw blades come looking like new, in new condition out of the box. Yes, the paint coat on them won't last long, and they may eventually scratch, rust, ding and scrape.
But any manufacturer or fan of a manufacturer who tells your expensive new tool should look used and not be perfectly put together when you buy it, because it's meant to be used--well now, that just doesn't make any sense, does it?
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Sorry your use of language was so awkward I missed your point.
Well let me see how to put this. Your wrong how about that? Clear enough?
The customs all get their blade grind in house by hand. The blade grind on the productions as far as I know are outsourced. There are other differences as well.
I hope to finish this pleasant conversation before your Mom makes you go to bed. Thanks for your insights, silly as they are it still took effort.
Where is your proof? The standard models are all made in the same shop as the customs, just not by mick or dwyer. That would really raise questions if they werent...
If you like tight fit, clean finish and precision, get the Sebenza.
If you like "badditude", get the Strider.
Handle both. One thing I like about the Strider folder designs is the finger choil - I happen to like them, just like on the Spyderco Native. I also like the G-10 scale on the non-lock side.
Unfortunately, I have never been too fond of the chunky rear handle on the Strider's, your hand might like it differently.
On the other hand, if you're thinkin' Sebenza, remember what Mick says, "all-metal knives are for fags".
If you like "badditude", get the Strider.
Handle both. One thing I like about the Strider folder designs is the finger choil - I happen to like them, just like on the Spyderco Native. I also like the G-10 scale on the non-lock side.
Unfortunately, I have never been too fond of the chunky rear handle on the Strider's, your hand might like it differently.
On the other hand, if you're thinkin' Sebenza, remember what Mick says, "all-metal knives are for fags".
May just be me, but my sng came in flawless condition and is finished pretty well. I've handled sebenzas before but have yet to own one. However, I plan on buying one as soon as I'm able. In my opinion you get more knife with the strider (sng). But like I've said, I haven't owned a sebenza, so maybe I'm not able to apprecaite it fully yet.
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Spark,
GOD SPARK Just stop it. Next thing I know you will boil one of Striders pets, and leave it cooking on his stove. Seriously that attack thread you did disqualifies you from any thread attempting to have a rational talk about Strider Folders. QUIT STALKING SOMEBODY THAT IS NOT EVEN HERE.
This point was made in this thread already. I went into a fair amount of detail into how Sebenzas just LOOK refined but in fact have thick grinds.
For what is worth I AGREE with you that Sebenzas are super strong and no doubt the equal of Striders. It's just coming from you... its annoying. See I am a rational guy and you have me re-acting like a tard.
