sebenza or umnumzaan as "user"

I

imbryan715

Joined
Jan 16, 2012
Messages
399
i guess the place to start this thread is by saying that i have used the search function and have not found an awnser that truly satisfys me and helps me lock down my $400+ "first" choice.

things i understand: i do understand that both of these are extremely high quality knives and i would be happy with either knife but i need a little bit of help on choosing which one to get first. i can justify the price and understand what i recieve will not be a super "wounder knife" that will make my life amazing. im just ready to get into the high end of cutlery that my benchmades, spyderco's, kershaw's, etc... do not comepte in. so basecily im confident in both knives i just need to ask you guy's to find which one suites my needs.

knife uses: this CRK will be my main carry knife for well over a year straight so this knife will see. box cutting, packaging tape, rope, packing material, zip ties, food prep, whittling and gutting and skinning deer and a billion other chores so this knife will be used and occasionally "abused" ( light prying and side to side stress by hard or strange cuts) all of the time. it will be a 100% user with no collecting involved.

my personal prefrences: i really like both knives but the umnumzaan appeals a lot more to my personality. i the kind of person who loves things overbuilt and heavy duty and ready to handle every task. i like the blade shape better and i like having some grip on the handles. but it has some things about knife i don't like. i perfer a lighter knife if possible and a knife that is not very wide and takes up little pocket room. i also dont like screws that require maintmence such as lock-tite or adjustment. and this special tool that the umnum needs just bothers me along with that darn lock bar stop for some reason. the sebenza solves all of these issues but i dont get that blade shape, handle traction, heavy duty look and feel etc.... and the knife just does not fit my personality. it seems very gentleman like while still being a good strong awesome design but lets just say im " not very gentleman like " :rolleyes: .

to sum up the things i like

umnumzaan : " appeals more to me"
pro's :
1. blade shape
2. handle traction and feeling
3."heavy duty" or "overbuilt"
4. fits my personality and taste better
5. the glass breaker ( im in a Firefighter traning program and plan on being a Firefighter/EMT )

con's :
1. more maintmence
2. pivot screw needs tinkering like lock-tite
3. special tool
4. weight
5. width while colsed in pocket

sebenza : " more classy more refined "
pro's :
1. width
2. weight
3. blade size
4. better pivot "screws"
5. more friendly and less scary for the "sheeple" aka my friends and girls

con's :
1. smaller sized piviot
2. does not feel as strong and manly ( yes i know it is very strong but thats how it feels to me )
3. not as much belly in blade
4. dont like the jimping as much as umnum
5. it does not feel like it would be as good of a whittler or cleaning and skinning knife for me
6. not as confident about abusing it as i am the umnum

in summation the sebenza is a an awesome knife with a lot of what i "like" and "nothing that annoys me" that much me that much and the umnumzaan has some things that i "LOVE" and some "things i don't like" at all

thanks for all of the help guy's and girl's,
Bryan
 
I'll reply later, I'm too distracted with the new Sebenza being debuted today :D
 
Lisa:rolleyes:
Me too:D

My only experience is with the Sebenza. I do however plan on getting the Umnumzaan after a couple more Sebenzas down the road.

If possible save up and get both as that may be the only way ti k ow which suites you better.

Either way I think you'll be happy and let us know what you get!
 
Hello friend,

I have both an my personal preference for a user is the UMNUM. I find the handle to be more comfortable in use and I also find that I like the blade shape of the umnum a bit better than the pointy blade of the 21.

I believe that under normal use it will stand up to wear better than the sebenza 21. I mostly think this because I believe that the ceramic ball on the lock bar will ensure the integrity of the lockup for years and years and years. Having said that, its not difficult to find pictures and videos of 15 year old sebenzas that have been used but still work perfectly. Just pick the one you think looks the coolest, they will perform the same.
 
I vote for get both, too. But with a small twist! Because I don't always (ever?) have enough money in the knife fund for everything I want, I would just pick one and try it. If you don't love it (but you will--no matter which one you try), sell it in the exchange and you'll re-coup most of your investment. Then you can buy the other and try it. This doesn't allow side by side comparison, but it has worked for me! Good luck, and enjoy!
 
FWIW, I'm a firefighter and actually got to speak to Mr. Reeve about the Umnumzaan and its on-duty use. He stated to me he felt the True North Knives Tanto Umnumzaan was well equipped to handle some rough use. I have also used the glassbreaker and it worked well enough. Not as good as a dedicated window punch, but it's a great bonus to a great knife.
 
Here is a great video from a fellow forum member. His videos are always excellent and he has non biased opinions. I referenced his videos a lot when I was first getting into CRK


[video=youtube;EWIKZMysl5k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWIKZMysl5k&feature=related[/video]
 
If your comparing the Umnumzaan to the 21 Sebenza, the Umnumzaan will win hands down everytime as its just more more heavily built in my opinion. Now if your comparing the Umnumzaan to the Large Regular Sebenza, then you have a tougher choice.

I have carried the umnumzaan in both versions ( regular, wilsons, tanto ) and found the regular standard zaan is by far the best of the trio offered. I find the Large Regular Sebenza to be superior in every way to the 21 and thats a debate that will go on forever it seems....lol.

I personally have been EDCing quite frequently a large regular CGG " In God We Trust" that I got from a great forum member. I have carried other regulars for years, this is just the current one.

The umnumzaan is a true workhorse of a folder. I have used mine for everything and it has never let me down. I even have a nice scar from it ( should have had stitches ) from opening up a blister pack containing a maglite. I have scoured shingles with it even and I find the swedge to be a godsend. I sell alot on ebay and when I have to lightly score ( not cut ) cardboard for folding up a custom box for an item, the swedge is absolutely awesome. I could never recommend the umnumzaan enough. Mine is of the older original design S30V and no LBS. I do like the changes to the newer version and will get one someday.

The regular sebenza is my favorite pattern of the sebenza. I have several of them. I have sold some also, but only ones I had doubles of....lol. I am always looking for them and they are getting tougher to find and the prices are getting steeper, but they are still the best in my experience. You are not giving up much to the zaan in the large regular. They are both comfortable in hand. Both have similar blade shape, though the zaan has more belly.

The 21 sebenza I have never been a fan of. Mostly because of the blade profile. Its just too pointy for me. I had a beautiful " night sky " and when I pulled it out to open a pack of hot dogs at a family cookout, everyone jumped back like I whipped out a machete. They all commented on how pointy sharp it was. With this same bunch of people, I have pulled out my large regulars and never had a response like I did with the 21. One thing I love about the regular.

One point I will make about the regular and the 21 and this is just in my experience and for those that have had both and used both might notice. With the regular, you can use it and use it and the lock up % never seems to go below 50%. Nearly every one I have ever had too was at 50% lockup %..... With the 21's in my experience, the lockup is always in the 50-70% range and it seems when you use them, it continues to creep up on the 70+ and more. I am just picky when it comes to the lockup% thing and feel that if I have one at 50%, I will get alot more life out of it vs. one that continues to creep up to 70% and eventually to 90+%. Just a pet peeve of mine is all. But all in all, its the blade shape that gets me with the 21 as I know under normal ( non flicking use ), the 21 lockup will outlast me and should I have an issue, it will be fixed.

So there are some thoughts from someone that had had both.

Zaan or large regular, you cant go wrong with either. I have never felt the smaller pivot on the large regular to be weak in any way. Both are the toughest folders I have ever owned and used extensively.
 
bladeCraft124 said:
Here is a great video from a fellow forum member. His videos are always excellent and he has non biased opinions. I referenced his videos a lot when I was first getting into CRK


[video=youtube;EWIKZMysl5k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWIKZMysl5k&feature=related[/video]
Click to expand...

i have watched this about 10 times over the last month or so hahahaha. i still cant decide. i guess i will sit down for the 11 time since you sent me the link
 
I own only two CRK's, a large regular Seb from 2002, and a regular Umnumzaan from last year (S35VN steel, no frame lock disk). Of the two, I much prefer the Zaan for use. It feels more comfortable in the hand for me during use, and I like the blade shape and grind better. I haven't had any issues with the screws loosening or anything like that. The Zaan does take some getting used to in terms of opening and unlocking. In my case, after about a week I became comfortable enough with unlocking it without my thumb pad hurting. These actions on the Zaan are a little less intuitive than on the Seb, but once you're used to it, it poses no problems whatsoever. They are both great cutters, but I'm especially impressed with the way the Zaan performs. That's why the Zaan is one of my main EDCs.
Jim
 
great video. also: kitty!

having had both, I like using both. I still have a UG sebenza, but sold my classic, and wish I hadn't. I will never sell my umnum, but that's for sentimental reasons. I just replaced my classic with a 21 because I missed it so much. they are both wonderful to use, if you enjoy using tools; that said get the one that appeals to you the most. you shouldn't need to adjust your umnum ever, unless you want to, and it's really not a big deal if you do. it doesn't carry like a big knife, and unless you usually only carry a peanut, it doesn't weigh appreciably more. if you get one of either and decide you dislike it, and want to try the other, the odds of finding someone in the exchange willing to do a straight swap are ~100%.
 
After reading your pros and cons, I can understand why it is difficult to make a decision. Sadly I cannot offer any help. My gut feeling says you'll end up wanting to try the one you didn't buy, at least that always happens to me.
Best to you in your decision.
 
From your post, I would recommend the Umnumzaan.

Your concerns are just a tad off, IMO.

The Umnumzaan pivot does take a special tool and loctite. That's an extra 12 bucks. Thing is, you go a LONG time before you have to mess with it, and I have never had mine loosen until I wanted it to. I cannot picture a situation that would require disassembly in the field. The open back construction and tight tolerances mean you can hose it/blow it out, and wait until you are home for a complete teardown. In my experience (and I had the same concerns as you regarding the adjustable pivot), the pivot is a non-issue in use.

I personally cannot tell the difference between the Sebenza and the Umnumzaan in pocket. The large Sebenza is very, very close to the same size as the Umnumzaan. In hand, they feel quite different.


Seriously, you can't go wrong either way....but it sounds like you more or less have your mind made up. ;)
 
Do not over think this. They are both super high quality knives and for 99.5% of your cutting tasks, they will work equally well. Choose the one that feels better in your hand and/or which one you think looks better.
 
thanks so far for the help guys! my concerns about the pivot are based off a few youtube reviews. i like how with the sebenza you just turn tight with no lock-tight and that is where it stays centerd and perfect deployment. i just figure that if i take it down every month or two to clean up that the sebenza would be a more hassle free process. i would say im about 70% percent umnumzaan. i just cant find a dealer with a right hand model. the last i checked blade hq, knife art, true north etc... have no stock at all

and i would perfer not to use feebay
 
I would go with the Umnum. Even though servicing it may be more complicated, it rarely needs to be serviced. Most people go months at a time, only spraying a little oil in the pivot. Plus, you can send it in to CRK and have them clean/tune and sharpen for FREE!
 
GSDNPWC said:
I would go with the Umnum. Even though servicing it may be more complicated, it rarely needs to be serviced. Most people go months at a time, only spraying a little oil in the pivot. Plus, you can send it in to CRK and have them clean/tune and sharpen for FREE!
Click to expand...
yes i think i will go with the umnumzaan first and maby get a sebenza when im feeling "crazy" enough to drop a chunk of change like that again ( worth every penny!) hahaha. i know about the spa treatment that CRK offers but i would want to avoid sending in my new " baby " as much as possible. because i get the feeling that it will be very hard to take that knife out of my pocket and send it off for 2 or 3 weeks :)
 
If you just do clean/lube/tune/sharpen the turnaround time is quite quick. If you have a good strop to keep the edge you will only have to send it in once or twice a year. Still hard to send it off, I know!
 
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