Sebenza Overrated?

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I am lucky in that I like big blades around four inches so I have no desire to own one. They are worth the money but just not to me.
 
Yep -- therre are $50 POS guns out there too. That dosn't mean you shouldn't spend $400 to get something decent. As you did!
 
KeithAM said:
I'm scratching my head too. I've got both knives in front of me (Grip & Seb). The clips on both are metal, so the edges of both clips are, for all practical purposes, equally hard. I can't tell any difference in stiffness between the clips.
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As previously noted I lost my Sebenza - I'm sure some happy Bx7 bus rider is very happy - so can't compare directly and this may very well be a case of selective memory.

Do you find the thumb stud on the Sebenza less confortable than the Grip?
 
Agree on the clips...

KeithAM said:
I'm scratching my head too. I've got both knives in front of me (Grip & Seb). The clips on both are metal, so the edges of both clips are, for all practical purposes, equally hard. I can't tell any difference in stiffness between the clips.
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...and on the thumb lugs, my personal view (YMMV) is that the CRK pointy lug isn't much different in use than the cylindrical BM lugs. I do prefer hole openers to any kind of lug, though...


gulliamo said:
As previously noted I lost my Sebenza - I'm sure some happy Bx7 bus rider is very happy - so can't compare directly and this may very well be a case of selective memory.

Do you find the thumb stud on the Sebenza less confortable than the Grip?
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I didn't read any of this thread except for the OP but I think of the Sebenza as a finely made 1911 functionally it won't do anything more than a Glock but it might be something you feel you need. I personally have owned a large Sebenza and it is amazingly well crafted but I couldn't bring myself to actually put it to work. I ended up trading it for a couple of spydercos which I have run ragged. I still on occasion find myself missing it.
 
Ive spent about a week with my small insingo in my pocket for the entire time. I was very skeptical before I got it. I wasn't sold on the looks or functionality but figured that a knife with such a cult following deserved a chance at least.

I am now obsessed with this knife. The texture, the clean lines, the sound it makes when it locks up, everything. You can expect to see most of my other EDC folders on the market shortly :)

It is not without faults though. For starters, the thumb stud is too pointy, and since the detent is nice a firm (which is a good thing for pocket safety) it digs into your finger too hard. Also, the lanyard is positioned in such a way that part of it can touch the point of the blade and fray. I can see it needing to be replaced every couple months or so, so its not like its a huge deal, but something that could be addressed in future models.

So glad I ponied up the dough and got this knife.

EDIT: one more problem with the knife, the handles finish is easily marked by keys, coins, etc... in your pocket. Mine is a total user so I dont care but a lot of people who buy this knife just to have it, not to use it might not like how easily it can be marked
 
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pepemrtnz said:
Ive spent about a week with my small insingo in my pocket for the entire time. I was very skeptical before I got it. I wasn't sold on the looks or functionality but figured that a knife with such a cult following deserved a chance at least.

I am now obsessed with this knife. The texture, the clean lines, the sound it makes when it locks up, everything. You can expect to see most of my other EDC folders on the market shortly :)

It is not without faults though. For starters, the thumb stud is too pointy, and since the detent is nice a firm (which is a good thing for pocket safety) it digs into your finger too hard. Also, the lanyard is positioned in such a way that part of it can touch the point of the blade and fray. I can see it needing to be replaced every couple months or so, so its not like its a huge deal, but something that could be addressed in future models.

So glad I ponied up the dough and got this knife.
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The thumbstud won't change, have you tried using a sweeping motion instead of pressing your thumb down on it?

The lanyard fraying is often due to a loose lanyard. Try tightening it up a bit.
 
Like some of you I haven't read through this whole string either. But in skimming through it I've seen some great posts on both sides of the debate.

I've been trying to come up with a way to express my feelings on the matter without sounding as though I'm disrespecting either the knife or those that like it. There seem to be some very strong feelings on both sides of the isle.

I had heard about the Sebenza but I had never really paid much attention until I started hanging around this site. Reading all the praise heaped on the knife by its fans started to make me think that I should really try this knife and see for myself whether or not it was everything they said it was. But whenever I was about to actually pull the trigger something would always stop me.

It's hard to explain just exactly what it is without it sounding disrespectful but I'll qualify it by saying that this is just a personal opinion and I have many preferences that other's would probably find laughable. Anyway, here goes so take it easy on me guys.

I think there's a bit of "The Emeperor's new clothes" element at work with this knife. I think there is so much hype and buzz around it that it create's an almost palpable exitement that people get caugh t up in it. It almost gets me too; but like I said, everytime I get close to sealing the deal I think to myself "Wait a minute, do you really want to do this just because everyone else thinks it's the cat's ass?"

IMHO, it all comes down to what makes you happy? To those that like it, good for you. There are those that think Striders are way over priced, and they probably are; but I am itching to get an SNG with DGG grips and a tiger stripe blade. That knife will cost me as much or more than a Sebenza but there are certain qualities it posseses that I find more appealing. A true CRK afficianado would probably look down his nose at my choice and that's fine.

Bottom line is it's your money. Spend it how you like and don't worry about what anyone else thinks.

My .02 Cents. . .
 
I have always wondered...

If I had a manufacturer make a super simple design but a high quality knife and stuck a 900$ price tag on it would that make it sell? Some behavioral economic theories say it would.

People like to have things that are a little exclusive, sebenzas are exclusive because of their price tag but it could be anything.
 
mat_890 said:
I have always wondered...

If I had a manufacturer make a super simple design but a high quality knife and stuck a 900$ price tag on it would that make it sell? Some behavioral economic theories say it would.

People like to have things that are a little exclusive, sebenzas are exclusive because of their price tag but it could be anything.
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I think we are thinking along the same lines.
 
Josh K said:
The thumbstud won't change, have you tried using a sweeping motion instead of pressing your thumb down on it?

The lanyard fraying is often due to a loose lanyard. Try tightening it up a bit.
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Yeah I always sweep and dont push down. My skin is dry right now getting used to the cold weather again so maybe that has to do with my girlishly sensitive skin. Maybe it just needs more break in time. Ill sit on the couch and open it over and over while watching tv tonight and see if it loosens up a bit. If not, maybe Ill get some grease and lube up the pivot.


Tightening the lanyard is such an obvious fix to the fraying I really cant believe that didnt occur to me. Looks like a simple hangmans noose so shouldn't be hard at all. :thumbup:
 
mat_890 said:
I have always wondered...

If I had a manufacturer make a super simple design but a high quality knife and stuck a 900$ price tag on it would that make it sell? Some behavioral economic theories say it would.

People like to have things that are a little exclusive, sebenzas are exclusive because of their price tag but it could be anything.
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I know what you're saying and I have been caught up by that in the past, no one is fully immune to it. When you buy something on hype sight-unseen and then finally get it in your hand it is often a let down. I have had $1000 fountain pens before (dont judge me, I have to write a lot and fountain pens saved my wrist from debilitating writers clamp that almost ruined my climbing 'career') that I was so excited to enjoy using, but then when they arrive it's just a feeling of 'why the hell did this cost this much money???'


I did not feel this way about the sebenza. It was everything I hoped it was. YMMV. To me, its worth it. To a lot, it wont be.


To answer the original question of the thread.

Is the sebenza overrated? Yes. It is impossible to not be overrated when you are this hyped up to begin with.

Is the sebenza awesome? Heck yeah!

Is the sebenza worth it? If it brings you joy, then you bet! Life's too short. Use nice things if you can afford them and they make you happy.
 
pepemrtnz said:
Yeah I always sweep and dont push down. My skin is dry right now getting used to the cold weather again so maybe that has to do with my girlishly sensitive skin. Maybe it just needs more break in time. Ill sit on the couch and open it over and over while watching tv tonight and see if it loosens up a bit. If not, maybe Ill get some grease and lube up the pivot.


Tightening the lanyard is such an obvious fix to the fraying I really cant believe that didnt occur to me. Looks like a simple hangmans noose so shouldn't be hard at all. :thumbup:
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Another thing about the studs, they aren't like some opening systems that are designed to be played with like flippers. Flippers are fun, but IMO pointless because you are relying on a opening mechanism to follow through. The studs work great because they dig into your thumb ensuring positive opening and followthrough. Repeated openings / closings will take their toll though.
 
Just opened my new Small Sebenza ....It's worth it!

I had a large sebe yr's ago ..sat in safe because I was afraid to use it.
Sold it and forgot how well they are made.

Well Got this small in my pocket [gonna use it] and have my eye on a few others :)
 
pepemrtnz, take a ceramic stone or Spyderco rod and buff the thumblug gently with it. This should "soften" the hard edge.
 
OK here is the deal when a Sebenza is new it really is not broken in and the ball detent keeping the blade closed is very heavy duty stuff....so it will open ...but require more force than most knives. These are not fast deploying knives in anyway ...even after they broken in it takes some "training" to get it open quickly and I miss it about 1/2 the time. S30V used in the blade is tuff stuff and keeps an edge a long time but from the factory they are not shaving sharp and you will need a lower grit stone to bring the edge backa little after some use. The lockup is also sturdy and not easy to realize..so these are not knives to "play" with...so it depends on what you want...if you want a worker get a Sebenza if you want something to play with but still hard use get something else like a Galyean Pro series. It all comes down to you...I would try a sebenza before you buy..I did and dd not buy it then went back and got one because it grew on me...fav knife...no...overrated it depends on its use. Now if you tell me what you like in a knife that can help me help you pick something with your needs/wants/desires better.
 
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