Sebenza Overrated?

[mmarkh]

Of course the Sebenza is overrated. I have no doubt that it's a great knife, with outstanding tolerances, but who needs outstanding tolerances in a knife?

A small knife should not, in my opinion, cost as much as a gun.

I bought this Taurus 9mm pistol for $375. It's stainless steel and shoots 20-round magazines. How, I wonder, could I justify a knife that costs as much, if not more, than such a pistol?

Knives, in my own personal view, are made today in such a way that they perform extremely well and are priced so that they can be lost or damaged without too much heartache.

Performance is what a knife should offer. If you're into tiny parts and beadblasted blades, and if you have the money, Sebenzas may be just what you need. But in a societal breakdown, or in an emergency (be it in snow and ice or lost in a remote area), these tiny knives won't be worth as much as much as a cheap $15 camping piece.

I'm sure there's a lot of work that goes into a Sebenza, but you can buy a gun and a really nice quality pocket knife that will last a lifetime, and that trumps everything that goes into the making of a Sebenza. I have a CRKT S-2 that has a titanium handle and an excellent blade. (Actually, I bought a bunch of them for $25 a pop, including shipping.) I think each knife will last as long as a Sebenza and outperform them as well, since they have larger blades.

This is an opinion, so please don't jump on me. Everyone has 'em, so yours may be different than mine.

The S-2 is called the "poor man's Sebenza," and I'm a poor man. If you
have the money and can afford a real Sebenza, then you may be able
to afford a box of 'em. And in the end, you can't beat quality!

.

That Taurus is a nice gun that is made in Brazil out of stamped parts with little or no hand finishing. Apples and oranges comparison really. Keep the CRKTs, I'll keep my Sebenza.

 

[cziv]

That Taurus is a nice gun that is made in Brazil out of stamped parts with little or no hand finishing. Apples and oranges comparison really. Keep the CRKTs, I'll keep my Sebenza.

The Taurus shoots and the CRKT S-2 is a Ti framelock that cuts. A lot less out of pocket than a SIG or a Rolex. Nuff aid...

 

[Brian Sargent]

... but not nearly as COOL ... nuff said!

 

[flipe8]

flipe8 and Incahiker: Which knives do you have with CPM154 that you are comparing to S30V?

For me, it was primarily based on an experience with my BM 707 while doing some summerhome renos in 2008. My intention was to use my BM as I didn't want to damage my Seb, but ended up going back to my Seb exclusively as I found it performed better scoring the sheetrock and hardly required any touch-ups(with one of the crockctick sharpeners) at the end of the day. By contrast, I had to wait until I returned home and use my Sharpmaker to get the BM back to its original sharpness. I often wondered if it had to do with the kind of edge on both knives, but the Seb just plain performed better for me with less attention required at the end of the job. Nothing even remotely scientific about it, just my simple observation.:thumbup:

 

[Siggyhk]

To me, the Sebenza is not over-rated in the slightest.
Even if you consider that the price is high, and the steel isn't the top dog, the knife is not over rated.
There are "a few" knives that cost less and still compare, however. -The BM 710 comes to mind here. The Buck 172 is also very nice.
To me, if you've been carrying either of those lesser costing knives, and are ready to spend more for something different, the Sebenza is the obvious next step up.

The Sebenza is the most consistantly perfect production frame-lock I've ever had.
-The steel isn't poor, not by a long shot.
-The overall design is near to perfect.
-The blade-grind (hollow) is perfect.
-The blade shape is perfect.
-The pocket-clip is perfect.
-The lock is perfect. (This really matters to me, and where this knife over-shadows 99.7% of others.)
-The look is classic, not too much, not too little, -perfect.
-The handles of both large and small fit me like they were made for me -perfect.
-The pivot is perfect.
-Made in America, perfect.
-The warranty is...I don't know, I've yet to use it.

Very few times have I had an edc that I felt absolutely content with. When I have a Sebenza, I've never felt less that content. -Unless I just wanted a larger one.

 

[Brian Sargent]

For me, it was primarily based on an experience with my BM Mini Grip while doing some summerhome renos in 2008. My intention was to use my BM as I didn't want to damage my Seb, but ended up going back to my Seb exclusively as I found it performed better scoring the sheetrock and hardly required any touch-ups(with one of the crockctick sharpeners) at the end of the day. By contrast, I had to wait until I returned home and use my Sharpmaker to get the BM back to its original sharpness. I often wondered if it had to do with the kind of edge on both knives, but the Seb just plain performed better for me with less attention required at the end of the job. Nothing even remotely scientific about it, just my simple observation.:thumbup:

Didn't know there was a CPM154 Grip.

 

[gentlenado]

Actually I think most of the knife brands is overrated. spyderco should be 25% cheaper, benchmade should be 35% cheaper. CRK??? should be 45% cheaper... But they won't do that, what can I do? Still have to buy them because I am a knife nuts.

 

[bld522]

OK. All this talk about the Sebenza finally forced me to make up my mind. I took the Mnandi and the large Sebbie in hand and the Sebbie won. If nothing goes awry, by this time next week I'll be the proud owner of a Large Sebbie (without the "Idaho Made" stamp). And for what it's worth, I'M PUMPED!!!

 

[flipe8]

Didn't know there was a CPM154 Grip.

It was my 707, but if my steel referred to is incorrect, my apologies.:thumbup:

 

[mmarkh]

The Taurus shoots and the CRKT S-2 is a Ti framelock that cuts. A lot less out of pocket than a SIG or a Rolex. Nuff aid...

Does the S-2 tell time also? I don't think anyone thinks a Sebenza is as much a luxury item as a Rolex.

 

[bld522]

No. But a Sebbie would be considered a luxury item to the vast majority of knife buyers. I mean, I've been looking at Sebbies since I first became interested in knives in 2004. Look how long it took me to finally get around to buying one.

 

[Brennanscott]

Of course the Sebenza is overrated. I have no doubt that it's a great knife, with outstanding tolerances, but who needs outstanding tolerances in a knife?

A small knife should not, in my opinion, cost as much as a gun.

I bought this Taurus 9mm pistol for $375. It's stainless steel and shoots 20-round magazines. How, I wonder, could I justify a knife that costs as much, if not more, than such a pistol?

Knives, in my own personal view, are made today in such a way that they perform extremely well and are priced so that they can be lost or damaged without too much heartache.

Performance is what a knife should offer. If you're into tiny parts and beadblasted blades, and if you have the money, Sebenzas may be just what you need. But in a societal breakdown, or in an emergency (be it in snow and ice or lost in a remote area), these tiny knives won't be worth as much as much as a cheap $15 camping piece.

I'm sure there's a lot of work that goes into a Sebenza, but you can buy a gun and a really nice quality pocket knife that will last a lifetime, and that trumps everything that goes into the making of a Sebenza. I have a CRKT S-2 that has a titanium handle and an excellent blade. (Actually, I bought a bunch of them for $25 a pop, including shipping.) I think each knife will last as long as a Sebenza and outperform them as well, since they have larger blades.

This is an opinion, so please don't jump on me. Everyone has 'em, so yours may be different than mine.

The S-2 is called the "poor man's Sebenza," and I'm a poor man. If you
have the money and can afford a real Sebenza, then you may be able
to afford a box of 'em. And in the end, you can't beat quality!

.

That's a nice gun. How does it cut? Does it take an edge well?

My refrigerator cost more than my TV but the fridge just won't broadcast my football games no matter what buttons I push.

 

[Orion's Belt]

I guess you can put me in the group of people who can't justify spending $300 or more on a knife. This is the exact reason I don't own any CRKs, Striders, Hinderers or Busses (etc.). I do not doubt they are superb quality. But for me, the price is something I can not get over. Maybe when I'm rich I'll get to buy a Sebbie or an XM-18.

Would I say they're over-rated? I'm not sure I would, as I have not owned one. Over-priced? Maybe. But, again, I can not say for sure because I have not owned one.

 

[J.Mattson]

Didn't know there was a CPM154 Grip.

There hasn’t been a CMP-154 grip.

It was my 707, but if my steel referred to is incorrect, my apologies.:thumbup:

BM hasn’t used CMP-154 on the 707 either, for that matter AFIK they’ve yet to use the steel on any knife.

 

[Brian Sargent]

OK. All this talk about the Sebenza finally forced me to make up my mind. I took the Mnandi and the large Sebbie in hand and the Sebbie won. If nothing goes awry, by this time next week I'll be the proud owner of a Large Sebbie (without the "Idaho Made" stamp). And for what it's worth, I'M PUMPED!!!

Congrats ! :thumbup:

 

[WValtakis]

Two words , bushing pivot. I don't know why others haven't mentioned it

Here's where the simplicity, materials and tolerances do it for me...I can take the whole thing down to individual components in less than a minute. Doesn't matter what nastiness I've gotten on it, there's something that will take it off without harming said components. I can reassemble almost as fast and crank everything down tight. Lo and behold, it's perfectly centered, buttery smooth and locks up tight. Every time. I don't own a single other knife that will do that without some fiddling, and I've got a few. I just wish other manufacturers (and custom makers) would take a page from Chris and stop making me screw around with pivot tension. My two cents worth.

~Chip

 

[Brian Sargent]

There hasn’t been a CMP-154 grip.



BM hasn’t used CMP-154 on the 707 either, for that matter AFIK they’ve yet to use the steel on any knife.

Kind of what I was thinking but wasn't sure.:thumbup:

 

[Brian Sargent]

Two words , bushing pivot. I don't know why others haven't mentioned it

Here's where the simplicity, materials and tolerances do it for me...I can take the whole thing down to individual components in less than a minute. Doesn't matter what nastiness I've gotten on it, there's something that will take it off without harming said components. I can reassemble almost as fast and crank everything down tight. Lo and behold, it's perfectly centered, buttery smooth and locks up tight. Every time. I don't own a single other knife that will do that without some fiddling, and I've got a few. I just wish other manufacturers (and custom makers) would take a page from Chris and stop making me screw around with pivot tension. My two cents worth.

~Chip

I agree ... at the moment I only have a few other knives with this system and the CRK is the best.

 

[Ankerson]

Kind of what I was thinking but wasn't sure.:thumbup:

I think people are confusing CPM-154 and 154CM, they aren't the same.

154CM is a popular steel with manufacturers.

CPM-154 is mostly seem in custom knives.

 

[StypeCL]

Of course the Sebenza is overrated. I have no doubt that it's a great knife, with outstanding tolerances, but who needs outstanding tolerances in a knife?

A small knife should not, in my opinion, cost as much as a gun.

I bought this Taurus 9mm pistol for $375. It's stainless steel and shoots 20-round magazines. How, I wonder, could I justify a knife that costs as much, if not more, than such a pistol?

Knives, in my own personal view, are made today in such a way that they perform extremely well and are priced so that they can be lost or damaged without too much heartache.

Performance is what a knife should offer. If you're into tiny parts and beadblasted blades, and if you have the money, Sebenzas may be just what you need. But in a societal breakdown, or in an emergency (be it in snow and ice or lost in a remote area), these tiny knives won't be worth as much as much as a cheap $15 camping piece.

I'm sure there's a lot of work that goes into a Sebenza, but you can buy a gun and a really nice quality pocket knife that will last a lifetime, and that trumps everything that goes into the making of a Sebenza. I have a CRKT S-2 that has a titanium handle and an excellent blade. (Actually, I bought a bunch of them for $25 a pop, including shipping.) I think each knife will last as long as a Sebenza and outperform them as well, since they have larger blades.

This is an opinion, so please don't jump on me. Everyone has 'em, so yours may be different than mine.

The S-2 is called the "poor man's Sebenza," and I'm a poor man. If you
have the money and can afford a real Sebenza, then you may be able
to afford a box of 'em. And in the end, you can't beat quality!

.

Wow, that post put a smile on my face!
While facepalming.