sebenza price

Paracelsus · Dec 6, 1999

I think lifter4him has a good point. Some of us collect handmade (custom) knives and are willing to pay that kind of price for a knife and more. And I don't discount the possibility that I might buy a plain small sebenza for daily carry use. But at the prices decorated sebenzas go for, or even the plain ones, a lot of people seem to be buying them for their collectible value, not for use. It's real hard for me to understand spending that much money for what is essentially a production piece (OK, production on a small scale with good quality control).

If knife performance and quality is all you are really paying for, then buying plain sebenzas makes sense to me. But they are not sole-authorship knives, and not at all unique (yeah, I know each decorated pattern is produced in limited numbers). So the prices they fetch is hard for me to understand. But what does my opinion matter anyway, there is obviously a great market for these knives.

I totally agree with the 'buy used knives' suggestions. In fact, I am going to start looking for one.

James: Sebenzanistas it is! I just Love the sound of that!

Bartman: I can't believe you said that in a public forum. What if some darned fool actually Tries It? How are you going to feel Then?

Paracelsus

[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 06 December 1999).]

Chief · Dec 6, 1999

Lifter - Chris who???

Doesn't matter to me if Jane Doe built my Sebenza. Its the quality, design, materials and customer service that make it such an outstanding knife. I read somewhere that Chris hasn't been making them for the last 3 years, but you can bet that he trained his small staff to make them as good or better than he did. I have yet to handle a better made knife, factory or custom.

We may all be missing the original question tho. The original question was is $325 a reasonable price for a Sebenza? The answer is that $325 is the price for a large plain Sebenza set by Chris Reeves Knives. Chris doesn't allow dealers to discount his knives. I imagine if they did, he would no longer sell to them. Don't expect to buy one from a dealer for less. You can pick up one from an individual for slightly less on occasion as suggested.

[This message has been edited by Chief (edited 06 December 1999).]

JoHnYKwSt · Dec 7, 1999

Lifter,

If the direction in which Chris has chosen to move his company results in not only a better knife, but a cheaper knife, then do you care? Unless you are one of those who appreciate sole authored knives, then I understand. If Chris was still the only person making his sebenzas today the cost would be much more than 300 dollars just to keep up with demand. Even with a small workshop, they are still backordered. Also, coming out with new designs and improving upon the sebenza would also have been very slow. Decorated sebenzas would be very very expensive also. Sebenzas are much better today than they were when Chris was making them. Although they have lost some of that custom aura.

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Johnny
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lifter4Him · Dec 7, 1999

Dave H-dont get me wrong, it doesnt make a difference in quality in this case.
It's just that, for me, when I pay over $250 for a knife, in my opinion, part of what I am paying for is the name of the person making it. But this is just my preference.
BTW-I think the Sebenza is a great knife.

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lifter
Phil. 4:13

Dave
Wharton,NJ

DaveH · Dec 8, 1999

lifter4Him,

Ah I see now what you are saying.

I bought handmade once, by a new maker. Really exceptionally nice piece. (a "Chaffee", in case you're interested) I bought it more as an "investement" because of the name recognition and because of a little bit of salesmanship by the seller.

It really didn't suit what I use knives for.

After a while I went to sell it and found that there didn't seem to be any market for this maker, and similar new knives where 1/2 the price.

The result is I tend to put less stock and a name, and more in what I think the individual knife can do for me.

Your mileage may vary,
DaveH

ROBB · Dec 7, 1999

I think the $325 for a Sebenza is a much better buy than most of $500 to $800 "custom"
knives I have,not only a better buy but a better knife.

Scarman · Dec 9, 1999

Ah Sebenzanistas, ...."we don't need no stinking badges".

Sounds cool James.

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The vague and tenuous hope that GOD is too kind to punish the ungodly has become a deadly opiate for the conscience of millions.

*A. W. Tozer

2 Cor 5:10

[This message has been edited by Scarman (edited 09 December 1999).]

stjames · Dec 9, 1999

"If you're Knife Collectors, where are your Customs?"

Sebenzanistas - "Customs? We don't need no stinking Customs!"

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James Segura
San Francisco, CA

[This message has been edited by stjames (edited 09 December 1999).]

Fenris · Dec 11, 1999

325 is a very reasonable price for what you are getting. Production knives have been moving towards that price anyway. The Emerson Commander is 200, the new MOD Duane Dieter CQB is 269.95 and you have Microtechs pushing that price, too. For what you are getting out of a Sebenza, with that level of QC, sharpness and durability of blade, and strength of lock, it's a bargain.

Jason Yang

sebenza price

Chief Master Sergeant USAF (ret) 1975-2000

Sebenzanista