Sebenza, Sng, and Xm-18 still the trio to get?

That old trio you mentioned is like the Lone Ranger...far in the past.
Today's market looks like ZT, Spyderco and perhaps one of the Chinese entrants like Reate or Kizer.
I can only vouch for the first two, but the Chinese are getting a lot of good press here.
 
While buzz brought me to these brands it is not why I stayed. They all have features many find desirable , however there are many other good brands and makers also. Don't be afraid to venture out-just do your research While I feel you do get something for your money(and enough for me to spend it), it is a diminishing return. If you are happy at a lower price level, that is fine also-what ever works for you. Knives are personal.
 
ourgon said:
Google Sekai Ichi Apples. ;)

IMO any American knife brand now is overpriced, not only Benchmade.

Sebenza is very nice knife but even $450 for it is a lot of money. Because fit and finish? I've $30 flipper finished better than many USA made knives I've or I had. The more I experience the less I want new knives from USA for such $$$.
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Man F U!! I googled Sekai Ichi and got a bunch of Japanese cartoons of two men kissing. You should have told me entering the word 'apple' in the search bar was 100% necessary.

Oh well atleast it was just cartoons....I only threw up in my mouth a little.
 
ourgon said:
Google Sekai Ichi Apples. ;)

IMO any American knife brand now is overpriced, not only Benchmade.

Sebenza is very nice knife but even $450 for it is a lot of money. Because fit and finish? I've $30 flipper finished better than many USA made knives I've or I had. The more I experience the less I want new knives from USA for such $$$.
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The Sebenza can be had for $350 in its small form so again the $450 is a stretch. Also I have to step in and say that I hear that "my $30 knife is every bit as nice as your $350 knife" way too much. I've had them all, and while there is a point of diminishing returns, it's not $30. I'm glad you enjoy your $30 knives. It's great that you have found value in a knife that is so easy on the pocket book. However if you look past cutting capabilities a $30 knife has very little in common with a Sebenza or XM18.
 
Never owned a Hinderer, but between the Sebenza and SnG, I prefer the Strider. Just works better for me. Political issues aside, you can't go wrong with either.
 
Hinderers flip just fine if you don't tighten the pivot up to the max. Like any knife with washers you can crank the pivot down where it will be hard to open. All 3 of mine came with great flipping action, but if I tighten them down hard they're hard to open. They don't get side to side play either when snugged up, where they'll flip well. And even if they're tightened down hard I can still flip them with a little wrist movement. But, they're certainly not bearing flippers, some people might prefer them when working in dirty conditions. As it is I have and enjoy all types of knives.
 
Honestly Strider knives seems to be mostly selling custom models of his knives. They have Mick Strider Customs which usually command the highest prices. Duane Dwyer Customs which are expensive too but it is obvious Duane's skill at grinding is inferior to McBurger's.

The really scarey part is they seem to be letting their wives take a whack at it. I have seen customs by their wives Marisa Strider and Sheila Dwyer who clearly have NO idea what a knife is supposed to look like. I feel bad for the poor Stider fanboys desperate for a "Strider" custom who buys one of these as they are cheaper. Still expensive though.

400$ for this Sheila Dwyer CUSTOM monstrosity http://www.bluelinegear.com/product/SMD-CTS-XHP

By the looks of it Strider respects its customers so little they are letting their unqualified wives pass this junk off, all probably because they think it will help them get laid.

*edit* Had to include some of Marisa Strider's awesome work too. http://www.bluelinegear.com/product/Marisa-Strider-Custom-Set
 
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Just want to point out- there are 3 companies- Strider knives which makes production knives(run by Josh Lee), MSC-Mick Striders custom and mid tech company and DDC-Duane Dwyer's custom knife company. At one time they were all together, but they have been separated for some time now. As far as customs go the wives market them under their own name.
 
My thoughts in red.

wtlj said:
That ship has sailed... I'll sum up the previous 5 years in a nutshell.
Hinderer: Once the market got flooded and the masses realized the XM was a "Flipper" that doesn't actually flip they tanked. They sell for between $275-$350 on the exchange now.

I was interested in trying a Hinderer until I handled one locally. It would NOT flip. I was pretty surprised but glad I found out before buying. Others might be better but I'm not willing to find out for the prices asked. I'm no stranger to flippers and have about twenty from ZT, Benchmade, Spyderco, and Brous.​

A few from ZT:
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Strider: Although they've mostly worked out the lock rock and stick issues Mick Strider is still a jag off. Most choose not to support the liar.

I've been interested in these too but read enough bad stuff about the knives and company to steer clear. My Buck/Strider collaborations will have to do.​

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Crk: Chris no longer owns the company. Chris and Anne divorced and the company is now run by Anne and her son Tim. They are still tried and true without caving in to the "what's hot" fads of today.

CRK is the only one of the three that I've jumped into. I like collecting them and carry a few from time to time but there is a lot of great stuff from ZT, Benchmade, Spyderco, and others right now for $200 or less that are much better values, either for a user or collecting. ZTs are my favorites right now, though not any of their 2017 releases.​

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mjpgolf1 said:
The Sebenza can be had for $350 in its small form so again the $450 is a stretch. Also I have to step in and say that I hear that "my $30 knife is every bit as nice as your $350 knife" way too much. I've had them all, and while there is a point of diminishing returns, it's not $30. I'm glad you enjoy your $30 knives. It's great that you have found value in a knife that is so easy on the pocket book. However if you look past cutting capabilities a $30 knife has very little in common with a Sebenza or XM18.
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Agreed. As someone else above said a lot has changed in 5 years.

I recently returned after a long absence as well and discovered ZT. Well, I'm officially a ZT whore now. For what you can get from them for 160-260 bucks to me THAT is the point of diminishing returns----I can't imagine getting my money's worth going above that, even if it's just another 50 bucks.

Obligatory pic:

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I just need them to do another ZT0452CF special/short run in a "super steel" and I'm good to go.
 
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I've owned all three, still own an xm-18 and CRK 21 Insigo.

The strider design didn't fit for me and I later read a bit further into mick. I can't say I have any interest in picking up another strider. Strider knives also seem a bit stagnant compared to RHK and CRK.

So for me I'd say Hinderer and Reeves could still make up two parts of the Holy trinity of production knives.
 
falar said:
Agreed. As someone else above said a lot has changed in 5 years.

I recently returned after a long absence as well and discovered ZT. Well, I'm officially a ZT whore now. For what you can get from them for 160-260 bucks to me THAT is the point of diminishing returns----I can't imagine getting my money's worth going above that, even if it's just another 50 bucks.

Obligatory pic:

nm0zmf.jpg




I just need them to do another ZT0452CF special/short run in a "super steel" and I'm good to go.
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You definitely need a 0804cf before you stop.
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So I just got the SMF but love them all. I have at least on of them on me daily. I feel like us 'knife enthusiasts' get too political but I know the company goes a lot into it and not just the knives they produce. Out of the 3 that I have the only smaller versions I have is a Small 21. I would love to pick up a xm18 3", a xm24, an SnG and many more.

There are reasons why I love these knives and that's why I have them all and not just one. Not a single one checks all the boxes for me. I don't think there will ever be one that satisfies me in all categories.

As for trending, the Chinese is up and coming along with flippers and overbuild heavy duty folders that weigh a pound that dont ever see use.
 
I think CRK are what they always were, quality and class. I've had mine for 3 years now and still love it.

Got an XM-18 as well, great knife. Completely different from the CRK, but that was the point. Not sure I like where Hinderer took the company, I am not a fan of his new "space knives" that seem to be the new hot tamales of the knife world.

Never owned a Strider, but you definitely see much less of them on the forums, I'm not sure why.

Emerson is still churning out the same "quality" product as always as well.
 
Go and try Ferrum Forge,once tried you won't settle for anything less!
a good 2nd is Spyderco,great quality of materials,build quality AND service!
 
mjpgolf1 said:
The Sebenza can be had for $350 in its small form so again the $450 is a stretch. Also I have to step in and say that I hear that "my $30 knife is every bit as nice as your $350 knife" way too much. I've had them all, and while there is a point of diminishing returns, it's not $30. I'm glad you enjoy your $30 knives. It's great that you have found value in a knife that is so easy on the pocket book. However if you look past cutting capabilities a $30 knife has very little in common with a Sebenza or XM18.
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You just buying certain form of knife with certain logo, it not always means that it's better at performance as a tool. Tell me what cutting capabilities has Hinderer or Sebenza which for example Benchmade don't have?
 
I forgot to mention, my ZT collaboration knives with Hinderer (0550 / 0566 / 0562) and Strider (0121) are some of my favorites.

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ourgon said:
You just buying certain form of knife with certain logo, it not always means that it's better at performance as a tool. Tell me what cutting capabilities has Hinderer or Sebenza which for example Benchmade don't have?
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If you go back and read what I posted I said that beyond "cutting capabilities" a $30 knife has little in common with the Sebenza or xm. I don't remember using benchmade as an example of being inferior at cutting in comparison to CRK or Hinderer. I did say that from a value standpoint CRK holds its value much better and quality fit and finish is well above that of anything from benchmade. As it should be seeing as it is more expensive.
 
I got an XM-18 Bowie blade...still own it.
Got a SnG and SmF...still have them.
Got an Umnumzaan (old pivot style)...still own it.

I didn't get them because anyone else said I should; I got them because I wanted them.
That is why I still have them too. ;)


Don't buy what other people like.
Other people should be buying those knives if they like them.
Buy what you like. :thumbup:

No one will give you lots of applause for buying a "popular" knife.
Pretty girls (or men) will not swoon at the sight of your knife forum approved blade.
You will find that no movie producers drive up with a dump-truck full of cash to your house to star in their latest film because your knife is "hot" right now.
 
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