Sebenza, SOCOM, Kasper Combat ???

[Mark W Douglas]

Hello fellow knife craving fans!

Need a little help here....

My next knife purchase is almost ready now, the only problem is, which one of these three to get.

I have read many reviews of all three of these and like them all! Of course I only have so much cash, not enough for all three.

I know this may be a loaded question, but which is most preferred by all of you as far as toughness and durability goes? I'm not concerned with the price or the cosmetics, mainly the toughness and the longest lasting knife before any weardowns or breakdowns occur! I am hard on my knives and sometimes not by choice, the may get abused a little at times. So far my Emerson Commander has been the strongest/toughest knife out of all the hundreds that I own and have used.

TIA,
Doug



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[Jim Six]

Hmmm. I own one of each. Just because of the low-placed SOCOM clip, I’d eliminate that right away as being awkward for carry.

The Sebenza and the Crawford KCF are each built like tanks. The Crawford is - and feels - really big. The large Sebenza is a, shall we say, more normal-sized knife.

So, even though my normal carry blades each day are an Emerson Commander and an EDI Genesis 1, I’d recommend you get the Sebenza. (Unless you want BIG, then go for the Kasper!)

Hope this helps.


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Allbest,

Jim Six
Adventure, Intrigue & Cheap Thrills

[This message has been edited by Jim Six (edited 07 December 1998).]

 

[Jadis]

Well, in case the clip is a factor, all new SOCOMS are now mounted with a new clip which is considerably higher than the old ones, so that means less knife sticking out of your pocket.

go to this url to see a pic:

http://www.spearpoint.com/images/products/clip.jpg

[This message has been edited by Jadis (edited 07 December 1998).]

 

[Mark W Douglas]

Thanks so far....
Thanks for the clip pic, too!
Clip pic, kind of ryhmes, aye?

Another problem I ran in to, can't seem to find anyone who has three of the SOCOM with the silver partially serrated blades. I was told by 2 dealers this morning that these are out of production at the moment and may be a long while before production pics up again on this model. If this is true, then my choice will be narrowed down to 2.

Hmmmmmmm,

< Doug >

P.S. Why three, 1 for each of my twin boys and one for me. I almost always buy three at a time of the same knife for this reason.
It does get very costly doing it this way, but what the heck! Shhhhh, just don't tell my wife..........

 

[Joe Talmadge]

All 3 knives you mention are excellent. However, the Sebenza is worth special mention, due to the fact that it is not a liner lock. Liner locks fail -- when torqued, when struck on the spine, when engaged by the flesh while "white knuckling" the handle. And even if your lock tests out for a while, the liner lock can suddenly start failing sometime down the line.

I think everyone should own at least one knife with a locking system you can trust more than a liner lock. The Sebenza's lock blows away the liner locks on the others, no sweat. It's stronger, and does not release itself until you want it to, period. The Sebenza also has incredibly good edge geometry for cutting.

I'd say grab a knife you can really trust -- the Sebenza -- before you start populating your collection with more liner locks.


Joe
jat@cup.hp.com

 

[Steele]

GOOD point Joe...
I guess that Integral Lock would be the most reliable especially after a long period of time and use goes by.

I also like the idea of an all titanium handle with no need for liners.

The Kasper Combat on the other hand has the hefty size to it.


Man, if the prices weren't so high, I would buy them all!




[This message has been edited by Steele (edited 07 December 1998).]

 

[memnoch]

get all three and have the holy trinity of tatical knives

 

[Mark W Douglas]

I think I may go with the Large Sebenza's. Having a lock you don't ever have to worry about may just be the ticket.

Joe is correct in one aspect, the fail proof lock this knife supports may be just what I need, being I am very rough on my knives! I kind of like the idea of BG-42 steel for the blade. What I might miss though, is the size that the Kasper has.

Not to say down the road I may purchase the Kasper Combat. As far as the manual SOCOM, if they start production on these again, I will surely consider that, too.

Still I will be thinking a little longer before making up my mind because none of these knives are available in the quantity of three from anyone I have tried thus far today. Time is on my side, I guess!

< Doug >

 

[SB]

The Crawford clan now makes a smaller version of the KFF.

[This message has been edited by SB (edited 07 December 1998).]

 

[Steele]

Go with the Large Kasper Combat Fighting Folder. BIGGER is BETTER!

For only 50 bucks more, the Kasper is a lot more knife for the money. Friends of mine tell me the Kasper is one power house.

I like the Sebenza also, just wish I could have them both! I guess the Kasper would have to come first,though,I may not want any others after that if the Kasper is as good as others had said.

 

[thaddeus]

If I had that money, I would definitly go for the KFF! It is an awesome knife. I can't say enough good about it, it is the ultimate (but beware, it is big too!).
The Sebenza is a good strong knife, but I guess that I just think of it as an overpriced production knife these days. Sorry, but Chris hasn't touched one of his knives in two years and got kicked out of the knifemakers guild according to Les Robertson. That means something to me on a $300-$400 knife. I don't usually care about things like that, but I don't usually spend that kind of money either. For instance my Commander supposedly has an edge on it ground by Emerson. I could care less, I paid $200 for a good tough folder, and I don't care who made it as long as it is worth $200. Fortunatly, my Sebenza is an old model, and a true custom, even though I don't carry it much for other reasons. If the Sebenza were like $200, it would be a good working knife, but you are paying for a custom and getting a production. Go for the KFF, it is a way cool knife, and it is a true custom made knife, worth the custom made price.


JMHO and feel free to correct me if I am wrong,
thaddeus

Ps- Don't forget about Kit Carson and Greg Lightfoot if you are in that price range!

 

[clip point]

I'd go for the Sebenza. It really is what
it's made out to be. I guess if you really require a larger blade, then, maybe the Kasper is the one.

Can't argue with the lock, it's perfectly simple and strong. It opens very nicely and folds securely- every time.

I don't think of Chris Reeve as a custom maker at all, rather a man who produces excellent knives at the same time he maintains strict quality control standards as well as incredible service. There is a reason people buy them even at around $400 dollars or so. And if he doesn't make trendy folders every year, it doesn't bother me at all.

Get the Sebenza- then you will rant at others, too.

 

[Win]

To me, the Sebenza is the ultimate folding utility knife. The fat-bellied blade and solid lock make it a true workhorse.

The SOCOM to me, is one of the great folding tactical knives. It is reliable, lightweight, and real fast to the hand (once you've loosened up the clip as I've suggested). Speaking of the clip, I actually like the old clip position better than the new. The SOCOM is a street-legal knife, so concerns about too much knife showing become strictly a matter of personal preference or taste. For me, the high-riding clip design is better because it makes the knife much quicker to deploy.

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Win
Knife lover, Philosopher, Humanitarian, and All-around nice guy
(all right, so I'm just a knife lover)

 

[Mark W Douglas]

Thanks you all for your advise. Thankyou, too, Steele (my Boss), you make my life hard at work as well as on the forums!

I decided hard last night, what I think I am going to do is buy 2 Sebenza's and 2 KFF's instead of three of one. As far as the manual SOCOM, can't find two or three of the ones I like anywhere. Can't even order them. So my decision was somewhat easier.

With the cash I am going to have to dish out for these, I think it will be a longgggg time before I can buy another knife again.
Maybe that is a good thing. Course that's what I said when I bought my Emerson Commanders. That hasn't been too long ago!

Just hope these are what I expect them to be now.........

< Doug >

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UPDATE: Found 2 MicroTech Large SOCOM's with the clip blades made of 154CM (black).

You guessed it, I got these on order, too.

Came here with a question and advise on which one of these three I should purchase next, ended up purchasing all three. I guess this
question I posed wasn't such a good one after all.

Well I guess I did what I tell others who can't make up their minds between choices, buy them all!!

< Doug >



[This message has been edited by Mark W Douglas (edited 11 December 1998).]

 

[Blues]

Thaddeus,

Your penance is you have to go into the NW Cutlery site and amend ALL of your reviews stating your CURRENT (somewhat fickle) feelings about all the knives you ooh'd and ah'd about in the past.

You don't want to mislead some fresh little newbie, now, do you?

(C'mon, you had it coming!)

Blues

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"Live Free, or Die"

 

[thaddeus]

You got me

I didn't know that at the time though. It is still a great knife, and I am still impressed with it and the others that I reviewed (and continuie to review...watch for my Axis review!). But the Sebenza is a production folder at a custom price, provided Les is correct, and in sheer materials and simplicity, compared to what else there is out there for $200, I would not want to pay more than $200 for one.

JMHO,
thaddeus

Ps- I am one that believes the extra little bit in price for a custom is (besides hopefully having it made to your specifications) for having that particular craftsman make it as his work of art. Like getting any other service done, many people can do it, but when you pay for the best, you want the best to do it (apply it to any purchase or service). For instance, my Commander is just about everything that a Banana made by Emerson himself is. Holding the two side by side, they are very similar. But, the Commander is worth $200, the Banana goes for $850. Why? That is a question you would have to ask someone who bought one...because Ernie himself made it, it is like a work of art, not the copy thereof, but the original by the artist himself.

PPs- In case there is any suspicion that I love all the knives I review, I just did five new reviews, and a couple of the knives I was very disappointed with, and I let it be known. I am endorsed by no one and get no direct compensation for my reviews, so they are honest and unbiased, but I can only use the information I have at the time. Usually I get to request what knives I review, so I know I will like them ahead of time, but sometimes I review whatever they send me. I was not so happy with the Sentinel either, in my very first review for Northwest Cutlery almost a year ago.
Pardon me, but with people blaming magazines for only giving good reviews, I thought I would clarify that.

[This message has been edited by thaddeus (edited 09 December 1998).]