sebenza vs alias

C

crbauhs

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Dec 2, 2007
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ok first off, dont kill me here. i am truly trying to figure this out. now here we go. there is the venerable sebenza. with famed quality in workmanship and parts. but with a 400 dollar+ price tag. what constitutes that price? the name of Chris Reeve? is the knife really just that damn good? now tell me what you guys think if the name of chris wasnt there. i am jsut curious cause i have just recently found the alias adn it seems to be damn close to the sebenza. convince me to buy the seby over the alias. if it is that great it shouldnt be a problem. and once again, no harm meant to the sebenzas or to chris himself. i just want to know why the knife is so expensive. thanks all:D
 
Seb vs Alias ? the choice is obvious ..... SEBENZA :thumbup:

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Differences:

CONS (Alias)

More complex build on Alias (small screws on each scale, 3 on clip). That means less tough.

No pivot bushing on Alias. That means you have to be finicky with the final tightening of the pivot, you then have a pivot that loosens a lot.

The lock bar can be flexed up and down (the opposite way of locking, unlocking) this causes a bit of vertical blade play under force (not huge though).

Alias feels slicker and seems more prone to slipping in hand when in use.

PROS (Alias)

Can be tip up or tip down.

Cheaper (if that's a consideration)

CONCLUSION - they are NOT in the same league. Sure they are Ti framelocks, but that's the end of it. Sebenza lock up, ergonomics, strength and simplicity all KILL the Alias.


BUY THE SEBENZA and don't look back. If you want a cheaper beater, then save your money for a little while and get the Sebenza later.

PS - I do have both, and the Alias is never used anymore.
 
Alias also has a floating stop pin, which means is may rattle. Alias has a about 30% smaller friction washers AND significantly smaller lock face.

CRK has won industry quality awards 5 times? 6 Times? Has benchmade ever won at all?

I'd just keep on the lookout for a used sebenza forsale on the forums.

There's an excellent post by Sal, owner of spyderco about the sebenza, I'll see if I can find it.

Hi Dulleddown,

More profit is usually associated with higher price. That's normal. Profit is usually a percentage of sales price. To think that a high priced auto should garner the same proft as a low priced auto is not in accord with business. It might be the same percentage, but being more expensive, it will be more profit.

Unless you are a manufacturer, familiar with close tolerance manufacturing of heat treated steel & Titanium parts, you are not likely to be able to see all of the differences between one of Chris' knives and others. For example; CRK keeps 0.0005 tolerance on surface grinding. That's one sixth the thickness of a hair. Do you have the knowledsge and equipment to discover that tolerance?

In the end, it's all about trust. CRK took many years to build and maintain their repuation. Built with consistent focus. Even those trying to make a "cheaper" version must "leave out processes" or "soften their tolerance", or they will cost as much.

Rarely do you pay for the "name". That's a bullshit sales pitch made up by the ignorant claiming to offer the same for less. Money valuation between countries might offer a "deal" for a while until the money value balances, but all in all, you will get what you pay for.

sal
Click to expand...

Check out this thread:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=513653

The other thing to do is buy the CRK DVD and see for yourself what's involvded in the process of a sebenza.
 
My advice: buy the Alias.




















That leaves more Sebenzas for the rest of us!:D
 
ok thanks guys for not ripping me a new one;) and yeah good points there. i just find it hard to pay that much for a knife when my most expensive one right now are a griptilian and a ranger knife. i am looking to get a real nice gentlmans knife for my dad. he just retired fromt he navy after 24 years. i think he deserves something. sadly i am a college student who is broke.:( but i bet he would love a sebbie:D
 
Keep looking in the various For Sale forums for a used Sebenza. Get in cheap. Nobody is going to be able to convince you with words to get a Sebenza. You have to hold one/use one yourself to make a qualified decision. For some the superb craftsmanship, materials, tolerances, hand fitting and looks are worth every penny. I was skeptical as yourself but I found one used (and not a plain one) that I was able to purchase for quite a bit less than new. Even after I had it for a day or two I was still wondering if it was a good purchase. After handling it more, it grew on me. I have since purchased 5 more. I still like my $50 Natives but they are not in the same class as the Sebenzas.
 
Quote:
"but with a 400 dollar+ price tag. what constitutes that price? the name of Chris Reeve? is the knife really just that damn good?"

For gods sake:rolleyes:...Please do a search, this topic has been beat to death.
 
Not all of those learned in the matter will say there's such a thing as 'the perfect folding knife.'

Of those who will, most of them will tell you it's the Sebenza.

There are others who say it is not, but tellingly this group can never seem to agree amongst themselves on what is.
 
crbauhs said:
i am looking to get a real nice gentlmans knife for my dad. he just retired fromt he navy after 24 years. i think he deserves something.
Click to expand...

A few suggestions.

First, like it has been suggested several times here already, watch the BST forums. For some reason prices on used Sebbies are really good recently. Mnandis are going for good prices as well.

Second, and I think its something to consider. I would like to think that if I got my dad (or someone else close to me) a used Sebenza that they would recognize that a used seb is better than most any other new knife, but I don't know if people who are not in the know would realize what they had received.

I think if I were in your position i'd probably try really hard to score a second hand mint condition one. If that proves too tough, save up for a bit and go for a small reg or classic from a dealer. For the money, a brand new small regular at $330 is tough to beat.

schiesz
 
Buy a Sebenza. If in your own mind it is still not for you, just sell it. You will make your money back.
 
You could try asking this outside the Sebenza forum. The opinions will be less biased..... you really gotta try handling them both. If money is not an issue then you know what to do. Plus, as they all said, you can easily get your money back for a Sebenza.. It would be easier if the search function worked for ya....:(
-Heres a link to the same question in the general knife discussion area...
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=524788&highlight=alias
Matt B.
 
If you can't afford it, don't buy it. Seriously, that would be for anything. However, the Sebenza's a better knife than the Alias. Is it 2X better? Don't know, but I've owned 2 different Sebs & an Alias II. I still own & use a Seb.

The thing is, CRK's aren't discount new, so you have to look in the open market to get it less than the $330, I believe, that a small plain Sebenza goes for new through a store (Internet or "brick & mortar"). You can find Alias II's for, I think, $160+. I think a large plain Seb is $385+, while an Alias I is $200+.

However, if you look around, you can find Sebs, used, in the mid to high 200's

As much as people want to say Sebenzas are expensive because of the name attached to them, keep in mind that the Alias's were made to be a less expensive alternative to Sebs. & like Sal has written, Bradely (Benchmade) used shortcuts in cutting the cost & price of the Alias's.

Whether the Sebs worth the extra $, is clearly subjective.

Good luck on your choice.
 
Dear Sam S - sure, I'll send it to you, just shoot me $200 for postage and we're good to go :D
 
My opinion is that all the knives in question are worth their going prices. For the money, you aren't going to go wrong with either one.

I like the Alias. I think it's a really good knife for it's money. But it costs 1/2 as much as a new Sebenza. I like my Sebenza more. Can't say if it is twice the knife that the Alias is, but it is better.

FWIW, I edc my small classic Sebenza while my Alias II sits in my dresser with all the other jealous knives.
 
I'm sure your dad will love whichever knife you get him. They're both quality knives and if he's not a knife afficionado then it won't matter to him which one it is. Functionally they're both attractive titanium framelocks, and have vastly different blade styles. Either would last him for years if not forever depending on what the use is.

As price is an issue for you I'd suggest the Alias. It's got a flat ground blade to boot so will last longer for some serious abuse and more prying and whittling.

If you change your mind or decide to spend more I'd certainly recommend the Sebenza. It's less abuse-resistant blade looks far nicer in my books, and it slices like a dream. I keep an Alias II in my glovebox, and one of my Sebenza's is always in a pocket and briefcase.

So take your pick. Most would be happy with either. If he is going to say 'this blade wiggles about a thousandth of an inch when torqued' then maybe the Alias isn't for him. If not, I'd say save your money.
 
hey guys thanks alot. you have really helped me out adn didnt try and kill me. goos stuff there. i think, since it is for my dad, and he isnt a big knife guy, ill go witht he alias for now, but you can sure as hell bet, ill be keeping ym eye on the BST forum for a sebenza for myself. the bug has bitten me and i really want to hear what all the fuss is about. adn if i cna make my money right back then it wont be too much of a problem huh? ONCE AGAIN, THANKS GUYS. I APPRECIATE the feedback.
 
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