sebenza

[nonbox]

How much better in quality is a Sebenza compared to a microtech or any of the high quality production folders?

 

[JoHnYKwSt]

Handle one and figure out whether you want one or not. There's no doubt sebenzas have a huge following on bladeforums, but there are those who hate the knife to death also. You may be one of those haters, god forbid.

 

[Paracelsus]

Not fair Johny. Some of us just find the Sebenza trio UGLY. I don't hate them. I just don't Want one. I will grant you that it is an excellent user grade knife. And many people obviously think they are worth the cost. But the price is about 1/3 higher than makes sense to me for a production knife.

The decorated sebenza's are attempts to turn a an otherwise ugly knife into a beautiful collectable knife which won't get used. I think they fail. Although the wood inlays and carved and anodized markings are interesting, they only adorn an otherwise clunky looking but utilitarian knife shape whose lines Do Not flow.

It's true that the value of a thing is what people will pay for it. So I'm not complaining too much about the cost. I just don't think I will be owning any Sebenza's anytime soon.

Paracelsus, lover of beauty and hater of hate

 

[SALTY]

Is a Rolex worth what they charge for them, what with their running fast and running slow and $300+ oil changes and tune-ups they need every now and again? I think not. Yet, Rolex keeps raising prices and certain models are in short (artificial?) supply.

Compare the Sebenza which functions flawslessly and whatever it needs CRK will take care of for modest, if any cost.

I cannot afford THE BEST automobile, yacht, aitplane, diamond or wristwatch, but I do have a Sebenza. It's worth it to me!

 

[Ron Andersen]

I've never handled a Sebenza, but want to. If they are better than the great production knives I handle all the time (and I'm sure they are), then it sounds like they are worth twice the price. I think most people want the best of anything, but simply can't afford it. That is human nature. Rolex was mentioned. WOW! They are great watches. Worth it fiscally compapared to a Seiko? Probably not. But exclusivity and quality in comparison (and resale value)?...very high!

BMW...can't afford it, but I want one.
Rolex...can't afford it, but I want one.
Sebenza...can't afford it, but I want one.

Need I go on?

Ron@SOG

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Website: www.sogknives.com
Email: ron@sogknives.com

 

[Nemo]

Hello,

For me it's not a good question as I see so many expensive knives with only "so-called fame" orbiting around when Chris Reeve knives are really made with "honesty".


Let's keep in mind that knives are not only materials, but ideas, blood, sweat and tears... Especially when the "so-called designers" are copying others to steal ideas...

I remember Sal Glesser saying on the forums that if Spyderco was producing a Sebenza their price would be almost the same as CRK prices.

So, don't ask anymore stupid questions...

cheers,
JM

 

[Smooth Bone]

I like the simplicity of the Sebenza. It is elegant in a very utilitarian way.

And simplicity can be very deceiving. While the Integral Lock is simple, it is not simple to execute well. There is a good bit of hand fitting that goes into making that lock work well . . . and educated hands cost $$.

I found the Classic Sebenza to be much more comfortable to my hand shape than the regular.

I bought my first one used. Soon after I had the Z3. I love mine!

Now it's on to the fixed blades!

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Frank Norman
Frank's Page

 

[mad cow]

Originally posted by Ken Cook:
I've never yet gotten the chance to handle one. They don't LOOK comfortable, but they do look GOOD!
Does anyone use theirs hard enough to know if the grip is truly friendly to the hand?
I've wanted one for a long time, but refuse to shell out the $$$ without at least handling one first.

No,They are not very comfortable.I own and use both large and small sebenzas and I think they are worth the money.The small is more comfortable in my hands and I find both more comfortable without the clips.They do provide a very secure and non-slip grip for me and this is very comforting and friendly to the hands in its own way.I have never held a wood inlay sebenza but I think by rounding out those flat sides a bit,they would do wonders for long use comfort.

 

[Bo]

IMHO Sebenza Quality is among the top in production knives and Customer Service counts for as much as quality. Fantastic Friendly Service. Dollar for Dollar the best value on the market.

How long does it take you to get a Benchmade or Kershaw back from the factory after service work?

You are buying a knife from a company that stands by their product.

 

[g]

I have never handeled one personally. I don't think they look particualry wonderful and they don't look at all comfortable to cary.
I understand that they are real workhorses, so i was just wondering how it stands up to the MT Socom elite, a very sturdy knife to my experience, or a sere 2000.
I can see that they might be worth the money if they are that sturdy, but i personally wouldn't get at the time being.
It is on my list right after my Bently (i am sure it will happen, just not for a while).

 

[Full Tang Clan]

NEMO: "I remember Sal Glesser saying on the forums that if Spyderco was producing a Sebenza their price would be almost the same as CRK prices.

So, don't ask anymore stupid questions...

"

Now, I know you made that last statement in sarcastic fun, however I don't think it is wrong to question the high price of a knife with such sparse amount of parts; albeit a good knife with good parts.

I think this thread proves the adage, "different strokes for different folks".

---------------------------------------------
As my friend says, "People are people and we all have our human frailties: Some people are crack-addicts, and some others are vegetarians."

It has nothing to do with this thread topic but I think his knock against vegetarians is a riot.

 

[medusaoblongata]

I had never heard of a Sebenza before I started reading BladeForums. I soon came to the impression that it was the most highly esteemed production folder out there, which is saying a lot for this bunch. The first time I saw a picture of one, I was quite disappointed - it looked so bland, plain, unimpressive. But the praise for it went on and on. Even in this thread, where some people say that it's not worth the money, no one is saying that it's a crappy knife, no one is saying that it will fall apart or lose its edge, no one has mentioned a time when they needed a knife and their Sebenza didn't cut it. Everyone agrees that the Sebenza is an excellent quality knife. The first time I handled one, I really started to understand. It was smoother than any knife I have ever opened. And it locks up solid, I mean, my CRKT M16 and Zytel BM 825 feel solid, but this Sebenza was freakin' solid. If you can afford it, it will last a lifetime, if you can't afford it, you can get an excellent quality knife for 1/3 the price. I am sure I will get a Sebenza or two, but not very soon.


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Jason aka medusaoblongata
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"I have often laughed at the weaklings who call themselves kind because they have no claws"

- Zarathustra

 

[nonbox]

For $200 you can get a Jim Matthes Titanium Folder, just like a benz

URL:
http://agrussell.com/matthes/index.html

 

[anthony cheeseboro]

I have to agree with Full Tang Clan and Medusaoblangata, there is nothing wrong with questioning the price of a knife, and as i said earlier, I fully appreciate the quality of the Sebenza since i own one. I also know that often we pay more for a name. Also, I know that even though Sal Glesser said that he would charge nearly the same as CRK for an integral folder, I suspect that his would be his MSRP which would mean that you could probably get one from a discount dealer for $180-$225. I know from my local dealer that CRK price structure is such that retailer cannot discount the knife. Once again, I have nothing but praise for the quality of the knife, but it is still a fairly simple production knife that is probably at least a little overpriced. In closing, I will say that if CRK can charge this money and get it, I don't blame him.

 

[Matt Shade]

I think another big part of this that we're neglecting to look at, is that $300-$600 doesn't necessarily hold a fixed value between different people. One person may earn that much in a day and think of it as a small amount of money. Another guy (like me

) has to put a few more hours in to earn that kind of money. So they can't pass off spending that much money on one thing nearly as easily as the guy who makes $100 dollars an hour. I'm not saying everyone here who said they own a sebenza is rich or doesn't work for their money, but I think that's a factor here for all of us.
For me, one plain sebenza is going to be a whole months work with one of the horses I'm training ( you can't charge much more than that when your just starting out)or its about the same as 3 or 4- 12 hour days in the straw field. to me that a whole hell of a alot to exchange for one knife that I'm going to use very hard,and take chances on losing it often. I've never lost a knife before, but if it were to get caught and knocked out of my pocket, or dropped in the wheat stubble of an 80 acre field unnoticed, it would be gone forever.

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It'll feel better when it stops hurting.

 

[TANGUS]

The only way you're ever going to know is to step up to the plate and buy a Sebenza. You'll either love it, or remain in total confusion as to the discussion it creates.

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Lead,follow, or get the hell out of the way!

 

[e_utopia]

As I've said, I think they are very good knives, but not worth the price which is asked for them. I can't see spending that kind of money for a production knife, when there are customs in the same price range.

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com

 

[chizpuf]

this is the sound of me not buying a Sebbie.

I think the price is prohibitive. I could afford it, but I haven't seen anything about the knife that makes me want to.
And I know Benchmade did a big rip-off job with the Pinnacle, but at the same time, they also proved that you could put out a knife almost identical to the Sebbie, with pretty decent quality for 1/3 of the price.
Now I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm not yet at the point where I have enough disposable income that 2/3 of my knife buying budget can go for the certain Je Ne Sais Quoi, so my thinking is I'll keep sticking with what I can afford and what makes sense to me.
not to mention the Axis lock rocks my world. I vastly prefer it to liner or integral locks. But that's just me.

chizpuf

 

[Nemo]

It's not a crime to be innocent
These things we have not done
But you're not some little child
Spring is past and gone

Well I know my craving heart
And I've seen your vicious eyes
And I think we know the truth
Both you and I

Don't flutter your lashes like a little girl
And ask me why it's such a cruel, cruel world, no

Don't ask any more stupid questions
You already know the answers to
Don't ask any more stupid questions
You already know the answers to

Well you can kill with the best of them
But your smile remains so sweet
When someone comes to eat me alive
Well I like to see their teeth
If you really want I can name the names
Be an angel of death at the children's games, so

Don't ask any more stupid questions...

Well I know that you do
There comes a time in your life
You've got to grow up fast
And I think that your time
Is coming now here at last

It's not a crime to be innocent
These things we have not done
But you cannot run forever
Spring is part and gone
Waiting in line at the fortune teller
Waiting to hear some more pretty lies, he says

Don't ask any more stupid questions...

 

[cut finger]

Don't recite any more stupid poetry.