Sebenza ?

Anyone remember the Benchmade 750? I love my 806 and 705, but think the 750 was a poorly executed attempt at competing with CRK.
 
:rolleyes: I wonder why Benchmade decided to make the 630 and 635... could it have anything to do with the Sebenza? hmmmmm
 
I think the 630 (which I own) was meant to compete with Camillus's Darrel Ralph collaborations. And I think Benchmade topped them.
The 630 is sweet, but it's not as nice as my Sebenza. The only smoother action I've felt is on customs.
 
I have owned two large classic Sebbies and a host of BM AXIS knives and let me say two things.

First of all, the Sebenza is hands-down the strongest most well fitted (parts/assembly) folding knife I have ever held in my hand. No Benchmade (or any other folder I've owned) even comes close.

Now having said that, I also feel that there is no better locking mechanism currently in production by any company that comes close to the AXIS lock. I no longer carry my Sebenzas. I sold my first sebbie on Ebay a long time ago and my second one is being sold on Ebay right now. The two main reason I gave up my Sebenza and went back to carrying my Ritter Grip are (1) that the Ritter Grip is lighter weight and (2) that the Ritter Grip has (IMO) a better lock which is something very important to me. There are other reasons such as the surer grip on the RSK and lower cost of replacement but weight and lock are the main reasons.

Sebbies are truely great knives but pound for pound, inch for inch, dollar for dollar, I have come to prefer my Ritter Grip.
 
I agree with Brian6244. I have a Ritter Grip on me right now, before that I always carried a BM710HS. I love my Sebenza and I don't think it's over priced. However, I carry my BM's more because I find the AXIS lock easier and faster to work with and if I mess up one of my BM's I won't be as upset as I would be if I messed up my Sebenza.
 
I wish you guys would stop talking about these bloody Benchmades, I'm obviously going to have to annoy my wife by spending more money on yet another knife! :)

Actually, I've been meaning to get a Grip or maybe a mini grip or possibly even a Ritter but I just haven't gotten around to it yet. Perhaps, when the novelty of my new SnG wears off, I'll go and get one. Actually, I'm liking the SnG more and more. Sure, it doesn't slice as well as some other knives but it fits my hand so well and is, for my purposes anyway, the next best thing to a fixed blade.

Maybe I'll get on to the NGK website and order myself a mini grip just to see what all the fuss is about.
 
For everyone that had some serious input to my original question I extend my utmost thanks to you. It's real insight from the folks that have carried the Sebenza's that I was looking for.

For those who complained about asking a question in an open forum instead of performing a search, you could have hit the back button and not wasted your time reading. (Just my perspective.)

For those who had nothing but a smart-ass response.....get a life. If you had a nickle for every dumb response you typed you might also be able to retire.

710BMFAN
 
710BMFAN said:
For those who had nothing but a smart-ass response.....get a life. If you had a nickle for every dumb response you typed you might also be able to retire.
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I agree with this. Some folks spend a little too much time in the whine & cheese forum, and can't seem to produce serious answers when they're called for. Also, I think that if this question was so worthy of the damn search button, then it wouldn't have this many responses.

Back to topic, I think it's all a matter of personal taste & standards. It's hard to find a perfectly finished/perfectly evenly ground benchmade, whereas,you get perfect fit & finish with a sebenza 100% of the time. I personally have never heard of anyone disengaging a sebenza's intergral lock under normal or hard use, or without specifically trying via white knuckle twisting. Lock stability is pretty much a non-issue as far as I'm concerned. The advantage of benchmade is it's cheaper price, which makes one wince a lot less when the thing gets beat up & scratched.
 
I have $6000 worth of watches and over $10,000 worth of knives, is it enough? Surely you jest! This is why people would buy a Sebbie over a BM or in adittion to a BM or in addition to lots of other things. It sure beats peeing it agaisnt a wall on a weekend.

Nice meal with the GF/Wife + drinks
A night out with the Boys

do this a couple of times and you could have a Sebbie in your pocket for the rest of your life. Life is too short to deprive yourself of what you want.
 
710BMFAN said:
For everyone that had some serious input to my original question I extend my utmost thanks to you. It's real insight from the folks that have carried the Sebenza's that I was looking for.

For those who complained about asking a question in an open forum instead of performing a search, you could have hit the back button and not wasted your time reading. (Just my perspective.)

For those who had nothing but a smart-ass response.....get a life. If you had a nickle for every dumb response you typed you might also be able to retire.

710BMFAN
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I've seen plenty of peple turn up here and get a friendly welcome and sensible responses to their questions. I've also seen people turn up with an attitude and get an appropriate response.
 
Some folks buy the Sebenza because of all the hype surrounding the knife.
They must find out for themselves if it really is as good as all of that.

Some folks buy one because they want a 100% flawless fit-and-finish on their knife (and I don't think these folks actually use their knives much because it would mar the finish--that titanium scratches rather easily).

Some folks buy one because they are elitists plain and simple.
If the "average Joe" thinks that it is expensive or overpriced, then this guy wants one--maybe even two!

And some folks buy one because they are mentally deranged!
They want EVERY knife, no matter the price.
From the smallest plastic box-cutter to Scottish Claymores. From prison sharpened-toothbrushes to the most elegant "rich man's toy"--they want them all!

So, I cannot answer your question as to WHY someone would pick a Sebenza over a Benchmade.
Personally, I think a brand new Sebenza is overpriced and is not the greatest knife in the world.
But I also am not that keen on a lot of Benchmades either.
I had a 710 but I actually prefer my 551 Griptilian.
And I prefer my Spyderco G-10 Police over the 551.

Allen.
 
I can't wait for all you benchmade fanatics to try playing with a spyderco manix. Then we'll see what you have to say about the "strongest lock" or the "smoothest opening knife". I've looked long and hard at both Benchmades and Sebenzas, I picked the manix for a reason though.
 
allenC said:
Some folks buy the Sebenza because of all the hype surrounding the knife.
They must find out for themselves if it really is as good as all of that.

Some folks buy one because they want a 100% flawless fit-and-finish on their knife (and I don't think these folks actually use their knives much because it would mar the finish--that titanium scratches rather easily).
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Well Al, I don't doubt that those reasons might apply to a lot of people, but they're not the only reasons people might have for buying any particular knife.

When I bought my Sebbie it wasn't because I'm elitist or demand the very best nor did I choose it over any other knife. I bought one for the simple reason that it formed part of my collection strategy which is, in part, to collect at least one of all the different types of folders I've come across. Cheap ones, expensive ones, large, small, custom, different materials and so on. The Sebenza is supposed to have the very best in fit and finish of any (semi) production knife. I wanted one. The same reasoning was used in my purchase of the Strider and the Calypso Jnr. They had a quality I wanted one of. This same reasoning was used for my purchase of a Spyderco SPOT, I wanted a kneck knife.

As it happens I use both the Sebenza and the SnG as well as the Calypso, in fact they form part of my regular EDC set.

My next knife wil probably be a BM because I don't yet have an axis lock.

If I could only have one knife then I would have to make some sort of judgment on which I thought the best but, fortunately, I can have many so I can pick the one that I most think suitable for whatever job I have in mind.
 
Of course you realize denial is a hallmark trait of the sickness.

You are not alone,
Allen.
 
710BMFAN said:
Why on earth would you pick a Sebenza that cost's $400.00 when you can get ...
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Because there was a time when you basically had the Sebenza vs Cold Steel Voyager, Spyderco Endura and old style thicker edge Benchmade AFCK and pre-edge 2000 Bucks. Some people still think that productions have not changed since then apparently.

-Cliff
 
Why would I want a Sebenza over a BM Axis lock. Because I have never had a frame lock fail. I had an Axis lock disengage while I was using it. I somehow made contact with the lock stud, it disengaged and the blade almost closed on my finger. I could never duplicate that again. However, if it happened once on accident there is a chance it might happen again. I suppose I would probably feel the same about a frame lock if that happened. Until then....


You might get a more friendly recepetion if you didn't phrase your question in such a confrontational way. "I know this will piss a few folks off but I have to ask" After being around the various forums for the past 8 years or so, it has been my experience that when someone starts off with that kind of statement, they are looking to raise someones blood pressure.

Whatever floats your boat. Enjoy. That's what the forums are for.
 
Dirk said:
However, if it happened once on accident there is a chance it might happen again.
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So you are suggesting that anyone who buys a knife and has a lock problem, and even if they can't ever duplicate it again, should write off that lock for ever?

...when someone starts off with that kind of statement, they are looking to raise someones blood pressure.
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Go into a thread with that viewpoint and you will likely make it confrontational and personal even if the poster never intended it.

Even if the origional poster wanted to start a fight, which doesn't seem like he was doing to me, it can only happen if you want it to as well.

The reason that threads like this bloat heavily isn't the actual posts talking about performance but the number which are simply :

"wow this has been discussed a lot before"

"you are a troll"

"pass the popcorn"

"if you have to ask you will never understand"

"only the shadow knows"

"the answer is 42"

or to the tone of

"I love Sebenzas"

without ever actually stating why in a meaningful performance way which is what the origional question asked for.

-Cliff
 
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