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Sebenza
- Thread starter BJE
- Start date
G3
Via con dios
- Joined
- May 23, 2004
- Messages
- 2,781
Do a search for Sebenza. The response will be overwhelming but worth the comb through and read. Also check the CRK website for details.
http://www.chrisreeve.com/
http://www.chrisreeve.com/
Do a search. Sebenzas have been around for 10 years and there are TONS of topics on them on this forum.
In a nutshell.
They cost $330 and $385 for the small/large plain models. Decorated models cost more.
They cost a lot for a few reasons:
-They are made by a small company, so they do not deal in as much volume as a larger company and must charge more per knife. This is true for other small production companies like Strider, WH, and to a lesser degree Emerson, Protech, Microtech etc... (versus larger companies like Spyderco, Kershaw, and Benchmade which cost less for similar features).
-Chris Reeve uses a form of legal price fixing to make sure the knives are sold as MSRP. The knives are sold only to licensed dealers, and if a dealer doesn't sell at MSRP, they do not get any more knives from Chris Reeve. This means that while a $250 Skirmish can be bought for $150 online, a Sebenza is fiull price everywhere. If every knife sold at MSRP, Sebenzas would not be such a large step up in price.
-The tolerances on the Sebenza are very tight, and the quality control is top notch. In the world of production knives, Chris Reeve has the highest quality and the best fit. They are on the same level as many customs (and only slightly lower in price). The amount of human eyes and hands on the Sebenza costs more manhours.
So basically, the Sebenza is a titanium framelock with a very basic utilitarian design. It is made to be used. It has VERY good fit and finish, and amazing quality control. It is made by a fairly small company.
I think it is worth the price. Some do not.
I own one, and it truely is a fantastic knive. I think it is better worth $385 than my less expensive knives are worth their $20-200 prices.
In a nutshell.
They cost $330 and $385 for the small/large plain models. Decorated models cost more.
They cost a lot for a few reasons:
-They are made by a small company, so they do not deal in as much volume as a larger company and must charge more per knife. This is true for other small production companies like Strider, WH, and to a lesser degree Emerson, Protech, Microtech etc... (versus larger companies like Spyderco, Kershaw, and Benchmade which cost less for similar features).
-Chris Reeve uses a form of legal price fixing to make sure the knives are sold as MSRP. The knives are sold only to licensed dealers, and if a dealer doesn't sell at MSRP, they do not get any more knives from Chris Reeve. This means that while a $250 Skirmish can be bought for $150 online, a Sebenza is fiull price everywhere. If every knife sold at MSRP, Sebenzas would not be such a large step up in price.
-The tolerances on the Sebenza are very tight, and the quality control is top notch. In the world of production knives, Chris Reeve has the highest quality and the best fit. They are on the same level as many customs (and only slightly lower in price). The amount of human eyes and hands on the Sebenza costs more manhours.
So basically, the Sebenza is a titanium framelock with a very basic utilitarian design. It is made to be used. It has VERY good fit and finish, and amazing quality control. It is made by a fairly small company.
I think it is worth the price. Some do not.
I own one, and it truely is a fantastic knive. I think it is better worth $385 than my less expensive knives are worth their $20-200 prices.
- Joined
- Dec 2, 1999
- Messages
- 12,249
hehe, first of all welcome to the forum and thanks you for bring something up that hasn't been discussed for a ouple of weeks. 
- Not every one likes the sebenza ( I do though).
- They run from $350 or so up to $800 depending on features and embellishment. You can get them cheaper second hand here on the forums.
- Their quality is pretty much accepted by most as being among the best if not the best for years. However int he last few years many companies are putting out much improved models in both design an execution. So their "lead" so to speak in that quality areana is lessened.
- They have great customer service.
- They don't suit everybody either because they're too plain for some, too uncomfortable for some, too expensive for some depending on your needs like, too hyped for some.
- There will be several people check in who say they tried them and they aren't worth it. However if you go to the CRK forums you'll see way more people say something like "Oh man I never realized how great they are until I got one."
- Always compared to Strider, they always win in the comparision.
- I will agree there are at least a few custom knives of compearable prices that have great quality and a different approach to ergos, Hinderer for example.
- If you are curious about how a sebenza is made, get the CRK dvd, Be prepared to be amazed at all the hand work and steps, QA involved with making a sebenza.
- Not every one likes the sebenza ( I do though).
- They run from $350 or so up to $800 depending on features and embellishment. You can get them cheaper second hand here on the forums.
- Their quality is pretty much accepted by most as being among the best if not the best for years. However int he last few years many companies are putting out much improved models in both design an execution. So their "lead" so to speak in that quality areana is lessened.
- They have great customer service.
- They don't suit everybody either because they're too plain for some, too uncomfortable for some, too expensive for some depending on your needs like, too hyped for some.
- There will be several people check in who say they tried them and they aren't worth it. However if you go to the CRK forums you'll see way more people say something like "Oh man I never realized how great they are until I got one."
- Always compared to Strider, they always win in the comparision.
- I will agree there are at least a few custom knives of compearable prices that have great quality and a different approach to ergos, Hinderer for example.
- If you are curious about how a sebenza is made, get the CRK dvd, Be prepared to be amazed at all the hand work and steps, QA involved with making a sebenza.
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2005
- Messages
- 2,938
DaveH said:"Oh man I never realized how great they are until I got one."
Yeah thats how i thought. I used to think there was no way id ever own one of those over priced sissie looking knives. Boy was i wrong i ended up with a 700 dollar custom,
And ive never looked back. I had never owned a frame-lock before, and this thing is a frame lock and a half.
The sebenza is a knife lovers knife. It practically drips quality. The fit and finish is amazing. The action is smooth. I'd compare the pivot to that of a fine 1911 smooth as 2 peices of glass with oil in between them
Its also easy to take down and reasemble. Its strong and reliable. Its meant to be a constant companion. If you carry it this knife will be your best freind. When i buy knives like strider, and reeves nad other that are expensive tha id carry i dont think of it as buying a knife its more like buying a traveling companion. If you take care of you sebbie it will be there for you. :thumbup: :thumbup:
I'll quit before i get the anti sebbie people to vomit.
Oh and if anyone mentions the manix in this thread ignore them its no where near the same thing, same goes for the bradley alias.:barf: :barf:
DaveH said:- Always compared to Strider, they always win in the comparision.
Not quite. Its usually a split with CRK getting the nod for better/more consistent F&F and Strider getting the nod for toughness.
THEN the people in the conversation crap and bag on each other for another 50 posts and the thread dies a slow, agonizing death.
Each has its fans, because we all look for different things from a knife. At the price, there's more to it than a rudimentary need to cut something.
OH, and I'd ad Mike Obenauf to the list of comparable custom makers.
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2006
- Messages
- 578
I'll just say this....
If you really like knives and if you can afford to sink $300+$ into a knife, you should get a Sebenza. You will almost surely be incredibly impressed and will never regret having invested this much into a knife. If you have multiple knives, like most of the folks on this forum, the Seb will become one of your most prized posessions.
If you really like knives and if you can afford to sink $300+$ into a knife, you should get a Sebenza. You will almost surely be incredibly impressed and will never regret having invested this much into a knife. If you have multiple knives, like most of the folks on this forum, the Seb will become one of your most prized posessions.
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2005
- Messages
- 8,169
I own a few sebbies I really like them, I edc it over my strider's. I usually have a small leather in the left pocket and my DDR GH in the right. I think they are worth it. If you cant afford one now....wait. If you dont like it then you can always re-sell it here. Give one a try and see what you think.
I started with WHK and then now sold on CRK.
In the process as a newbie, I tried to open and close all the knives at the local B&M.
After WHK and CRK, there is none as slick (easy/glide) to open, feel as solid. only exception are the expensive custom made knives but I would not be able to enjoy using them since I need to baby them. Whereas CRK is a rugged knife I would not mind scratching etc (they re-furb them, phew).
It took me a long time to bite the bullet and take a Sebenza home. Dan @ Plaza Cutlery suggested a small seb micarta over a wood inlay to me since I told him my needs. I never looked back.
Totally sold :
1. quality : well made & user friendly
2. rugged
3. the UCG is very nice, too.
I finally figured that I do not need a lot of knives, just a few reliable companion/tools/best & loyal friends and I'll be ok.
In the process as a newbie, I tried to open and close all the knives at the local B&M.
After WHK and CRK, there is none as slick (easy/glide) to open, feel as solid. only exception are the expensive custom made knives but I would not be able to enjoy using them since I need to baby them. Whereas CRK is a rugged knife I would not mind scratching etc (they re-furb them, phew).
It took me a long time to bite the bullet and take a Sebenza home. Dan @ Plaza Cutlery suggested a small seb micarta over a wood inlay to me since I told him my needs. I never looked back.
Totally sold :
1. quality : well made & user friendly
2. rugged
3. the UCG is very nice, too.
I finally figured that I do not need a lot of knives, just a few reliable companion/tools/best & loyal friends and I'll be ok.
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2006
- Messages
- 578
KCkc said:
Nice Mnandi, too, KCkc! :thumbup:
Also, I agree with you. Ya don't really need a ton of knives, just a few that are rugged, reliable and that you really like.
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2006
- Messages
- 15
My EDC's project is to arrange 7 to 14 knives of totally different barnds or types 'cause Nothing lasts forever. The same thing is that their designs are utilitarian.
In my life, the order of brands or types follow this:
Monday: WH B10-SZD or B07-P
Tuesday: MT QD SCARAB SEPB or CR SEBENZA NICA TANTO
Wednesday: CR standard SEBENZA UNIQUE blue sapphire or WH B15 SZD or PD
Thursday: ST SNG TANTO or ER BF2 WARDOG
Friday: CR umfann DM or WH T12 with whole koftgaried handle
Saturday: ST MV or ER SHRAPNEL
Sunday: CS ARC ANGLE SE or BM 12
And I have no idea about which day is better or worse as I try to enjoy every different day in a week.
In my life, the order of brands or types follow this:
Monday: WH B10-SZD or B07-P
Tuesday: MT QD SCARAB SEPB or CR SEBENZA NICA TANTO
Wednesday: CR standard SEBENZA UNIQUE blue sapphire or WH B15 SZD or PD
Thursday: ST SNG TANTO or ER BF2 WARDOG
Friday: CR umfann DM or WH T12 with whole koftgaried handle
Saturday: ST MV or ER SHRAPNEL
Sunday: CS ARC ANGLE SE or BM 12
And I have no idea about which day is better or worse as I try to enjoy every different day in a week.
GronK
Gold Member
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2001
- Messages
- 19,381
Ditto the positive posts above. Due to my situation I'm in the process of selling off a bunch of my knives. I sorted my collection as: Sell first; Sell last; Don't sell. My large and small plain classic Sebenzas are in the very small group of "don't sell". I'm selling three or four Benchmade, Spyderco, Boker, etc., knives for the funds I would receive for one Sebenza. They are that good.