Sebenza's... for wilderness and survival

peripatew

peripatew

Joined
Jul 31, 2007
Messages
1,421
So, I handled one today. And WOW! To bad I saw the price tag. I was curious on everyones thoughts on this knife? I know it is pretty pricey. But does anyone EDC this? Does anyone take this into the wild with them?


Just curious.

L
 
Yes, maybe not hardcore like some folks, but I do beat it up. Small for urban and large for around the yard, walking in the woods, cutting and scraping, the whole nine yards.
 
Sebenzas are not users. They are too expensive for that. Get yourself a Benchmade Ritter Grip. Sebenza uses the same blade as the one BM uses, and you'll get the Ritter for 1/3 the cost. Or get a regular Grip. It's a better lock, just as good a knife, as good of steel, and you won't feel guilty if you loose or use it. Unless you have just light cutting work, or need a letter opener, avoid the sebenza. It's too expensive of a knife to use, and it won't do any better than a knife 1/3 or 1/5 the cost.
 
I don't like the steel although it should be fine for what folders are used for. I actually hate s30v.

The lock is a good choice for an outdoor folder (in my opinion) because its easy to clean and simple.
 
Seriously, ignore those who bash the sebenza.

Look at the history, the maker, the awards. Soldiers and hunter rely on them, and a frame lock, done Reeve style, is unbeatable.

Yes there are other good knives out there; the question was "CAN the sebenza do it?" The answer is a resounding YES!
 
What do you mean they aren't users? I EDC mine, it makes a great companion to my Seecamp .32...

Yeah, If I was a man of means, I'd have all sorts of neat stuff. Mac
 
Silverdagger said:
Sebenzas are not users. They are too expensive for that. Get yourself a Benchmade Ritter Grip. Sebenza uses the same blade as the one BM uses, and you'll get the Ritter for 1/3 the cost. Or get a regular Grip. It's a better lock, just as good a knife, as good of steel, and you won't feel guilty if you loose or use it. Unless you have just light cutting work, or need a letter opener, avoid the sebenza. It's too expensive of a knife to use, and it won't do any better than a knife 1/3 or 1/5 the cost.
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Apparently you don't and haven't owned a Sebenza. User? I carried one for the last three years of my military career (1997-1999). I used it and used it hard. It does not have the same blade as the BM knife. You go ahead and spend the lesser cost for the lesser knife and come back here in five years and tell us how it fared. If cost is your driving factor, say so, but don't "dis" a knife you are obviously unfamiliar with.

I could have bought any knife I wanted, cost was not the issue. I bought the Sebenza for it's reputation and now I can add my own praises to it's reputation.

I'm sure there are a bunch of "great" knives out there but it irritates me when someone tries to drive down the rep of a good knife because he is unwilling to pay the price and finds it easy to justify his lesser knife purchase.
 
Silverdagger said:
Sebenzas are not users. They are too expensive for that.
Click to expand...
For me yes, but I know plenty of people to whom the cost of a Sebenza wouldn't be any more of an issue than buying a soda. If a Sebenza is what you want ot carry or use, do it!
 
I had one, but didn't like it, and got rid of it. The lock up and tolerances are very good, but the S30V steel that they use is horrible at edge holding and way too soft. I got tired of constantly sharpening it, it wouldn't hold an edge any better than AUS 8A.
 
Yes the Sebenza is expensive, but it's all relative to what you "want" and what you can afford. It's a very quality folder with a proven lock and design. Will a 1/3-price RSK folder perform as well? In my opinion, yes; and I've often carried my RSK instead of my Sebenza when backpacing (mostly because it's lighter). As a folder, it's at the top end and it has a proven track record of performance which several other folders are measured against...that's not just my opinion that is the opinion of a whole host of users over the past several years. I'll be honest, regardless of the performance, I get a little leary carrying it camping and backpacking in my pocket (I lost one folder when the backpack strap snagged my Emerson out of my pocket by the pocket clip:mad:). I need to buy Reeve's leather belt sheath/pouch...a little more security. That's also part of the reason I more often carry my RSK when outdoors...it's a little easier to replace if lost. I have a few folders that I would put at the top of my list to choose from if heading outdoors and my Sebenza is one of them.

ROCK6
 
I really think it comes down to how much are you willing to spend on something you might damage or lose? I love my sm.Seb and carry it daily, but when push comes to shove, I'll opt for a less pricey knife for borderline abusive tasks. That being said, my Seb was the knife I brought with me on a 5 day paddling trip a little less than amonth ago without issue.
 
+1 to ROCK6's post. I've never owned a Sebenza, but I did handle one for a while and was quite impressed by the quality of construction. If you want one, go for it, they're very nice knives. Unless you abuse it badly, it should be perfectly reliable for camping use. They have a great frame lock.
 
Regarding the cost, I've passed up buying several less expensive folders in the last year, saving up for a Sebenza to EDC. So, it'll take a couple years to save up for it in the end (I'm a graduate student working part time), but I'd rather have one that six folders I'm not completely satisfied with...

The plan is definitely not to baby it, but if I can use a cheaper knife for a messy/hard task at home, I plan on it :)

Best of luck
 
gcgcgc said:
The plan is definitely not to baby it, but if I can use a cheaper knife for a messy/hard task at home, I plan on it :)
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I've actually sent my Sebenza back for reblasting as mine was getting a little beat up...it has the older BG42 steel blade. The handle was dinged up pretty bad and they reblasted it and cleaned it up for me:thumbup: It's a user, so use it.

ROCK6
 
I've had my plain, Lg. Reg. Sebenza (S30V) going on six years now, and it's never let me down. I actually thinned the out-of-box edge, but then it became a very effective cutter. I was surprised that the S30V steel was relatively easy to sharpen/resharpen, and it holds its edge very well. Mine rarely needs resharpening, and I haven't had any issues of chipping that some others have mentioned. It's the only S30V knife I own. I don't abuse it, but I EDC it virtually every day. I've used it mostly for all types of cutting, slicing, and whittling, but for scraping I prefer another tool, or use the awl on my SAK Soldier.

I do carry other knives too, but I use my Seb for most chores that call for a large(r) folder. It's a joy to use. I also think the BM Griptilians are good; I own several of those.

If I'm concerned about losing it outdoors, I simply tie a lanyard to it and connect the other end to a belt loop. When I got mine, I removed the pre-tied lanyard that came with it so I can have the option of going without it, or simply tying a longer one as I mentioned above.

When I bought my Seb, I intended to use it. At first, I had a bit of hesitation, but it's made to be used, not be a safe queen. After many more years of use to come, I'll have gotten more enjoyment out of this knife than I would had I kept it in a safe.
Jim
 
Silverdagger said:
Sebenzas are not users. They are too expensive for that. Get yourself a Benchmade Ritter Grip. Sebenza uses the same blade as the one BM uses, and you'll get the Ritter for 1/3 the cost. Or get a regular Grip. It's a better lock, just as good a knife, as good of steel, and you won't feel guilty if you loose or use it. Unless you have just light cutting work, or need a letter opener, avoid the sebenza. It's too expensive of a knife to use, and it won't do any better than a knife 1/3 or 1/5 the cost.
Click to expand...

Clearly, you do NOT own a Sebenza !

.
 
Nobody informed me that the Sebenza wasn't meant to be used. Mine sees all sorts of tasks from cutting bagels and spreading cream cheese to whittling wood and carving notches. And just so I could say I did it, I batoned my small Sebenza to split pieces of wood with no ill effect.

Maybe there are other knives that can perform the same tasks for considerably less, and no doubt there must be, but being knife lovers we don't just buy knives because they perform in a certain fashion but because we want to enjoy them -- whether we want to use 'em or just look.
 
I cannot say enough good about my large regular sebenza!!! I absolutely LOVE this knife, I had dreamed of owning one for years before I actually got mine, got home from deployment #2 and got it, have used it every day since, including every day of deployment #3, a serious use knife. As far as lock up, fit and finish, I have never seen anything to surpass it, well, anything that could be used, comparing a sebenza to the BM grips is like comparing a Ford taurus to a Ferrari 360 modena, there are made of the same basic materials but built so much diferently that they do not compare.
I am extremely happy I bought a sebenza, oh, and I am going on a backpacking trip through the 4th weekend and am taking it along with me
 
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