Should I add a Sebenza 31 to my collection of CRK's?

[Macchina]

I've been using Sebenzas for the past 10 years or so. I stumbled into a regular awhile back when I was trading knives like they were on fire and have settled on a few CRK's for the past few years:

Sebenza Large 21 PJ (I have 2 of these)
Inkosi Large Micarta
Umnumzaan

With the Inkosi and Zaan I have plenty of CRK’s with the ceramic ball and love my 21’s, but I have 2 identical Large 21’s….
I know only I can make this decision but is there enough difference between the 21 and 31 to warrant trying to trade one of my 21's for a 31?
I have seen many people talk about the 31 being a step down from the 21...

Edited to add:

 

[kobold]

Hold on to your 21s IMHO.

 

[Peter Hartwig]

I would keep the spare 21. They are only going to get harder to obtain. Buy a 31 if you want to try it,but keep the 21.

 

[guy g]

I can't add anything informative, but to say I'd also hang on to what you have.

 

[rexromic]

Buy a 31,use it for some time and make up your own decision.Simple as that.Only then you will really know which one is for keeps

 

[Kettleman]

Having only owned a 31 for 15 mins I really cant be subjective, however for what it’s worth keep the 21s and be satisfied. You have the big three now, if you really want to add a model perhaps the Impinda? Different from all of them ….

 

[BTTLBRN]

I would also hold on to the 21's, that's what I am doing anyway.

I have two exceptions and reasons for a 31 - 1) It's my best chance at a plain jane in Damascus, 2) getting my first CRK in Magnacut (though I would prefer that to be an Inkosi).

 

[V-1]

I would keep the two 21's. Maybe buy a 31 first and see if you like it than sell one of the 21's.
The couple of 31's I checked out in person had blade wobble side to side and up and down. Completely unacceptable in my opinion. My small 21 inlay, Umnumzaan and small Inkosi have zero blade movement.

 

[XJ-linux]

Keep the 21s. I walked away from knife collecting for a few years and was flabbergasted at what they fetch today, used. Sell something else if you want to try a 31. They will make tons more of the 31s over the years, but no more 21s.

 

[PNWhovian]

I would keep the 21s.

 

[cbr1000]

Buy a small 21

 

[Macchina]

You guys really helped make up my mind! I’m keeping the 21’s! They really are perfect knives and the S35VN is a great steel.

After making this thread I put my Inkosi in my pocket after not carrying it for awhile, I forgot how smooth this knife is! What great knives CRK makes!

 

[Wandering_About]

Keep the 21s, they are great knives. Save up and buy a 31 if you want one. They're also excellent, but different from the 21s.

 

[BD_01]

Keep the 21s, they are great knives. Save up and buy a 31 if you want one. They're also excellent, but different from the 21s.

I was about to say the same. Get a 31 if something comes along that really interests you, like a specific inlay, UG, or CGG. I wouldn’t unload one of your 21’s for it though.

 

[dan35]

Don’t do it.

 

[Ajack60]

You guys really helped make up my mind! I’m keeping the 21’s! They really are perfect knives and the S35VN is a great steel.

After making this thread I put my Inkosi in my pocket after not carrying it for awhile, I forgot how smooth this knife is! What great knives CRK makes!

Good call, you’ll never be able to replace the 21 for the price you paid for it. The 31’s are good knives, but the 21 has been proven to be good knives.

 

[Modernflame]

I would not advocate selling a 21, but I will express a different view. The 31s are magnificent. It's probably a better overall knife, even if the 21 is a little more refined. The 31 has a more durable lock, superior blade steel and a hardened stop pin that solves the blade flicking issues that people were having with the 21s.

I own four 31s and they are solid, perfect. No play. No defects. Not quite as smooth as my 21s but that's the nature of the beast.

If I could only have one knife, it would be my 31 insingo in Magnacut.

 

[Terrakot]

I have a quite opposite experience. I own 2 Small Sebenza 31 (S35VN 2020 and S45VN 2022), Umnumzaan S35VN 2014 and Mnandi 2016 and only new Sebenzas have flaws: S31 2022 has extremely stiff opening and I tired to struggle with it. The S31 2020 after 6 month of normal use has pitting corrosion in the blade tang area.
IMHO, the older CRKs were made much better.

 

[BD_01]

That pitting is odd.
Thanks for posting the pics.

 

[Modernflame]

I agree that it is odd. The corrosion has to do with the properties of the steel, though, and not the knife's design. S35 is in the 21s as well as some early 31s. It will corrode under certain circumstances. Magnacut is an advantage for those concerned about corrosion.

The 31 definitely has more lock bat pressure, making it slower to open and close. I think that's a turn off for some people. Personally, it doesn't matter to me as I don't fidget with knives.