Should I pull the trigger on a starbenza?? A few concerns

Is Wilson Combat the only place I can order Starbenza's or is there other retailers where I can order it from too. I want to leave a note when I order to make sure the lock isn't sticky but there's no place to do that. I did contact Wilson Combat but they're out until the January 1st. Is sticky locks a common issue with sebenzas? I know I can just ship it to CRK if there is a problem but I much rather not.
 
dcmartin said:
I think you'll be OK, every CRK i've ever purchased has been incredibly sharp. A few pulls on the strop every now and then should do the trick. I find that the Spyderco Sharpmaker "fine" rods are still a bit toothy for the likes of the Sebenza's edge... Get a set of Ultra Fine rods. Touch up often.... and by touch up, i mean just stand the edge back up... I wouldn't change the bevel. I've NEVER had any of my CRK's come with an uneven bevel... While possible, l'm thinking it would be a rare occurrence. They are good knives by a company that has fantastic customer service...If you ever have a concern, they really go out of their way to address it.
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^^^ This. I've bought several that were new, or like new, as in Factory Edge. Not a bad bevel among them. In fact, I picked up a couple of used/resharpened ones that I'm sending back to the man not to get a proper bevel back on them.

Good luck with your buy, post pics when you get it.
 
I've had more than a few Sebenza's and am a very picky person, which is why I keep coming back to crk, don't worry about the odd ball complaint, if you are truly interested in the starbenza and can afford and live with the cost without getting buyers remorse you'll find that you'll be very satisfied with the knife and on the absolutely rare occurrence that you get one with some kind of defect rest assured that crk will take care of you.

Buy it, enjoy it, post pics because I miss mine, and let us all know which one you'll be buying next, because there will be another crk in your future.

The only way that the starbenza cooed get better to me would be if it came with an insingo blade, have a great day.
 
I have had several Starbenzas and other CRK's and all have been more than just sharp. You will not be unhappy I am very sure of that. I once sold a small starbenza to a gentlemen who put a insingo blade on it, he seems to like the insingo. :D
 
Im pretty sure that knife you get will be smooth, sharp & not sticky unlocking...........
 
This Zaan has been my primary carry for months now. It's here to stay, but if I can add my opinion on one area CRK could improve, it's the heat treat. I have a $60 knife with Sandvik steel that holds an edge longer than CRK's S35vn. I know, it sounds crazy, but its true in my experience.

Why would it hurt CRK to bump their HRC up to 60 on the Seb/Zaan?

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I've bought 3 of my 5 CRKs new, and all have been INCREDIBLY sharp. Buy with confidence. If there's a problem, CRK will take care of it.
 
5.56 said:
Why would it hurt CRK to bump their HRC up to 60 on the Seb/Zaan?

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I would imagine they prefer how it stands up to use at 58-59 rather than 60-61. Meaning that it's more likely to roll or dent at 58-59, and chip at 60-61.
 
Ive heard umnumzaans can come with funky edges, like they get thicker towards the tip. My new classic wasnt really up to my standards but a few passes on my sharpmaker fixed that. My 21 was stupid sharp. Other than that theyre great knives, both in function and look to me. The sebenza to me is the quintessential folding pocket kinfe, Its the one I'd reccomend that anyone into knives own at least one of in their life time before anything else. Right now, for me nothing beats them. Ive yet to try a hinderer though, and I still love my striders, but theres something crks have that striders dont.
 
evanPGH said:
I would imagine they prefer how it stands up to use at 58-59 rather than 60-61. Meaning that it's more likely to roll or dent at 58-59, and chip at 60-61.
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What is your experience with the steel at 60-61? Are you just assuming it will chip? I see everyone saying it will chip at 60, but none of those people have used it at 60. They are just going by what they hear or what they are told by others. Not being malicious :), I'm just curious.

I have about a year now of (daily) use on two Sebenzas (one S30, one S35) that were hardened to 60 by Paul Farner at Bos HT. Even before re-hardening I would achieve freehand edges that whittle hair, clean cut tp, etc etc. No wire edges or hanging burrs like I've seen suggested by others. Sharpening was never an issue before getting it hardened. The problem was having to sharpen near daily or every other day. My delica could stand up to a day of work far better than my pair of sebenzas, maybe twice the retention and edge toughness. The other side of the issue was the edge deformation, inward denting, rolling and even slight chipping. It wasn't a case of burnt factory edges. I used my first Seb for about four months daily before sending it in for hardening. I gave it a hell of a chance.

At 60, I have yet to see the inward denting, rolling or even chipping. I have been able to go much longer without sharpening because a diamond spray strop can bring it back. I don't have to burn through some steel to get rid of dents and rolls. My current S35 edc has been through it's paces. Tons of cardboard, zip ties, cables, cordage, wood, etc. I gave it to my Grandfather for a few days for some serious whittling. Holds up great. At 60, I've actually come to favor S35 over S30, it does seem a bit tougher to me. At that hardness, I actually prefer it to a number of "better" steels... it's quite good.

As with anything your results may vary, but those are my experiences. I have yet to use a hinderer, but he is doing S35 at 60-61. Probably also be a good place for some data at that hardness.
 
Bladenoobie1 said:
Is Wilson Combat the only place I can order Starbenza's or is there other retailers where I can order it from too. I want to leave a note when I order to make sure the lock isn't sticky but there's no place to do that. I did contact Wilson Combat but they're out until the January 1st. Is sticky locks a common issue with sebenzas? I know I can just ship it to CRK if there is a problem but I much rather not.
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The Starbenza version of the Sebenza is only sold new by Wilson Combat, but are occasionally found used on the exchange here and elsewhere. I don't think you'd need to worry at all about a sticky lock. I've never had the issue and I've seen little if any posts indicating the issue with other users. You won't be disappointed in a sebenza in any version!
 
SMI said:
What is your experience with the steel at 60-61? Are you just assuming it will chip? I see everyone saying it will chip at 60, but none of those people have used it at 60. They are just going by what they hear or what they are told by others. Not being malicious :), I'm just curious.

I have about a year now of (daily) use on two Sebenzas (one S30, one S35) that were hardened to 60 by Paul Farner at Bos HT. Even before re-hardening I would achieve freehand edges that whittle hair, clean cut tp, etc etc. No wire edges or hanging burrs like I've seen suggested by others. Sharpening was never an issue before getting it hardened. The problem was having to sharpen near daily or every other day. My delica could stand up to a day of work far better than my pair of sebenzas, maybe twice the retention and edge toughness. The other side of the issue was the edge deformation, inward denting, rolling and even slight chipping. It wasn't a case of burnt factory edges. I used my first Seb for about four months daily before sending it in for hardening. I gave it a hell of a chance.

At 60, I have yet to see the inward denting, rolling or even chipping. I have been able to go much longer without sharpening because a diamond spray strop can bring it back. I don't have to burn through some steel to get rid of dents and rolls. My current S35 edc has been through it's paces. Tons of cardboard, zip ties, cables, cordage, wood, etc. I gave it to my Grandfather for a few days for some serious whittling. Holds up great. At 60, I've actually come to favor S35 over S30, it does seem a bit tougher to me. At that hardness, I actually prefer it to a number of "better" steels... it's quite good.

As with anything your results may vary, but those are my experiences. I have yet to use a hinderer, but he is doing S35 at 60-61. Probably also be a good place for some data at that hardness.
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I actually have experienced this. I've had a Benchmade 930 and a Spyderco Manix 2 that both chipped. Nothing terrible but more noticeable than I'd like it to be. I suspect that may have been due to less than stellar heat treating though, rather than just the hardness.
 
This is a pretty juicy thread already, haha certainly entertaining. I like! I will only comment on the op's questions about factory edge.

I think it depends on your definition of sharp. Most 150$ knives come "sharp" but I would not call it incredible sharp, hair whittling, or screaming sharp or any other overzealous adjective. According to my self admitting high standard of a definition, no knives come that way, but that's probably because I sharpen most knives I get to a very high standard. Talking 10 000 grit chosera stone screaming sharp.:eek: That said the factory edges on Chris reeeve knives are usually reasonably sharp according to my definitions. Although, the Umnumzaan was a slight disappointment.

Still I have had benchmade knives comes sharper, but to my surprise a lot of these come with above average factory edges. Then again I had a small inlay 21 that came pretty hot too. My point is that I still believe that the CRKs are hand sharpened so there will continue to be great variablility in the factory edges that come on these knives. There will be exceptional cases and then again not as much.

I guess what I'm saying is that people don't buy these knives for their factory edge they do buy them for the quality and fit and finish. Those things are hard to change about a knife, but the knives edge is a very simple problem to fix, for me at least anyway. And if it's not for you, send me your blade and I will sharpen it for a small fee:D
 
My Large Sebenza 21 came from the factory super sharp.
I used it every day with the factory edge for over a month.
Got it sharpened once(since I bought it at the local shop I get free sharpening for life on it) and it's held that edge for well over a month and still shaves hair, mind you carry this every day, except the past 3 days(trying to switch up the rotation).
I say get one.
You won't need another knife ever. But of course you'll want one. :D
 
Knives are like Chinese meals - you want another one in about an hour. :)

BladeChick777 said:
My Large Sebenza 21 came from the factory super sharp.
I used it every day with the factory edge for over a month.
Got it sharpened once(since I bought it at the local shop I get free sharpening for life on it) and it's held that edge for well over a month and still shaves hair, mind you carry this every day, except the past 3 days(trying to switch up the rotation).
I say get one.
You won't need another knife ever. But of course you'll want one. :D
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