SJ75 vs Small Sebenza

ElConquistador

ElConquistador

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Feb 12, 2007
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Do any of you CRK fans have any experience with the Strider SJ75? I've wanted to get one for a long time but I'm on a CRK kick lately and the Small Sebenza Micarta is looking pretty good.

I have fairly large hands, XLish glove, and normally prefer a larger knife with a 3.5-4" blade but I would like a <3 blade for travel to commie states. I've had a Mini A100 (which I recently sold) and a 755 MPR for this role in the past. The Sebenza looks about the same size as the Mini A100, the micarta seems it would be a little grippy like the G10. The SJ75 looks like it might be a little easier to hold on to, I also like the look of it.

Too big is not an issue, I've even thought about a CQC-14 (too ugly) or a 755 MPR again (too tip down). The knife just has to have a 3" blade.

If money were no issue I'd buy one of each and a Mnandi for good measure but for now it's one or the other. Of course I expect responses to be biased toward CRK but that is what I want is to have a CRK owners opinion of the Strider.

On the other hand if you're a Mick Strider Hater, or begin your response with "Micky Ray Burger..." then we've all heard it before. I'm really just interested in thoughts on the knife itself.

Thanks for your replies.
 
I've never held a sj75 but that would be best if possible.

High end knives I typically want to handle before purchase and all the striders I've handled are too much knife or had blade center issues (store models, but still, all of them? ). I do like the look, they just need to slim down.
 
I'd like to have the money I could have saved by being able to "Try before buying" when it comes to knives. Unfortunately I don't have a local knife shop where I can do that. At least we have this forum where we can flip knives for a modest loss.
 
All opinions of the maker aside, I think the Strider is nothing at all like the Sebenza. I'm not saying one is better than the other (no point in going there), I'm just suggesting that it's an odd compare/contrast situation.

If you have big hands, the strider might be the way to go, but if you are looking to not draw criticism from easily offended people or law enforcers, I'd suggest that the CRK has a much smaller and friendlier appearance. That might sound goofy, but the broad lines of the Strider (much like a lot of Spydercos) seem to draw negative attention from some/many non-knife people (at least in my experiences).
 
The Sebenza will not draw attention. The Strider is wider in all aspects. Even though the Strider is cool as hell, the Sebenza is a more logical, low profile, gentleman's knife.
I carry both the SnG and large Sebenza and get more comments about the Strider being badass than the Sebenza. The safe choice is the Sebenza.
 
The sebenza has the potential to be a 'life knife'. The sj75, although very cool, is something I think you'll grow tired of looking at after a few months of carry. The sebenza has timeless lines. Both work for the job. Go sebenza, skip on the ugly.
 
Strider SJ75s which i think you are refering to is on a different level then the SnG/SmF. Its going to be slightly bigger in every aspect then the small seb. Its a very well made and comfortable knife, i like mine alot
 
The SJ75 is just too wide in my opinion. I'm sure it's an excellent knife, but the Sm Sebenza is far superior (for my needs). The Sm Sebenza makes far better use of space and it takes up far less real estate in the pocket.
 
Nikkogi said:
The SJ75 is just too wide in my opinion. I'm sure it's an excellent knife, but the Sm Sebenza is far superior (for my needs). The Sm Sebenza makes far better use of space and it takes up far less real estate in the pocket.
Click to expand...

Yes, Nikkogi hit it just right. I've owned the Baby Huey and found it just too wide all the way around for my taste. While it felt good in the hand, the blade seemed unnecessarily wide to me.

And it is very thick in your pocket, which for me, made it hard to get into my pocket for something without first removing the knife.

The small Sebbie is a far better way to go for practical daily carry IMHO. Especially if you go with the micarta Insingo. A great design that slices like crazy and is almost unnoticeable in your pocket.
 
The #1 reason I sold my mini SJ75 was because of its slippery handles. Every single time I handled it I felt like I was going to drop it. It is an excellent knife in every way as far as build/materials goes. It is also a major attention grabber -good or bad- whichever you prefer. The super wide blade is also a negative IMO for EDC purposes as it is very limited in tight places. I do still have a couple of SnGs and three Sebs. These knives pretty much get an even rotation in my pocket. SnG GG and Sm 21 for "actual" EDC & Lg 21/25 or SnG "Lego" for when I'm certain I'll be working/using my knife that day. For me, knives with a hole in the blade offer a "fun factor" offered by their diverse methods of opening. It certainly does factor in to what I carry that day.
As part of a collection I'd say the SJ75 I'd a really fine addition. Of the two, for a sure handed knife that's certain to see day to day chores I would choose a Sebenza. If you want to meet somewhere in between check out an SnG.
 
I like that the SJ75 is less civilized. I want to be law abiding by keeping a 3" blade but I have no interest in being politically correct. I'm surprised to hear that the SJ75 is slippery, I assumed it would be more grippy so that is a factor.

The SNG is my favorite carry knife, though it's been replaced by an Umnumzaan for the last couple months. We'll have to see if the change is permanent.

Also, I guess I'm confused on the model number. Some say SJ75s is the first hand ground run. Others say there is a mini and a regular sky juice and the "s" denotes the small model. Whatever, the regular Baby Huey is what I'm looking at.
 
I think you would be hard pressed to honestly compare any strider to any CRK. Other than them both being framelock, there is really not much else that is similar. CRK are more streamlined and are completely finished thoughout. They also do not have all the quality and customer service issues that strider has. I have owned 3 and because of the previous statement, will never do so again. The one in question is very wide, which people would notice over the discrete CRK. Looks like it would be more comfortable in hand compared to the smf and sng, but can just see the hand sliding down onto that sharp blade. Such designs have kept me away from trying many a knife. With slippery Ti, your just asking for injury. Thats why I do not like scotchbrighted handles as it makes the knife slippery in hand. But such is done by the owner and is Not stock CRK. Stock stays in hand and does not slip around. Window shopping is tough, for any brand. I am sure there are people that get a sebenza and do not like it, but I am sure they are in the minority. Odds are, if your here, your a fan. If your on the ropes, personally I would go with the CRK and never look back.
 
Moved to gen. discussion as it's always the best choice when comparing two different brands.
 
I recently picked up a Strider SJ75 off the Forum because I loved the look and the rarity of the knife. When I received the knife I was very impressed with the ergos, personally like the tall blade, it has zero blade play in any direction, and is perfectly centered with a strong detent. I was worried for all the bad things I've heard but the the knife feels super solid, but it does have a big feel and a little more weight than my normal EDC so I havnt really carried it much. I think the SJ75 is so non traditional it's an animal of its own.
 
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