Small Sebenza 21 Carbon Fiber owners

Deer

Deer

Joined
Sep 23, 2016
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I do not own any CRKs (yet) but I'm very interested in purchasing my first. I am in love with the small sebenza 21 w/ carbon fiber scale. The achievement of only 2.4oz is incredible (not to mention the sexiness).

However, I have heard some negative things about the blade slowly leaving center and straying towards the carbon fiber scale over time. Have any of you experienced this? Should I go with the standard titanium?

I also really love the looks of the drop point but I think the Insingo might have a little bit more function for my personal needs. Any experience between the 2?

Thanks guys!
 
I've had a small CF Insingo for some time now, and it's as solid and centered as the day I bought it. I've owned probably a dozen or so Sebenzas over the years, and it is the only one I've kept.
 
d.2.the.p said:
I've had a small CF Insingo for some time now, and it's as solid and centered as the day I bought it. I've owned probably a dozen or so Sebenzas over the years, and it is the only one I've kept.
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This is really nice to hear. How long have you had it and how much use has it seen?
 
I've owned both a large and small, but only kept the large. Nothing wrong with the small, it's just very, very light. I prefer the added weight of Ti on the small. The large CF is perfect.

The centering issues reported with CF Sebenzas are few compared to the number of people who own one. If you receive one that's off-center, exchange it. If it's centered when it arrives it shouldn't travel much, if at all. At least not in my experience.
 
Unless you rock gym shorts all the time I'd say go with titanium.... steel framed 1911's too
 
Good to hear some positive feedback on the CF. Thanks guys.


willard0341 said:
Unless you rock gym shorts all the time I'd say go with titanium.... steel framed 1911's too
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Funny thing about the "gym shorts" I wear them everyday 8 months out of the year and one of the main reasons I go by "the lighter the better". Though winter is just about here and Ill be in Jeans for the next 4 months.

+1 on the steel frame 1911. No other way to go.



Also, my edc for the past 2 years was a 4.6oz serum. But it was always very noticeable and forcing to tie my drawstrings. Finally picked up a 940 and often forget I have it on me and I really love that.
 
My large 21 CF gets a ton of use--it's my hard use (though not beater) work EDC. It gets opened and closed way more than it needs to, as I tend to play with my knives as much as I use 'em. I have noticed no change in the blade centering on that knife.

It has always been my assumption that knife washers are intended to stay put while the blade rotates between them. I also think that if one allows one's knife to become overly dirty with gummy, sluggish action that could cause the washers to hang with the moving blade and exact some wear on the scales. If you keep your CF-scaled knife clean and lubed, I think you should be fine.

Edit: That large 21 CF is among my top three of way too many total and way too many more-expensive knives. Unbelievably strong and solid and wicked light, too. Highly recommended!
 
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I agree, ChazzyP. If the washers are seated and lubricated properly it seems impossible for the blade to wear on the CF. If you look closely you can actually see the gap between the blade and the front scale as the knife opens and closes. It's a great display of CRK's tight tolerances, as the slabs are perfectly parallel.
 
Awesome. Looks like you guys sold me. Within the next month I'm going to pick up both a small 21 insingo CF and a Large 21 CF. Cant wait!
 
I have the small insingo it was my first crk, and a great choice imo. I bought it 2 years ago and have carried it almost every day and use it probably 5 days a week on random daily tasks. I haven't had any issues with it and don't obsessively baby it but i clean it once in awhile. You won't be disappointed thats for sure! (i haven't bought a new edc blade since.)
 
ChazzyP said:
My large 21 CF gets a ton of use--it's my hard use (though not beater) work EDC. It gets opened and closed way more than it needs to, as I tend to play with my knives as much as I use 'em. I have noticed no change in the blade centering on that knife.

It has always been my assumption that knife washers are intended to stay put while the blade rotates between them. I also think that if one allows one's knife to become overly dirty with gummy, sluggish action that could cause the washers to hang with the moving blade and exact some wear on the scales. If you keep your CF-scaled knife clean and lubed, I think you should be fine.

Edit: That large 21 CF is among my top three of way too many total and way too many more-expensive knives. Unbelievably strong and solid and wicked light, too. Highly recommended!
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I wonder if the inkosi/sebenza 25 might be a better choice for a knife with a full carbon fiber scale since the washers are fixed and can't rotate against the scales on these. I feel it would protect against wear on the scale better.
 
I love the looks of my small CF Insingo. but:
(-) Off center blade, no rub.
(-) If I tightened pivot screw snug, blade would not swing easily.

Solved this problem by buying a plain slab titanium......fixed it.

Best of luck with yours.
 
gull wing said:
I love the looks of my small CF Insingo. but:
(-) Off center blade, no rub.
(-) If I tightened pivot screw snug, blade would not swing easily.

Solved this problem by buying a plain slab titanium......fixed it.

Best of luck with yours.
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This makes me sad to hear? Do you plan on sending it back to crk?

I made a "practice" order and noticed I cant add a comment with kifeart saying "Please check blade centering" like I usually do with other sites.
 
My small CF 21 is my most carried Sebenza by a huge margin, and it is as solid and centered now (3 yrs later) as it was the day it was made:thumbup:
I spend a lot of my weekends and evenings in athletic shorts and the decreased mass of the carbon fiber Sebenza vs the full titanium version makes a noticeable difference.
 
Granted my cf is a large, but blade centering is perfect and has not moved after putting it through some pretty routine hard use. When I first got the knife, even though it was used, I was not able to fully tighten the pivot screw. However, after about six months I know can wrench it down as far as I wish.
 
Email response from Matt @ CRK

"Great choice in the knife you're after, the Sebenza Insingo is one of my personal favorites. As far as the carbon fiber is concerned, it should be plenty strong enough for an EDC that will see moderate-heavy use. The carbon fiber scale does have the tendency to "settle in" to it's new environment due to temperature/humidity changes, although it's not something we see very often. Should this happen to your knife, it would need to be sent to us to make a minor adjustment at our shop as a warranty service, which would be expedited and generally turned around within 10 days. Once we make the necessary adjustments, the knife should be good to go for years of use without issue after just one servicing from our shop."

Sounding good to me :D
 
That's good info to know, Deer. Thanks for getting and sharing that. Thanks to Matt @ CRK, too.
 
I've regularly carried a small 21 CF drop for over a year now. It's seen mostly light to moderate use, although it broke down a bunch of cardboard when I moved a few months ago. It's been disassembled at least twice to first remove and then replace the lanyard. It remains one of my favorite EDC knives. The blade has always stayed perfectly centered and the action has worked in to be a thing of smooth beauty. The only problem I have with it is the clip got badly bent when I hooked it on a chair while sitting down, but that could have happened to any handle configuration. I wish CRK would offer a CF scale with some milling in it to provide a little bit of texture, but that's a minor beef.

I've been ecstatically happy with my CF Sebenza. If I ever had a total financial crisis and had to sell a bunch of knives to raise funds, my CF Sebenza would be one of the last to go.
 
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