Small Sebenza vs Small Inkosi

J

jfowler1

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Amoo did a great review on this popular topic here:

http://www.bladeforums.com/threads/small-sebenza-21-vs-small-inkosi-compare-and-contrast.1473182/

I wanted to offer my personal experience with these two knives without hijacking Amoo's thread.

First, my small 21. Personally, I prefer the design and construction of the Sebenza. I find the design sleeker and more timeless. The knife is long and lean. Also, I believe the execution of the pivot bushing is what separates CRK from other manufacturers. I prefer the grip of the 21. Opening the knife required a bit of a learning curve. After some break in and muscle memory, it can be opened slowly with control, or thumb flicked with confidence. The sound when it locks is awesome, and I realized that I did not know what perfect lock up and centering meant until I owned a Sebenza.

The Inkosi was my second purchase. Let me start with this; it is a fun knife. It is stout when compared to the Sebenza, but the differences are not dramatic. Forgoing the pivot bushing is a strange choice, but the lock up is still rock solid. The opening/closing process is where I feel the Inkosi shines. Like I said, it is just fun. I found it required no learning curve, and the knife is more forgiving to technique. As Amoo noted, is it the ceramic ball interface, the larger pivot, or the larger washers - maybe all 3. It thumb flicks as easily as my old mini-grip. Hell, you can even front flip it open with a little wrist. People say opening the Sebenza is akin to sliding two sheets of glass together. Opening the Inkosi is like rolling a marble around on a piece of glass. There is friction, but the resistance is minimal.

So here is my long and short. These knives get compared to each other, but they are two different knives that share nothing more than a heritage, material choices, and a few design cues. Another way to think of it would be comparing the Sebenza/Inkosi (or the Sebenza 21/Sebenza 25) to a 1967 Camaro vs a 2017 Camaro. The cars share a heritage, but offer dramatically different utility and user experiences. One is an icon, and the other was built after 50 years of invention and innovation.

I can not give a answer to "which one is better", but forced to keep just one, and I'll keep the Small Sebenza. It is the classic, and the hallmark of the brand. I'll also take the '67 Camaro.

Thanks for reading, and I hope this gives some perspectives to a future buyer.
 
Nice review. Was your inkosi used or new when you bought it and did you set the pivot yourself? I ask because mine is even more hydraulic and harder to flip than my sebenzas.
 
I have a large Inkosi and large 21. The large Inkosi is actually much easier and smoother for me to flip. (well much may be an exaggeration)

I also have a small 21 which as the mechanism is well broken in I find very easy to open, even with my left hand despite it being a single studded righty knife.

Everyone note that the small inkosi is smaller than the small 21, however the large inkosi is the same size as the large 21. Don't ask why.
 
Lapedog said:
Everyone note that the small inkosi is smaller than the small 21, however the large inkosi is the same size as the large 21. Don't ask why.
Click to expand...
I would have loved if the large inkosi was slightly smaller than a 21. Would have almost been a "medium" sebenza.
 
My Inkosi was brand new. I broke it down, cleaned, and added some new grease on day 1. Go easy on the grease. In my experience, I apply what I think seems right, put it together, take it back apart, and wipe off 3/4 of the grease I just applied, then put it back together. I'll learn my lesson one of these days.
 
Also, this seems like a good opportunity for my follow up post... I sold the Inkosi.

I carried it for a week, then put the Sebenza back in my pocket for a day, went home, and put the Inkosi up for sale. It was an expensive rental. The decision was easy, because the things I liked/disliked were not going to magically change.

Likes:
The open/close/and lock up on the Inkosi were stellar. It opened and closed so easily and smoothly. Marble on glass.
The clip was interesting, and I do believe it relieved lock bar tension. Finally, The knife was really EASY to maintain. None of those things were going to get worse in time.

Dislikes:
The size/grip. It is not much smaller than the Sebenza, but it is small enough to cost me a full 4 finger grip. Also, The choils were a no go in my hands. I don't have large hands, but I do have fat fingers, so they may be the culprit. Also, why did the blade have to get shorter? Who said the sub 3" blade on the Sebenza was too long? This last one is weird; the lanyard dug into the back of my hand. The Sebenza lanyard passes through because it is center set, while the Inkosi lanyard kind of aims backwards right into my hand.

The design. Not only did the choiles not fit, I did not care for how they looked compared to the clean lines of the Sebenza. It was a design choice... someone else might like it. Also, the blade sits a little higher in the handle when closed. Kind of like a closed Insingo vs a closed drop point. It made a stout knife look even more stout. I found the dual thumb studs aesthetically pleasing and functionally worthless. Here is another weird one... the hardware on the show side of the Sebenza is all identical and uniform. It looks purposeful. The hardware on the show side of the Inkosi is 3 different asymmetric pieces (large pivot screw, a blank for the stop pin, small back spacer screw). I like a little symmetry.

The lack of a pivot bushing. The pivot bushing is why I will be a Chris Reeve customer for life. I will not buy another CRK folder without it. I did say the Inkosi is EASY to maintain, but the Sebenza is so much more pleasing for me to take apart and put back together. Fiddling with the Inkosi pivot was easy, but I got so much satisfaction tightening down the Sebenza and having it be as perfect as the day it left Idaho.

The Inkosi has lots of fans. There were several attributes that would explain why. But for me, it had more misses than hits. There is a blogger/pod caster who often talks about the Sebenza problem. When you get into this 300-400 dollar price bracket, it is really tough for any manufacturer to compete (including CRK).
 
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I choose the Inkosi over the Sebenza, but can't fault anybody for going the other way. Either one would easily be my favorite folding knife if not for the other. I agree that the only competition to CRK is CRK themselves. Now they're spreading vicious rumors that they're going to be coming out with some new designs intending to further deplete my funds and dominate my pockets? The humanity.
 
I'm glad I have one of each. I tend to prefer whichever is in my pocket on a given day.

I will say this, however; I think one small Inkosi is enough for me, but I'm presently looking for a second small 21 (with inlays!).

Does that count as a bias? :)
 
Thanks for the well thought out review. At some point, I am going to cross this same bridge when I update my backpacking knife. You have me leaning very hard toward the 21. Part of that is I know I like the 21 handles a lot and I'm a little worried I'll be in that minority of users that the Inkosi won't fit. I have to admit part of that is also that I just enjoy the simplicity of the 21.

For EDC, I will stick with the Small PJ Insingo, which I find perfect for my needs in every way. So much so, I plan on buying another to keep in the SD box as a back-up in case I lose mine. I have never done that with any other knife.
 
Cory Hess said:
I choose the Inkosi over the Sebenza, but can't fault anybody for going the other way. Either one would easily be my favorite folding knife if not for the other. I agree that the only competition to CRK is CRK themselves. Now they're spreading vicious rumors that they're going to be coming out with some new designs intending to further deplete my funds and dominate my pockets? The humanity.
Click to expand...


What vicious rumors do you speak of?
 
You had to ask!

Are you sure you want to go down this rabbit hole? Life may never be the same again.
 
Saint 3:16 said:
What vicious rumors do you speak of?
Click to expand...

Just some rumblings from the thread about the discontinuation of the Ti-Lock. “We’ve got a few new locking mechanisms coming down the line. For those people who enjoy those kind of things we still have something cool coming.” I don't have any inside information other than what's been posted here.
 
Like 4mr_FNF, I'm content with my single, slightly pimped small Inkosi, and don't see myself going back to the well for more. I love it, really, but as amazing a knife as it is (smooth, smooth, smooth...), but without the pivot bushing or the clean lines of the 21, its message gets muddled a bit.

As for the small Sebenza 21, it's pure Chris Reeve and a classic for the ages. I currently have three of them, and will be adding another before long.

Regards,
Adam
 
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