SNG stronger than Sebbie?

T

TKD

Joined
Dec 18, 2002
Messages
115
I've been reading a lot about the SNG vs Sebbie and I've read comments of how the SNG is stronger and tougher than the Sebbie due to the SNG's blade thickness? I thought the weakest part of a folder is the pivot area regardless of blade width. From what I've seen and experienced the Sebbie's pivot seems a bit more robust than the SNG's. Am I right? please enlighten me.
 
ugh....another sebbie Vs. strider thread begins....

(the only thing i will ever contribute to these threads)
 
FWIW, if someone was to perform some actual break tests, such as Spyderco does with the SnG and the Sebenza (maybe Spyderco already has), then there would be something to talk about.

Otherwise, the responses that actionjeep is "ugh-ing" about are the endless anecdotes about how someone's knife (SnG or Sebenza) can do this, that or the other thing. Endless references to loyalty, motherhood and apple pie. Ugh.

While we are at it, what about the Camillus Dominator? (Holy Grail I read).

What about the Spyderco ATR? (no it's not flat ground, but the lock execution is incredible).

What about the Kershaw Bump? (no, I have never handled or used one either).

These are all big blades of S30V with varying type of integral locks.

Good news is that there are more to play with!
 
The truth is that no folder can be recommended as a pry bar or have the strenght to perform this type of task. No matter what type of bolsters or the thickness of the blade these factors have very little to do with this particular performance. What really matters is how strong those little scews are that hold the pivot area together. If I feel the need to use a knife as a pry bar I'll carry my Randall #14, 15 or 18.
 
In my opinion, I wouldnt say its stronger I think its more in the mindset when carrying each particular knife. I Have an Sng and a couple of Sebenza's. To me its just a different type of knife, Im not going to try and destroy either one of them trying to figure out which one is stronger. When I carry and use the Seb. Im a little more careful not to scratch it or use it as hard, I find myself refraining and holding back a bit...just me. When I have the Sng in my pocket, I whip that badboy out ...flick it open hard ..and attack whatever it is Im cutting without a worry. While they are both very strong knives...I have doubt anyone will actually break either one in normal use, so the debate is somewhat mute. I happen to love my Sebbies...I also like my Sng....:)
 
Well they are different knives for different purposes and this can be a very sensitive subject. I am partial to CRK and think that it would be tougher but maybe only slightly. But I think that absolute toughness is meaningless. They're both well made hard use knives made by people passionate about their work. So there! That's my 2 cents.
 
Originally posted by TKD
I thought the weakest part of a folder is the pivot area regardless of blade width.
Click to expand...
That's not so far form the truth... but if you need something really tough to pry with than put your sebby back into your pocket, send back SnG to kydex sheath and take something like that:

md_01.jpg
 
Since I hate blade holes, I don't own an SNG. But I do own Sebenzas and I own a Strider AR.
The lock-up of the Sebenza blade is second to none. It's very strong. The AR blade at 3/16" thick and flat ground, is much stronger than the Sebenza blade. The pivot pin is also massive.
While Sebenzas are guaranteed for life, they are not guaranteed against abuse.
The Striders, on the other hand, are guaranteed period. No questions asked. Abuse or no abuse. They're guaranteed. I haven't heard of anyone breaking a Strider folder.
So, in my opinion, while the Sebenza is a very strong folder, the Strider is stronger. Chris Reeve's philosophy is that a folder is for cutting. If you need to chop or do more destructive things with a knife, you should go to a fixed blade or an axe. Strider's philosophy is that you can do whatever you want with their knives, whether a folder or a fixed blade.
I really wish Chris would offer the large Sebenza with a 3/16" or 5/32" thick blade. There are times when people need to use a knife for a little more than just cutting, yet can't carry a fixed blade.
Having said all that, I think the Sebenza is of higher build quality than the Striders and it's plenty strong enough for most everything you'll use a folder for. The knife in my pocket right now is a small Sebenza. (Sure wish there was a beefier version of the large Sebenza though)
 
Somehow a lot of people have been hooked into "hard use" knives. A friend of mine loves Striders. He bought one of their fixed blade tantos and soon broke the tip off while prying a door. I'm sure Strider would fix/replace it if he sent it back, but he isn't that worried about it. Personally I don't care for the fit/finish/edge, or "camo" of them, so I don't buy them.

I got a Busse for a guy at work, and he has beat the hell out of it while working with a FEMA SAR team. Apparently he hasn't broken it yet, but I'm sure he will given what he has asked of it (cutting steel doors, etc).

I haven't broken any of my one piece CRKs or Sebs. Neither have I broken Randalls or various customs, or even junk knives, because if I want to pry something, I use a pry bar, not a knife. I do not subsititute knives for hammers, sawzalls, pitons, etrc. I want a knife of good steel, with a great edge, so that I can, of all things, cut with it.

Bottom line, a knife is a cutting tool and no more. Use the right tool for the job.
 
Originally posted by Geraldo
Somehow a lot of people have been hooked into "hard use" knives.
Bottom line, a knife is a cutting tool and no more. Use the right tool for the job.
Click to expand...

I agree. But you can't always have the right tool with you. It's nice to have a knife that is likely to hold up to some abuse if need be.
 
I believe that Cliff Stamp was able to break a SNG and Strider wouldn't honor their warranty because he was a "tester" and had abused the knife. I doubt that the Strider warranty is any better than the CRK one. Even if the Strider has a thicker blade, if the handle breaks, the thickness of the blade becomes irrelevant.
 
I wish someone would buy both knives, and pry away to see which one bends or breaks first - If I were rich I would do it. I think the SnG would win a pry contest due to "beef". I have owned both knives and I sold the SnG. Although I liked just about everything about that knife better than the sebenza - there was one MAJOR problem ... bladeplay. It could not be found unless looked for but I friggin HATE bladeplay and it made me sick when I found it in the SnG because I thought I had found the perfect knife. The sebenza stands as close to perfect as I've found and has NO bladeplay.
 
I once owned an SnG and was so disappointed when I received it that I immediately sent it back. There is no way you should have to wait to break a knife in especially one that costs $400! I never had to send a CRK in or to be repaired because of a flaw in workmanship.
If you want to spend more than the cost of a regular seb my reccomendation would be a Lightfoot knife.
 
I think it's misleading to say that the thicker the blade, the tougher the knife. I'm sick of all the people bragging about how thick their knives are, thickness is only one of many variables that make a knife tough. I'm no expert, but this I know. IMO, Strider knives are mostly hype along with many other brands. Take out the stripes, the association with the military and all you have is a sharpen piece of steel, like all other knives. I guess perception IS reality. I guess in the end, the only person I can blame is the consumer. Now you all strider fans don't hunt me down with your strider knives and cut my throat in my sleep, knowing how you're all are highly skilled assassins and soldiers. :rolleyes:
 
I bought my Strider because it has the perfect shape I want :D
(Strider SLCC)

There is an upcoming gun&knife show here in Tulsa so hopefully I'll get to handle a Strider folder. I have handled some Sebenzas before but I seemed to be troubled by the frame lock...was really tight and ended up sending the blade into my thumb :mad: ..maybe this was from ignorance but I would like another chance now that my thumb is all better :)
 
Originally posted by TKD
I've been reading a lot about the SNG vs Sebbie and I've read comments of how the SNG is stronger and tougher than the Sebbie due to the SNG's blade thickness? I thought the weakest part of a folder is the pivot area regardless of blade width. From what I've seen and experienced the Sebbie's pivot seems a bit more robust than the SNG's. Am I right? please enlighten me.
Click to expand...

Actually the pivot pins on the SNG are significantly thicker than those on the Sebenza. I had wondered how thick they were because I couldn't believe they were as thick as the portion protruding through the slabs would suggest, in fact they are only slightly smaller than that, which makes them massive.

I would say there isn't much in it on the lock front.
Both lock bars are about the same thickness, the Sebenzas is a little shorter (which in theory would cut down on flex), but the SNG's cantact area is about twice that of the Sebbies.

I would say the fit n' finish on the SNG isn't even in the same league as CRK's. The lock on my SNG did require a bit of after sales alteration, but I would say that I get none of the problems DaveH had.

I would say one of the truer tests of toughness is, which one do you instinctively reach for when there is a tough job to be done ? I have both, and to be honest I use my SNG for things I wouldn't dream of doing with my Sebenza, although in truth a lot of that has to do with the wider and thicker blade on the SNG.

They are both great knives. I have about 50 folders, and there is absolutely no doubt in my mind, if I could only keep two the instant choice would be my SNG and Sebenza.

BTW - The version I heard was that Mick Strider did replace the knive Cliff Stamp intentionally broke, he just had something un-repeatable engraved on the blade :D
 
Excellent post yog.

There are a lot of great knives out there. There is no 1 perfect knife for everybody. The Sebenza and SnG are two of the good ones, CRK and Strider are 2 really good companies, and they should both be honored to be constantly compared to each other.

Before the SnG, the Sebenza was constantly the subject of threads like this. "It isn't worth the price", "It isn't that strong", "The Gray ****", "It's ugly", "Nobody in the military can afford them", etc., etc., etc.

I am sure in the future, there will be a new knife that comes out and those that have the old one will not want to share the spotlight. Nevermind that the old knife fills their needs nearly perfectly. Nevermind the fact that just because there is now another option does not make the other knife outdated or any less well designed.

The Sebenza and SnG are both outstanding knives. Sometimes people say that it is comparing apples to oranges. I don't think that is the case at all. They are both very solid, tough folders. I seriously doubt anybody would ever need the slight amount of "toughness" one provides over the other.

TKD, to answer your question it is often the pivot that fails. It sounds like what you have "seen and experienced" has been very one- sided. The SnG's pivot is larger than the Sebenza's. (Please note that this does not make the Sebenza a weak knife).

edit- WOW- I forgot they ***ed the word T U R D
 
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