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SNG vs. Sebenza vs. Umnumzaan?
- Thread starter d.weglarz13
- Start date
RetiredGuns
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I've owned 2 SnGs and 2 small Sebs. I traded both smalls not because they weren't good but because I wanted to try something else and they are perfect trade bait. If I had to gripe about something on the small it would be that while very smooth per-say, it isn't the easiest knife on the planet to open with their style of studs. Need to try a large and see if it's different. If I have to pick a bone about the SnG it's that it will not slice tomatoes thin enough to keep the inlaws away! Both my SnGs were/are smooth as glass, perfectly centered, light and perfect lockup. I cannot speak for nor do I care about previous generations since I don't have them. I also don't care about labels like "Operator" "Tactical" "Hard use" blah blah blah. All I know is the SnG is one of the few knives that I have zero worry about using/scratching/breaking.
These 2 knives are compared continuously for a reason.
These 2 knives are compared continuously for a reason.
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- Nov 18, 2005
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The large Sebenza is the original size and yes, the operating dynamics are a lot different. The small Sebenza isn't quite as bad as a Strider PT in terms of being a little fiddly to open and close, but both are definitely less finger and thumb friendly than their larger stablemates.
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I don't think SnGs and Sebenzas are comparable except for price. Umnums and SnGs are pretty comparable though. I had an Umnum for a week and it definitely was not for me. IMO it's the funkiest looking of the bunch and the least comfy in hand.
Right now I have a Sm 21, Lg 21, a 25, an SnG Lego, an SnG DGG and a PT CC. I would wholeheartedly say that the Sebenzas are a more trustworthy companion. They are pretty much a better product and a better knife, period.
But I dig my Striders. They are more fun. My Lego SnG is my go-to folder. Fun factor has a lot to do with it as does it's the most banged up folder I own and I don't mind adding more "character."
If a friend of mine were in the market for a fantastic, lifetime, folding knife I would be FAR over to the side of recommending a Sebenza vs. a Strider.
It's reeeeeally common for folks to poopoo CRKs HT but I just don't buy it. My experience is that it is fantastic...nay - perfect! The difference in edge holding may be noticeable to someone cutting hundreds of rope slices but I use my knife for all kinds of things & S35VN + CRKs HT is an outstanding steel. For a person who uses their knife as a do all EDC there will be the occasional slip-up. A while back I was cooking and opened my S30V SnG to slice up a Jalapeño to add to what was on the stove. I nicked the handle of a cast iron frying pan & was pretty bummed to see that I'd busted off about 1/32" off the tip. I've had similar damage with a little slip on Sharpmaker stones with Striders. I've slipped and jabbed the tip on a stone with several knives on my Sharpmaker & my Striders seem to get the most deformation. The other day I was cutting some mega saran wrap plastic covering a pallet of tile & I slipped and frikkin NAILED tip first my Sm 21 into the tile. I reacted as though I'd cut the crap out of myself. I closed my eyes and thought "it's bad... It's probably bad." I took a look at the damage and there was practically none. The Seb is a perfect knife for a true enthusiast and an outstanding knife for a regular Joe who would use it as they would a cheapo CRKT. An SnG is best suited for the latter. The most ironic thing I'll say in this post is: What's in my pocket right now? SnG DGG.
Right now I have a Sm 21, Lg 21, a 25, an SnG Lego, an SnG DGG and a PT CC. I would wholeheartedly say that the Sebenzas are a more trustworthy companion. They are pretty much a better product and a better knife, period.
But I dig my Striders. They are more fun. My Lego SnG is my go-to folder. Fun factor has a lot to do with it as does it's the most banged up folder I own and I don't mind adding more "character."
If a friend of mine were in the market for a fantastic, lifetime, folding knife I would be FAR over to the side of recommending a Sebenza vs. a Strider.
It's reeeeeally common for folks to poopoo CRKs HT but I just don't buy it. My experience is that it is fantastic...nay - perfect! The difference in edge holding may be noticeable to someone cutting hundreds of rope slices but I use my knife for all kinds of things & S35VN + CRKs HT is an outstanding steel. For a person who uses their knife as a do all EDC there will be the occasional slip-up. A while back I was cooking and opened my S30V SnG to slice up a Jalapeño to add to what was on the stove. I nicked the handle of a cast iron frying pan & was pretty bummed to see that I'd busted off about 1/32" off the tip. I've had similar damage with a little slip on Sharpmaker stones with Striders. I've slipped and jabbed the tip on a stone with several knives on my Sharpmaker & my Striders seem to get the most deformation. The other day I was cutting some mega saran wrap plastic covering a pallet of tile & I slipped and frikkin NAILED tip first my Sm 21 into the tile. I reacted as though I'd cut the crap out of myself. I closed my eyes and thought "it's bad... It's probably bad." I took a look at the damage and there was practically none. The Seb is a perfect knife for a true enthusiast and an outstanding knife for a regular Joe who would use it as they would a cheapo CRKT. An SnG is best suited for the latter. The most ironic thing I'll say in this post is: What's in my pocket right now? SnG DGG.
I own a startac zaan and i just received my first SnG in the mail today. Honestly I love both of them to the point where I don't believe I could live without them. I feel like the zaan is the most well rounded knife, because it can take a beating but it is also quite elegant in form and has a slender profile (and you're totally allowed to flick it open I believe). While it has a pretty robust design, it is very unobtrusive in the pocket and the pocket clip is perfect. It's definitely my go-to knife when I'm wearing slacks or chino pants. I've handled my fair share of Sebenzas and they are wonderful knives, but they just don't do it for me aesthetically. And then comes the SnG (CPM154 blade, coyote g10, flamed Ti) I think I may have gotten lucky, because mine has perfect lockup, no lock stick, perfect centering, and is as smooth as a buttered up olympic swimmer gliding through a waterslide. It is literally the smoothest out of all my knives, and that is including my ZT 0561 which is riding on bearings. For a knife this size, it is incredibly light, and I dig the choil For most of my tasks I dont really need the 1/2 inch towards the back of the blade. My only possible gripe is that the pocket clip is a little too tight and a decent amount of knife is showing while in the pocket, but it doesn't really bother me too much. All in all, you can't really go wrong, and you probably will end up with all of them. It's just a matter of which one you want first 
I get it with CRK they aren't designed to be flicked open it's just not really a very natural way to open that knife. If you handle one you will get what I mean, you can flick them open but it isn't at all a satisfying or efficient way to open then knife.
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I have a handful of CR folders and they are very nice, can't fault them at all. I have one Strider an SMF, it's a newer model and I just don't see the lack of fit and finish in it. Maybe the older ones were rougher, but I own hundreds of knives and the SMF certainly would be one of the last, if not the last I'd part with and I'm very picky about the fit & finish, solid lock up etc. all the "normal" stuff we knife obsessed folk worry about.
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Great reply. I always enjoy your responses. Now if we could just get you to check out a Taichung Spyderco
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Just an observation of reading this thread. I keep seeing that the Strider is "tougher/stronger", yet I can count no less than 5 posts where guys have said they had to send theirs back b/c of blade play issues, yet not one post about such thing with the CRK. Maybe this is the old lockface versions, but the new lockface has been out for some time and I still seem to be seeing this trend with owners postings. A 100% warranty is great, but I'd rather have a knife that doesn't need it.
On a side note, are all the newer CRKs coming with the ceramic ball interface? Or is it just the Zan and 25s?
On a side note, are all the newer CRKs coming with the ceramic ball interface? Or is it just the Zan and 25s?
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I don't know about all, or older Striders but my SMF is as tight as my CR folders.
dcmartin
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I can't tell you which i prefer because i use the 3 of them equally... Meaning they all get a fair amount of pocket time.
They are similar in size yet different as far as ergos, aesthetics and hand feel. They all feel pretty much the same in the pocket.
These knives are not Medford beefy but still way more than I'll require and I can't ever see doing real damage to ANY of them.
If you are by any chance leaning towards the Zaan, do yourself a favor and get the Wilson Combat version. Very grippy... It's not too grippy but does feel better in the hand than the CRK version. The one thing I do like about the CRKs is the fact that i can disassemble and clean them myself... and it's not frowned upon by the maker. Strider on the other hand no like-ee.
Here are some pics, hope they help.
They are similar in size yet different as far as ergos, aesthetics and hand feel. They all feel pretty much the same in the pocket.
These knives are not Medford beefy but still way more than I'll require and I can't ever see doing real damage to ANY of them.
If you are by any chance leaning towards the Zaan, do yourself a favor and get the Wilson Combat version. Very grippy... It's not too grippy but does feel better in the hand than the CRK version. The one thing I do like about the CRKs is the fact that i can disassemble and clean them myself... and it's not frowned upon by the maker. Strider on the other hand no like-ee.
Here are some pics, hope they help.
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I have an SNG and a CRK Ti-Lock, its not the Seb or the Unzum but I find I like the tactile feel of the G10 scale on the one side of the SNG for cutting chores. For some reason Ti just feels slippery to me. I can also open my SNG much faster and easier than any Seb or my Ti-Lock for that matter. Ive had sever SnGs and I like them more.
dcmartin
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Thanks!
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