so i have heard...

reconseed

reconseed

Joined
Sep 23, 2006
Messages
1,524
that the sebenza is the best folding knife ever designed. ever. period. i have heard this for some time now and i am finaly thinking about buying one.. which model should i get of the sebenza? or are they all the same, just the designs on the stocks change??? anything else i should know about htese knives. do they lock up tight when open? any blade play?
 
I don't know if I would call them the "best" but I would call it one of the finest folding knives for the money with some caveats. They are plain, they are not for everyone, they are exceptionally well built and generally lock up as well as any folding knife you can find with no play (my experience with one small classic Seb). They can be built gorgeous, but like a man explained scotch to me, don't start with good scotch to appreciate scotch, start with truly pissy scotch and go from there, you will appreciate the good stuff way more when you get there. The blade heat treat is I don't think of as highly as say a Spyder, or a Strider (Paul Bos formula for success with S30V) which I feel is the epitome of what you can get out of that steel based on common materials to be cut. But it's an OK heat treat.

I'd try for the used market, rarely is a Sebenza abused or try a plain small Classic or Regular new first so as to spend the least and experience the more workman like aspects of the design. Go from there. I have a Seb and will always have at least one and think the world of it, others are more or less enamored with them, but you kinda got to try them to understand them. I hope it helps, but it probably won't as much as actually using one.
 
reconseed forgive me, but are you serious? Have you considered doing a search?
 
reconseed, pardon the jerk ^^:rolleyes: Don't worry, not all of us are rude here.

As for your question, they are all pretty much the same except for size and looks. The large sebenza is fairly large, and I prefer the small for EDC use. You can choose between the Classic or the Regular. Both pretty much the same. The Classic may be slightly easier to open because of the larger thumb cut-out, but I personally prefer the looks of the regular. It's all a matter of opinion so choose for yourself.
 
Thanks guys. I have just heard great GREAT things about the Sebenza. I didnt think that there could be a better folder, all things considered, after feeling and holding one at NGK, a week ago. I am gong to end up getting one, but its going to be one of the smaller ones so I can EDC it! :)
 
sebenza pros:

1. simplicity of design.
2. easy to disassemble and clean.
3. good edge profile out of the box.
4. superb fit/finish.
5. slim design excellent for edc.
6. excellent customer service.
7. readily available.
8. smooth action, solid lock up.
9. top quality materials.
10. many many designs and variations to choose from.

sebenza cons:

1. expensive for a "production" knife.
2. hard to stop at just one.
3. no choice in blade steel, unless you purchase an old one or damascus.
4. some dont think they are great cutters out of the box, i disagree.
 
The quality vs price is totally up to each individual. Until I got my hands on one about a year ago, I would not have considered paying more than $150 for any knife. I now have six different Sebenzas. Are they worth it? To me it is. The fit and finish are superb. Better than I've seen on any other production knives. Chris Reeves reputation? Impeccable. Multiple winner of Blade Magazine's Manufacturer of Year Award, nobody else has won that award that many times. Blades and handles cut from stock, the rest hand ground and finished and then each blade hand fitted to one set of handle scales for the perfect fit. Does that make the knives worth $340 or more? To me, yes. Now add the Unique Graphics which are each one of a kind. Is it worth it? To me, yes. Does it cut any better than other higher quality productions, I don't think so but it cuts just as good as any other knife. Will I quit buying Spydercos and Kershaws? Nope, I like them for a different reason. Get your hands on one and make up your own mind. It doesn't really matter what "we" think.
 
First I will save you some time. No sebenzas are NOT the best folder in the world bar none. It is not the strongest, or the sharpest, or the most attractive it is however a damn solid tool. That being said they are an expensive (for a production knife) very well made production folder. Noone can quantify the pluses and minuses of the Sebenza over the internet. You have to try one for yourself (physically hold it open close examinte etc.) Some people like them and feel they are "worth" the extra cost and some do not. One plus is that if you order one and it is not to your liking you will have no problem selling it.

This is the advise I took and I now own both a large regular and a small regular. I tried them and they lived up to my expectations and I kept them. The large is my EDC and has been for the past 4 years. There are no safe queens in my collection they all get used some just more than others. just my .02

by the way run a search for sebenza in the forums and you will have enough reading material to last you a just a little while.
 
what would be one of the strongest folders on the market these days? i am looking for a very hard-use folder that i can rely on in the field during lab
 
reconseed said:
what would be one of the strongest folders on the market these days? i am looking for a very hard-use folder that i can rely on in the field during lab
Click to expand...


Sebbies are very though. I feel a Sebbie is a hard use knife. I would not pry with it, but I would not pry with folding knife anyway. If you feel a Sebbie is just not the "right" knife for your uses you have in mind, you might want to look into Rick Hinders work, or the much easier to find Strider SNG, or SMF for folders. They have big honk-in fixed blades too, I feel they are more pry bars than knives (the fixed blades).

Chris Reeves makes great fixed blades also, but I have no experience with them. I'm sure all the great people here on BF can chime in if your interested.


The Sebbie is a Large Classic, and the Strider is a drop point SNG.
IMG_5552.jpg


IMG_5553.jpg
 
what would be one of the strongest folders on the market these days? i am looking for a very hard-use folder that i can rely on in the field during lab
Click to expand...

I don't think a sebenza will be right for you. First you wanted the best designed, solid lockup, etc. now you want the strongest folder. IMO you don't really know what you want. Yep I'm a jerk but we're wasting our time trying to convince you of anything.

Perhaps you should lurk on the forums for another year or so and figure out what you want and the right questions to ask.
 
^^ :jerkit:
Don't listen to him, reconseed.

We all know that the Sebenza is the "Perfect" knife so do yourself a favor and get one. :thumbup:
 
I'm going to go out on a limb here. I think that the Sebenza is one of the toughest folders out there. It's not bulky like a Strider and it's doesn't have the badass look of a Strider or an Emerson. I believe I read a test where a Sebenza was driven into a tree stump with a sledgehammer. Several other "hard use knives" broke apart during this test. Depending on what you plan to do in the field, the Sebbie should serve you well. Proper tools for the job is the rule. No knife will serve every purpose.
 
I never had any interest in them.

Traded for a used one at a gu

nshow, it was a little rough around the edges. Sent it off the CRK for a refurb. It came back looking ABSOLUTLY new.

I have the usual variety including a couple of SnG's there is something special about the Sebenza

get one, if you don't like it sell it
 
I have a couple Sebenza knives that I EDC and they are quite extraordinary for a production knife. I've got a small Sebenza with Micarta inlays and a large plain one. I also have a safe queen that is one of Lisa's Picks of the Month (July 2006) with graphics. If you are a knife collector, you should look into having one (or more) in your inventory.
 
Scott Dog said:
I believe I read a test where a Sebenza was driven into a tree stump with a sledgehammer. Several other "hard use knives" broke apart during this test.
Click to expand...

OH BOY! You've got to post that one. -I'm off to search for it, and if I find it I'll post it. I agree, I find my Sebenza to be as "tough" as any knife I've used.

I also disagree with DaveH. He is most assuredly not a jerk. ;) But he does have a point. That is, decide (or discuss here if you're not certain) what you need or want in a folding knife.

It's easy and common to become caught up in the idea, or the romance, or the fantasy, of the "toughest" knife. When one does, one really only has marketing to go by. Whoever sells their knives as the "toughest", this week, will be the ones one covets. Whichever manufacturer has the most vocal, aggressive fans trumpeting how "tough" their blades are will catch one's eye. Meanwhile, perhaps the owners of another manufacturer are too busy cutting things, or exploring, or serving their countries to post much.

My 2¢? Sebenzas are tough, but CRK prefers you don't abuse them. They'll take it, but if you break it, it ain't free to fix. Spydercos are tough, but the same applies. Striders are tough, and those guys get a kick out of it if you break it. -Even then though, while a free fix is nice, it doesn't put a knife in your pocket while yours is in for repair. And at $400 a pop, you might not have many spares.

I don't see my Seb breaking before an SNG. If I broke 'em both, the Seb is on me and the SNG is on Mick. -But then I'd just carry one of my Militaries. :D

I often debate (with myself) the merits of one "super-knife" vs. four or five "almost as goods."

Let's kick around what you actually want in a knife. :)
 
I agree with DaveH in that the Seb might not be the knife for you based on what you've said. I think the Seb is considered a benchmark for folders, but not because it is the "toughest" knife on the market. I think it comes down to the simple, proven design and fit&finish on a very consistent basis.
From personal experience, I've had the chance to use some of my knives on the fireground in a harder than usual manner. From those experiences, I'm happy to have had another, less expensive knife on hand. I imagine my Seb could've handled the tasks, but "I" probably wouldn't have been very happy doing those things knowing it could 1) very likely break and 2) not likely be covered. A $50-$100 Spyderco is a lot easier to accept as a potentially disposable knife than is a $300+ Sebenza, for me and my wallet.
You already have some stout knives. Use them for the rough stuff, or get something like a Wilson Tactical Cop-Tool(I carry one in my bunker gear) that is designed to do all the things that make a folding knife cringe.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top