So tell me about sebenza?

A

Angelus1781

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Looking for that perfect folder. One I carry all the time, tough. Tougher then most folders, but practical in which I can use it everyday, for whatever task comes up. I like metal handles. something that can take some abuse, and last me for years and years. I saw one of chris reeves folders but the knife store guy wouldn't let me handle it. It was the small, in a small case, in the back. Want the blade to be thick, plain edge, 3 1/2-4inches.

Any ideas? I seem to be jumping around a lot, and can't seem to get ideas.
 
it's good stuff.

however, more importatnt - do you have a budget in mind? there're lots of titanium handle framelock / linerlock knives with well heat-treated blades in that size but in different price range(s).

sebbies have a 1/8" bladestock. striders have slightly thicker stock - closer to 5/32", I believe. yet other full customs can be ordered with 1/5" blade stock. your choice depends on your budget.

as for sebbies...yes, they're a very good production framelock.

here are some choices for you - a search will reveal more information for you to consider:

- pontiaker (matt cucchiara)'s banshee folders
- sebenzas (prodo)
- rick hinderer's firetac
- Carson Carson Obenauf (C2O) folder
- mike obenauf's M1, M2 and M3
- strider's SNG and SMF (prodo)
- camillus cuda dominator (prodo)
- biogon / reese weiland collaboration elysium
- tom mayo's tnt
- buck mayo TNT (prodo)
- jim burke's folders
- JW Smith framelock folders
- cutters knife and tool folders (prodo)
- peter atwood
- benchmade blackwood 630 (prodo)

hope that helps kick start the ideas....
 
spyken's list is an outstanding compilation of excellent knives.

The 'perfect' knife is a moving target. Just when you think you've found it, your tastes change. That's one of the reasons folks buy and sell so many knives.

From spyken's list, the best locking action I've seen is the frame-lock action of the Skirmish - but I didn't like the blade properties. The best blade properties I've seen are on my Strider SMF - but it's frame-lock operation is crude when compared to the Skirmish.

The search goes on. The perfect knife always seems just out of reach.

My advice: Learn to enjoy the search.
 
My own opinion is... Sebenzas rock.

I'd trust my life to them. Have had them for years, and I feel that for me, anyway, nothing against the other knives mentioned, that these are the PERFECT folders.

B
 
I would be very pissed at the "knife store guy" who wouldn't let you see the knife, unless you're 12 years old. You should contact the owner, or, if he is the owner, make it your mission to turn people away from his store. I would have made a pretty big scene.

That aside, a Sebenza will last you a looooong time and probably fullfill most if not all of your cutting needs. :)
 
Megalobyte said:
I would be very pissed at the "knife store guy" who wouldn't let you see the knife, unless you're 12 years old. You should contact the owner, or, if he is the owner, make it your mission to turn people away from his store. I would have made a pretty big scene.

That aside, a Sebenza will last you a looooong time and probably fullfill most if not all of your cutting needs. :)
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All of what he said. :mad:
 
?? a salespersons who says no to a customer who wants to handle a knife?? Hmmm indeed very wrong and i am certain that the owner will be surprised by the way his personel treats his customers.
Stay away from this shop, if they don't allow u to handle an expensive knife they will not be thrilled to give u your customers rights in case of a waranty problem.
 
My opinion - don't get a Sebenza :eek: - I sold mine on ebay. My personal opinion is that there are many knives for less money that are 95% as good as a sebenza. For example:

Benchmade 710 in M2 steel.
Benchmade AFCK Axis in D2 steel.
 
There really is no perfect knife. Thank goodness. If any knife was perfect I would only need and own one.

The Sebenza is one of the best for the money, if you need the "best". If you can afford it, you will like it. People say that a Benchmade is just as well constructed, as an example. That is wrong. The Sebenza, and some "similar" customs are wonderful. A Benchmade or a Spyderco might be just as good for normal use, but they are simply not as well made as a Sebenza.

I love my Spydercos, my Benchmades and all of my knifes. However I know machining and I know that there is no comparison between the Spydies and BMs to the Sebenza and some similarly constructed customs.

"Practical Use" brings up some good points. The key with the "Sebenza", or other high end stuff, is that few of us "need" it. But if you are satisfied with less, then buy less. That is the simple side of the knife world.
 
First of all, I'm really ticked at that guy who didn't show you the Sebbie! How else is he going to sell it? Here in Columbus OH, the guys at River's Edge are always eager to show me all of the new customs they get, and I look at some every time I go in. The owners are well aware that I'm not going to buy in this league until next year, but they're happy to get them and the Sebbies out for me.

Second, I'm in about the same boat as you. I'm ready for something better. I like most of the run-of-the-mill production knives I have -- some better than others -- but they're all less then perfect in some way -- materials, workmanship, or both. I'd still like an 806D2, and the new Spyderco Manix, but after that I plan to see if there's something better out there. I've got my eyes on a large Sebbie and a few Darrel Ralph customs. In fact, I'd recommend that you look at his work before you plop your money down.

Good luck finding the perfect folder -- hold out for the one you really want.

FWIW, I like my Dominator a lot. DR designs a great knife. Still not on the level of a Sebbie or DR custom, though.
 
Its funny cause even though I bought 2 knives, I still had the cash to buy that sebbie. He just wouldn't show it to me. Just ignored me though he was able to show me everything else. I like that Dominator, a nice design and a good size. So many knives to look at!
 
Keith, I'm curious why you don't think the Dominator is up to the level of the Sebenza? I was interested in this knife and am interested in your opinion.
 
well if you are in the US, and want to 'cut your teeth' on some kind of other passaround first, you could signup for the passaround sebenza.
 
Angelus1781 said:
I saw one of chris reeves folders but the knife store guy wouldn't let me handle it.
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That's just plain stupid. How do they expect you to buy stuff you can't touch?

At We Be Knives in San Francisco, I asked a question about their $800 MSRP - Benchmade 180DM McHenry and Williams http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.asp?model=180DM I said, "I don't need to see it, I just have a question." They guy walks right over to the case, gets the knife and hands it to me. That's how you get people to fall in love with the product.

Reminds me of BMW, they hand you the keys tell you to it for a spin and have fun (without a guy sitting next to you watching your every move). It's the same mindset...they want you to experience the product.
 
Maybe the Sebenza in the case was presold or someone already had a deposit on it. I think that if a knife is presold many times a store will not let someone handle it. What happens if you drop it, for instance.
 
jayharley said:
Maybe the Sebenza in the case was presold or someone already had a deposit on it. I think that if a knife is presold many times a store will not let someone handle it. What happens if you drop it, for instance.
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Good point. But if it were indeed sold, that's what Post-It Notes were made for. :)
 
Alvin Hom said:
Good point. But if it were indeed sold, that's what Post-It Notes were made for. :)
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Sure, but now we are talking about common sense. Frankly, I have no idea if the knife was presold. My response was nothing more than an idea of the situation.
 
sithjedi333 said:
Keith, I'm curious why you don't think the Dominator is up to the level of the Sebenza? I was interested in this knife and am interested in your opinion.
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There is a slight flaw in the Ti handle where its split to form the lock bar -- like a tiny chunk of Ti broke out. The blade came with a rounded tip, and although I first thought the edge grind was even, when I went to sharpen it it turned out not to be the case. Also, and I didn't think so at first, it has a tiny, almost unnoticable amount of play that I can't seem to adjust out and have it open reliably. There are really picky things. In reality, it is a an absolutely solid knife that functions beautifully. I didn't expect it to be, but the Dominator has turned out to be one of my favorite knives. You might get one that's perfect.

I would have to say that Camillus Customer Service is excellent -- I dealt with them on a Cuda Maxx I had trouble with -- so if you were to get a defective knife, they will make it right with reasonable turnaround time.
 
I've seen about 4 different specimens of the DR cammillus bowies. Every one was not equal to a sebenza in fit and finish, but then it's a lot cheaper knife.
 
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