Some may disagree but...

Personally I'm glad the CRKs do not have CPM-M4. I've had three knives with that steel, a Benchmades 810 Contego, a 710-2 I believe it was (a Knifeworks Exclusive) and a Gold Class 940-121.

I gave the 710-2 away to a very good friend and kept my 710 made in M390. Why?

Because I took it hunting, the blade got wet (which happens when hunting sometimes) and the next morning there was rust on the parts of the blade that was not coated. I was very dismayed, cleaned it off with WD40 when I got back to camp the next day and gave it away upon my return. And based upon that fact, I gave the 810 away also to a fellow for Christmas, as for a knife that size (in that class) I much prefer Emersons.

So maybe CPM-M4 is a hard steel, cool. But if my Sebenzas had it, I would not have bought so many of them, for IMO it would be the weak link in the chain. I would have stopped at one.

I've kept a Sebenza 21 in my truck for almost a year, under a polar vortex winter and high humidity with a Spring full of rain (it's raining now outside) and I don't worry one iota about it being rusty when I go to use it.

I know S30 and 35V CAN rust, but not in one or two days. And that adds to the beauty of a Sebenza, longevity. It will remain exactly as it is for a long time, and when one examines the lockup on a 25 I figure I could tie it to a pole and go spear fishing with it and it would last me until I got back to civilization, if that were to ever occur. Unlikely occurrence to be sure, but likely nonetheless.

So if I were cutting flooring inside, I could understand the superiority of a knife blade in M4, and that is a great thing to know. It really is. But I can use my Sharpmaker on a Sebenza (and the M4 also) and have it perfectly sharp enough in a couple of minutes to make that not a concern, so OVERALL I much prefer S35V and am very glad he uses it over a steel that rusts so easily.
 
Bud, I'm not disputing a non stainless knife may be too high maintenance for folks that are not used to taking care of them and I do get what you are saying about it putting people off. Mine would get corrosion too but not on the edge. I used it too much.

If you are happy with a steel that's great. This is an old discussion really and I should not have put in my personal opinion.

There are also stainless upgrades available, but again, forget it.

If people are happy with CRK as is that's great. Chris is a smart man. He knows there are higher performing steels, he has said it himself.

It was just my honest opinion.
 
I took this before I left today

image by Richstag, on Flickr

Of these three, I like everything about my sebenza the best. EVERYTHING, but the blade steel. I carried the stainless blue one. The M4 one rides in my pack. The Sebenza stays by the bed.

I can get by most days with my carbon opinel with my current lifestyle. Just trying to show, its not about being snobby or too good, its to me about the options.

I hope its clear now I am not some bashing fool. I actually have a sebenza I carried for years that has a ton of use and the M4 that I put through hell and back in now in another trademans pocket here on the forum :). But once I found better steels for certain applications I had no reason to move backwards.
 
I find at blade steel on a knife fine. If I didn't like the steel, I wouldn't purchase the knife. The steel being the heart of the knife. I don't think the sebenza needs an upgrade in steel, i think that would drive the price up. As well as his stock of blade blanks going through the roof.
 
SuzukiGS750EZ said:
I find at blade steel on a knife fine. If I didn't like the steel, I wouldn't purchase the knife. The steel being the heart of the knife. I don't think the sebenza needs an upgrade in steel, i think that would drive the price up. As well as his stock of blade blanks going through the roof.
Click to expand...

Ding ding ding...
 
I'm not a collector. I own a variety of knives of different sizes and designs for different purposes. I came to the Sebenza after three years of trying to find a folder that I found attractive and useful. I purchased folders from just about every maker; some I liked and others were carried for no more than a day or two before I tired of them for one reason or another. I finally purchased a small sebbie and, for me, it simply worked better than the others.

Are there harder steels? Sure but I doubt it would make a difference to what I use it for.
Are there better blade shapes? Yes but the Sebbie blade is a functional compromise I can live with.
Are there better opening methods than the tiny stud? Yes but once I learned how to open it properly it is perfectly acceptable.

I have found the Sebenza to be a truly remarkable piece of design and workmanship. It is probably the most minimalist locking folder you can purchase in terms of shape and number of parts used and you can see how, over the years, it has had the design tweaked to generate incremental improvements.

I could go on but the point I'm trying to make is that a carry knife is a very personal decision based on any number of factors including psychological as well as physical. For me and many on this forum the Sebenza is a truly remarkable tool that epitomizes what a locking folder should be. Others . . . may not be so impressed. No problem, the rest of us keep Chris and his elves churning out product day after day.

I'll not argue with anyone over their knife decision. Buy what you like and carry it responsibly - what more can one ask for?
 
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