Straight River Knife Sebenza Passaround Review

[tortoise]

Some quickie pics to start out.

Do you remember when you learned to ride a two-wheeler? I do. For most I think it was probably the same: you were on the bike, somebody ran alongside you helping you balance and once you got going they let go. And then you crashed. This was repeated as many times as it took. Then, one time, maybe the third maybe the thirtieth, you rode.

That's how it was for me. Seemingly nothing different between the last, run-release-roadrash cycle and the successful solo, but there it was. So it was with this Sebenza.

I got it on the 17th. It's a beautiful knife. I saw immediately what the Sebenzanistas gush about. One of the first things that caught my attention is the neat way in which CRK finished the spine of the blade. It is smoothly radiused, not flat like most blades. Subtle and impressive.

When I opened it it functioned smoothly. In the interest of full disclosure I must say that I am a Spyderco fan. In my estimation the round opening hole is the finest solution to the one hand opening problem. However this (single) thumb stud worked fine. No discomfort, no difficulty. I subsequently tried it while wearing Hatch leather gloves, a common real-world situation for me, and experienced no problems. I would choose a double-stud model for personal use.

But...when I tried to close the knife I had trouble. I found my index, and to a lesser extent middle, fingers pressing in opposition to my thumb. As I applied pressure to the lock with my thumb, I sympathetically squeezed the lock tighter into place from the other side. This is the very thing that frame lock lovers extol as a virtue in use, that the harder you grip the knife the tighter the lock is held. True, but it was interfering with me releasing the lock.

I carried the knife constantly for four days, at work and off. I used it for small tasks: food prep, mail, banner guard, etc. as well as simple knifesturbation. But no matter how many times I opened and closed it, no matter how I tried to change my grip or my finger placement, I just couldn't find a way to comfortably close the knife. Finally I packed the knife back into its zippered case. I was planning to send it on early, since it and I weren't gelling as a team. I dropped my Military back in my pocket.

An odd thing happened. Now this has occurred before, but only with the Mil; the Seb called to me. In the past, when I have carried other knives in place of my Mil to test or consider as a new EDC, I have sometimes been overcome with the urge to have the Military back. I mean I'll just be sitting somewhere, not even using a knife, and I'll get this uneasy feeling. It says, "Get rid of this interloper and get the Mil back in your pocket. I'm of the type that it doesn't take long to decide of something is for me or not. It either is or it isn't, right now, no need to dally. Salesmen do it to me all the time, "-Try it out. -Walk around a bit. -Take it for a ride/drive." No thanks. I know it's not for me. Or, "I'll take it."

Well with the Mil safely back in my pocket, I got the urge to carry the Seb again. Curious. Okay, not one to ignore the voices in my head I unzipped the Sebbie and back in pocket it went. The very next time I clicked it open and tried to close it, it swung smoothly closed! Remember the bicycle? I tried again. Like butter. As fast as the Mil? No. But smooth and hitch free to be sure. What changed? I examined the motion closely. Apparently something was different. Now I was applying force in more of an arc rather than straight across the lock. Pushing sort of 'up and out' solved my dilemma. Just like that, a breakthrough that for me changed how I feel about this knife.

So I won't be cutting my evaluation period so short I think.

 

[DaveH]

OK, just to clarify, when you say close the knife, you're saying close the knife with one hand right?

It takes some practice, what I do is spin the knife 180 across the short side so the lock bar is facing the first knuckle of the index finger, with thumb over the pivot screw, I pull straight across with the index finder, using the leg or what ever to get it partly closed before changing frips to finish closing. Not very efficient I guess, but I don't make one handled closing a high priority.

Anyway a cool write up, thanks!

 

[tortoise]

Took 'er apart today with the enclosed tool.

-Very simple, even got it back together, though I admit at first I had visions of having to mail it back to Dave in a baggie.

Just for fun I switched sides on the screw heads.

 

[tortoise]

The Sebenza is on its way back to Dave, our two weeks together over.

First I need to thank George at Straight River knife for providing this knife, and Dave for administrating this whole operation. Thank you both!

My final impressions are pretty straightforward:

The Sebenza is a fine knife, well manufactured of excellent materials. Its fit and finish were as advertised. Its function seemed to be a matter of taste. I found the blade shape extremely useful. The size (this was a large regular) was also a fine blend. It at first seemed a bit (pleasingly) small to me, and I had others observe that it was "large." I take that to mean that its probably about right size-wise.

I was not crazy about the frame lock. It worked and was solid, but I found it somewhat clumsy to use. After a while it became easier and was certainly functional, but it was never what I'd call user friendly. The plus side is that it allows for fewer parts, but since it doesn't offer much more (if anything) in strength over a standard liner lock, that design currently remains my preference. Handle ergonomics and grip were fine for normal use, I never spent extended periods cutting, nor was the knife ever wet with anything slippery.

I'm a tip-down guy, but found no problems at all with the Seb's tip-up configuration. If it was my knife I'd lose the lanyard, I found that it often got hung up on things.

Now having had the chance to carry and use one, no one would ever have to explain to me "Why a Sebenza?" I understand. When I hear a user say that they love their Sebenza I can see why. On the other hand, when someone feels the need to temper the "The Seb is the gretest human design in the history of the world." I understand that too. I would buy a Sebenza. I don't think I will, I find my Military serves me better in several ways, but it isn't hard to see a situation where I would pick up a Seb.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

One of the first things that caught my attention is the neat way in which CRK finished the spine of the blade. It is smoothly radiused, not flat like most blades.

Use the knife to cut something with heavy pressure on the spine and this is very valuable. I always ask for it on customs. Many productions break the spine, but Reeve actually domes it. Outside of using the spine as a scraper, this is a much more functional design. On large knives it also aids in toughness, not much of an issue here.

[integral]

After a while it became easier and was certainly functional, but it was never what I'd call user friendly.

I can open and close them as easily as liners unless they jam in high pressure grips which they can do. The first time you use them they can be pretty awkward though, after awhile it will be second nature, just flip the knife over and disengage the lock, though probably never as smooth as a much thinner liner for obvious reasons.

-Cliff