Struggling, but not giving up...opinions requested

hhmoore

hhmoore

Joined
Feb 7, 2014
Messages
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Not too long ago, I purchased a large 21 Insingo. I recognize the quality, and love the blade; but I remain pretty much ambivalent about the knife as a whole, and find myself going out of my way to use other knives when it's in my pocket. Somebody suggested that another model might hit the right buttons for me - the suggestion was the Umnumzaan, but the 25 looks like it has potential as well.
The problem is that, while I want to have a CRK that I like, the idea of buying a couple more at $400+ each is daunting...especially since I could easily end up in the same boat. I was almost set to purchase a 'zaan a couple days ago; then I began to focus on the blade shape, and disliked it more and more every time I looked. Could just be that I was grossly overtired (I was), and my mind was distorting the images; but it's made me hesitant again. The finger grooves aside, the 25 doesn't seem remarkably different from the 21. Sure - I could go with inlays; but that's another $100+...not a big deal for a knife I know I like; but something of a risk from my current position.

If you prefer a 25 or Umnumzaan over a large 21; please let me know which (a brief explanation of why would be helpful, thanks)
 
I would say Umnumzaan>25 for me.

Not even sure why you even ask the question as you don't care for the bladeshape of the Umnumzaan..Even if you were tired, I would probably pay attention to this disqualifier.
Even a better idea..There are likely people in your area with the knives in question..Perhaps see if anyone is willing to let you take a look at them.
 
Have you considered a small?
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Nope - while I don't have gorilla hands, I'm not a fan of how small knives feel. I've got a couple with 3-3.25 inch blades that I like quite a bit; and they never get carried. (The exception is 2 traditionals that I carry...but mainly use when I'm at work or around the anxious type.) I prefer blades in the 3.5-3.75" range...partially because the size works for me, partially because their handles fit my hand better.

Also - I handled a small sebenza years ago, and didn't care for it at all....it took me over 15 yrs to rethink CRK enough to purchase the large 21, lol



(edited to add quote)
 
I had a large Plain Jane Insingo and I didn't much care for it. I then bought a small Micarta Insingo and love it. For some reason the large version of the Insingo just didn't do it for me. I know a lot of people won't agree with me on this, but if you are trying to get a CRK to see what the fuss is all about, my opinion would be to avoid the Umnumzaan for now. I own one and love it, but it is not the "Sebenza experience" everyone talks about. It is a fantastic knife none the less and I carry mine at least 50% of the time of the 4 CRK's in my EDC rotation.

I would recommend trading the Insingo for a clip point 21 or 25.

Edit to add: I am glad my first CRK was not a large Insingo. I don't know if I would have stuck with CRK if it had been. I applaud you for not giving up just yet.
 
bhyde said:
Not even sure why you even ask the question as you don't care for the bladeshape of the Umnumzaan..Even if you were tired, I would probably pay attention to this disqualifier.
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The simple answer is that I hadn't considered the blade shape to be an issue, right up until the point that my brain said WTF is that. I've looked at other 'zaan images since, and they don't seem as bad to me; but I have yet to go back and view the images that got that reaction. (I was planning on doing that sometime this week, when I know I can do so with a clear head)
 
I'm not a big fan of the Classic/21 and have always been a Regular guy when it comes to Sebenzas. The Umnumzaan is the knife that I have had in my pocket for a number of years now, but that has changed. The standard 25 is not a knife I'm giddy over at all, the micarta 25 is a different knife though. I have even had my faithfull umnumzaan in a drawer for the last couple of weeks while I carry the 25. This is unheard of !11!!! :D

IMO, if you go for a 25 get the micarta, I dislike the finger grooves on the standard 25 but on the micarta they are less of a feature making the knife more neutral feelling in hand and over all nicer to use. :):thumbup:
 
hhmoore said:
Not too long ago, I purchased a large 21 Insingo. I recognize the quality, and love the blade; but I remain pretty much ambivalent about the knife as a whole, and find myself going out of my way to use other knives when it's in my pocket. Somebody suggested that another model might hit the right buttons for me - the suggestion was the Umnumzaan, but the 25 looks like it has potential as well.
The problem is that, while I want to have a CRK that I like, the idea of buying a couple more at $400+ each is daunting...especially since I could easily end up in the same boat. I was almost set to purchase a 'zaan a couple days ago; then I began to focus on the blade shape, and disliked it more and more every time I looked. Could just be that I was grossly overtired (I was), and my mind was distorting the images; but it's made me hesitant again. The finger grooves aside, the 25 doesn't seem remarkably different from the 21. Sure - I could go with inlays; but that's another $100+...not a big deal for a knife I know I like; but something of a risk from my current position.

If you prefer a 25 or Umnumzaan over a large 21; please let me know which (a brief explanation of why would be helpful, thanks)
Click to expand...

Just get a XM18 and be done with it.
 
I had a large and small micarta Insingo. I couldn't get a warm fuzzy with them. I no longer have them.
The first Umnumzaan I had was a RH model and I just could not open it with my left hand. Got rid of it. Then
I got a LH model and have never looked back. Being left handed, it made all the difference in the world having a
LH Umnumzaan. In my line of work, the swedge comes in handy for scraping, opening boxes. It is a great work knife
for me.
When the 25 came out, I fell in love with it from the start. IMO, it's the best of both worlds, a 21 and Umnumzaan in one knife. I rotate between the 25 and Umnumzaan when I am doing plumbing work. I carry the 21 on weekends and off days.
The 25 has a thicker blade like the Umnumzaan, the ceramic ball on the lock bar, it has a unique sound when it locks open.
I like that I can adjust the pivot to get the sweet spot for me. It comes standard with double lugs which is a must for me being left handed.
 
Do some swapping, try out different models and brands. You may lose a bit of money but in the end it is WAY cheaper than changing women, and easier too. Post some pics when you find "the one" Good day
 
I don't like "plain" (non-inlaid) Sebenzas, they just don't feel right to me. I guess that the plain Sebenzas feel like every other slab sided Ti folder out there, and there are a lot of them nowadays. The inlays make it feel like a different knife, and really set it apart from the competition.

That said, the Umnumzaan is great, it's the only non-inlaid CRK I'm interested in. The texture on the side, combined with the brilliant handle shape, works very well.

Not liking the plain Sebenza only means that you don't like the plain Sebenza. The Umnumzaan, 25, inlaid 25 and even the inlaid 21 are very different from one another. It's expensive to try these knives, but you'll never know what you're missing if you don't.

Haze said:
IMO, if you go for a 25 get the micarta, I dislike the finger grooves on the standard 25 but on the micarta they are less of a feature making the knife more neutral feelling in hand and over all nicer to use. :):thumbup:
Click to expand...

I'll second this, I love the '25 with micarta, but the handle of the 25 is narrower than the '21 and doesn't feel secure (at least to me, in my hand) without the hand filling micarta inlays.
 
I'd recommend the carbon fiber handled models from Knifeart.

To me, the CF totally transforms the feel, appearance and obviously the WEIGHT of the knife.

I just love 'em!
 
There's nothing wrong with it not being for you. Life's too short to worry about little things like making yourself like a brand of knife or anything else. Carry what you enjoy and what you're comfortable with.
 
uofaengr said:
There's nothing wrong with it not being for you. Life's too short to worry about little things like making yourself like a brand of knife or anything else. Carry what you enjoy and what you're comfortable with.
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I agree entirely; and if I flat out disliked it, I would move on without hesitation. I'm fine with not being impressed by the 21...but there are enough positives that I am not giving up yet. It's sort of like the PM2 for me, I guess. The knife has a huge fan base; but I don't quite feel the love. The blade size is right for me, the handle shape is great, easy to open, easy to close...but, somehow, not quite right. I want to like it - not because so many others do; but because I like so much about it. (I should have my third attempt at liking the PM2 in my mailbox...this time, I'm replacing the scales - which I've suspected since my first is what it will take.)
Anyway, I'm in the same place with the Sebenza. This one doesn't quite so it for me; but there is enough that I like about it that I want to try a variation. To be quite honest, while I mentioned the 25 and Umnumzaan, I'm leaning toward trying the Starbenza version (particularly if I choose the 25) if/when I make the leap.
 
I didn't care much for the 21 and sold it. Got a 25
And like it more.
That being said, if a CR knife is not for you is not for you
 
I want to explain the other reason that I appear to be trying to make myself like CRK. My only hands on experience with the brand, as I've said, was 15+ years ago. It was a small, and the size was an issue...but I also formed a bias partially based on the price. Bias and prejudice don't die easily; and it took a while for me to make the decision to buy one. Part of me was expecting not to like it...and I suppose part of me wanted to not like it. (Better that than realize I'd been wrong all those years??) I made the decision to give it a chance - and I want to make sure it's a fair chance. It would be easy to just say I'm not impressed - and I'm okay with that being how this ends - I just want to be sure that judgement is about the knife itself; and I don't think I can do that, yet.

Thank you, everybody, for your suggestions and insights.
 
Try one of the CF variants! I was in the same boat as you, now I have a CF small Insingo, large Insingo and my 25 is out getting a new custom scale.....it might make all the difference to you as it did for me.
 
Usually if you like a knife you know within the first few minutes or so. Now over time as your tastes evolve, you may find you don't like the knife as much as before and want to get rid of it. Happening to me a lot right now with high end knives.

Some people feel like their collections aren't complete unless they have a CRK, specifically a Sebenza, in it which says a lot for CRK. I've kinda sorta felt that way at times though they're not my favorite user knife to actually use, and I'm not a collector so I don't really like having stuff just laying around. Still for some reason some feel they have to have one, and some finally get over it that CRKs aren't for them and leave the brand altogether and have no regrets. There's members that float around here once every blue moon I believe that aren't collectors that's had to have bought and sold like the same 10 Sebenzas in the past year, I don't know if trying to convince himself that he likes CRK or what. I don't understand it because if you didn't like a knife the first 5 times, then why keep at it? Why keep losing $50 or more on every purchase to try out the same knife? That is each of our own decision though and we're free to do as we choose.

I genuinely like the PM2 also, but I'd rather have a Delica or Military and could be without a PM2 and be just fine. And if you'd like to try something different like an Umnumzaan, I'll probably be posting a new one for sale soon.
 
unwisefool said:
What about a tanto umnumzaan?
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Ew - no - I'm not a fan of the tanto blade shape.

uofaengr - I appreciate your input...but, I've already explained my reasons for not just writing off the Sebenza, YET. I don't disagree with anything you've said; but, for my own peace of mind, I'm choosing to give the knife some time.
As far as the guy that keeps buying and selling Sebenzas, maybe he's just flipping them for a few bucks at a time? I don't know the players in that game; so I could be way off in my guess.

I'm moving away from having a bunch of knives that I just don't use - regardless of the reasons - so I'm approaching any/all new purchases with a somewhat different mind set, and will be sifting through the knives I have in the not too distant future. I've done just fine without a CRK in my "collection"; and I won't shed a tear if this one gets placed in the SELL pile. (Truth be told - getting rid of folders is relatively easy for me...parting with fixed blades, even though I rarely use most of them, will be the difficult part)
 
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