Talk me into a Large Seb

S

svilla

Joined
Feb 7, 2006
Messages
62
I just don't know if a Seb is worth $350+ . I really use my EDC knives every day, my all time favorite is a Emerson Commander. That knife has travelled the world with me and saved my life a time or two. Will a Seb hold its own?

I don't mind spending the cash if the knife will stand the test of time. So I ask you guys, Do you trust your life to a Seb, And why did you decide to buy a Seb. Thanks in advance guys!
 
if 350 isnt worth it, than your not ready for a sebenza.

sebs' shouldnt need talking into


it usually starts by handling one, then if your the type that is to own one, it stays and over the months (maybe years) it slowly festers in your soul until you get one.
 
svilla said:
I just don't know if a Seb is worth $350+ . I really use my EDC knives every day, my all time favorite is a Emerson Commander. That knife has travelled the world with me and saved my life a time or two. Will a Seb hold its own?

I don't mind spending the cash if the knife will stand the test of time. So I ask you guys, Do you trust your life to a Seb, And why did you decide to buy a Seb. Thanks in advance guys!
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You obviously have a bit of reading to do on this forum. You very rarely find someone dissapointed in their sebenza. I had never handled one prior to receiving a small classic as a gift from a good friend of mine, but as soon as I cracked that box open and started fondling it, I knew it had a hell of a lot more than I could ever need.

Just get it :D
 
The following is a little history about the Sebenza and comes from the CRK web site ( http://www.chrisreeve.com/sebenza.htm ).

CRK said:
The Regular model Sebenza was introduced in 1996, replacing the first or original profile that had been introduced in 1990.
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You don't produce a single knife line for 17 years, without it being one of the best.

How about, thousands of satisfied customers.

I've lost count of how many times they've won the Blade Magazine's annual Manufacturing Quality Award.

CRK's customer service is the best.



Since your purchase hinges on the monetary factor and it saving your life. . . . .the question that you need to ask, "Is my life worth $350+ ?"
 
Before anyone gets mad, I have a hard time expressing myself on forums or in print for that matter. Please don't think I am talking down to or being a troll to anyone on this forum. I really, honestly would like good input.

if 350 isnt worth it, than your not ready for a sebenza
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What?

You obviously have a bit of reading to do on this forum.
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your right, I have been re-searching the forum.

I knew it had a hell of a lot more than I could ever need
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Ok but what are your needs in a EDC? Just opening mail, cleaning finger nails, or hard core use? By hard core I mean, cutting lots of 550 cord, breakin .020 copper safety wire, cutting lot of MRE's open, cutting card board, canvis, ect.

Since your purchase hinges on the monetary factor
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I wrote "I don't mind spending the cash if the knife will stand the test of time"

the question that you need to ask, "Is my life worth $350+
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No Sir, the question is this knife worth $350+? the cash is not the concern, the knife is. Trust me I dont think of money when my life depends on it. I just want to make sure I am investing in what I think is a great piece of gear.

it usually starts by handling one
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I don't have that luxory, that why I'm asking you guys, who own them.

Just get it
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I'm 99% there brother, just need a little more honest feed back :D
 
i agree you shouldnt need convincing.

the emerson is a great knife. i have several emersons and will always be loyal to the company.

a sebenza is a totally different kind of knife. the cadillac to your humvee.
 
My first nice folder was a Emerson and I really like them.So, I can see why you have carried yours for so long.I,like you,do not have a dealer near by for any real quality knife.I order all mine from dealers that back up the products they sell.Now,to the Sebenza.As soon as I held it and opened/closed it a few times,it was over.Solid lockup,heft,fit/finish,beauty and just plain quality.That was a couple months ago.I now have three and one Mnandi I just ordered.Order one and handle it for a bit.Check out BladeArt,TNK,Plaza Cutlery or just buy direct.They are all great to work with and will be able to address all questions and concerns.Buy a large classic with or without Micarta inlays and enjoy!

MPE
 
The Sebenza is THE benchmark folding knife. No other maker compares. Carry it for a week and you will see why it is THE, not A, folding knife.

1) fit and finish with no blade play after extensive usage
2) simplicity is easy to clean, disassemble, and hard to jam
3) ball detent makes it nearly impossible to open in the pocket by accident
4) light weight, yet stronger than those 9 ounce folders on the market through the usage of titanium
5) extreme blade grind with perfectly hardened CPM-S30V
6) strong, yet slim, pocket clip
7) almost two decades of a knife with unchanged profiles and more awards than any other knife

The price tag is high, but the quality is even higher. You get what you pay for and with the Sebbie you get a lot. Do not let its cosmetic appearance fool you...this knife is made for one main purpose and that is Every Day Carry. Other makers wind up in my case, the Sebenza winds up in my pocket. I guarantee you will like this knife more than any production or custom you have ever owned.
 
svilla said:
I just don't know if a Seb is worth $350+ . I really use my EDC knives every day, my all time favorite is a Emerson Commander. That knife has travelled the world with me and saved my life a time or two. Will a Seb hold its own?

I don't mind spending the cash if the knife will stand the test of time. So I ask you guys, Do you trust your life to a Seb, And why did you decide to buy a Seb. Thanks in advance guys!
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i`ll be paying $400 for mine , in february.
 
Out of curiousity, what has the Emerson done to save your life that you'd be curious if the Sebbie could do as well? I had a Mini Commander for all of about 10 minutes and I knew it wasn't anywhere near the knife of my small Seb. And I'm not knocking the Emerson. It was nice, but not Sebenza nice, IMO. Further to that, I found the deep choil on the Emerson made it impossible to choke up on it without having my finger resting on the blade edge. I also found the knife had wobble right out of the box and I had to play around with it to find the sweet spot between smoothness and no blade play. That won't be a problem with the Seb with its pivot bushing. I also imagine it adds strength to the pivot. I think the Sebbies are MUCH stronger than many tactical "hard-use" knife owners can see as CRK doesn't market that way.
 
svilla,

Seems the responses are fairly direct so far. I'm not sure that your questions has been answered, however. My opinion should be weighed by the fact that I'm relatively new to Sebenzas. I do think, however, that the Sebenza can stand side-by-side with your Emerson. I'm not sure of the blade thickness on the Emerson, but the Sebenza does appear to have a solid blade that is designed to cut....not necessarily pry (although if your life depends on it, use it to pry by all means). I think the lock up on the Sebenza is more dependable than the Emerson (unless you may have one of the frame lock Emersons)...Still the Sebenza's lock up is great. Also, the lock bar is heat treated resulting in a thin and extremely hard oxide that slows wear. I don't think this is the case with Emerson's frame or liner locks (although I'm not certain).

The only downside of the Sebenza compared to the Emerson may be the grippy G10 that is on the Emerson. It may provide a little more security of grip....although the grip is not bad on the Sebenza.

Personally, I think the Sebenza will work great for you. It is a simple design that is strong and is intended for hard use. Unless you find yourself using the Emerson as a prybar on a regular basis (154 CM may hold up better to prying than s30v), I think you'll lay it aside if you get the Sebenza.

If money is not an issue, get it and use it for a while. I think you'll like it...really, I do.
:)
 
You can find used Sebenzas in the exchange forums for much less than $350.
Buy one, try it out, see how you like it. Unless it's been very seriously abused, a used Sebbie will be just a strong and reliable as a new one. If the "user marks" bug you, you can send your knife back in to CRK and, for a modest charge, they will make it new for you. I recommend this to you because I've done it myself. Used Sebenzas are a great deal!
 
I'm kind of an old school guy that hasn't warmed up to most tactical folders yet. I still like bone scales and thin profiles, etc. One of the first things I look for in any EDC is a relatively 1:1 blade to handle size ratio. Most tactical folders fail this criteria miserably but the Seb is a rare exception. I took the plunge last year with small micarta Seb and it has been my EDC ever since.
 
Thanks for the great feedback guys, I will buy one and try it. I am excited to try this knife out :D

Out of curiousity, what has the Emerson done to save your life that you'd be curious if the Sebbie could do as well?
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Well one time we had a rapid decompression on a C-130 going over the mountains into Afghanistan. I had to use my knife to release a stuck out flow valve and regain pressurization. That took alot of prying to free. Yes I should have used a screw driver but I had to act fast. So I was curious if I'd be able to count on a Sebbi in a pinch with out it failing to lock or shattering the blade.

Stick with your Emerson. Hell, it has traveled the world and saved your life a time or two.
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Thanks for the great input Gigone :jerkit:
 
svilla, it's worth the money. I have a 1997 model with BG42 steel (I still prefer it)and I used it for the last three years of Army service before my retirement in 1999. It's the best of eight one hand opening folders I've carried, hands down. You might find a custom folder out there for as much, or more, money that will also do the job, but a Sebenza is a "sure thing".

If you have the money, it's worth the price, and then some!
 
I like the hummer to caddie comparison...I carried an HD-7 for about a year, and is a really tough folder. I recently got a large classic Sebenza,and I am almost speechless. The fit and finish are fantastic. The Emerson is good, but the Sebbie is another level. It makes my production spydercos look like they came in a blister pack! I wouldn't pry with my Sebbie, but I always have a Busse on me or a Vic for abuse :)
 
Sebs rock. I am all the time trading out my Folders, but not my sebs.
The only time I have ever gotten rid of one, was when I gave one to my Dad.

They stick around, and are not traded, because I can use the heck out of them, with no issues.

Could be worng, but I think the sebs could last a lifetime. (when used like a knife :)

Just for your own sake, check the trade forums, and when you compare all the other folders traded, with the sebs traded, they make up a small %.

That's because the people who get them are mostly extremely pleased with them, and don't want to let them go.

The guy who helped talk me into my first Seb, said it this way "Buy the Seb, you'll never look back." I took his advice, and he was right.


Be Well,

sp
 
There are many different knives for different tastes. The one thing that REALLY bugs me about the seb is that the titanium finish scratches so easily. I've seen more durable finishes on titanium knives, but Seb lovers seem to like it. There's no shortage of options, and the Seb is obviously a very good one, but I've gotten custom framelocks for around $400 by keeping my eyes open. Are they the same as a Seb? Of course not. Are they better or worse? Depends on how you see things.
I HIGHLY recommend handling a Seb. At first I thought I would like the newer Seb, but it turns out the Classic would be a better knife for me. As of now, I've owned and sold 5 sebenzas.
Now if Chris would only put a one piece inlay on the classics. :cool:
 
svilla said:
Ok but what are your needs in a EDC? Just opening mail, cleaning finger nails, or hard core use? By hard core I mean, cutting lots of 550 cord, breakin .020 copper safety wire, cutting lot of MRE's open, cutting card board, canvis, ect.
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I work for an electrical subcontractor, and have beat my small classic through 500 MCM cable multiple times.:) (amongst many other things)
 
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