The grass is not greener on the other side of the fence

Peter Hartwig · Dec 10, 2011

I started out my higher end knife buying with the Sebenza. A small blackwood inlay and a large micarta inlay I bought to hold me over while the small was being built. I could have stoped right there, but my eyes strayed to other knives and I sold my CRK's to fund them. I bought Hinderers, Striders and a number of customs, all of which I liked. Over time I formulated what I really wanted in a knife and that has led me full circle right back to the start-the Sebenza. The Sebenza is a well designed, quality built ,and the perfect knife for my uses and needs. I now have a large and small micarta inlay(double lug of course) and hope to add a small mammoth as soon as I can. If you are into fancy grinds or need to pry open doors with your knife you need to look elsewhere. For a good all around folder you need look no further, and it will save you a lot of wasted money.

frontline29 · Dec 10, 2011

Peter Hartwig said:
For a good all around folder you need look no further, and it will save you a lot of wasted money.

Yes, Yes it has. I should have bought a Sebenza right off the bat.

Over the last year and two months Ive bought two knives. A Sebenza and an Umnumzaan. I carried a large 21 for exactly a year, and I am now two months into the second year with the umnumzaan.

I have and feel no need to bother with other folders...Well that's not entirely true. I'm most likely going to purchase Spyderco's new yojimbo folder. (For those trips to the other side of the tracks) and the fact that it's super cheap.

I know that sounds like a major fan boy post. But that's honestly how I feel.

maxbelg · Dec 10, 2011

I agree. I have also spent vast amounts on all kind of other production and custom knives but end up carrying one of my Chris Reeve folders every day.

popedandy · Dec 10, 2011

I spent a lot of money on other knives proving to myself that I could do without a Sebenza. Eventually I wound up buying a small Sebenza 21. It's the knife I carry most of the time and I have spent very little money on knives since I bought it, and have actually started selling off some of my other knives. It's an excellent design that is extremely well-built and it fits my hand like it was made for it. My only regret is not having bought it sooner.

calypso699 · Dec 10, 2011

I started collecting knives around the $100-200 price range. Every so often I would get the itch to buy a Sebenza, but I would always convince myself that they were way overpriced and had nothing more to offer than my current folders. Well, about a year ago I decided to sell all the titanium framelocks in my collection and buy a small unique graphic. Needless to say, about a month later I sold a few others and bought a large micarta 21. Since then, I've been carrying these two exclusively. I've been thinking about adding a Mnandi and Umnumzaan but that would require me to sell off all the remaining knives I own that are not CRK's. Even though I never carry them, I just can't part with them just yet...but their days are numbered

.

Fferrell1 · Dec 10, 2011

We'll see if this is true. I just bought my first non-CRK knife for Christmas. I may regret it. But maybe not.

lemmuhj · Dec 10, 2011

Wow, to OP sounds exactly like me. I too have done the same. I enjoy my CRK's way more than i ever did the half dozen or so customs i had + benchmades, spydies, cold steel etc.... Sure, all of them were nice, but when i looked at the Sebenza, and saw that i could take it apart/clean, and how well built it is, it was a no brainer to part with everything else. I'm still in the process of selling my collection, and even some of my CRK's to focus on the CRK's i REALLY want. I'm a CRK fan boi

Sketch32 · Dec 10, 2011

Hi Peter,

Here is your dual lug African Blackwood you sold me. I like how you ordered the stonewashed blade with it. Thought you might want to see how she's doing. I agree with you and that they really are great knives.

Sketch

Peter Hartwig · Dec 11, 2011

Wow, that was an unexpected pleasure to see the Sm. Blackwood. That was a ways back, and many knives ago. I love the stonewashed finish on my knives. That and the micarta were my 1st knives with it and I have rarely bought a knife without it since.

Toyz · Dec 11, 2011

Yes - unfortunately I think the CRK train ride is sweeter the second time around.

I am also a victim - sold off two large sebenzas, an umnumzaan and mnandi as I continued to buy other knives. I repurchased an umnumzaan, two more large sebenzas and a Nyala. Most days you can find me carrying either the umnum or one of the sebenzas.

I really haven't had an itch to buy a new knife for a while now.

Unfortunately the experiment cost me mucho dinero.

David_Parker03 · Dec 11, 2011

Wow, that African Blackwood knife is gorgeous! And I love the ambi-thumbstuds. Personally, I'm not a fan of gold, but that knife is beautiful! That would most likely make it in my pocket for some evening-wear events.