I'm one of those guys. I have always liked the design from 20 years ago when I saw it in blade magazine it just struck me as a very well thought out folder but at the time I had more chance of becoming a woman than I did coming up with $400 for a pocketknife.
Since then I have had various Benchmades, Kershaws, ZT's, Spydies, Bokers,Lionsteel and numerous others, the only one of these I really loved was my old Benchmade leopard ,designed by Pat Crawford which I eventually just wore out.
All of these knives were an EDC ,some I carried for six months to four years only replacing them when they were lost wore out or I got something better.All had good points and not so good none were perfect though some were pretty darn good.
Over the years I also got into making knives mostly fixed blades but I've tinkered with a few folders, which helped develop my understanding of design and function that goes into a knife.
Then about 12 months ago I finally paid the bit extra and got a Large Sebenza classic 21, just plain no inlays and single thumbstud. I must admit at first I was a bit underwhelmed, a lot of dosh and it was nothing special. Sure it was neat and precise and smooth, but it was plain and the one thumbstud thing bugged me a bit.
I didnt have a lot of choice with models though as gettin a Sebenza in Australia, is like finding hens teeth. I liked it but thought maybe Id been ripped off a bit, especially when I read threads about soft tempers and edge durabilty concerns.
So I though what the heck I'll compare its cutting performance to the other good productions I had at the time. Well I whittled wood, I cut paper,plastic,rubber, zip ties, chipboard, fruit, cheese, cardboard, even aluminium and brass anything I could get my hands on until it wouldn't slice any more.
After a few hours of this I was impressed, the edge held up well compared to similar steels, no chipping, minor rolling under hard use(aluminium,brass) but a few swipes on ceramic rod sorted that out. No scratches in the finish either.And the edge geometry was MUCH better than a lot of knives I've used thin enough to cut great but strong enough to hold up to reasonable hard use.I resharpened it on a 400 grit belt and ceramic stone and put it my pocket confident it would be up to any task I was likely to ask of it.
As time went by I really enjoyed using and carrying it, but would think every now and then, "Hey maybe I should take one of my other knives today", but would look and think "but the Sebenza will probably do it better, and be nicer while it does it", the only time I take something else is if I think it might get lost or shared by non knife people(thats what SAKs are for).
So like you I had heard of others only using their Sebenza while the rest of their collection gathered dust, and thought "never my other knives are too cool, they're this that or the other" but I've sold off all my other expensive productions and soley carry and use my Sebenza and love it.I had knives that did some things better than a Sebenza but no knife that did everything as well as a Sebenza.
The thing that really burns me is, being into making knives, and moving more toward folders these days I look at the Sebenza and honestly think that even given the right tools and time I don't think I could make it better. Something I can confidently say about almost any knife, you know make this bit longer or thinner or stronger of from a different steel. I reckon I could make a different knife that was just as good, but improve the Sebenza....thats a big ask. Everything on it that"s not there to help it cut has been removed(well except that naff engraving, classic MM, but I can live with that).
So for me the Sebenza is the perfect EDC and has made me pretty much a one knife guy.
I am a bit biased toward the 21 design though even the other models like the Umnunzaan, the Regular, and the inlaid versions, and the 25 just don't have that simple elegance of form and function,well maybe the Regular, they all have little things I'd change.
For anyone on the fence about a Sebenza I say spend the extra, use it and you will love it. It may be sad to see your other knives go but hey you've still got your Seb.
