• The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
    Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
    Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.

  • Today marks the 24th anniversary of 9/11. I pray that this nation does not forget the loss of lives from this horrible event. Yesterday conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was murdered, and I worry about what is to come. Please love one another and your family in these trying times - Spark

The "Sebenza" effect

Status
Not open for further replies.
CR makes quality knives. Ive owned a few.
The Seb is a quality knife - no doubt about that.

...but...

To my surprise, I find my self loathing Sebbies to an almost irrational degree.
That is the 'effect' the Sebbie has on me.
Not the knife so much as all the propaganda.
I believe, its all the raving about them every where, that gets to me.
Once the 'word got out' about the level of quality, more and more starting buying them.
They must now have sold quite a few (people are lemmings after all. They want what the other forum members buy for some reason instead of blazing a new trail and going in the direction of other fine not-so-much-talked-about knives).

I simply can not abide the knife, but it has nothing to do with the undisputable quality of the product.
To me, the knife is simply a 'victim' of its own poularity - its friggin' everywhere.

It begs the thought, is that really what knife afficionados aspire to year after year in a sea of other high end quality knives? - endless yacking about the Sebbie!

.....and I already know the answer:D; yes, its a quality knife that works and that at a price, that makes people want to advertise their ownership.

Whilst CR knifes are of high quality (though I lean more towards the discontinued one-piece hollow handle knives, which Ill gladly own), I dont lust after a Sebbie, I am fed up hearing abuot them and I have NO desire what so ever to own one.

WARNING! THE ABOVE IS WRITTEN (SLIGHTLY) TONGUE IN CHEECK:D
 
I still buy production traditionals, and a few Spyderco's, but the Sebenza did stop me from buying any more modern custom folders. I've sold all of the modern customs that I had because I prefer the Sebenza over any other modern folder.
I love the F&F of the Sebenza, but the main reason I like it is the design. The straight handle of the Sebenza is my favorite folder handle.

I like many types of knives though no matter the price. I got a yellow derlin/CV Case Pen knife last week for a bit over $20, and it gave me just as much joy as getting a Sebenza.
 
An off centered blade bothers me wayyy more than it should, the 21 completely solved the problem, tighten everything and you're good to go, no more carefully tightening the pivot screw to find the 'sweet spot' for centering and smoothness of action.
 
I own a 21 and a 25, both great knives. Owning these has not changed my buying habits in the slightest. We are fortunate to live in a time with many great knife makers, from mass produced to custom. There are simply too many other knives in the market I would like to try and enjoy using to stop with the Sebenza.
 
I mainly wanted to post so I could subscribe to this thread because I like to read peoples' experience with this.

As I've stopped carrying old traditionals and have transitioned to modern, one-handed folders my collection has grown to 12-13 good quality production folders mostly all BM and Spyderco. I buy based on different categories--general EDC, dressy/formal, not as expensive but quality for extended work travel in case of loss/theft, and harder outdoors use to have a few options for each category. Some of these categories overlap, and I choose my carry based on the day as many others do. I know the worth of this collection could buy 2-3 Sebenzas, and there is an appeal of having that one super quality knife that you carry everywhere for everything and beat the hell out of and one day pass down to your kid.

I haven't worked my way up to being comfortable beating on even a $200 knife yet as I have found great utility and quality for my needs under that price. Still, there's that appeal of selling off a bunch of knives and having that one good one that's Old Reliable. I just don't know if I could see myself carrying it to a treestand or having it by my side out on the Gulf or being 200' in the air on grating and pulling it out to cut a zip tie. Maybe I'll get there one day, but there's no doubt CRK are of the utmost quality. There's a lot of super nice expensive knives out there >$200, but I've still yet to figure out what my "grail" is. Maybe some collectors buy for utility and don't need a grail...who knows. But if I made the plunge and got a Sebenza, I would certainly hope it'd make me never miss all the knives I parted with. :)

Edit: Based on what I've read I'd probably have to get a few opinions on the edge retention before going for one.
 
Last edited:
The silky smooth action and zero blade play spoil me. That's one thing keeping me from trying a Strider. I don't want to pay that much and get blade wobble. Maybe one day...;)
 
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1393278016.804720.jpg
I'm not gonna mash my finger in there hard enough to do it. I've never hit the edge before and I've been carrying it everyday for a few months.
 
I do have fairly slim fingers, but I dont have to push hard to touch it, especially with my (short) nail. Have never cut myself though.
 
It's the knife people seem to value enough that I'd probably sell one if I got it. I have no doubt it's fantastic. But probably not enough that I'd be so blown away that I'd want to keep it rather than sell it to get some cash + a couple other cool knives. Never got the hype. And that's okay.


Comeuppance said:
I keep seeing the same thing from a lot of different people - "I stopped carrying all my other knives after I got a Sebenza" "My Sebenza stopped my knife-buying frenzy" etc etc etc

I know the reputation very well at this point. Glassy smooth pivot, perfect lockup, super tight tolerance (and some concerns about the heat treatment being too soft) - is that what did it for you? Was it the overall feel of the handle? Please, tell me, as best you can, why (or if) your Sebenza(s) changed your carry / purchasing habits.

Also, my main reason for making this thread - do those same sentiments regarding the knife immediately becoming your favored knife long-term also apply to the Umnumzaan? I have one coming in through a trade.
Click to expand...
 
Well said....can't add anything to it!!

evanPGH said:
I don't like the zaan at all. I find the opening action to be awkward and slippery and the ergos are below average at best.

I liked my sebbie a little bit more, but not nearly enough to keep it. The opening was slightly easier and smoother but I still didn't find the overall feel that impressive. I'd take something running on IKBS in the same price bracket any day.

Both of my CRKs did not hold an edge well at all, but did sharpen easily.

I have a custom in S35VN that is run harder and performs wonderfully all around. I do not find CRKs ht of that particular steel to be optimal.

CRKs are very well built knives with top shelf f&f, tolerances, everything. No arguing that. But for me they miss the mark, maybe you'll understand where I'm coming from or maybe you'll love yours. You'll find out soon enough!

Have fun!
Click to expand...
 
Its very nice, but I still carry all my other knives as well. There might be longer time increments between them now, but I'm not going to sell everything and keep the sebenza, I like all my other knives too much.

One single style will not do it for me since I like so many different designs. But the Sebenza is a very nice knife.
 
Cynic2701 said:
I hear a lot about "softness" in CRK's. Here's a thread with actual HRC values that were independently tested on other production knives. Note the HRC values for other S30V knives (ZT 0350, Kershaw Leek, Spyderco Military, and Buck Vantage Pro).
...
Click to expand...
I did note, can't say it's either good or new.
I also noticed prices on those knives - ZT350 ~115$, Kershaw Leek ~35$, Buck Vantage 58$-80$... Sebenza 400$+.... Correct?

Now, honestly, comparing 400$ knife with 40$ knife, is that apples to apples to you? I don't see too many threads about "leek" effect, nor do I see leek to ZT350 being promoted as "the one knife" after which you stop buying other knives, blah blah...
Funny how Sebenza fans are happy to get down to 0.00001 precisions on some topics, but magnitude level of price differences are no issue.

Point is, I expect a lot more from 400$ knife than from 40$ knife, may be not 10 times edge holding, but tight tolerances just on the part dimensions are not enough, especially if as you say someone intends to use a knife, I assume for cutting something. Tight tolerances and "ease of field sharpening" are not enough for me for a 400$+ price tag...

Cynic2701 said:
To answer your question, I think that a Sebenza or an Umnumzaan overshadows other knives because of how many small details come together into one package. These details frequently aren't realized until a person actually carries and uses the knife, so sometimes people seem to overlook them when they only keep them as safe queens or trade/sell them off without carrying it.
Click to expand...
Ironically, details like 0.005" precision are more likely to be measured and noticed on safe queens, or "carried with little use" category :)
Softer blade compared to other knives will be noticed in actual use, if the owner knows how to sharpen the knife and uses it properly...

Anyhow, to each his own, but bringing up 10 times cheaper knives as an excuse or justification for Sebenza's specs is dubious at best.
 
I can't touch my 21's edge through the scales.
The spyderco southard's tip I can, but just needed re profiling.

What I noticed with CR's s35vn is that the extreme edge does wear quickly but will keep a working edge very long, where as my southard keeps it's extreme edge but the working edge diminishes a bit quicker.

So I agree, maybe it's the heat treat, but I don't see too much issue. Out my collection they stay sharp very long (but maybe geometry is at play).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top