I might be a little late to the party to share my bit, but here goes: I bought my first Chris Reeve in 2002, A large, flat grind, Sebenza. I had kinda believed that the Sebenza was going to be the end-all knife for me. I couldn't imagine ever needing to get another knife, that's how I rationalized the price. Indeed I carried it religiously for years, and during that time, my other knives kinda faded away.
Gifts, sold, thrown into toolboxes, forgotten in gloveboxes, etc. None of my other knives were particularly expensive or rare. Maybe an odd buck or case knife in with the cheaper ones. I finally decided that the large was just too big for some things, like carrying in my suit pants to church, so I bought a second Sebenza, small decorated.
Then I saw the Spyderco Sage 2. I had only used one other Spyderco knife before, but honestly, I liked the hole as an opener better than the stud on my Sebenza. Gifted the small, sold the large and got a sage 2. Even though my small Sebenza and the sage 2 had the same steel, S30V, The sage held an edge much better. (No, I didn't have both knives at the same time and do a head to head cutting tests. I just found that the sage 2 held an edge longer than either of my Sebenzas in my useage.)
I have since moved the sage 2 to backup duty and carry a Spyderco Techno, Partly because I like the looks of the techno and partly because I am of Polish descent, and the designer of the Spyderco Sage, Marcin Slyz, is from Poland.
Now back to the OP's question about a Sebenza Effect. The Sebenza is a great knife, no doubt. Some people are collectors by nature. Owning a Sebenza won't cure you of collecting. I wasn't a collector as much as I was learning what I did and didn't like in knives. The gerber EZ-out taught me that I liked knives without thumbstuds...they also taught me that I detest cheap blade steel. (That knife wouldn't last through the cleaning of a single rabbit before being butter knife dull.)
Also a note, technology continues to move foward. The Gap between my 2002 Sebenza and most anything made then, from other makers, was a large difference. (Price and Quality.) Now their is still a pretty good price difference, but the quality gap is almost gone. I am obviously not a fan of Chris Reeve's heat treat. In my case, I think the modern Spyderco knives are a much better value. It's like everything else in life, you have choices. My Sebenza cut everything I wanted it to cut, so does my techno....and I could use a Buck, ZT, Case, Benchmade, etc. just as well.
Grizz
It's up to you.
