Thinking about a Sm. Sebenza 21 for EDC

Greaves

Greaves

Joined
Oct 24, 2008
Messages
607
Hi all,

I've been an Emerson fan for quite some time and ever since I've actively participated in the realm of knife collecting I couldn't help but constantly hear the word, 'Sebenza'. Finally, I decided to just look it up and see what all the fuss is about. Well I think you know what happened next.

My usual EDC is an Emerson Mini CQC-7 which is a fantastic little tank of a knife but my main reasons for carrying it are the sub-three inch blade. I was of course happy to see that the small Sebenza also has a sub-three inch blade. That, plus the frame lock, deep pocket carry and overall beauty of the thing made my decide that it was something I had to have.

I'm sure this is a silly question but would you all recommend this knife for EDC? How tough is that blade? I've heard the Sebenza is just the pinnacle of sturdy when it comes to folders - is this true?

And finally, would someone care to recommend an online dealer that carries the Small 21? I usually shop at warriorsandwonders, knifecenter, knivestown and newgraham.

Thank you for any and all input! :):thumbup:
 
I have a lot of complaints. I'll just quote myself from a few months ago

mongomondo said:
I have some complaints about the Sebenza after a couple years of use

- Lockup is too solid. It locks up with no blade play and is completely solid in every way possible.
- Too sharp. It can cut stuff too easily
- Too easy to maintain. It comes apart too easily and is too easy to reassemble.
- Size is too perfect. I can't even feel it in my pocket.
- Stonewash finish is too good. It hides scratches too well so the blade looks brand new even after a lot of use.
- Too simple looking. The Sebenza doesn't look gaudy or tacky enough.
- Warranty is too good. The lifetime warranty is too long.

I like my other knives like the BM710, Spyderco Military, Emersons etc. But I always come back to the Sebenza. It's just too reliable.

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The small 21 is an excellent knife for EDC. I very much prefer the 21, over the Classic and the Regular. (which is no longer available.)
 
i think that the small sebenza is a great EDC, i EDC my small regular daily, and i would have to respectfully disagree T.K.C. i like the regular the best :) no matter which sebenza you pick, it will be great. good luck.
 
I think you can't beat the small Sebenza as an EDC knife and I have since I bought a Sebenza in 2008, so I am a recent convert. I first bought one because it was a progression of wanting more and more from a knife and that lead to the sebenza. It was the sum of everything I came to want in a everyday pocket knife.

 
The small 21 is an excellent EDC knife but there are some minor drawbacks. As a knife nut these are a few I found: The small Sebenza is ~ well small. It has handled just about all my EDC tasks so well that I no longer can justify carrying a larger knife out of necessity. Now I have to admit that if I do carry a larger blade its' because I want to. It is so well made that my tolerance for other knives is not what it once was. Most do not compare well the Sebenza. This means that getting another knife requires either another Sebenza or a custom made high end knfe. Both of which get to be costly. I have developed a "pocket patting syndrome". The knife is expensive but light. Even though the clip design and function is excellent, fear of loss results in me frequently patting my pocket to make sure it is still there. I tell those who notice this that I'm petting the dead squirrel in my pants. This tends to end the inquiries and precludes them from asking to borrow my knife. The Sebenza is quietly elegant. Few if any non-knife people will be impressed with it's inherent value and utility. You will not be able to compete with someone who has a glow in the dark multi blade hard chromed combination cheese straightener and commemorative hippo castration knife. Then there is the inevitable wear which results from use. The knife is just about perfect for most EDC tasks which results in a high level of use and a slow change in it's appearance from cosmetically pristine to well used and carried. The availability of a complete restoration by CRK at a reasonable price means, it can easily be shipped back to CRK. This can result in Sebenza withdrawal while the knife is away getting made beautiful again. This can cause one to purchase another Sebenza as a spare to avoid withdrawal. Then there is sharpening. "Sharp enough" is no longer sharp enough. A knife of this quality deserves to be as sharp as is unreasonably possible and I do mean unreasonably possible. This may result in buying bigger better and more expensive sharpening equipment. The new equipment opens new opportunities for more sharpening which results in getting more knives. The S30v at factory hardness IMO is a bit soft for my usage but it takes and holds a good edge and reduces the chances of chipping. Few people absolutely need a Sebenza. Many people want a Sebenza. New Sebenza prices are pretty much the same no matter where you shop. Good Luck. OldDude1
 
OldDude1 said:
The small 21 is an excellent EDC knife but there are some minor drawbacks. As a knife nut these are a few I found: The small Sebenza is ~ well small. It has handled just about all my EDC tasks so well that I no longer can justify carrying a larger knife out of necessity. Now I have to admit that if I do carry a larger blade its' because I want to. It is so well made that my tolerance for other knives is not what it once was. Most do not compare well the Sebenza. This means that getting another knife requires either another Sebenza or a custom made high end knfe. Both of which get to be costly. I have developed a "pocket patting syndrome". The knife is expensive but light. Even though the clip design and function is excellent, fear of loss results in me frequently patting my pocket to make sure it is still there. I tell those who notice this that I'm petting the dead squirrel in my pants. This tends to end the inquiries and precludes them from asking to borrow my knife. The Sebenza is quietly elegant. Few if any non-knife people will be impressed with it's inherent value and utility. You will not be able to compete with someone who has a glow in the dark multi blade hard chromed combination cheese straightener and commemorative hippo castration knife. Then there is the inevitable wear which results from use. The knife is just about perfect for most EDC tasks which results in a high level of use and a slow change in it's appearance from cosmetically pristine to well used and carried. The availability of a complete restoration by CRK at a reasonable price means, it can easily be shipped back to CRK. This can result in Sebenza withdrawal while the knife is away getting made beautiful again. This can cause one to purchase another Sebenza as a spare to avoid withdrawal. Then there is sharpening. "Sharp enough" is no longer sharp enough. A knife of this quality deserves to be as sharp as is unreasonably possible and I do mean unreasonably possible. This may result in buying bigger better and more expensive sharpening equipment. The new equipment opens new opportunities for more sharpening which results in getting more knives. The S30v at factory hardness IMO is a bit soft for my usage but it takes and holds a good edge and reduces the chances of chipping. Few people absolutely need a Sebenza. Many people want a Sebenza. New Sebenza prices are pretty much the same no matter where you shop. Good Luck. OldDude1
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Great writeup. Thank you for that. :thumbup:
 
Just as an FYI, I saw a Small plain 21 user going for 285$ on the exchange. Normally they go for 330$ so you are saving a nice chunk of change. :thumbup:
 
I haven't carried another knife for EDC since getting one back in October. I cleaned it last night - so easy to clean, break apart, and put back together it made me smile.

A terrific knife for sure.
 
I am also shopping for a small 21 for EDC. My only reservation is the pocket clip, which isn't as low profile as the wire clips that comes on some Spyderco knives, such as the Sage 2. After owning a few knives with low profile wire clips, I am not sure that I want to go back to the Sebenza clip for EDC in an office environment.

With the Large, too much of the knife is exposed. A lower profile clip allows me to carry a knife in my right rear pocket and easily button the pocket flap over the knife, so nothing except the thin wire clip shows, which isn't very noticeable. I higher profile clip doesn't work as well for me in this environment.

Also, the tip of the Large 21's clip isn't parallel with the handle, so it sticks out too much and tends to scratch things it brushes against, such as cars and furniture. Does anyone know whether the large and the small use the same clip?
 
There is only one pocket clip, the small, large, and Umnumzaan use the same one.
 
I carried a large Sebenza for a few years then switched to a small last year. The small Sebenza carries much better and there has never been a time when I didn't have enough knife for any cutting task. The only time I carry a different folder now is when hiking or fishing I sometimes carry a SAK(read....beer opener). It was a lot of money for someone with my income but I have never regretted it. In the long run it has probably paid for itself because I am no longer searching for the perfect folder; I have one!
 
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