Thinking about buying a small Sebenza, need some convincing.

Hey, can y'all open your Mnandis with one hand?
I wondered if that cutout in the blade gave enough purchase for your thumb...
 
Both the Sebenza and the Mnandi are fantastic knives with different strengths. Go for both if you can!

If only one is an option I suggest the small Sebenza. Not quite as compact but a better all around performer, particularly if you want to do some serious work with it. Its shape is much better suited to rough duty than the Mnandi is.
 
OwenM said:
Hey, can y'all open your Mnandis with one hand?
I wondered if that cutout in the blade gave enough purchase for your thumb...
Click to expand...

I can open my Mnandi as fast as I can a Sebenza, with one hand. ;)

Paul
 
LOVE my mnandi but also LOVE my small sebenza. Delica was my first knife. I still have it and its a great knife for the money that's for sure, but its not in the same ball park as a sebenza.
 
I have a small Sebenza, and the fit and finish are every bit as good as everyone here says. Having said that, I tend to carry my Calypso Jr. and Delica much more. I don't feel real comfortable taking a chance on losing a $300 knife, and so I only carry it when I know it will be securely clipped, not just dropped into a deep pocket. I wear Carharts, and like to put knives into the side leg pockets. Also, I find the VG 10 holds an edge longer, and a better edge as well. Others will disagree, but that's been my experience. The Spydies are about as good a sub-$100 knife as any I've ever found.

I realize that this is an unfair comparison (and given the price difference that's expected), the lock up on the Seb is superb, but I have been disappointed in the level of sharpness that I can (or can't) achieve and the length of time it is held. YMMV.
 
The Mnandi looks good also, now I'm confused. I'd really like a knife that I can wear 24/7, no matter if I'm wearing jeans or my best pinstripe suit, and that will not scare the beegeezus out of all the sheeple walking around, believe it or not I've gotten dirty looks when using my Delica, so you can Imagine the respone when I whip out my Endura or Police :) However I usually carry a Delcia, but when I'm all dressed up I either carry a Case Peanut or Stockman. Any thoughts on whether the small Sebenza or Mnandi would be best. I usually don't do anything too heavy with a folder that's what I have a Camillus C/U 7 and a Ka-Bar for :)
 
Dang it, I like the Mnandi with Walnut handle and Cocobolo handles. I also like the small sebenza in Stars and Stripes and the In God We Trust one. How well do the computer generated graphics hold up in use, and I still want to know which would be better 24/7 take it EVERYWHERE Sebenza or Mnandi. ;)
 
One day I sat down and evaluated what I actually needed out of a knife on a daily basis. I realized the Mnandi was the way to go for me. At that time I had 2 small Sebbies and 1 Mnandi. I now have no small Sebbies (or big ones for that matter) and I just purchased my 5th Mnandi last night. I prefer the Mnandi's ergonomics, weight, blade length/shape and symmetrical inlays. Don't get me wrong, I still think the small Sebbie is an excellent EDC but it's just not for me. ;)
 
Just kidding of course, I know this is the Chris Reeve forum! Of your two choices, I would go with the Sebenza. That's just my opinion, as I prefer plain, simple knives as opposed to the more intricate, embellished models. ;)
 
The trick with the Sebi is to sweep the blade open, rather than try and press the thumb stud really hard.

The Sebi is just about the best made and tightest knife package in knifedom. The Delica is a classic as is the Sebi. However the Sebi is a better knife in every respect, considerably better. The two are not really comparable.

Is a $400 hifi from Aiwa really going to look, work or sound as good as Seperate Hi Fi components with a total value of $2,500? One is great for the money, the other is great without compromise. Its not seven times the knife, but the law of diminishing returns proves, you have to spend a lot to get even a small increase in performance over the Sebi.
 
Once again I'm confused Mnandi or Computer Graphic Small Sebbie. Also does any one have any info on how the graphics hold up long term??
 
Well, they are pretty different animals, so really, you need to handle them. Maybe you could order both from a good dealer with the understanding that you are going to return one of them. You could try Knifeart or Plazacutlery or others. I believe, if explained in advance, they could find this agreeable.

In regard to graphics - the surface of the non-clip side of the Sebbie is polished. The graphics are relief cuts milled into the slab and anodized. The anodized colors will remain pretty fresh and bright unless you really abuse it like dunking it in a vat of car oil or bleach or some other nasty thing like sending it through the washer at home. If you handle it a lot, and drop it and such, you will end up "nicking" the edges of the milled cuts. For a relatively small fee, CKR will do some repolishing (not as new) and can re-anodize the graphics if need be.
 
Got a question, how do the small regular and the small classic differ in bade shape? I've seen pics of both and still cannot tell any difference. Also how do the defferent handles feel when used?
 
Spydie, you have received some great feedback here. I will add that I purchased my first seb a few weeks ago, small regular. After a short learning curve I came to appreciate the knife more and more. So much so, that I decided that the seb is everything I will need in an EDC.

So, with that in mind, I wanted to make sure I had one that I felt could keep my interest over time. The plain, as perfect a machine as it is, was a bit, well, plain. NOTHING wrong with it, but for the long haul, I realized I should get one with some interest.

So, I put my knife up for sale and received a full price offer....sold! I lost about $25 overall, nothing really. Now which one to get??

Graphics/Decorated....as cool as some of them are, a little much for my taste.

Wood...well, as much as I want to buy into the stabalization process, I did not want to think, for a second, when subjecting my knife to a task whether or not the wood would suffer. Maybe a moot point, but afterall, it is a natural element subject to wear.

So, that left the other series, On God We triust, Pheasant, Stars and stripes etc...This made sense. Some interest, but not over the top.

I like to fish so I landed on the small Pheasant. I purchased the knife online from SRKnives, great service! I had them ship it directly to CRK for engraving, my full name with middle initial...18 letters, 1 period and 2 spaces. LOOK GREAT!!!!!

So, I now have a knife with some interesting graphics that match my interest with my name engraved...this is the perfect EDC!

I cannot give you a wear report as I have only had the knife for a week. But, after inspecting the graphics, I cannot imagine my harming them. The are deep engraved, like my name.

Good luck in your search..

AC
 
trane fan said:
One day I sat down and evaluated what I actually needed out of a knife on a daily basis. I realized the Mnandi was the way to go for me. At that time I had 2 small Sebbies and 1 Mnandi. I now have no small Sebbies (or big ones for that matter) and I just purchased my 5th Mnandi last night. I prefer the Mnandi's ergonomics, weight, blade length/shape and symmetrical inlays. Don't get me wrong, I still think the small Sebbie is an excellent EDC but it's just not for me. ;)
Click to expand...

Trane...don't forget that Umfaan! ;)
 
I have owned probably 6 large sebbies over the years. I did not like them. I would sell them about as fast as I had bought them. Recently, I was "horse trading" with a friend of mine and traded into another large sebbie. I thought "great", now I gotta sell this thing.

My friend talked me into using it as an EDC for 1 month. That was 2 months ago. You could not take that sebbie from me!!!!

A couple of weeks ago. I was trading with this same friend and he had a new small sebbie. We have been friends for years, and if either one had a knife the other wanted to "try out" we would loan it for a couple of weeks. I could not talk him into that with his small sebbie for nothing. Of course, I had nothing he wanted to trade for it.

I have requested on BF to trade for one. I have also listed a number of good knives, in hopes of selling them to purchase one. Good Choice. Get the small sebenza. You will not be sorry. I will have one soon. David Farmer
 
Before I caught the knife addiction, I carried a Delica in AUS-8 for 8 years. It proved to be a solid performer on a daily basis. I broke the tip once using it as a screwdriver (I know, I know), but I easily ground it back into a respectable shape. While cutting through many pieces of cardboard for targets, the lock started to give, and now it has a noticeable vertical blade play. Sadly, my trusty friend was retired.

I've had a small Sebenza for almost two years, and it had basically replaced the Delica as my EDC (until I discovered other blades). It's smoother now, and just as strong as the day I received it. The monochromatic look gives it a purpose-driven functionality that I find beautiful. Granted, the blade may be a wee bit more difficult to sharpen.

As much as I love my AXIS knives, the only one I carry is a Ritter Mk1...and that maybe only one day a week. Now the tough choice is either sticking a small or large Sebenza in the pocket.
 
Skipping all the its great beacause of, I will give you one good reason:

I sell knives for a living, out of the 5000+ knives in out inventory I have carried a Small Sebbie everyday for the last 2 1/2 years. Hard to bet that as a testimonial I think.
 
My small regular has been great. But, be warned, the Sebenza is not the most overwhelming knife to behold looks-wise or even performance-wise initially. In fact, when I first got mine I was very very underwhelmed. Hype and my own expectations are probbaly to blame.

Longevity and fit and finish perfection are the Sebenzas traits. A delica has absolutely nothing on the Seb in this department.

But I'm lucky. I have and like both.
 
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