Thinking of getting my first sebenza

shinyedges

shinyedges

Unfaltering Love & Undeviating Will
Gold Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2012
Messages
28,914
Hey all,

Considering getting my first sebenza, a 31 large. I have some questions:

How is lock up? I like zero play side to side and up/down.

Corrosion resistance? Being mostly titanium and and hardware of 316ss id imagine pretty good. Anyone ever swim with theirs ? (Yea I'm a weirdo who swims with a knife)

While gripping the knife does the lock bar move over all the way to the other side? I'm not talking about intentionally forcing it, but through actual using the knife for tougher cutting. I'm a user of knives and I'll put this one to work too.


Any thoughts you'd like to add? Hit me. Haven't spent any time in this subforum but some of you probably know me, I like to use my knives. Think it's a good fit?
 
How is lock up? I like zero play side to side and up/down.- My limited experience with the large 31 is Zero Blade Play. I did have some with a small when they were 1st released but I’d say thats been fixed.

Corrosion resistance? Being mostly titanium and and hardware of 316ss id imagine pretty good. Anyone ever swim with theirs ? (Yea I'm a weirdo who swims with a knife) Im a big sweaty midwestern redneck and Ive never had a rust problem. Never swam but I’d say Magnacut is your friend

While gripping the knife does the lock bar move over all the way to the other side? I'm not talking about intentionally forcing it, but through actual using the knife for tougher cutting. I'm a user of knives and I'll put this one to work too.-Ive never had a lock bar move on a Sebenza that I remember and Im sure I have never had one move on a zaan or Inkosi during use.


Just remember you cant go back once you start on the path to CRK!!!
 
Last edited:
Swim with any of the Spyderco Salt versions. Thats what I do, Dragonfly to be exact. I wouldnt want to lose one of my CRK's in the ocean:)
 
I can't imagine Magnacut &Ti giving much rust problems.
Every CRK I've had experience with has been solid as they come, lockup wise. No blade play whatsoever.
There seems to have been some issue upon the debut of the 31, but they must've dialed that in. The two I have exhibit zero. Both recent production.

I've never had lockbar movement, and I expect you'd have to go out of your way to have it happen. I've worked w/ a Sebenza a ton with zero problems. Construction, roofing, mechanic work, yardwork. Never gave me a problem.
 
Last edited:
I took my small 31 to myrtle beach back in February, it spent a week getting dunked in surf and spent an evening in my trunks while in the hot tub. There was a miniscule bit of surface rust in the pivot when I took it apart at home. I was impressed at the level of corrosion resistance displayed. I can't imagine the magnacut blades being anything but better in the salt.

Can't speak to any other traits for the larges, but I use the crap out of mine and haven't had any issues.
 
The L31 is a brick shit house. Technically the screws could rust, but they are replaceable. The magnacut is nearly impervious to corrosion. The rest is non-reactive titanium and ceramic. I don't know that I would call it a dive knife, per se, but it should do well unless you're trying to catch Flipper or something.
 
Wild Willie said:
I took my small 31 to myrtle beach back in February, it spent a week getting dunked in surf and spent an evening in my trunks while in the hot tub. There was a miniscule bit of surface rust in the pivot when I took it apart at home. I was impressed at the level of corrosion resistance displayed. I can't imagine the magnacut blades being anything but better in the salt.

Can't speak to any other traits for the larges, but I use the crap out of mine and haven't had any issues.
Click to expand...

This experience makes perfect sense. The 300-series and 400-series stainless material parts ( and similar) can get crevice corrosion in salt water. If you just clean it when your adventure is done it should be no problems at all. The Magnacut should be extremely resistant.

I speak for everyone in this sub-forum when I say…buy it, use it hard and tell us all about it. Don’t forget the pics.
 
I have no blade play on my large 31

I never had corrosion resistance issues with my sebenzas
My large 31 is in magnacut so it should be even better
However for swimming or diving I rather take my Spyderco salt

The Sebenza is an excellent knife but you would not expect a fidgety or drop shut blade
 
I suppose I will chime in, though some excellent responses have already been given. I don't actually own a 31 (yet), it's a matter of time for me; I am waiting for either a PJ Damascus or the right Magnacut knife to cross my path.

I do own three 21's, and I have used them pretty extensively and put them through plenty of tough cutting tasks.

I won't comment on the corrosion resistance, because I think that was nicely covered above and well I live in the southwest; we are lucky to have 10% humidity most days - but I have sweat plenty on mine and I have never had anything close to an issue with rust.

I think I would consider at least a different path however. Might I suggest you take at least a look at the Inkosi? For me, the Inkosi gets the nod for tougher jobs; in my experience it is a bit of a "tougher" knife. The Inkosi has a certain robustness that the Sebenza doesn't - it's close and it isn't as if the Sebenza is by any means fragile - but the blade is a bit more stout and the scales feel a bit thicker. The Sebenza has a much thinner and slicier hollow grind no question, but the Inkosi is still quite the slicer.

The Sebenza is arguably the more iconic of the CRK knives, but the Inkosi has a thinner profile in hand; which for me produces less fatigue when gripping the knife for long periods. To that point, you might want to consider getting one with inlays, in my climate (today is supposed to be a balmy 108), it keeps the knife a bit cooler and does provide a bit more purchase.

Blade shape is also something to ponder, I consider the insingo blade shape to be the ultimate when it comes to work. The blade itself is very capable in almost every conceivable scenario, and the swedge is incredibly useful for scraping and light prying.

I have not noticed any movement of the lockbar at all, in fact in the newer CRK's (with the ceramic ball) it leaves a definable mark on the blade tang; and once mine have settled in, they have not continued to move at all. I would estimate that my Inkosi's are somewhere around 40% on the tang.
 
Expect it to be somewhat difficult to very difficult to open initially. Depending on how it left the factory, it could be very tight. It will loosen up over time and it will be(most likely) your favorite knife of all time. I got my first small Sebenza and while I appreciated the quality of the knife in general, it was one of the tightest and hardest to open Sebenzas I’ve bought but after a while it became extremely easy to open while maintaining extremely tight lockup. For what it’s worth, I now own about 40 CRKs, the rabbit hole is deep and AWESOME!!!! You’ve been warned 🤣🤣🤣
 
I think I've settled on a large 31 drop point in magnacut. Anyone know where has 1 in stock? Not real sure if an inkosi in magnacut exists but I'd look at one of them if it's available.

The bushing pivot is the same on both inkosi and sebenza, correct?
 
shinyedges said:
I think I've settled on a large 31 drop point in magnacut. Anyone know where has 1 in stock? Not real sure if an inkosi in magnacut exists but I'd look at one of them if it's available.

The bushing pivot is the same on both inkosi and sebenza, correct?
Click to expand...
No, the Inkosi lacks the bushing making it an adjustable pivot. And the blade is slightly thicker ... almost a flat grind instead of hollow.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top