Ti Mili vs. Sebenza

G

GrayDucker

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Feb 28, 2013
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Spyderco titanium military vs. CRK Sebenza

After having owned both now I have come to an interesting conclusion. I prefer the ti military over the Sebenza. Everything about both knives are so close. The natural fit and feel of he military is better to me. FFG blade cuts and slices so fine! Rock solid lock up.

Who else here has come to the same end?
 
I also prefer my sprint military's over the Sebenza. Ergonomics are better, fit and quality are equal and sprint military's have superior blade steels:

BG-42
CPM-D2
S90V
CPM-M4
CTS-XHP
M390

Out.
2011BLDR
 
pretty much a no brainer if you are after better ergonomics, design, handling, cutting, and value.

but I guess if you carry around a micrometer and constantly measure tolerances which are unobservable to the naked eye, you might like the sebenza more. ;)
 
goodeyesniper said:
pretty much a no brainer if you are after better ergonomics, design, handling, cutting, and value.

but I guess if you carry around a micrometer and constantly measure tolerances which are unobservable to the naked eye, you might like the sebenza more. ;)
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The design, warranty, and history may also play into it but your right carrying that micrometer is most of it. ;)
 
Militray hands down! but again its a whole other beast compared to the sebenza.
 
I have both and carry both. One thing is for sure, the S30v in the Millie clobbers the S30v in the Sebbie. 1-2 points of RC make a world of difference!
 
Both great knives.

to me neither of these two have much downside, I have never worried about the steel in my seb, it cuts fine.

however I really love wood inlays.
if spyderco was built in us and had wokd inlays id be all over it.
 
This has not been my findings...I love my Militaries...but my new Ti Military has more play than anything I have ever owned. It also will not adjust out without being miserable to open. Yes, it's going back for warranty service. That all being said I have never received a CRK that was anything other than perfect. I carry my Millies more as I prefer the M390 to the Sebbies S30V. (Sprint Millie vs. 2009 Sebbie) Hopefully when my Military comes back I will be able to make a more level comparison.
 
HwangJino said:
Both great knives.

to me neither of these two have much downside, I have never worried about the steel in my seb, it cuts fine.

however I really love wood inlays.
if spyderco was built in us and had wokd inlays id be all over it.
Click to expand...

The military is made in Golden, CO..
 
Ah well now with the wood inlays ;)

Hopefully someone makes custom scales or something. These would make excellent gifts.
 
MRaymond said:
The military is made in Golden, CO..
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Yes, the Millies are made in the U.S. One of the reasons I like them so much. I work on a military base, and a lot of the people I work with get real happy when you show them a knife made in the U.S. Especially one so fine as a Spyderco Military. I still wish that Spyderco used the same blade etching they did originally. The new one is just bland. One of the reasons this one gets more pocket time in my right front, than the new all black one I bought last year.

I am wanting to buy a Ti version bad. Knife Center has them. But I am having to take one day a week off unpaid until October due to the "Sequester", as furlough days. So just cannot justify spending that kind of coin at this time.

 
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I agree with most of what's been said but the Sebenza does have some positives:
1. Easy disassembly and cleaning
2. Smaller and lighter in the pocket (compared to Ti Mili)
3. Excellent resale value

All that being said I don't presently own a Sebenza and have 3 Militaries including one Titanium. I may attempt the creation of a maxi-FrankenMilitary using the Ti frame lock, an orange G10 scale and CTS-XHP blade. That would leave me with two other Frankens with liner locks and mixed orange, brown, and Ti scales.

Decisions, decisions.

 
The frustrating thing about Sebenza's is the lack of edge retention. For that much money, it should outlast the competition in edge holding, but it doesn't even come close. If you just want to look at it and admire it, then the Seb is fine. For real cutting, I'll take pretty much anything from Spyderco first.
 
I agree that a knife costing as much as a sebenza should be polished better. Once polished and microbeveled it performs very well and retention is good.

for real cutting id prefer a fixed blade.
 
GronK said:
I agree with most of what's been said but the Sebenza does have some positives:
1. Easy disassembly and cleaning
2. Smaller and lighter in the pocket (compared to Ti Mili)
3. Excellent resale value

All that being said I don't presently own a Sebenza and have 3 Militaries including one Titanium. I may attempt the creation of a maxi-FrankenMilitary using the Ti frame lock, an orange G10 scale and CTS-XHP blade. That would leave me with two other Frankens with liner locks and mixed orange, brown, and Ti scales.

Decisions, decisions.

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Similar to this one, I'm sure :D
 

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I did a similar thread on this a while back, glad it came up.
I already had a large insingo when I heard that my walk in guy had some 25's. When I hastily showed up to view the knife, I noticed his Milly section and saw the Ti. After handling his two best specimens, I walked out with the Ti. Military.
Not knocking the Sebenza, it really did come down to money, and that day I could not see a $250.00 (give or take a few) difference in quality.
Cheers
 
The Ti Military is tough to beat in terms of a useful and solid knife. I think with these and other knives like them the Sebenza is a harder sell. That being said, the ,the Millie is not a Sebenza and those looking for a high end folder may still want the quality the CRK offers. Yeah , edge retention on Spydie S30V is better. Would knucklehead like me notice? Probably not. I've got a SOG trident I use the piss out of in AUS8; when it's no longer sharp I sharpen it and go about my day.

It all comes down to ergos, feel and personal preference. I think people get too fussy about blade steels without ever needing what a high end steel can offer. I personally think the magic in a spyderco Military comes in the standard G10 liner lock version. With the Ti Millie you lose that light weight and grippy handle for titanium and a frame lock which affords no real advantages.

As a tool I think the standard G10 Millie wins hands down. If you want to pay the extra money for a Ti frame lock that's great. Same rationale applies to those who want to drop the dough on a Sebenza. Is it better? Maybe not but to each their own.
 
GronK said:
A lot like that but with a G10 scale to keep it lighter. One thing bugs me about the standard Ti Mili is the weight.
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I was going to try putting one of my CF scales on to save weight (for the same reason you stated)...problem is both pivot screws from my CF are different than the Ti Military, forcing me to use the complete Ti frame. (FTR I have 2 M390/CF Millies) Maybe I need to get a G10 plain jane model and try those pivots instead...
 
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