Timeless Question: To Carry the Large Regular or the 25?

Brendtech189

Brendtech189

Joined
Jul 12, 2012
Messages
2,174
Hello B.F. folks, I hope you are all having a great weekend. I'm doing well. And the mailman finally came and kindly dropped off my Sebenza 25 today. Now its not my first one but my first one was from the first batch back in November and this one was made in May and right out of the box I can see some HUGE differences. This newer one seems to be considerably smoother, locks up hard, like it just wants to be used. My first one felt sort of sloppy and was not like this one at all. Maybe they reamped some things over that new batch or figured some things out I am not sure but this one feels like night and day compared to my first one.
Now here is my dilema, for the last 8 months or so I have been carrying a Large Regular. First it was a Large Regular with a swedge, lost that one helping that lady change her tire, will never forget that but its gone and I've accepted that. Thankfully I was able to find a mint condition Large Regular from 2003 to take its place. Now this baby is smooth. It just glides open and feels oh so sweet when you open it. I know that the two knives have been compared to death and the 25 is mechanically a better knife. My question to all of you is which would you carry? I kind of want to send the Large Reg. back in and have the slabs reblasted and it would be back to mint condition and just but it back in the box on the shelf and keep it as they are almost impossible to find these days. Then, obviously I would carry the 25 as my everyday EDC. But what do you all think? I love carrying that Large Regular and its so smooth but I know the 25 is a overall better knife and fits better in my pocket and just wants to be used.
I think my girlfriend said it best when she said,"You can always buy another 25, you can't just buy a new Large Regular." And of course she is right. So should I send it in to the spa and let it rest and get some shelf time or carry it and sell the 25? But then I think about just carrying both of them and switching off whenever I fell like it and that idea is sounding better by the minute. I guess I just really like the idea of having a mint condition "safe queen" Large Regular to pay respect to the old style Sebenzas and to what I consider is the best Sebenza of all time, the Large Regular. BTW- it has s30v steel. I have another Large Regular with BG-42 steel but that is in mint as mint can get condition and I am not going to carry that one. Honestly, for carrying purposes, I prefer the s30v over the bg-42 because you can always send it in to be treated or retumbled or have a new thumb stud put in. With the bg-42 its sharpen it and thats it. But sorry to get off topic there. So bottom line, would you guys carry the Large Regular or the new 25? I really want to only carry one of them and if thats the case I might as well sell the 25 but I just love the feel of it and it just wants to be used. The Regular is by far the smoothest Sebenza that I've ever owned but after losing that other one I am so scared of losing this one I am constantly making sure I have it. Anyways, sorry for rambling on, but if you had them both in your hand what would you do? Thanks for your input and as always I appreciate all of you guys and gals responses and right now I feel as though I will send the Large Reg in to the spa and carry the 25 as my everyday edc but we will have to see what you guys recommend and have to say. Have a great weekend and take care.
 
There are 7 days in a week. One will get just a little bit more pocket time.
 
Holy wall of text batman!

Would carry and use the 25 and send the reg back for refurbishing. Put the reg in its box and let it sit in a safe.

The 25 far out performs any seb let alone any knife that ive had the privilege of using.

Once you go 25 you cant go back.
 
I dont have a 25 myself, yet, but will. I agree that I would use one of the large regulars as a good alternate to the 25. I have retired the last of my large regulars, I have 2, back to the safe in favor of the insingo. But when I get the chance to get a 25, I will. Looking forward to what others have to say.
 
I just got my sebenza 25 today in the mail. As great a knife as I think it is, I just dont think its for me. I was holding my large regular and then the 25 and there is no comparison. The regular wins by a landslide. It took me years to warm up to the 21 and I think it will be the same with the 25. I just find the large regular to be THE Sebenza. Looking at them both now, I wish CRK would have come back out with the regular version and added the ceramic ball lockup which would have eliminated the "sticky" lockbar many whine about. They could have also done their new grind on it as well. I have larger hands and when holding the large regular, I feel like I have a solid handle on the knife. On the 25, I feel like I have to squeeze more and it makes me have the feeling of something smaller. When holding the 25 on top of the large regular, you can see the much thinner 25 by comparison. Maybe I am just used to the large regulars after all these years as thats what they majority of my CRK folder collection consists of. I just did not get the jaw dropping awe I was hoping for. I love the blade profile and the finger grooves are excellent and comfortable, I just wish the knife was wider is all.

My Vote: The Large Regular Sebenza Remains Champion
 
nyefmaker said:
I just got my sebenza 25 today in the mail. As great a knife as I think it is, I just dont think its for me. I was holding my large regular and then the 25 and there is no comparison. The regular wins by a landslide. It took me years to warm up to the 21 and I think it will be the same with the 25. I just find the large regular to be THE Sebenza. Looking at them both now, I wish CRK would have come back out with the regular version and added the ceramic ball lockup which would have eliminated the "sticky" lockbar many whine about. They could have also done their new grind on it as well. I have larger hands and when holding the large regular, I feel like I have a solid handle on the knife. On the 25, I feel like I have to squeeze more and it makes me have the feeling of something smaller. When holding the 25 on top of the large regular, you can see the much thinner 25 by comparison. Maybe I am just used to the large regulars after all these years as thats what they majority of my CRK folder collection consists of. I just did not get the jaw dropping awe I was hoping for. I love the blade profile and the finger grooves are excellent and comfortable, I just wish the knife was wider is all.

My Vote: The Large Regular Sebenza Remains Champion
Click to expand...

If you decide to sell your 25, feel free to PM me.
 
nyefmaker said:
I just got my sebenza 25 today in the mail. As great a knife as I think it is, I just dont think its for me. I was holding my large regular and then the 25 and there is no comparison. The regular wins by a landslide. It took me years to warm up to the 21 and I think it will be the same with the 25. I just find the large regular to be THE Sebenza. Looking at them both now, I wish CRK would have come back out with the regular version and added the ceramic ball lockup which would have eliminated the "sticky" lockbar many whine about. They could have also done their new grind on it as well. I have larger hands and when holding the large regular, I feel like I have a solid handle on the knife. On the 25, I feel like I have to squeeze more and it makes me have the feeling of something smaller. When holding the 25 on top of the large regular, you can see the much thinner 25 by comparison. Maybe I am just used to the large regulars after all these years as thats what they majority of my CRK folder collection consists of. I just did not get the jaw dropping awe I was hoping for. I love the blade profile and the finger grooves are excellent and comfortable, I just wish the knife was wider is all.

My Vote: The Large Regular Sebenza Remains Champion
Click to expand...

I remember when I had my first beer.
 
I was just comparing my large Sebbies. The biggest item for me right now is the much stronger detent of the 25. Mine is of the November run, and is every bit as solid as my large Regular and Classic. They all fit me about the same, and I don't notice the 0.013" difference at all, in the grip-width of the various models. I've owned and carried the Classic much longer than either of the other two, and like it about the same. All three are smooth, although the 25 is pretty new and doesn't yet swing nearly as freely as the other two. I haven't even tried to loosen the pivot.
The 25 also tends to nip me a lot, as I apparently have some difficulty keeping my thumb out of the way when closing. Never had that situation with the Classic, and I've carried it a lot. The wide and heavy jimping on the 25 is the best, however, and is much like my Zaan in that respect.
Which one to carry? For you? I don't believe in safe queens very much any more, although I once did. When you're old enough, and your kids don't really care all that much about your blades, then why leave your favorite knife in the safe? Enjoy it; use it. IMHO.
I would still choose the Zaan over the Sebs...if only I could close that sucker. :)
 
Carry them both until your hand develops a preference. Then take the losing one and send it to the Mothership for a vacation. Then you can sell it.
 
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