To get a Sebenza or not?

The Sebenza isn't a bells and whistles type knife. As previously mentioned part of it's appeal is it's simplicity and easy take down. They are very well made and have great customer service also. Yet they are not for everyone. I suggest buying one on the exchange with some snail trails on the handles, but blade in great shape. You should get a pretty good deal and can get most if not all your money back if you don't like it. You can also latter send it in and get the handles reblasted, sharpened and tuned for the cost of shipping. It will look like new.
 
Don't own a Sebenza but I so own and edc (and abuse) a Lg Inkosi
I think you'll be very happy with either :D

 
The Sebenza is unsurpassed at its price point for only one thing, as far as I can tell: granting you membership to the smug douchenozzle Sebenza fan club on the Internet.

It's a fine knife, but I've yet to once have anyone explain a single advantage it has in any concrete terms beyond that it is finished to higher tolerances than any other production knife.

Sebenza fans will admit the knife isn't the nicest looking knife, or the best cutting knife, or the strongest knife, of the most fun knife, but will assure you that it is still without a doubt the best knife. If you buy one and find it unimpressive, as I did, you'll find a new wave of unjustified snobbery washing up on your shores. I've been variously told a wide variety of versions of these put downs and humblebrags when discussing my impression of the Sebenza I purchased:

It takes a level of maturity and wisdom to truly understand the magic of the Sebenza
It may not be the best at anything, but when you get to know knives you'll understand that it is still the best knife
If you bought a Sebenza and didn't like it, it's your failing, not the knife's--something is wrong with you
Some people just can't appreciate the finer things

So yeah, it's unsurpassed . . . unsurpassed at giving you immediate access to the self-impressed Sebenza douchenozzle club. Every membership comes with a bonus dose of purchase justification manufactured to 0.0001" tolerances along with a bonus guide for how to explain how all other knives are inferior (e.g. tolerances--make sure to brag about a difference in tolerances so small that a human literally cannot perceive them in comparison, remember to include that CR invented pretty much everything, including the general use of sharp objects, also make sure to mention the manufacturing award-- but conveniently forget that someone else usually wins knife of the year and whatnot).

Bam. I actually didn't write that ^. It was a comment I just found funny in one of the reviews on the Sebenza, so I wanted to share that joy. All hail the Mighty Sebenza. Buy the Sebenza. Join us.
 
OK this got me very itchy. Would someone be willing to do a pass around of one of your well used CRK Sebenza 21 or 25 or Umnumzaan? I dont know exactly how it works but am gladly to participate.
 
The Sebbie is unique. To check it out, buy one.
If you don't like it, sell it. NBD.
 
My douchenozzle seems to be dripping a bit this afternoon; I guess the 0.0001 holes are plugged up a bit with CRK self-righteousness and snobbery. I'll try to ream them out a bit with my Ganzo.
 
The large regular Sebenza was the knife that got me into knives and onto this forum many years ago. my brother-in-law who was a helicopter mechanic in the Army had one and I couldn't believe how smooth it was and how it just exuded quality. I was carrying a Gerber EZ-Out at at the time and didn't have any real passion for knives. handling that Sebenza has cost me a lot of money...
I have actually bought a few of my own and until you handle one it is hard to describe the appeal... theyre just damn good quality knives. at the time there wasn't a whole lot of other brands at that level. now there is a ton, so they kind of get lost in the shuffle but theyre still excellent knives and like mentioned, if you don't like it you can always get your money back moving it.
 
Great knife, great execution of very good materials and time proven design. In addition, you get a great company of great folks who provide great customer service.

Other than that ...
 
If you have owned a ton of knives at both the lower and higher end of the enthusiast spectrum, you will really appreciate a CRK and "get" exactly what it is...

They are perfectly simple and highly refined knives that perform.

You just can't get bored or ask for much more then a tool that is built with both function and form in mind for the long term...it's actually very refreshing when the integral driving force behind many enthusiast hobbies are trends.

This is one of the very few knives I can say is not a trend. (Especially hard to do at the price point)
 
BilboBaggins said:
Hard to appreciate the Chris Reeve's fully until you handle one. I echo stabman on the umnumzaan recommendation.
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Genuinely, I think they're hype. Not that the tolerances are bullcrap or anything. Just that in today's day and age there are many, many valid competitors. Sure, they may lack in absolute tolerances but a lot in that price range make up for it with better steel and materials.

No, there's no reason to buy a CRK specifically unless you just really like the design. Other than that look around and find something that really pleases you. Something will catch your eye. With a CRK it should be that it either grabs you or it doesn't. Don't force it. I've handled at least 20 CRK knives and absolutely none have struck me as anything particularly great. Speaking relatively. For some others they are obviously something special. Either you like them or you don't. Knive like this are not really something you grow into. You either like plain slab titanium and soft s35vn at crazy tolerances for $400 or you like something else better.
 
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I won't tell you to not get a Sebenza.

But I will tell you that I have a Benchmade 765, and it is an awesome titanium framelock edc with a razor sharp M390 blade. I am very happy with it.
 
I've bought and sold a couple dozen knives in that price range and the one I've always kept was my small Sebenza 21. The design subtleties aren't apparent when looking at pictures. It doesn't have a new, cool lock or deployment mechanism. They're not all over instagram and nobody blogs about them. But the Sebenza is the one all others are compared to for a reason. The 21s are just really, really good designs. I object to the finger grooves in the 25s but apparently some people like them. Anyway, get one in used in great shape, use it but don't abuse it, don't change the cutting bevel, and commit to it for a year. My guess is you'll really appreciate it after that but if you don't you'll be able to sell it for basically what you got it for.
 
whitty said:
I find once you start asking if you should buy a Sebenza you are already to the point where it is an itch you will have to eventually scratch.
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Haha pretty much. Whenever I get the thought in my mind that I want to spend that much for a knife, I don't bother asking if it's worth it but which one.
 
Stupid wimpy knife! :D

[video=youtube;iI5k2J73LAs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI5k2J73LAs[/video]

There's about 5 minutes of foreign language monologue at the beginning you can skip past.
 
sharp_edge said:
Yeah this dude in the video talked too much. The knife is good though.
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Probably wouldn't have "talked too much" if you knew what he was saying lol

In most of his other videos I usually enjoy most of his input. He's not like most of everyone else who reviews a knife and mentions all the dimensions that you can find online just as easily as the video you're watching. Especially if you're wanting to buy that specific knife.
 
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