To get a Sebenza or not?

[ti lock]

IMHO there is absolutely no comparison between a benchmade and a chris reeve knife.

I am a CRK dealer that actually has a physical store front. I am the only dealer in my neck of the woods - far upper rignt hand corner of the USA map.

Some folks prefer the inkosi over the sebenza and others vice-versa, of course the large inkosi evolved from the sebenza 25. The small inkosi is now my favorite EDC knife. I prefer the geometry of the small inkosi over that of a small sebenza 21. So that being said if you can find a local dealer go and check them out first hand, you want be disappointed. A CRK knife will last you many lifetimes. Normally customers aren't happy with just one CRK knife so be fore-warned.

 

[abcdef]

Go ahead and get it over with.

 

[Dallas T]

Agreed with this! But my only problem with small Seb I had was heat treat and edge of my particular knife was not even close to bm 154cm. Tolerances though were next to none!

 

[johnnytoxin]

Agreed with this! But my only problem with small Seb I had was heat treat and edge of my particular knife was not even close to bm 154cm. Tolerances though were next to none!

What year was it made? In 2013 or 2014 they bumped up the hardness a good bit.

 

[Dallas T]

What year was it made? In 2013 or 2014 they bumped up the hardness a good bit.

Mine was 2011 model. Here's my take! My current delica at 60 bucks did everything not equal but better than seven except for the fit n finish and tolerances,. So that's why I did not keep it. It just couldn't do anything better than a 60 dollar knife.

 

[clearkevin]

If you like the Sebenza then go ahead if it turns out you don't like it they are fairly easy to sell with little loss. I am not a huge fan I would not dispute their quality but find other knives at that price point offer more for the $.

 

[Dallas T]

Sebenza, not seven stupid auto correct

 

[353]

Mine was 2011 model. Here's my take! My current delica at 60 bucks did everything not equal but better than seven except for the fit n finish and tolerances,. So that's why I did not keep it. It just couldn't do anything better than a 60 dollar knife.

Wrong, it's easier to disasemble and clean out!

CRK also bumped up the heat treat in 2013 I believe..

 

[BilboBaggins]

For me, it's a simple appreciation of what they do. It's essentially the same relationship I have with all of my knives. I appreciate the CRK ridiculous attention to details, tolerances, and fit and finish. With my spydercos, I appreciate the steel varieties, focus on ergos, and their willingness to push the envelope of design. With ZT, I appreciate the rock solid, excellent flipper action, and customer support. If I could steal someone's rockstead, I would no doubt appreciate the jaw dropping beauty of it as I admire myself in it's perfectly polished mirror finish...etc, etc, etc.

Point being...different knives/companies do different things that make me happy and appreciate my knives.

 

[Dallas T]

Wrong, it's easier to disasemble and clean out!

CRK also bumped up the heat treat in 2013 I believe..

Wrong is subjective to your opinion, so don't tell me what it's wrong when it's an opinion! Instead acting like children it's simply a discussion. I had an opinion and I gave it.

 

[GREENJACKET]

I think you need to ask yourself what you want it for first.
If its for using then buy the model you want second hand as there are plenty BNIB; just saves a few bob. If you are very hard on your knives and beat the heck out of them then there are other knives for less money for that. For most people The Sebenza does everything is a classy way.

If its not really for using much then the decision is similar to buying another watch: "I fancy a Rolex, so I'll have one". If you have your fathers Omega then a Sebenza might add to what you pass down to the next generation. When you look at a nice watch its nice, same with using a Sebenza.

I have had my two Sebenzas, a small and large, for years now. I use them and rotate with my other knives. I forgot the cost years ago. If I lost them then I would replace the Large because I like so much about it, the small not as much. Another person might have the opposite view.

Owning a Sebenza is like joining a club, you either want to be part of it, or just don't get it. With so many fantastic blades out there, so many different builds, so many steels, so many designs, then why buy some classic? They are a classic now and possibly the design has been superseded by some cleverer design, but they do what a folder should. Like most watches, whatever the cost, that tell the time. Certainly a great knife, buy the one you like, its really your call.

 

[Officer's Match]

Do the 25s and Inkosis not have that? And what is the difference?

No, and neither does the Umnumzaan. On a bushing pivot, you tighten the pivot screw all the way snug - the pivot "action" will be perfect, as will centering. On the Zaan, Inkosi and 25, it is a "fine tuning" proposition, like pretty much any other knife.

 

[sharp_edge]

An honest question: if the bushing pivot is so good, why not more makers use it? Is it patented by CRK?

 

[evilgreg]

I'd suggest buying one if you're interested. They hold their value reasonably well, and worst case you can do what I did and sell it a month after you bought it for a small loss.

In my case, the knife did absolutely nothing for me. It wasn't prettier than my pretty knives, it didn't do actual work any better than my working knives, and there was just nothing for me to really latch onto about the knife to find a way to like it. They're simple, well made, basic knives that don't really stand out over other knives beyond the pride of ownership some folks feel (the ones that act like cult members at times.

They're good knives and they're easy to sell if you end up not liking them, so why not just get one and find out for yourself?

 

[wtlj]

An honest question: if the bushing pivot is so good, why not more makers use it? Is it patented by CRK?

There are few others that have them:
Scott Cook Lochsa
MOD
Microtech
Etc.

The difference between crk and most others using a pivot bushing is they use a bushing with the same thickness as the blade. Pressure is still placed on the blade as well as the pivot bushing.
I believe many don't copy the sebenza bushing as it takes some damn tight tolerances to do it right!


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[Velitrius]

IMHO there is absolutely no comparison between a benchmade and a chris reeve knife.

..........if you can find a local dealer go and check them out first hand, you want be disappointed.

If you've got an "itch" for one, maybe it's not the knife... maybe it's all of the hype, chatter, and "there's no comparison!" you've run into.

Waaay back when, I found my way to BFC and before long noticed the Sebenzanistas jumping in to every thread and yell "SEBENZA!" into any thread asking for a recommendation. Didn't matter if somebody was looking for the best rubber machete, invariably some joker would chime in and explain that the Sebbie was the only clear choice.

A curmudgeonly ol' custom maker named Tim Herman once dubbed the Seb as "the Grey Turd". I laughed at the jibe, but still figured that I owed it to myself to go find one and see for myself.

So off I went to the Eugene show one year to give this thing the once over it deserved.

And I still don't get it. Oh sure, the Sebenzanistas are going to point out how I'll never get it if I don't buy it and carry it around and cut stuff with it and go to a Sebbie Club meeting and blah blah blah blah tolerances blah blah holds its value blah blah... but I couldn't warm to the look or the ergonomics for the price sticker.

ti lock, your opinion that there's no comparison between a Benchmade and a Chris Reeve knife is certainly valid. And I full-on agree that someone considering the Seb should seek one out in person and give it the once over. However, there are some of us who are going to make such a comparison and still choose the Benchmade. Absolutely nothing against the Sebenza, because I'm sure it's great. But some folks compare other features, and will ultimately check one out in person and be disappointed.

You should fly over to the Passaround Forum and toss around the idea of a Sebenza passaround. 10 guys can toss in $35 apiece and pick up a Seb from Whitty. Keep it for a week or so each and figure out what to do with it when the time comes... do a drawing at the end or something. That'll scratch that itch for you and maybe some others.

 

[sharp_edge]

whitty sells crk? I thought he sells ZT mainly. whitty?

 

[Officer's Match]

There are few others that have them:
Scott Cook Lochsa
MOD
Microtech
Etc.

The difference between crk and most others using a pivot bushing is they use a bushing with the same thickness as the blade. Pressure is still placed on the blade as well as the pivot bushing.
I believe many don't copy the sebenza bushing as it takes some damn tight tolerances to do it right!



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Tolerances, and the willingness to "hand fit" the bushing on each and every knife to get the action "just right".

I would actually like to see a bushing pivot with bearings instead of washers, especially multi row or roller. I think that would make an amazing pivot.

Another thought I have had is a washer based pivot but thick washers (like a bearing set) and milled blade & scale like the bearing pivot setups typically have. I'd theorize that might inhibit debris from getting between the blade and washer (as well as the scale & washer) due to the actual interface not being in the opening (instead being buried in the blade stock (and scale).

 

[Twindog]

Why did CRK abandon the pivot bushing? That bushing was one of the key factors that make the Sebenza so iconic.

Maybe it was cost. I've wanted to like the Inkosi, but with exposed washers and no pivot bushing and a thicker blade, it's tough.

 

[Officer's Match]

Why did CRK abandon the pivot bushing? That bushing was one of the key factors that make the Sebenza so iconic.

Maybe it was cost. I've wanted to like the Inkosi, but with exposed washers and no pivot bushing and a thicker blade, it's tough.

Add to that a set of finger grooves that are at odds with the up-turned end of the pocketclip, and you have a design that is as anti-Reeve as anything I've seen them make. The only think I do like desgin-wise about the Inkosi/25 is the omission of the "machining" hole - simplicity was always the siren song of the Sebenza for me. Also not a fan of the "non-uniform" looking jimping on the back edge of the blade. I do think the blade shape is attractive too.