Traditional's answer to Sebenza

[SteelSnob]

The

:

Those look great. Can you tell me who made those? I really like the bottom one!

 

[mnblade]

In general talk, always someone recomends Sebenza as for the knife. I was wondering what would be Traditionals answer for Sebenza, i.e you would have the money to buy Sebenza but you would like to get more traditional?

And I don't mean any real valuable collectors knife but real deal working knife

Well first off we have to define work, and what a real deal working knife is supposed to do.

Go back a couple of generations and you'll find men who were hardworking enough to make most of us look like slackers. ... Looking back in history, when they, the hard working peasant/peon/blue collar guys, had to cut something, they used a simple one bladed carbon steel slip joint much like the beloved sodbuster.

Part of the criteria that I always use for deciding whether a knife fits the "traditional" description is: Would it cut the mustard with my grandfather, or with the fellas whittling, chawing some Red Man and telling lies on the proverbial courthouse bench back in the day?

If my instinct tells me they'd bust a gut laughing at me when I told them how much the knife cost, it ain't traditional.

I'm not saying anyone is wrong to pay $300+ for a Sebenza - but I wouldn't do that.

 

[brownshoe]

I agree that the Case/Bose are the top production value for slipjoints in materials and fit/finish. However, to compare to a sebenza, you need to pick a specific knife. Since the sebenza is a single bladed knife of about 3 1/2", I'd say the Arkansas Hunter would be the model most like a sebenza, but in a traditional style. The Yukon Jack and Swing-guard are a bit too big.

 

[thejamppa]

It does not need to be sebenza's size. I am looking something that fit & finish can held up their own against CRK's famous Sebenza. Something that is real work knife with excellent materials and done by person who loves what he does and is proud of his work.

It can be 2 bladed too. Small pen blade is not bad but actually quite useful. I am leaning something between Swayback Jack like or Wharncliffed Barlow.. Although Wharncliffed Sodbuster might be the real deal for excellent work knife.

 

[Buzzbait]

The only production slipjoint that comes close to the Seb is maybe something like a Victorinox alox knife. A Pioneer or old Soldier or Farmer. Very utilitarian looking with invariably high tolerances on fit and finish.

Let's face it. Other than Vic, the tolerances from batch to batch, on slipjoints is generally not excellent. But I can grab 10 alox Vics from 10 different years of manufacture, and they are all identical and pretty much perfect.

 

[Blues]

Those look great. Can you tell me who made those? I really like the bottom one!

The top two are by Rick Menefee.

The third is by Ken Erickson.

Next...Bret Dowell.

Ray Cover

and finally, last but definitely not least, Ray Kirk (Master Smith).

I'll go back and label my original post. Sorry for the oversight.

 

[thejamppa]

Seems like its time to head for custom slippie... Darn, all paths in Blade forums lead to custom's.. ^^

 

[mmarkh]

The Sebenza is a wonderful cutting tool. (Mine was my first expensive knife and was a gift from my wife.)

As it is a single blade and relatively utilitarian in appearance, I'd compare it with a "shadow" pattern in the traditional world. (A lockback might be more appropriate if the strength of the Sebenza's lock is a necessary feature for your usage.)

As a cutting tool, I'd say that any of the following knives (in no particular order) would be up to the task of the Sebenza and each cost less than my Sebenza did over 10 years ago:

Rick Menefee: "Eureka" Pattern with Modified Wharncliffe:

Rick Menefee: Dogleg

Ken Erickson: Shadow "Hunter"

Bret Dowell:

Ray Cover:

Ray Kirk (M.S.): Scagel w/forged 52100 & stag

...and I could add "fancier" scaled/bolstered knives to the knives above (all customs) which also would cut at least as well as a Sebenza and still come in at a lower price to boot.

Damn, that Erickson is my favorite. All of them are very nice.:thumbup:

 

[Peter Parker]

I agree with RobbW......

 

[silenthunterstudios]

Well, maybe not THE answer, but MY Traditional answer to the Seb (proud owner of large micarta and small micarta classics), are the following

Great Eastern Tidioute 73 chocolate bone two blade trapper and

Ontario RAT cattleman folder (Tony Bose design).

Both are not only good looking, but hard workers too. Great walk and talk, especially after use. Again, MY traditional answer to the Sebenza.

Some beautiful customs in this thread.

 

[rprocter]

Really there are hundreds of well made Production Traditional style folders that will preform very well for all the lifelong cutting most of us will ever have to do.
Yes, some of the Tacticals are built like a tank and might help you cut your way out of a downed helicopter, but the likelihood of ever needing this is remote, and the thick blades actually make them poor slicers.
I suggest you find a pattern from one of the makers(Production or Custom) already mentioned, that really appeals to you, and buy it. it cannot really be compared to a Sebenza("apples and oranges") but it will be a great knife that will serve you well for a lifetime.
roland

 

[Dagon]

My answer would be: the Robert Klaas Monolith 2000. It's a handmade low production folder that's not cheap but still reasonable (around 100 euro). A superbly finished classic backlock, I really think it feels as precise as my Klötzli or Moki knives.

 

[DennisStrickland]

an older eye locking sod in carbon. if not that i beleive it's hard to beat gec mdl 23 locker in 1095.

 

[mendezj]

I find the Bose Case collaborations to be excellent knives. I recently received a Swayback Jack with 1095 blades that rocks my world. Everything about it is perfect, and it cuts like hell.

I have a Sabenza which I like but I much prefer the thin grind of a traditional folder. I have a nice Queen Trapper but I had to work a lot on those blades to get them decently sharp. A Bose Case will put a smile on your face.

 

[mjolnir74]

Dan Burke Rancher by Queen. Stag, BG42 steel and very solid. They are kind of hard to find.

 

[kamagong]

Dan Burke Rancher by Queen. Stag, BG42 steel and very solid. They are kind of hard to find.

Excellent idea. But the problem is that they were a limited run, and are only available occassionally on the secondary market. A fine knife in any case.

 

[neeman]

...

Perhaps the most knife dependent working men around were the seamen. Sailors knives from the 1800's all seemed to be a single large sheepsfoot blade in a simply built slip joint...

...

To quote Jackknife
And a modern equal

Schatt & Morgan Cotton Sampler
Year: 2009 Condition: Mint
Misc: ATS File & Wire
Handle: Moss Green WG Bone
Steel: ATS34 Size: 4 1/8"

 

[black mamba]

Neeman, you must be a pretty bright guy. I seem to be agreeing with everything you say in these forums! LOL!!!

 

[kamagong]

Neeman, you must be a pretty bright guy. I seem to be agreeing with everything you say in these forums! LOL!!!

You're pretty bright yourself for agreeing with him.

 

[black mamba]

I've lusted after those F&W cotton samplers for a long time. I have its cousin, the 4-7/8" daddy barlow from the same series. What a knife!