Umnumzaan for EDC

mikehopkins

mikehopkins

Joined
May 23, 2007
Messages
90
I have gotten the idea that an Umnumzaan should be my next knife. I carry and use all my knives. Anyone EDC one? How did it work out for you? Any info appreciated.
 
It's an awesome knife... I carried one most of last year. It cycles with an SnG and a Dauntless :)
 
While I haven't had the opportunity to carry an Umnumzaan I found that a Sebenza, which is very similar in dimensions to an Umnumzaan quite comfortable to carry. I know the Umnumzaan has a lot of fans in the CRK sub-forum who regard it as a more rugged version of the Sebenza 21. It is my understanding the the new Sebenza 25 adopted a few of the design features of the Umnumzaan e.g. the ceramic lock interface so those differences might become a moot point in the future. In the end however the Umnumzaan is a reliable and proven knife you can't go wrong with.
 
I really like mine, only two things wrong with it.

Really smooth, slick thumbstuds.
CRK's usual soft HT. That can be corrected for under $50 though.
 
Fantastic EDC. Great grind for slicing, and opens up slick and FAST. Really smooth lock disengagement thanks to the ceramic ball, too.

Hard to go wrong with Chris Reeve, and the Umnumzaan is a great choice.
 
I have one, it was a Christmas gift. I carried it for a year, and it is terrific. I love the ergos and the grind on it.
 
It's one of my favorite EDC knives. It pretty much does everything well.

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NeverMore1701 said:
CRK's usual soft HT. That can be corrected for under $50 though.
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I put similar bevels on a couple Spyderco S30V knives and I can't tell the difference in edge retention between my Umnumzaan and them. My Sebenza, on the other hand, does seem to wear noticeably faster than my Umnumzaan and Spyderco S30V knives.
 
I think it's a great knife. I like the blade-shape and thickness the best of any CRK. In the past, I've had trouble trying to close mine one-handed, although I've done it at least once. I guess it's old weak hands. For that reason alone, I always carry the Sebbie, as it's easy to close. I probably could close the blade on the Zaan much easier if I would Dremel a larger notch. It wouldn't have to be as large as the Sebbie thumb-notch, but at least something reasonable. I've never gotten a decent explanation why one has a nice opening thumb-notch and the other (the Zaan) is basically nonexistent. Maybe Chris always intended the Zaan to be operated with two hands. I have scratched my head often on this one. Maybe SOMEONE can answer this question. Thanks
 
Sonnydaze said:
I think it's a great knife. I like the blade-shape and thickness the best of any CRK. In the past, I've had trouble trying to close mine one-handed, although I've done it at least once. I guess it's old weak hands. For that reason alone, I always carry the Sebbie, as it's easy to close. I probably could close the blade on the Zaan much easier if I would Dremel a larger notch. It wouldn't have to be as large as the Sebbie thumb-notch, but at least something reasonable. I've never gotten a decent explanation why one has a nice opening thumb-notch and the other (the Zaan) is basically nonexistent. Maybe Chris always intended the Zaan to be operated with two hands. I have scratched my head often on this one. Maybe SOMEONE can answer this question. Thanks
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The big thumb cutout on the sebenza and the lack of it on the zaan is a matter of preference, but imo the design on the zaan takes it to the next level.

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the inside of the lockbar has a little milled out area that's meat to grab some of the meat on your thumb, place your thumb on the right scale then slide it over into the lockbar then close it with your index finger. nice subtle attention to detail on the knife. the action should be very smooth and easy to close, if not it probably needs to be cleaned and lubed.
 
Fantastic knife, the more I carry mine, the more I like it. Honestly, after carrying it for a few days I feel a bit sad popping something else into my pocket. Its design also does not terrify Sheeple the same way a lot of my other knives do (ZTs, Benchmades, Busses), that is a huge plus. And, as it was mentioned above it rides like a much smaller knife. Overall the Umnumzaan is a FANTASTIC knife.
 
Thats a really bad knife to EDC imo ... I ordered one a year ago .. received it and carried/used it...

1 week later it was sold ..... everything to the size/weight/ and blade shape makes for that knife to be bad to edc...

Honestly the sng would be better .... but hey what do i know?...

P.S. god forbid you should "flick it open" it will void your warranty and will not be fixed ... what a JOKE!
take a look at striders warranty.. and then tell me ;)
 
I love my zaan, that being said I think that The Sebenza is a better edc. I have had many knives and the Sebenza is one of the best carry knives that ive ever had. I personally think that a large sebenza 21 should be the first Chris Reeve knive you buy, but you cant really cant go wrong with either.
 
I bought a Wilson Combat 'StarTac' variant of the CRK Umnumzaan some 2.5 years ago to celebrate my first SS retirement check's deposit. It was $30 more than a regular 'zaan - but had just arrived in stock - and everyone was out of regular 'zaans. I like the handle pattern better, too. In one venue, it's purchase was a bad idea - it broke the ice for expensive knife purchases here! But - what a knife! Too big for EDC is relative... I did carry a BM 630 Skirmish for quite a while - and a Buck 110 for many years before. Here is mine last year. After noting the 'character' marks, I started carrying it in a CRK sheath, as 'fast retrieval' is not a need of my EDC knives. I also filled it's clip's hole (I remove all pocket clips.) with the overpriced CRK part in both the 'zaan and the Sebbie.

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It is a wonderfully made fine example of 'the art' - and, as I was afraid, made getting a CRK Nyala fb that Christmas and a small plain Sebbie the next summer, both S35VN, possible. My StarTac 'zaan would be the last of my trio of CRKs to leave my collection.

Stainz
 
monger4142 said:
The big thumb cutout on the sebenza and the lack of it on the zaan is a matter of preference, but imo the design on the zaan takes it to the next level.

the inside of the lockbar has a little milled out area that's meat to grab some of the meat on your thumb, place your thumb on the right scale then slide it over into the lockbar then close it with your index finger. nice subtle attention to detail on the knife. the action should be very smooth and easy to close, if not it probably needs to be cleaned and lubed.
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Also worth mentioning that the design has changed slightly over time. The more recent Zaans are easier to handle than the early ones (I've owned both). Great EDC.
 
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