umnumzaan or sebenza

M

Murdamook

Joined
Nov 3, 2010
Messages
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It's all opinion based, but I'd like to hear some feedback regarding the umnum vs. the sebbie. I'm going to start saving up for one of these knives, it will take a bit of time so I'll have plenty of opportunity for reflection. I'd like to hear pros and cons of both. Like where does one excell and the other fall short, etc. etc. Thanks in advance. A heads up, I'm leaning toward the umnum.
 
I tend to carry the Sebenza more than the Umnumzaan. I actually prefer the ergos of the Umnum but the Sebenza is easier to take apart and clean when needed. No special tool and you just tighten the screws and you're good to go. The Sebenza also has more space for thumb purchase to close it. So I prefer the Sebenza but not by much. I've carried both and in my daily use they fill the same roll so you're right, it really is opinion instead of which is better.
 
Well, heres the thing... The sebbi is more or less a "gentlemens" folders.. compared to the umnum... The sebbi is beautiful and so is the umnum with small things like the blade spine on the sebbi .. polished + rounded.. unlike the umnum ... + the overall look of the sebbi makes it look a bit less "tactical" compared to the umnum... the Umnum is more of a tactical blade.. it very much well can be used as a EDC blade aswell but its a little on the big side.. for some dudes they dont mind carrying the extra wieght...

Mainly they are both GREAT knives... you just gata see whats your needs are...

u can do just about everything ur sebbi can + more with the umnum.. not to mention the "glass breaker" on the umnum.. which ive seen used and it works really well...also you could defend yourself very good with the umnum, not as well with the sebbi...

mainly comes down to those.. and the overall looks of the knife... ;)
 
Had the same problem a month or so ago. I liked the look of the Umnumzaan because it did seem more aggressive and the Sebenza a bit plain.

End result: I now have 2 Sebenza's *large and small* and for my next CRK knife I want a Mnandi. I'll probably get the Umnumzaan but it is further down on the priority list as of now.
 
I tend not to edc my umnum because it is a larger blade and has an agressive look to it. But as far as performance and carry-bility go the umnum is right up there with the
sebenza. You cant go wrong either way you choose.
 
I should state that my current edcs switch between a millie and a gayle bradley, so weight and blade length aren't big issues. Thank you all for your feedback thus far. I am currently in school thus I make very little money, so I want to ensure whichever knife I buy is the one for me. I've eliminated Striders altogether since I think they extend beyond my needs and I am not a huge fan of the way they feel in the hand. On that same note, I have never heard of anyone having ergo. issues with the sebbi or the umnum.
 
Didn't like my Sebenza because:
1) Pointed thumbstuds.
2) Don't care for plainjane handles with no texture.
3) Easily scuffed titanium.

Had my Sebbie engraved and a cabochan put in to take care of issue #2, and I thought issue #3 would be fine since I can send knives in for a reblast. As it turns out, the engraving makes that impossible. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the Umnumzaan can cure my itch, though I'd still like to hear more about it from other users first.
 
I would say get the one YOU like the best.

Can't go wrong with either one IMO.

Personally I like the Zaan better, it carries very small, not a pocket hog, the LG Sebenza is the same carry wise from what I remember.

Smaller in the pocket than a Para 2, but with a lot more cutting edge, the Zaan has almost as much cutting edge as a Military.
 
Having both I think you need to try and handle both and take the one that just feels better. Personally for me its the Sebenza because I like the opening action and the smooth handles more.. but I find which ever I carry for a day or more feels good for normal use. The Umnumzaan definately exudes a feeling of being just a little but tougher with the thicker blade, and pivot.. its a feeling that almost exists in your mind.. lol.. in normal folder use I think either is going to stand up to what you need.. but if you were an Emergency service type person the umnumzaans added strength may be the slight difference between a failure or not in a harder situation.

I also find I like both of them without clips and I just carry them in a cargo pocket. They are almost identical in dimensions when you put them right next to each other, but the Umnumzaan has more belly to the blade than my regular large also.

I think comfort will be the factor and you need the one that feels best in hand and use to you.
 
Don't own either, but I've handled both. I like the Sebenza but don't care much for the Umnum. YMMV ;)
 
If you like to disassemble your knives, I'd get the Sebenza. You can take the Umnumzaan apart too but not as easily. A special tool is required but in the end, it's not that big a deal. I don't speak from personal experience as I own neither of these two exceptional knives. My biggest issue with them is that they are hollow ground. I absolutely despise hollow ground blades and if Mr. Reeve ever decides to make a flat or perhaps convex version, I'd buy it in a second.
 
Like a lot of people said already, u need to handle both... Personally, I did not care for the sebenza, I don't like the scales, the pointy thumbstuds... It's made well but it's boring. And ugly if you get one with ridiculous graphics (my opinion only)

I feel the complete opposite about the Um. It's got nice scales, looks nicer and more contemporary, and the thumbstuds are awesome. Same level of quality, carries almost the same, neither is what I consider overly large.

There are some nice features on the Um that aren't on the sebenza if you're looking for a working knife. I like the semi sharpened swedge and use it a lot as a scraper so that I don't damage the main edge and there is a glass break but I haven't used that.

Um just had more for my money but you really owe it to yourself to try both to find out what you really need :)
 
The Ummumzaan I had did not have the best closed retention. I've never had that problem with a Sebenza. Honestly I think the Sebenza is an all around better made knife. The pivot bushing acting as a standoff inside the pivot is the bee's knees IMO. Time will tell, but I don't think the ceramic ball as the lockbar face is a great idea. Hardened steel is harder than Titanium and ceramic is harder than hardened steel... but both surfaces will still wear away over time.. I like the bigger surface area of contact of the Sebs vs. the almost no surface area of the Umnum. Harder surface = less wear, but more surface area = less wear as well. It's a toss up. Either way it is likely that after buying one you will wonder about the other enough to buy it anyway. That is one of the coolest things about being part of this and other online communities.... you can buy and try with little obligation to keep it or lose much money in the end...
 
I own both the umnum and a small 21 and I love em both....They both get equal carry time but I seem to beat up the umnum just a bit more, probably due to the fact i've rolled and chipped the edge a few times doing stupid abusive things so all the worries have gone. Honestly you will probably get both in time, rite now i have my eyes on a large insingo dam shame im so broke
 
I've only handled the Umnum at a gun show but in those few moments, I found that I didn't like the smaller feel of the handle. I think that it is an awesome knife, as all of CRK's knives are, but I just didn't find it too appealing to me. I may pick one up eventually, but my Large Regular Sebbie is my all time favorite.
 
I own both and they are both realy well designed knives. They feel great in the hand and are comfortable to carry IWB or clipped to the pocket. I will say that I have a deeper fondness for the Umnumzaan because it was the first CRK knife I owned. I love the blade shape, the handle texture, thumbstuds, and the locking interface (ceramic). This is one knife that I would never sell or trade.
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I think you can't go wrong with either but I prefer the sebenza myself mainly due to the simplicity and less "flashy" nature of the knife however I must say the Umnumzaan looks a bit more ergonomic.
 
I have both, and prefer the Sebenza for EDC over the Umnumzaan.

No doubt that the Umnum slices well, but in order for it to have the same geometric triangle ratio as the Sebenza's blade, the grind would need to be 3.28 mm taller IIRC. The tip of the Umnumzaan is ground differently than the Sebenza, and I'd trust it to pry with much more than the Sebenza's blade.

I prefer the ergonomics of the Sebenza, as the clip on the Umnum can sometimes cause hotspots in the hand after 10+ minutes of use. I have yet to get any hotspots from the Sebenza.

I'm of the opinion that aesthetically the Umnumzaan is something that you might see in a froo froo interior decorator's pocket (there is a Japanese word that I'm forgetting, which doesn't translate well to English, that is apropos for what I am trying to describe). I think the smoother lines and more balanced look of the Sebenza is more appealing.
 
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