Help me out guys, I want to be excited for this, but I'm just not. There is only one thing I like about the 25 over the 21: removing the lanyard pin/hole and attaching the lanyard to the standoff. Other than that, this is my least favorite Sebenza design to date.
Before anyone calls me a hater, the Large Sebenza is my favorite knife of all time. That is where my concern is coming from. Every iteration has been a masterpiece, until now. Help me get excited for the 25. Right now I am just mourning the inevitable death (discontinuation) of the 21.
You might have a point about the finger grooves, but it will have to be used and reviewed for that possible issue to be determined. The grooves might actually be a good improvement over the 21's design, and it also might just come down to the individual user's experience.
I carry a regular large sebenza (the model before the classic/21), and I prefer it over the 21's handle design and blade profile. There are other's who prefer the 21 over the regular, so it all really comes down to personal preference. Something tells me there will not be a shortage of 21s for a long time to come, so I don't think you will need to worry too much about that for good while.
I am looking forward to the Sebenza 25. When I get one and if I like it, I might sell my large regular (I only need one). Here are some things that I like about the new 25 to counter your points of view...
-I don't like a thicker blade, I think the .125" on the 21/Regular is perfect.
-I love the thin blade and hollow CRK grind on the regular/21, but the small increase in blade thickness will probably only prolong the life of the blade. Those CRK hollow grinds are great for slicing, and considering the 25 has a new hybrid combination hollow/flat grind, I think the differences in thickness will be negligible in long term use (if anything, the 25's newer blade profile will probably last through more sharpening due to the thicker blade).
-I don't like the finger grooves at all. I don't like my hand being confined to predefined grooves, and also I don't like the look.
-I think the finger grooves along with the thinner handle profile might lend itself well to comfort and control, but this has yet to be determined by the masses.
-The handle looks to have a significantly thinner profile. This concerns me since the Large 21 fits my hand perfectly.
-I think the thinner handle will be a great improvement for in pocket carry and for edc. The thinner profile as stated above, might lend itself well to the inclusion of the extra finger grooving (Think Para 2).
-The hardware looks strange. The pivot on the 21 is plenty large, none of us could ever break it if we tried. And I like how every screw on the 21 is the same.
-The larger pivot of the Umnumzaan has been a proven design, and is loved by many CRK customers. I have been wanting to see something that combines the best of the sebenzas with the umnumzaan, and that is the only reason why I am holding off on purchasing an umnumzaan.
-The blade shape is fine, almost reminiscent of the Regular, but the thumb ramp is very unattractive to me. It bulges out too much and the more aggressive file work is unnecessary and ugly.
-I love everything about the blade shape! The new hollow/flat grind is probably going to be incredible coming from CRK. The profile is more like that of the regular which is my current favorite EDC. The thumb ramp reminds me of the paramilitary 2 and the Ritter griptilian. Both of these knives are my favorite production knives next to the large regular sebenza, and the thumb ramping on them is outstanding in use. The jimping looks like it might actually be functional (I am not a big fan of jimping, but the masses seem to demand it), and if you combine that with the finger grooves, thumb ramp, and thinner handle and thicker blade profiles, you basically have a combination of my three favorite knives: Para 2, Ritter Grip, and the large regular Sebenza.
-The ceramic ball lock face adds complexity to the knife which is heralded for simplicity. The carbidized Ti lockface was plenty strong.
-I like the idea of the 'solidity' of the mechanics of the ceramic ball lock face design over the art/science of a heat treatment or 'carbidization' treatment. I think at this point it is comparing cumquats to oranges, and the differences will be negligible in long term use.
I hope my positive points of view about the new 25 spark some excitement or some enthusiasm for you, but I have a feeling you are stuck on the 21.
The 25 really does look like the modern Sebenza taking everything from what worked best about the past Sebenzas and then combing it all to make the next best worker folding knife on the market.
I just convinced myself to pre-order one after writing this response, lol. I have it feeling it just might bump the large regular Seb out of my pocket!
