Well shiii... I think I "get it" (Sebenza)

O

Omega Leather Works

Joined
Jun 13, 2007
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I was SOOOO prepared to not like it. I was sure. I mean come on... A $410 knife? I've had a few other knives that were in the neighborhood price wise, and one that was a bit over, and I just wasn't feeling it with those. But they were smooth, my Lord were they smooth, and nice? Oh yeah, without a doubt. Super steel too. So I thought, this Sebbie (that I got in a trade) was gonna be the same.

I always thought, well, if I bought one outright then I could see loving it... I just plumped a ton of ching for it, of course I'd be obligated to love it, but in a trade that would give me every reason to be totally honest with myself about what I thought of the knife.

It's far from the smoothest knife I've had. The steel isn't the best I have. Blah blah blah, you know the drill, and yet here I am. It's an amazing knife, and the part that's really driving me nuts is that I can't even nail down why!

I had my Southard for months. It was a sweet sweeet knife, but I never used it. I always knew that I'd trade or sell it. I've had the Sebenza for a few hours and it's already been used a few times.

I'm not saying that I'll never trade or sell it. I really planned on selling it to buy a shotgun, but it's gonna be way harder to part with than any knife that I've ever owned. I may keep it forever.

I love this knife!

Pics later. ;)
 
Glad you like it. The Sebenza will spoil you if you let it. After a little while other knives won't scratch the "itch" as well.
 
I've handled one before-nothing about it made me want to own one. Actually, handling it convinced me further that I didn't want one.
 
I have a lot of nice folders, but the Sebenza has a quality about it that is way above the rest. If I had to sell some off, they'd certainly not be the first to go.

29gjtzl.jpg
 
DShiflet said:
I've handled one before-nothing about it made me want to own one. Actually, handling it convinced me further that I didn't want one.
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Ya see... I thought that I'd be (very) firmly in that camp. I mean I almost feel weird liking it.

I know that it's not a status thing. First I couldn't care less what people think of me. I dress, and probably look below my pay grade (mohawk, tats all that silliness), and besides, I've never met a person in the flesh that -

A: gave a crap.
or
B: had any idea what a Sebenza is.

I'm sure that my coworkers would dig the Contego way more anyway.

So it's not for any perceived status, nor is it for the quality of its action. My 810 is sharper too...

What does that leave?

No really, what does that leave? :D

I guess it fits my hand really well. The ti feels very nice, love the texture and I've never felt texture like it before. Um... The blade shape and ratio to handle is perfect. It's rock solid. I can't imagine that I could ever do anything reasonable that would make it fail, and I've never liked frame locks at all. I LOVE the spine. That may be a big part right there. Yes I know you can get cheaper knives with a rounded spine, but I don't have one. Rounding the spine is something that I do to a lot of my knives. The jimping is the best I've ever felt, hands down.

I dunno, maybe I'd like it less if I payed for it out right. Who knows.

All I can say is that I'm now in the CRK camp, and I can't believe that I just wrote that. :)
 
From the moment I picked up a large in a shop, I knew it was for me. I now have one of each large and small, and still don't know why, but find myself gravitating towards them. I have lots of other very good knives, more fun knives, cooler knives, more well known knives, yet my sebbies always end up in my pocket.
 
Welcome to the fan club, striga: surprised that it took you so long to get here, but glad for you.
I was reluctant to come up with the bucks to buy one also, and surprised myself when I did. Was very pleasantly surprised and now I've gone through fifteen or so. I always buy from the Exchange. I have two large and three small (two are inlaid) and heck, I can't even carry a small; my hands are too large.
Quality...FINE, UNCOMPROMISING, Quality...has a way of presenting itself that just cannot be ignored.
 
SVTFreak said:
From the moment I picked up a large in a shop, I knew it was for me. I now have one of each large and small, and still don't know why, but find myself gravitating towards them. I have lots of other very good knives, more fun knives, cooler knives, more well known knives, yet my sebbies always end up in my pocket.
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Great minds think alike?

What kind of SVT do you drive? I'm driving my 500hp Lightning today. ;)
 
jill jackson said:
I have a lot of nice folders, but the Sebenza has a quality about it that is way above the rest. If I had to sell some off, they'd certainly not be the first to go.

29gjtzl.jpg
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Jill,


Getting better and better taking those photos. :thumbup:

This one is really nice. :D

Jim
 
I have more hard use knives, knives with better steel, better slicers, more ergonomic, etc..... But I keep coming back to CRKs. They are simply a great pocket tool and the more time I own one, the better I love it. Welcome.

Great pic Jill
 
For me, it isn't really a question of whether or not I like my Sebenza. I need a knife that acts as a standard-bearer . . . a reference point I can use to determine the quality of every other folder in my collection. The Sebenza serves me in that capacity. Without one, I'd constantly be asking myself whether whatever I have in my hand is as good as a Sebenza. With one, I never have to wonder. And just in case you're curious, I own knives that are worse than, as good as, and in a few cases, better than my Sebenza. And I love them all. So even though my Sebenza is the barometer I use to judge the other knives in my collection, it's not the be-all, end-all knife for me.
 
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I've never owned one or handled one. But I think it says a lot about the quality of that product and what you deep down think about quality. I often get uppity about the standard of excellence for anything in any product quite often choosing an alternative to be different like my choices in motorcycles over the years. From everything that I have seen, read and heard about that knife its standard of excellence is just uncompromising in the package that it comes in. Everyone can hate on the best of something or not be interested in it, but you can't turn a blind eye eventually to how good it is bc it just ain't true!
 
I own a few Sebenza 21's (2 Small & 1 Large).

And I also own MANY other Mid-Techs and Full Customs.

I can say that my 2 Small Sebbies are two of my absolute favorite knives I own.

When you hold one and are truly able to see what makes a Sebenza so awesome, that's when you realize why their worth what Chris Reeve charges for them.

When I first started collecting(many many years ago) I never thought I would have spent $325 on a knife.

But when I got it in hand and got to fully appreciate the quality, I was SOOO happy that I finally purchased one.

My first Small 21 is really what got me into Custom Knives, and man its been a ride and a lot of money spent ever since lol.

I have no regrets or complaints because I simply LOVE KNIVES.

But when people are on the fence about picking up a Sebenza, I always recommend it and say they won't be sorry they did.

Strig its great to have you in the Sebenza owner family :-)
 
bld522 said:
For me, it isn't really a question of whether or not I like my Sebenza. I need a knife that acts as a standard-bearer . . . a reference point I can use to determine the quality of every other folder in my collection. The Sebenza serves me in that capacity. Without one, I'd constantly be asking myself whether whatever I have in my hand is as good as a Sebenza. With one, I never have to wonder. And just in case you're curious, I own knives that are worse than, as good as, and in a few cases, better IMO than my Sebenza. So even though my Sebenza is the barometer I use to judge all the other knives in my collection, it's not the be-all, end-all knife for me.
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Yeah right man. You know that you can't leave it at that...

I agree about it being the benchmark. I *thought* that I might be close enough with the Southard to fill that role, but it's not. I'm not saying that the Sebenza is better than the Southard, it's just different.

What I want to know, though, is what you consider to be a better knife, and why. I know which knives tick a box for me when the debate comes up on better features, but I can't think of any that tick all of them.

Maybe I'm not thinking hard enough. More likely I haven't been exposed to the right one. You're partial to William Henry knives right? Any models in particular that I should look at?

If not WH... Do tell...
 
When I got my Sebenza, I had pretty much of the same reaction. There is just something strange about it that you just say "I like it." It's not like the Southard or a Hinderer. It's its own thing. The unnatural smoothness, geometry, and just the feel of it in your hands. It's just different. Just like the other two knives that I've mentioned, they have their own soul and character, and Sebenza has its own. Enjoy it!
 
Strigamort said:
Yeah right man. You know that you can't leave it at that...

I agree about it being the benchmark. I *thought* that I might be close enough with the Southard to fill that role, but it's not. I'm not saying that the Sebenza is better than the Southard, it's just different.

What I want to know, though, is what you consider to be a better knife, and why. I know which knives tick a box for me when the debate comes up on better features, but I can't think of any that tick all of them.

Maybe I'm not thinking hard enough. More likely I haven't been exposed to the right one. You're partial to William Henry knives right? Any models in particular that I should look at?

If not WH... Do tell...
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HAHA. You found me out! :) Yes, William Henry knives are as well-made as any production knife on the planet . . . period! Even their "inexpensive" EDC series is outstanding. Beyond that, I pretty much have to go into full customs to beat my Sebenzas. And that's saying a LOT!!!
 
I own four WH's and two Sebenzas. I'd say for the money, you can't beat a Sebenza. I have a couple of WH's I like more, but they cost much more. The advantage to Sebenzas is their simplicity. You can take them apart yourself.

WH's should be sent to WH for servicing, although mine have never needed it. Both have astounding tolerances. I would use a Sebenza to pry a can open before I would do so with a WH.

Can't go wrong with either.

Enjoy your Sebenza. Now you can dream of your next one, maybe damascus, or one with inlays.
 
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