Went to buy a Sebenza, almost walked out with a ZT0562?

It’s not a given that your evolution or education in this hobby will ever point you at a Sebenza. CRK is just one company of many making very, very good knives in 2018. If anything, more time and education may provide further clarity that you’re not necessarily missing out.
 
Seems like the 0562cf is like the “hard use” spydie pm2. Everybody likes it (including me) and I’ve seen it as low as $170 on exchange here. Can’t go wrong trying it out, it’s a keeper though imo!
 
I've read so much about CR Sebenza knives years ago that I wanted to get one. I didn't have my hopes too high but when I first got one, I was hooked. Someone described it as "sterile" looking. I don't like too much bling and bedazzled look and the plain Jane large Sebenza was perfect for me. Every serious collector should have at least one Chris Reeve knife.
 
If you are on this forum there is no way you will ever "find your one and only" knife. There are way too many to choose from and then you see another and so on.I wouldn't want it amy other way.When I first joined a local carving club,got to see a whole nother world of knives ,it just don't end!
 
How about the new Hinderer xm18. It seems like you were looking to spend money in that range for something nice. If you liked the 0562 then you may like the xm 18. They come with bearings now and the detent and flipping action is dialed in nicely.
 
If the sebenza doesn't speak to you don't get it. Imo they're WAY overrated and if it doesn't even speak to you it would be just dumb to order one.
 
A Sebenza is a fine knife. The machining and fit and finish that goes into those knives is exceptional. I just can't bring myself to buy a new one anymore though. S35vn that's on the softer side doesn't appeal to me. The 0562 is a fine knife and if you like it's platform you might like a Hinderer in general which I would recommend over a CRK.
 
Buy what suits you and your needs. Sebenzas are too expensive over here for what they are (especially the nice inlay versions, and it wouldn't kill them to offer some color/ano). Fine tools I am sure and there is a certain draw but with so much variety my money goes somewhere else too.
 
I own and have owned several sebbies over the years. I EDC one now along with Reate, We, Hinderer etc. You either like them or you dont. I carried an Strider SNG for a long time but just didnt love it so I sold it. There are alot of knives that I wasnt sure I'd love but did. Like others have said buy what you like, sophistication be damned. I really want to try a Rockstead but just havent pulled the trigger yet.
 
If you don't get a tingle even handling a knife , don't bother with it . Get something that gives YOU a thrill ! You shouldn't have to work at liking such an expensive toy . ;)
 
If Chris Reeve made a flipper, I would drive 3 states away, and own one tomorrow. I have a lot of respect for the man and company for the tolerances that they build their knives to. That said, I have no desire to buy anything that they have in the lineup right now. I love a smooth frame lock flipper with high quality materials and ZT seems to have a few that fall into everyones price range and personal appeal.
 
Dangerously said:
My god, never buy that Sebenza. They’re not magic. Buy what you like, not what others like.
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That might be confusing, as the BM Bugout and the ZT 562 are also tremendously popular.
What I would add is to buy a "slightly-used" Sebbie off the Exchange for $325 or so... And IF you don't like it, just put it back on the market. You might even make a buck or two on the resale.
A used Sebbie is just about as good as any new Sebbie. The only difference (generally) is that the titanium scales may have slight user marks (spider-trails) which show how much it is loved.
Bottom line: All three are fine knives...but at vastly different price-points.
 
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I carried a sebenza for a few weeks. I tried to give it a chance but in the end, it’s just not for me and sitting in the safe. It’s an outstanding knife, without question, just not what some are looking for in a knife.
 
Hey guys, look what I got :)

My new daily carry combo:
https://imgur.com/i1cZ7LO

I'm still trying to figure out how to embed photos into the post.

I sent in my 550-1 because I screwed up the tip with a Ken Onion Worksharp. While I was waiting, I bought a 940-1 and a Bugout.

I liked the 940 well enough, but when I got my 551-1 back (I asked BM to swap the blade) I immediately knew I needed to move the 940 along.

In my mind, if the Grip is a full size, and a Bugout is an ultralight, I didn't see a point of having a blade in between. My Grip just felt much better in hand.

Now that I have the 0562cf, I have that same feeling regarding my Grip. The 562cf just feels so much more substantial. I thought that the weight would bother me, but it doesn't. It just feels solid.

I read though the post on spine whacking, so I hit the ZT against my knee a few times. It hurt... so I decided to put a magazine on the glass counter at the shop, and proceeded to whack the spine again. The proprieter was worried that I would break the glass counter. Lock was fine.

My experiences with the Kizer Gemini, PM2, Grip, 940, Bugout, and a few others made me believe that zero blade play wasn't a real thing. But I was wrong. The 562 locks up solid. It doesn't move in any direction when locked up. It doesn't move when I'm holding the tip and wiggling it hard. If I had my eyes closed and was testing it (not recommended) I would have thought it was a fixed blade.

Awesome knife.

While I was at the shop (a Chris Reeves authorized dealer) near a military base north of San Diego, I was able to try a bunch of ZT's and Spyderco's. They also had Kizers and Benchmades. Great prices on BM and ZT, but strangely standard pricing on Spyderco.

I think I lucked out on the fact that I randomly picked the 0562 as the flipper to try.

While the 0801 flipped about as well, the 0055 had an incredibly strong detent, as did the 0456. If I tried either of the last two first, I wouldn't have tried another because of how uncomfortable they were to me. I've heard great things about those knives, but I personally like the flipping style of the 0562 and 0801 better.

The detent is much softer than some other flippers, and it's easy to deploy. That being said, it's pretty easy to softly break the detent without opening the blade all the way. But that's only if I'm trying to do that. But it's inherent to the nature of a softer detent.

I've also heard people mention that when unlocking the blade, the blade doesn't release immediately due to the lack of detent ramp. I'm actually happy with the way it's designed. I release the lock and the knife slides up against the detent ball. I then give the blade a gentle nudge and the detent ball hops onto the blade.

The blade doesn't drop shut, but with a little shake, it moved down into the closed position. I like it.
 
Pendexter said:
Hey guys, look what I got :)

My new daily carry combo:
https://imgur.com/i1cZ7LO

I'm still trying to figure out how to embed photos into the post.

I sent in my 550-1 because I screwed up the tip with a Ken Onion Worksharp. While I was waiting, I bought a 940-1 and a Bugout.

I liked the 940 well enough, but when I got my 551-1 back (I asked BM to swap the blade) I immediately knew I needed to move the 940 along.

In my mind, if the Grip is a full size, and a Bugout is an ultralight, I didn't see a point of having a blade in between. My Grip just felt much better in hand.

Now that I have the 0562cf, I have that same feeling regarding my Grip. The 562cf just feels so much more substantial. I thought that the weight would bother me, but it doesn't. It just feels solid.

I read though the post on spine whacking, so I hit the ZT against my knee a few times. It hurt... so I decided to put a magazine on the glass counter at the shop, and proceeded to whack the spine again. The proprieter was worried that I would break the glass counter. Lock was fine.

My experiences with the Kizer Gemini, PM2, Grip, 940, Bugout, and a few others made me believe that zero blade play wasn't a real thing. But I was wrong. The 562 locks up solid. It doesn't move in any direction when locked up. It doesn't move when I'm holding the tip and wiggling it hard. If I had my eyes closed and was testing it (not recommended) I would have thought it was a fixed blade.

Awesome knife.

While I was at the shop (a Chris Reeves authorized dealer) near a military base north of San Diego, I was able to try a bunch of ZT's and Spyderco's. They also had Kizers and Benchmades. Great prices on BM and ZT, but strangely standard pricing on Spyderco.

I think I lucked out on the fact that I randomly picked the 0562 as the flipper to try.

While the 0801 flipped about as well, the 0055 had an incredibly strong detent, as did the 0456. If I tried either of the last two first, I wouldn't have tried another because of how uncomfortable they were to me. I've heard great things about those knives, but I personally like the flipping style of the 0562 and 0801 better.

The detent is much softer than some other flippers, and it's easy to deploy. That being said, it's pretty easy to softly break the detent without opening the blade all the way. But that's only if I'm trying to do that. But it's inherent to the nature of a softer detent.

I've also heard people mention that when unlocking the blade, the blade doesn't release immediately due to the lack of detent ramp. I'm actually happy with the way it's designed. I release the lock and the knife slides up against the detent ball. I then give the blade a gentle nudge and the detent ball hops onto the blade.

The blade doesn't drop shut, but with a little shake, it moved down into the closed position. I like it.
Click to expand...
I like the #15 Scout, you have good taste. Is the 940-1 gone?
 
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