What am I missing about the Regulars vs. 21's?

JustinFournier

JustinFournier

Joined
May 7, 2012
Messages
4,971
I just can't seem to figure out what it is about the regulars that people love so much they prefer them to the 21's.

They look like they would be less comfortable in the hand than a 21.

So what is it?
 
You would have to own one to understand :) it is all personal preference. Some would like the 21 more then the regular.
 
I think it comes down to three things.

1. Some people prefer the look of the Regular. Whether its the wider blade profile, the blocky style handle, or both.

2. Some people just like the slightly more robust design of the Regular with its noticeably thicker blade tip and chunkier handles.

3. Some people like rare/exclusive things. The Regular has become increasingly harder to find and is the holy grail for many people.
 
When the regular was in production some people missed the original Sebenza and were complaining... So the Sebenza Classic was released and made at the same time as the Regular. The Classic was similar to the original Sebenza in shape.

Then the 21 came out, which is very similar to the classic, and the regular was discontinued soon after. Now people complained they wanted the regular and not the 21.

The bottom line is, whatever Sebenza is being made is not what some people want. There are always going to be people who want what is no longer being made. I advise you to grab a bunch of 21's for when the 25 lands those people will be crying for 21's!

I have owned and used all the Sebenzas and they all work fine. I could care less which one is in my pocket, they are all equally well made and satisfying to use, in my experience anyway.
 
I came into CRK in the midst of the 21. The 21 was my first Sebenza as were the few that followed after.

Then the more I got into CRK the more I read about them and inevitably came across the Regular. I started reading more about the Regular and then good old impulse and curiosity kicked in and I got myself one.

For me, it's the more robust design. I find the Regular scale profile fits my hand better than the 21. I also enjoy the fact that there is more belly to the blade on the Regular.

Exclusivity doesn't get me off, personally, and I've been fortunate to not pay an arm and a leg for the Regulars I own.

The 21 is a great knife and I still will carry one from time to time, but for me the Regular is where it's at in terms of ergo and blade profile. It's honestly my favorite folder out of any that I've ever owned.

Give one a shot, I didn't think there'd be that big of a difference from the 21 either when I first got one:D
 
The actual differences between the two are fairly subtle. Feel in the hand and looks are the most noticeable. In use and durability, there is extremely little (if any) difference.

I like them both, but the feel might give an edge to the regular. I also think the regular blade is more attractive,though the difference in belly is pretty much not noticible in use.


Man, I hate typing on a touch screen phone
 
Perhaps one of our collectors has a pic that illustrates the difference between the Regular, Classic and 21. I am perhaps too obtuse to notice those differences easily. I do like my new/old Classic Sebbie, but the only knife that really gives me a visual twist is my Umnum.

With the Unmumzaan, the thickness and variable grind of that thick spine and swedge rather hums "Song of Africa" when I look at it, and I can mentally visualize Peter Hathaway Capstick grinning in anticipation as he secures the Umnumzaan handle to a wooden staff to take on a big male leopard, wounded and hidden in the long grass, with a knife.

Ah yes, to live vicariously is, at least, to live.
Sonny
 
Tripton said:
The actual differences between the two are fairly subtle. Feel in the hand and looks are the most noticeable. In use and durability, there is extremely little (if any) difference.

I like them both, but the feel might give an edge to the regular. I also think the regular blade is more attractive,though the difference in belly is pretty much not noticible in use.


Man, I hate typing on a touch screen phone
Click to expand...

That's true. The thinner blade profile on the 21 doesn't make it less useful by anymeans. It still cuts like a dream. I'm happy to own both of these versions of the Sebenza and can't wait to add a 25 to the stable.

The differences between the two models are indeed subtle, but there are enough there for me to lean towards the Regular. Although the 21 feels great in hand, the Regular just does it for me.

I will say, if the 21 wasn't an excellent folder then I never would've gotten to the Regular:thumbup:

And I hate typing on touch screens too:D
 
Personally, I don't like the 21s because of the convex shape of the scales along the back of the knife. People hold their knives differently and I find the convex shape uncomfortable. Maybe CRK could invent interchangeable "backstraps" for his 21s, like the handgun manufacturers have. :)
 
For me its the beefier design. The 21 does feel great in hand but I a big boy and the regular just fit better. I would however never turn anyone away from the 21, In fact I plan on buying no less than 2 here in the near future just because the 25 is on its way and I am not sold on the new pivot bushing.
 
kawr said:
I think it comes down to three things.

1. Some people prefer the look of the Regular. Whether its the wider blade profile, the blocky style handle, or both.

2. Some people just like the slightly more robust design of the Regular with its noticeably thicker blade tip and chunkier handles.
Click to expand...

You pretty much summed it up for me right here. As much as I like the 21 style, I feel I can safely do harder jobs with the regular. I've hard used both and found more often than not when wrenching down on the 21 handle, the lock bar can easily move all the way to the right frame. Maybe it's the way I grip the knife, but I don't find this to be a problem with the regs.
 
Thanks for your input everyone; much appreciated.

I've just picked up another 21, have another planned shortly, well hopefully it arrives shortly, and I'm going for a 25 for a large EDC.

We'll see how the Reg vs the 25 debate rages.
 
I don't care for the 21 that much and the stamp really turns me off them.I like the regular and to be honest I go back and forth as to the one I like most Classic 2000 or regular.Not handled a 25 but don't really know why they would change a pivot system that is already perfect.
I have a large Classic bloodwood inlay now.Guess I will be sure to hang onto it and be glad I have it.
 
I prefer the 21. The regular never grabbed me like the 21 did, the pointy corner by the lock when it is engaged bugs me.
 
The first sebenza I bought was a P (in 1994) which I still own, at first I didn't like the regular because it was a departure from the original design but I must say the LDC9 Regular Sebenza is by far the Best Sebenza Ever Produced IMHO.
 
blackend said:
You pretty much summed it up for me right here. As much as I like the 21 style, I feel I can safely do harder jobs with the regular. I've hard used both and found more often than not when wrenching down on the 21 handle, the lock bar can easily move all the way to the right frame. Maybe it's the way I grip the knife, but I don't find this to be a problem with the regs.
Click to expand...

huh, It's the exact opposite from what I've found, most of the regular models that I've tried, the lockbar easily moved from 50% lockup to 75-90% lockup under heavy cutting, and then were extremely sticky upon unlock. I think it happened with 5 or 6 out of 9 that I have owned.

But all the 21's and now the two P's that i've had are rock solid and don't budge a mm under heavy cutting and were smooth as silk unlocking. I had a 21 move from 60% to 70% cutting some hard plastic once, but it still was smooth unlocking.

Especially the two P's, they have the strongest detent yet unlock the smoothest I've ever felt!
 
Funny. The only minor issue I've ever had with Sebenza's, is the detent. Just wish they were a bit more sticky.
 
This thread is awesome. Such opposite experiences. I wonder how much preference is based on the performance of a single knife.
 
dinokay said:
The first sebenza I bought was a P (in 1994) which I still own, at first I didn't like the regular because it was a departure from the original design but I must say the LDC9 Regular Sebenza is by far the Best Sebenza Ever Produced IMHO.
Click to expand...

It's funny how much opinions vary on this. I had an LDC regular sebenza that I carried for a while in the 90's and found it not comfortable to use, the grooves felt weird in my hand and I sold it, lol! Don't miss it one bit.
 
I didn't have a preference, I wanted to try a Sebenza last year and I'm
left handed.

A LH 21 was infinitely easier to obtain than a regular in LH configuration.
 
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