What are some high-end knives?

M

Meast58

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Oct 28, 2014
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188
Hello,

Outside of Chris Reeve, what are some other high-end folding knives? I know about the Sebenza 21, 25, and Umnumzaan. what are some other comparable options in the same price range? I'm mainly interested in non-assisted, non-flipping folders.
I like more plain looking knives, so I'm not as interested in really gaudy folders like the Benchmade gold-class. I am interested in the Sebenza 21 large. I just want to make sure I'm not overlooking any knives that would make me reconsider possibly getting a Sebenza.

Thanks,
 
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I am planing on using it pretty hard. I don't baby my knives. I take good care of them but, they get used a lot.
 
Hinderers and Striders were made to be used and can be found in the exchange for a decent price if you are patient. A used Medford is kind of in the same price range as well as a used midtech Hoback Kwaiback.
 
Meast58 said:
Those are nice, do you have any? How would they compare, to a 21?
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I've got two 21s and three William Henrys. In terms of fit, finish and production quality, CRK and William Henry are both top of the mark. You can't go wrong with either one. If you're interested in looking at William Henry knives, I'd suggest you check out the E-10.

Hinderers and Striders are also very well made. But Hinderers tend to be pricey for what you get and Striders can be hit and miss. I've never seen a bad Sebenza or William Henry. The QC on both brands is exemplary.
 
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William Henry knives are not exactly hard use by any stretch of the imagination. They are high quality knives, designed to look really pretty and to cut stuff. I don't know how the OP defines hard use, but if it entails stabbing bricks, hammering through hard wood, and using the knife as a screw driver there are much better options than CRK and WHS.
 
And, I might add, folders in general! ;) But then, the OP didn't specify that he was looking for a "hard use" folder until he got down to post #4. Maybe he just wants to cut stuff. :confused: :)
 
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RevDevil said:
William Henry knives are not exactly hard use by any stretch of the imagination. They are high quality knives, designed to look really pretty and to cut stuff. I don't know how the OP defines hard use, but if it entails there are much better options than CRK and WHS.
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bld522 said:
And, I might add, folders in general! ;)
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I am not one of those "Hard use" people, who stab bricks, hammer through hard wood, or use the knife as a screw driver. All of that makes me cringe! I just don't want to overlook anything. I try to be thorough when I consider a knife. I was just trying to whittle out any "pocket jewelry" which seems to be a lot of that price range. :)
 
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Microtech
 
bld522 said:
And, I might add, folders in general! ;) But then, the OP didn't specify that he was looking for a "hard use" folder until he got down to post #4. Maybe he just wants to cut stuff. :confused: :)
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I never said I wanted a "hard use" knife. I said "I use my knives pretty hard". Not, I need a "hard use knife" per se. I meant it as in please don't recommend gaudy safe queen knives. I'm going to be using it, not staring at it inappropriately. Anyway, we all good my brotha!

I digress. I think I have what I needed. Thank you to everyone who helped. I will look more into Microtech, and Strider. I haven't done much searching into those.


Thanks,
 
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Meast58 said:
I was just trying to whittle out any "pocket jewelry" which seems to be a lot of that price range. :)
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Sounds fragile to me. William Henry knives have a reputation as being pocket jewlery . . . until you use them to cut stuff. Then you find out what their real merits are. ;) (Keep in mind that while everybody's going ga-ga over the latest implementation of ZDP-189 in a Kershaw knife, Matt Conable has been using that blade steel on William Henry knives for years. And his blades are laminated to increase strength as well. They are, first and foremost, superb cutting instruments.)

Let us know what you decide. From William Henry on one end of the high-end production knife spectrum to Strider and Hinderer on the other, you pretty much have the range from "gentlemanly" to "sharpened bricks" covered. The choice is yours. But for my money, I'd stay with the one you brought to the party in the first place. You can't go wrong with a Sebenza. And if you want the best of all possible worlds (durability AND light weight), check out the Knifeart.com Exclusive Carbon Fiber Large Sebenza. I've got the Small, and it's one of my personal favorites:

exclusive-chris-reeve-large-carbon-fiber-sebenza-folding-knife-16.jpg


:)
 
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My .02 is only with three brands.

Stories on Strider's lock jamming and subsequent need to change out to larger thumb lug for correction is enough for me to steer clear. The other driven, from initial otc, high priced "First Responder" type philosophy design have their problems, if you question the company, their usual answer, if you are to get one, is their knife is not for everyone! All told, price range wise, these two brands fit in an unique market segment.

On the other hand, I have confidence with Chris Reeve design, especially the 21 and that is the only one I am interested. Very few maker started with 15 years back ground in Tool and Die as Mr. Reeve had. He design the 21 with functional simplicity. Pioneered RIL, initial lock geometry set from factory appears to remained same over years of use. Set fair price is same from factory, or when you buy it from dealers. My experience dealing with CRK is smooth, pricing for his precision cutting tool is fair and without drama or marketing ploys as with some other makers. If having doubts, call the company, you can talk to a real person and have an answer to the doubts.

Op, I am just reiterate what you have already known about CRK, right? :)
 
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victorf said:
My experience dealing with RHK is smooth, pricing for his precision cutting tool is fair and without drama or marketing ploys as with some other makers.
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Hmmm. Unless I could do business directly with RHK (which unfortunately, I cannot), the word "fair" is not the first one I'd apply to Hinderer pricing. It would be more along the lines of "seriously?". And then I'd go out and buy a Sebenza 21. :)
 
Hinderer, TSF Beast, maybe DPx & Lion Steel. Have a custom built to your specs. Many great choices. Someone on here will have at least one of whatever you're curious about and can provide a review.

I really like the Beast, and it's larger brethren Gorgon. Built to be used hard and are in service will both military and LEO types. Jim is a super guy to work with. If you're going to use it hard, it'll take it.
 
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