What are your alternatives for Sebenza money

Artfully Martial

Artfully Martial

Joined
Jun 8, 2005
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4,761
What individual other folders are available for Sebenza money--let's say between 350 and 550 for discussion's sake. Of course there's some Striders and Hinderers, some Benchmade gold classes, but what else?
 
Two very nice alternatives:

Lion Steel SR-1 is out of this world. Handle made from ONE piece of titanium, which is very rare outside the custom world. Very sturdy and well-made knife. Hard Sleipner steel.
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Böker Titan Defender is in principle a liner lock, but what a liner lock: 2.5mm or 0.1 inch is similar to many framelocks. A knife that oozes class. Good Austrian N390 steel is similar to VG-10 in performance.
At the top the "normal" Titan Defender, below that the only slightly lighter and much cheaper Lightweight variant, which also has a nice stonewash blade:
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For more gentlemeny use, Mcusta just launched a new limited edition. I think the style is a bit "much", but it should be a smooth folder:
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Edit: how could I have overlooked one of my favourite brands: Klötzli. The Swiss high-quality brand that is truly on the levelof CR knives when it comes to maniacal precision. Excellent liner locks, perhaps not as bomb proof as a framelock, yet for nearly all usages these knives are truly recommended. Notice how nicely they combine polished, sandblasted and anodised titanium in one handle.
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Todd Begg, Boyd Ashworth, Tony Bose, Scott Cook, Kit Carson, James Coogler, Pat & Wes Crawford, Tim Galyean, William Henry, Osbourne, Ken Onion, and Andrew Demko... I'm sure there is more, there are a ton of custom makers, but those seem to be art pieces (not discrediting them in the least bit, they're still perfectly functional knives) I prefer to get a fixed blade for that price. Personally, I believe that more value is attributed to the materials in a fixed blade vs. the lock mechanism in a folder. Plus a folder is already broke.
 
KnifeKnut66 said:
RJ Martin makes some awsome folders..........
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I agree, unbelievable precision and toughness. I have a Q-36 folder, and it fires like an auto. The detent is so good, you have to REALLY try to wrist flick the knife open on its own... I love this blade, and its been my EDC now for about 8 months now, and I swear I've only had to touch up the blade on fine Sharpmaker rods and a strop a few times. I used to have to do the same with my Seb on a weekly basis. He uses many really top notch steels, and does his own heat treat. My particular knife has CPM 154 @ 63-64Rc. I had very little experience with CPM 154, but I have been thrilled so far. He just started using S35VN, which I have been dying to try.


I use my Seb strictly for anything really messy (food prep, anything involving liquids) because its easy to take one apart. I have managed to take the blade out of my Q36, but it took some patience and time.

Overall, I really like his work, but I'd say you'd be spending about 100-200 more than you would on a plain Seb..... Its worth it though:thumbup::thumbup:

[youtube]j6wq76gRJ2g[/youtube]
 
rangerover_95 said:
I agree, unbelievable precision and toughness. I have a Q-36 folder, and it fires like an auto. The detent is so good, you have to REALLY try to wrist flick the knife open on its own... I love this blade, and its been my EDC now for about 8 months now, and I swear I've only had to touch up the blade on fine Sharpmaker rods and a strop a few times. I used to have to do the same with my Seb on a weekly basis. He uses many really top notch steels, and does his own heat treat. My particular knife has CPM 154 @ 63-64Rc. I had very little experience with CPM 154, but I have been thrilled so far. He just started using S35VN, which I have been dying to try.


I use my Seb strictly for anything really messy (food prep, anything involving liquids) because its easy to take one apart. I have managed to take the blade out of my Q36, but it took some patience and time.

Overall, I really like his work, but I'd say you'd be spending about 100-200 more than you would on a plain Seb..... Its worth it though:thumbup::thumbup:

[youtube]j6wq76gRJ2g[/youtube]
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Yup, I own 2 q-36's and an Overkill as well as a classic Seb and for my money RJ is the man.
 
I'd say go for Kirby Lambert, Galyean Pro Series, or if you're lucky, a Tom Mayo TNT straight from the man himself---it actually falls in your price range if you get it straight from him, and is one of the finest folders you can own.
 
I picked up this SFC C-1 at AZCK used for $300, I think they go for $425 new. Comparable fit and finish wise to Sebenza imo.

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I gave a little over $500 for this Les George all Ti FM-1. It's a rock solid knife for sure.

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I recently bought a couple of Brian Fellhoelter's Ti framelocks, both in the $400 to $500 range. I hav'nt received either yet but I'm sure they will be nice knives.

pic courtesy of Steel Addiction Custom Knives
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Lastly I have to agree with Dagon that the Lionsteel SR-1's are very nice ti framelocks at right under $400.
 
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I'm just guessing here because I don't own one, but how about the Spyderco Sage? Seems like it has the "requirements" (TI framelock). I could be mistaken, so maybe some other guys could chime in.
 
Klingsteve said:
I'm just guessing here because I don't own one, but how about the Spyderco Sage? Seems like it has the "requirements" (TI framelock). I could be mistaken, so maybe some other guys could chime in.
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OP is looking for folders that are in the same price range of the Sebenza ($300-$550), not knives similar in form.
 
oh, it needn't have a frame lock, titanium or any other combination. I was just curious to see what these big name ~4-5 hundred dollar folders competition was...I tend to buy lots of 150-200 but never exceed it, so I'm not as learned in that area.

I'll comment more later, great suggestions so far guys.

I'm sure the sage is great, although I actually prefer the CF one though. I only buy folders made in countries with a reputation for worker's rights though. Don't want to start a discussion on that here, that's just my personal preference.
 
Darrel Ralph has some good stuff in that price range. Most of it Ti frame-locks. Stuff like the Mad Maxx (5.5in stiletto blade) kinda breaks the mold though.

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HTM-DDR Maxx $440


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Trigger MAZE $500
 
I'm very impressed with the Lionsteel model. I had heard some about it, but the quality looks incredible. I like the unibody construction and how they're using a harder steel to interface with the tang than the titanium. I'm a bit curious though...with just two screws holding that interface in, I'm not sure it was worth the added complexity to reduce wear. It seems like if the screws were a little loose it would change the angles and possibly really interfere with the performance.

But that's just a guess.

Very cool.
 
Two Volts?

The Umnumzaan has been tempting me for a very long time now (I may still get one someday), but this knife fits my tastes much better, so I got two of them instead of one CRK.

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I second Demko. He can make whatever you want.
 
it's not yet out, and it's "only" $230 (as far as we know yet), but I rather suspect the Kershaw Tilt will be a real competitor...anodized titanium, carbon fiber, IKBS, vanax75 composite blade...has all the right bells and whistles. We'll see if the quality is consistently there, but with those features and materials, it'd be hard to miss.

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Artfully Martial said:
it's not yet out, and it's "only" $230 (as far as we know yet), but I rather suspect the Kershaw Tilt will be a real competitor...anodized titanium, carbon fiber, IKBS, vanax75 composite blade...has all the right bells and whistles. We'll see if the quality is consistently there, but with those features and materials, it'd be hard to miss.

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If at all possible I will have two of those as well.
 
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