What comes close?

Use one for a year and then ask yourself this question. I cannot think of a folder that is as nice to carry and use. It is simply one of the things I use every day. Once you get up into custom $600 knives I believe you are out of the ballpark for a "using" knife. My large Seb lays flat in my pocket, locks up like no other and maintains a wicked sharp edge. It is definately my knife.

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Teacher, its good to know that I started you down the Sebenza road ;). I myself have owned two Sebenzas and I think that it is my most favorite knife that I have ever owned. I have a few knives that I think are in the same ballpark with the Sebenza. My MT LCC and my BM 806 were darn near perfect.

Teacher shoot me an e-mail sometime.
 
Nice informative thread...good to hear from folks who actually own and use the knives about which they speak.

One other factor might be thrown in the mix - availability.

I own several Sebenzas, large and small, classic and new style, and I am very happy with them.

It is certainly possible that there is something better out there. But I can't seem to find or buy it. I'd love to get a TNT, but apparently Tom Mayo doesn't take new orders and every TNT that comes up for sale at a reasonable price is gone in 3.2 seconds. Those that stay around for a few hours usually have ridiculously high prices. Maybe I'll get lucky some day...of course, I've had that thought since I was a teenager.

So, in terms of readily available knives, I can't think of many better than the Sebenza.

Just my two cents and that's about what it's worth as well.

Mike
 
OK, this is a good thread with some excellent comments about the Seb -both pros and cons. Like many of you, I have owned, sold, and used a copious amount of production and custom knives. I will probably continue to support the economy by buying knives high and selling them low. (Hobbies are supposed to cost money, aren't they?:))

I think the CRK falls into what is now called a "midtech" knife - lots of machining, and a ton of operations by hand.

The tolerances are frighteningly tight also.

Disadvantages vs. custom
- can't have everything the way you want it in terms of blade and handle design.

Advantages vs. custom

- Intense consistency in the quality of the product.
- Less customer service risk - you have a shop with more than one trained individual who will probably be there longer than any one maker will, and on a more consistent basis too. The folks at CRK are second to none in customer service.
 
The only knife I ever handled that comes close to a sebenza was a custom made one, same construction, same materials, same perfection, at least twice the cost.
arno
 
Dcon67 mentioned the Lochsa by Scott Cook.I'm going to have to second that.I just recieved my Lochsa over a week ago.Its every bit as good as the Sebenza.Fit and finish may be slightly better with the satin s30 blade and the intregal handle has a two tone finish.Bead blasted on the flat part of the handle and satin finished on the edges and corners.Lock up is every bit as good and the blade opens just as smoothly.The Lochsa may even be better looking with the swell in the handle.For those who don't know what the intregal handle is,its made of one piece of titanium-no joints,screws(except for the pivot),a slot is milled out for the blade to sit in.When Scott 1st made the Lochsa everyone was trying to figure how he got the ceramic ball bearing inside the handle (to hold the blade in the locked position).They also could'nt figure how he got the intregal frame lock to bend inward.
I believe the Sebenza is one of the finest folders made.Its very difficult to match its tolorences.However I think the Loshca has matched it and may have surpassed it in some qualities.Keep in mind the Lochsa is $115 more than the Sebenza and probably has a lot longer waiting list.
Also if anyone else can match the Sebenza's tolerences and whole package its John W. Smiths new Framelocks.Now I have never held one of his new framelocks but from what I've heard and considering his reputation it should be one hell of a folder.I think Les Robertson mentioned it as one of the best buys now.Again I gotta say this also will cost you over $100 more than a Sebenza.As for all those people complaining about the cost of a Sebbie.You've got to spend a lot more just to match the quality.
 
I have to say, my one concern with the Lochsa, is that there is no stop pin, the blade is stopped directly against the titanium handle. This may or may not be or become a "problem". My intention is not to criticize, but to point out that again, we are back to the design of the Sebenza. The Sebenza seems to be the only knife I cannot find anything to "worry" over. Every time a question pops into my head, the Sebenza has it covered. I love mine. I went through three other Larges and two or three small ones, before I finally made up my mind to keep it and use it. I agree with Trane fan: in a word, what comes close?: NOTHING

Leo Gilbert
 
LAG3 look very carefully in the open slot of the Lochsa.I can't tell if there is a stop pin or an extended piece of the titanium back.It looks sort of round.I didn't have a flashlight.I could only hold it up to a lightbulb but there may be a stop pin.I know the Lochsa has'nt stood the test of time like a Sebenza.I got my 1st Sebenza in 1992 and 2nd in 97.Of course another advantage of the Sebbe is you can take it apart easily clean it and put it together.I love the Sebenza's but I think the Lochsa shows a lot of promise.
 
Ditto my friend! I forgot to say, I am deeply jealous and covet the Lochsa! :p It is a VERY nice knife. Has more class, is a little slimmer and more comfortable to handle. I absolutely love the hand-rubbed finish on the blade. I believe it would be a great folder to carry at the office without scaring people. The Sebenza on the other hand just looks like a "work" knife. No bells or whistles, ALL performance. I am just one of those people who look at everything I buy with an eye for "how long will it last". I remember A.G. Russell saying he had two sons who "could break an anvil". Well, I definitely fall in that category. Someone's sig on here is "Outstanding example of The North American Lummox; give it to me, I'll break it". LOL! That's how I approach things. I've had several customs, tons of factory blades, and there are none that have every base covered like the Sebenza. I thought the Microtech Amphibian would be a good contender, but I just didn't like all the little parts involved in the lock. The Sebenza is pure simplicity. I'm waiting for my Cuda Maxx to arrive and am expecting it to be a good tool also. Simple construction, overall good reviews. However, it won't have the adjustable stop pin to adjust for wear, now will it? Famous last words (of most of us I think): "If I only had the money, I'd buy............" But for the same price as the Sebenza, I believe there is no equal. "There can be only one".

Leo G.
 
I pretty much agree with Leo G. There are many knives to choose from, many are very nice and only half the money. But none of the others I have owned over the years have held up as well as my 4 year old large Seb.
Since the day I got my Seb it has been the only knife that has been in by pocket - I simply dont leave home without it. Seriously, I have a cigar box that is loaded to the top with MT's, BM's, Spydies and a few customs... I like them all for various reasons, but I never carry any of them.

There is only one other knife that has tempted me.. and it's Strider's SnG. I'm liking the Strider's SnG and GB(the GB is huge though) because they are a bit more robust than a Seb.. thicker blades, etc.
I really hope CR comes down the line with a thicker-bladed version of the Seb someday.
 
I was tempted for the Strider SnG a while back, but what put me off was that it doesn't have a bushing around the pivot, meaning, you can adjust the pivot tension. Inheritly that probably means it will loosen over time. Not like the Sebenza, which you screw down tight and still have smooth action.

I'm still curious how the Spyderco ATR will turn out to be.
 
I totally agree with your pivot thoughts Ted. That bushing is simply fantastic...

Spyderco ATR? Anyone have a link to some info on it?
 
One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is the fact that Sebenzas were designed to be taken apart and cleaned and re-lubed. What a concept:D . As much as I think Mike Obenauf makes one of the best custom framelocks in the business, they aren't exactly designed to be broken down.

Any one own a 1911? or any other type of semi auto? How easy is it to field strip and clean? Is this concept important to knife owners? It is to me.

Further more, the Sebenza is a "blank canvas" from my point of view. I have put holes in mine (like Mayo) and I have added overlays to the sides to increase the thickness of the knife. I can take a great knife like the Sebenza and personalize it to my desires. I suppose one could do that to any knife, but it's a whole lot easier to do it to a Sebenza.

My .02

Barry H
 
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