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I can't keep my hands off my Zaan. I love the feel,weight,tightness it is my EDC...but my Spyderco Wenger is my favorite work knife..There's a place for all knives IMO.
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What is so special about the sebenza?
- Thread starter Matthewd
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What's that smell? Oh, it must be raging testosterone right here in the CRK sub-forum instead of over in the Practical-Tactical sub-forum.
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Aww, you're no fun. It's so much easier to pontificate and criticize when you're seated behind the keyboard. 
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I'm pretty new to CRK. Just got my first and only one (small insingo) a few weeks ago but from the minute I picked it up, I could tell it was very well made. Initially, there was part of me that wondered why it was so popular but it really is an amazing feat of precision engineering. I have had and still have a few other production ti folders and while some do come very close, the Sebenza IMO is just slightly ahead. It just works. Its everything you need, and nothing you don't.
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I wouldn't go so far as to say that the Sebenza is a holy grail knife for me. I would, however, say that it is just about the perfect EDC for me.
A lot of people like to talk about fit and finish, but it seems unusually rare for anyone to comment on anything other than surface appearance. Finish is just that--surface appearance. For example, I have a CF ZDP-189 Caly 3 that is an awesome little knife, but the fit and finish are far from perfection. The lamination on the blade is slightly off, so that lamination line on the right side of the blade is about 2mm higher than on the left side. The carbon fiber is not uniformly milled (the pattern in the carbon fiber shifts and distorts in sections), and although the finish of the stainless steel used for the back spacer, lock bar, and liners are uniformly polished, they are not perfectly fitted. You can see small gaps and imperfections in the lines when you inspect the knife closely.
To provide another example of fit, I can think back to my Sage 2 (which many tout has equal fit and finish to the Sebenza). Upon disassembling the knife inspect the pillar standoffs more closely. They do not match up perfectly, so an admittedly small amount of fiddling is required to seat the screws back into the standoffs correctly. Further, the stop pin appears to be soldered onto one scale, with a 0.5mm hole drilled into the other side for it to slide into. The phosphor bronze washers fit loosely over the pivot, and when looking closely at where the stop pin and the tang of the blade connect, one can see that it has contact on less than half of the contact area. Additionally, to the best of my knowledge, the end of the lock bar was not heat treated. As the original owner, I also had the opportunity to watch as the end of the titanium lock bar began to compress and indent as the RIL on the Sage 2 wore in. Overall, the construction (the fit) was not as high as the Sebenza's, nor was the finish nearly as good--small tooling marks could be seen on the interior of the titanium scales.
To provide yet another example, I would urge Busse owners to examine the micarta slabs on their knives. In my experience, I have yet to see a perfectly uniform and symmetrical set of scales; all the scales I've seen have been asymmetrically ground/milled/machined.
So far, my Sebenza has had none of the fit and finish issues that I've seen on other high-end knives I've owned. Disassemble a Sebenza, and take a look at the standoffs: you will not be able to put them back on the appropriate chicago screws until they are perfectly aligned. The same goes for the bushing system on the pivot--the tolerances (the fit) are so tight that sometimes I've had difficulty sliding the bushing back over the chicago screw. In comparison to the Para2's bushing system, I cannot over tighten the pivot or the stop pin screws to the point that the blade tension changes. Loosening or tightening the screws affects the lock-up percentage on my Sebenza, making it noticeably earlier the tighter they get. Even without a pivot screw, my Sebenza opens and closes, and locks up solidly enough that the knife is completely safe for light uses.
But impeccable fit and finish aren't the reason why the Sebenza is just about perfect for me. As a lefty, I appreciate the fact that a high end knife manufacturer acknowledges that lefties exist in the market, and are willing to produce a true left-handed version--just providing a set of holes for left-handed carry DOES NOT provide for a completely left-handed knife. The ease of maintenance and cleaning is another enormous plus (even compared to the relatively open backed Sage 2, and its straight forward disassembly/reassembly). The high hollow grind allows for more of the knife blade to be sharpened away before aggressive re-profiling is needed, and it also provides for greater tip strength than a fully flat ground version a la Spyderco's style.
But, like everything else, the Sebenza has its downsides. Of which I can list two: cost, and the difficulty of immediately procuring the exact version one desires.
A lot of people like to talk about fit and finish, but it seems unusually rare for anyone to comment on anything other than surface appearance. Finish is just that--surface appearance. For example, I have a CF ZDP-189 Caly 3 that is an awesome little knife, but the fit and finish are far from perfection. The lamination on the blade is slightly off, so that lamination line on the right side of the blade is about 2mm higher than on the left side. The carbon fiber is not uniformly milled (the pattern in the carbon fiber shifts and distorts in sections), and although the finish of the stainless steel used for the back spacer, lock bar, and liners are uniformly polished, they are not perfectly fitted. You can see small gaps and imperfections in the lines when you inspect the knife closely.
To provide another example of fit, I can think back to my Sage 2 (which many tout has equal fit and finish to the Sebenza). Upon disassembling the knife inspect the pillar standoffs more closely. They do not match up perfectly, so an admittedly small amount of fiddling is required to seat the screws back into the standoffs correctly. Further, the stop pin appears to be soldered onto one scale, with a 0.5mm hole drilled into the other side for it to slide into. The phosphor bronze washers fit loosely over the pivot, and when looking closely at where the stop pin and the tang of the blade connect, one can see that it has contact on less than half of the contact area. Additionally, to the best of my knowledge, the end of the lock bar was not heat treated. As the original owner, I also had the opportunity to watch as the end of the titanium lock bar began to compress and indent as the RIL on the Sage 2 wore in. Overall, the construction (the fit) was not as high as the Sebenza's, nor was the finish nearly as good--small tooling marks could be seen on the interior of the titanium scales.
To provide yet another example, I would urge Busse owners to examine the micarta slabs on their knives. In my experience, I have yet to see a perfectly uniform and symmetrical set of scales; all the scales I've seen have been asymmetrically ground/milled/machined.
So far, my Sebenza has had none of the fit and finish issues that I've seen on other high-end knives I've owned. Disassemble a Sebenza, and take a look at the standoffs: you will not be able to put them back on the appropriate chicago screws until they are perfectly aligned. The same goes for the bushing system on the pivot--the tolerances (the fit) are so tight that sometimes I've had difficulty sliding the bushing back over the chicago screw. In comparison to the Para2's bushing system, I cannot over tighten the pivot or the stop pin screws to the point that the blade tension changes. Loosening or tightening the screws affects the lock-up percentage on my Sebenza, making it noticeably earlier the tighter they get. Even without a pivot screw, my Sebenza opens and closes, and locks up solidly enough that the knife is completely safe for light uses.
But impeccable fit and finish aren't the reason why the Sebenza is just about perfect for me. As a lefty, I appreciate the fact that a high end knife manufacturer acknowledges that lefties exist in the market, and are willing to produce a true left-handed version--just providing a set of holes for left-handed carry DOES NOT provide for a completely left-handed knife. The ease of maintenance and cleaning is another enormous plus (even compared to the relatively open backed Sage 2, and its straight forward disassembly/reassembly). The high hollow grind allows for more of the knife blade to be sharpened away before aggressive re-profiling is needed, and it also provides for greater tip strength than a fully flat ground version a la Spyderco's style.
But, like everything else, the Sebenza has its downsides. Of which I can list two: cost, and the difficulty of immediately procuring the exact version one desires.
Last edited:
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- Nov 14, 2006
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- 627
Cynic2701stole much of my thunder on the Sebenza but here goes anyway . . .
Yes, you can purchase knives functionally equivalent or perhaps even better than the Sebenza for less money from other makers. But functional equivalence is not complete equivalence. Other knives may cut as well . . . or even better but still aren't the same as the Sebenza.
I cannot think of one other production folder that NEVER needs the pivot screw tension adjusted except the Sebenza.
I have not encountered a knife company (with similar production numbers) with the same level of customer service.
In my opinion, the Sebenza is the ideal "minimalist" folder, it has everything you need and nothing you don't. There are no scales to come loose. There are no odd protrusions, choils, gripping reliefs, glass breakers or other bits that make it awkward to carry in a pocket.
This is a knife that has obviously spent years being refined. Look at the underside of the clip; it is polished, not sandblasted to avoid undue wear on the pocket. As Cynic2701 said, the tolerances are such that parts have to be exactly aligned to reassemble and parts are spot hardened just where they need to be.
The only conceivable change I'd make to the Sebenza is to replace the opening stud with a top-hat like the Emerson knives but then we're getting into patents and licensing and more trouble that it's worth.
Too many knives are designed to be good looking rather than good working . . . the Sebenza is not one.
Just an opinion.
Yes, you can purchase knives functionally equivalent or perhaps even better than the Sebenza for less money from other makers. But functional equivalence is not complete equivalence. Other knives may cut as well . . . or even better but still aren't the same as the Sebenza.
I cannot think of one other production folder that NEVER needs the pivot screw tension adjusted except the Sebenza.
I have not encountered a knife company (with similar production numbers) with the same level of customer service.
In my opinion, the Sebenza is the ideal "minimalist" folder, it has everything you need and nothing you don't. There are no scales to come loose. There are no odd protrusions, choils, gripping reliefs, glass breakers or other bits that make it awkward to carry in a pocket.
This is a knife that has obviously spent years being refined. Look at the underside of the clip; it is polished, not sandblasted to avoid undue wear on the pocket. As Cynic2701 said, the tolerances are such that parts have to be exactly aligned to reassemble and parts are spot hardened just where they need to be.
The only conceivable change I'd make to the Sebenza is to replace the opening stud with a top-hat like the Emerson knives but then we're getting into patents and licensing and more trouble that it's worth.
Too many knives are designed to be good looking rather than good working . . . the Sebenza is not one.
Just an opinion.
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Its not that, sir, just a simple comment. Didnt know i had to check everyones life story before i agree with a simple comment. I live in Montana and carry a gun a knife daily, so a mugging just isnt something i think about happening, no harm was meant.
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Same to you, sarcasm on the keyboard?
Aww, you're no fun. It's so much easier to pontificate and criticize when you're seated behind the keyboard.
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Now that is why I like these two folders at the moment!
Everything you need, nothing you dont! (well except the scale thing, I wanted different pants for the Gareth Bull Custom)
Before getting my Sebenza I was buying several folders a year searching for the perfect one. I told myself that I couldn't afford to put that much money into a pocket knife. After getting my Sebenza I have not bought another folder looking for something better. I did switch from a large regular to a small graphic because the size made a better EDC for me. It was more than I had ever paid for a knife and I have not regretted it for one moment.
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- Jun 21, 2010
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What's so special? Don't know for sure. I can tell you that it is not one thing in particular. I spent years collecting and carrying dozens of knives from top makers. Benchmade, Spyderco, SOG, Lone Wolf, Kershaw, etc. etc.. I liked all of them and collectively spent a lot of money. Then I purchased my first Sebenza. Since then I have not carried any of the others except for the few times when I tried (and I really tried) to get some use out of that large investment in my closet. Problem was that I would carry something other than the Sebenza and it would not last in my pocket for a day (sometimes not even an hour) before I would put it away and get my Sebenza. Since I like it so much I have purchased other Chris Reeve knives. I have two other Sebenzas, an Umnumzaan, and a Nyala (my hunting knife). I do carry the Umnumzaan and it is the only other knife that can really compete with the Sebenza as a daily carry for me. Expensive? Yes. Less expensive that buying dozens of other knives trying to find just the right one? Yes.
So why so special? Don't know. All I can say is that these knives are 'rich'.
Just plain 'rich'.
So why so special? Don't know. All I can say is that these knives are 'rich'.
Just plain 'rich'.
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Oh...One other thing. I think most of the tangible aspects of what makes this knife so special have pretty much been covered by other posts. Let me relate to you my experience with the company itself. I had a slight (very slight) issue with one of my Sebenzas and sent off an e-mail to customer support regarding the problem. Get this. The next day my phone rings. I pick it up and find that I am speaking with Chris Reeve himself. I was floored. He tells me that he has a problem. An unhappy customer and he wants to fix the situation. We had a great discussion and he went to great lengths to resolve the issue (which he did completely). Amazing! He is a great guy in my book and I can't imagine that you are going to get better, more enthusiastic, customer service from any other company, knives or otherwise, period!
I think I commented in my previous post that his knives are expensive and I would like to retract that. I was wrong. When you consider everything you get for your money I think that the asking price is more than fair. In fact, if I had just discovered his knives sooner I would have actually SAVED a lot of cash.
I think I commented in my previous post that his knives are expensive and I would like to retract that. I was wrong. When you consider everything you get for your money I think that the asking price is more than fair. In fact, if I had just discovered his knives sooner I would have actually SAVED a lot of cash.
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The Sebenza is so simple and so perfect. People always say that you can find other knives by other makers that compare overall for much less money but that's just false, IMO. There is not one Benchmade or Spyderco on the market that is made to the same tolerances or level of perfection that CRK's are made to. Granted, I love Spyderco and appreciate Benchmade and I'm sure any one of their knives, even down to the Chinese models, would last any normal person a lifetime.
I'm talking about refinement and nuance that can only be experienced by holding, using or taking down and cleaning a CRK. If you hold a Sebenza in your hand and really look at how perfectly it's made and how tightly everything fits and how simple and robust the construction is and you still can't understand why a Sebenza is placed on this pedestal and considered a cut above, you simply shouldn't own one.
As much as I love the Spyderco Para 2, for instance, not only would it void the warranty if I was to disassemble one, who knows if it would go back together the way it came apart. Knives like the Para 2 and most other production designs can require a certain amount of adjusting to get the knife re-assembled and centered the way it came new. While I agree that this doesn't make the Para 2 a bad design, I think the fact that CRK gives an Allen wrench with every Sebenza speaks to how simple and well built the Sebenza really is. I'll take simplicity and perfection over anything and that's what the Sebenza provides. I've taken both of my Sebenza's apart a couple of times for cleaning or lanyard tinkering and both have gone back together flawlessly with everything tight and centered.
You can surely find other knives that cut just as good as a Sebenza or maybe look better, in your opinion, and at a fraction of the cost. Personally, if that was all I cared about, I wouldn't be a knife enthusiast. Who cares about having the bare minimum of what you need when you can indulge in what you want?
Why buy a Porsche when you can spend the same money on a Honda Civic and make it a 10-second race car? I suppose that's for each individual to decide for themselves.
The Sebenza is greater than the sum of it's parts and I'd guess that when you ask 98% of people who own CRK's, they'll agree that you get what you pay for.
I'm talking about refinement and nuance that can only be experienced by holding, using or taking down and cleaning a CRK. If you hold a Sebenza in your hand and really look at how perfectly it's made and how tightly everything fits and how simple and robust the construction is and you still can't understand why a Sebenza is placed on this pedestal and considered a cut above, you simply shouldn't own one.
As much as I love the Spyderco Para 2, for instance, not only would it void the warranty if I was to disassemble one, who knows if it would go back together the way it came apart. Knives like the Para 2 and most other production designs can require a certain amount of adjusting to get the knife re-assembled and centered the way it came new. While I agree that this doesn't make the Para 2 a bad design, I think the fact that CRK gives an Allen wrench with every Sebenza speaks to how simple and well built the Sebenza really is. I'll take simplicity and perfection over anything and that's what the Sebenza provides. I've taken both of my Sebenza's apart a couple of times for cleaning or lanyard tinkering and both have gone back together flawlessly with everything tight and centered.
You can surely find other knives that cut just as good as a Sebenza or maybe look better, in your opinion, and at a fraction of the cost. Personally, if that was all I cared about, I wouldn't be a knife enthusiast. Who cares about having the bare minimum of what you need when you can indulge in what you want?
Why buy a Porsche when you can spend the same money on a Honda Civic and make it a 10-second race car? I suppose that's for each individual to decide for themselves.
The Sebenza is greater than the sum of it's parts and I'd guess that when you ask 98% of people who own CRK's, they'll agree that you get what you pay for.
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Lol, Thanks. As I read back through I saw that I made some points that were already mentioned. I also noticed that a large majority of people who chimed in and own them say they are worth the money.
I'm by no means a CRK expert but in the roughly six months since I got my first Sebenza, I have definitely seen, felt and experienced the differences between it and my favorite Spyderco/ Kershaw/ Benchmade knives.
As some have mentioned, when word of mouth about the Sebenza is mostly filled with hi praises and talk of it being the "Gold Standard," I can definitely understand how someone might be left feeling underwhelmed.
If you know what you're getting, those feelings of being underwhelmed will be replaced with feelings of appreciation and happiness. And just like they say, the enjoyment and love only seems grows for the knife after time.
This is hilarious, and yet so true...