What is this Sebenza?

D

DOUBLESTACK

Joined
Oct 19, 2000
Messages
13
I got to admit! When I first saw this knife I said to myself, " What in the blue blazers is this and why?" Never would I think of owning anything such a thing.

Months later as I gazed into the many knife forums I kept seeing the names Sebenza, Chris Reeve, Sebenzas coming up in the Microtech, Spyderco, and a few other forums. I took a second look at it and now I'm saying I'm impressed!

But can this knife fit my needs? I'm a U.S. Army paratrooper. I'm always lookin for a knife that is real tough, low maintnance, cut just about anything and serve both as a survival/tactical knife. I'm always carrying 2-3 knives but I want to settle for just 1. Any paratroopers out there know what I'm saying when I say traveling light is not much of an option, sometimes we may have to do with what we jump in with for days.
So will this knife fit my needs?
I now seem to be drawn to a Large Classic 2000 Sebenza. *G*

Thanks

Jesse
 
Jesse,

I have no military experience so consider the source.

It seems like a knife from the One Piece Range would meet your needs better. The Projects I and II have received some good reveiws from those who have "been there and done that".

There was a good review written up here in the forums. I'll see if I can find it for you and post it here.

------------------
Frank Norman
Frank's Page
 
Even the Rogue Warrior, Richard Marcinko himself said, " ... - to me, the combat knife should be a tool, not a weapon."

I could not agree more except, when pressed, a Bic pen could be used as a weapon.

Check out the One Piece Range of Chris Reeve. I think you will find the Project 1 a fine knife for soldiering. You particular operation needs may put your preference towards a different shape of size, but I do not think that you will go wrong with the One Piece Range. The A2 used is a carbon steel and needs care, Marine Tuffcloth $ and not everywhere) or motor oil (just about free and just about everywhere) once in a while unless you are cutting food with it.
If you are in a salt water marine environment much of the time, maybe a Fallkniven A1 or even a Titanium knive may be preferred.

As to a folder, in soldiering I question even more so than a fixed blade it's tactical effectiveness compared to alternatives. But, for all of the other great uses of a folder, you would be hard pressed to do better than a Sebenza.
 
Jesse,

Here's the link to Cliff Stamp's thread. In it, Cliff includes a link to his excellent review of the Project I.

http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/001962.html

Check both of'em out.

If you do a search in under Knife Reviews for Project I's you'll get a bunch of stuff, too.

Good luck!

------------------
Frank Norman
Frank's Page

You'll find this entry by "Green Jacket" in the above thread.

"I've been using a Project II for some years now, 7 or 8 - well when they first came out. Nothing in your
article surprises me. I couldn't have asked for a better knife for soldiering.
A few points that I've leant with my knife over the years are:
1)I use the spine of the blade to hammer nails. Its just wide enough and saves damage to the softer butt
cap.
2)Aluminium to steel doesn't bind like steel to steel, so I've never had any problem unscrewing the cap, nor
having it
loosen on me.
3)The serration are just the biz for starting the cut on hard shiney nylon rope. But I wouldn't want any
more.
4)My sheath is scarred and battered but still going on strong. Kydex wouldn't have lasted any better.
5)The stud keeper is seriousely good especially when drawing and replacing during jobs.
6)I keep my edge keen, but its held up really well when cutting turf, and it has done a lot of that. Rocks and
stone will mare the keenness, but won't stop it cutting and are easily enough to put right.
7)The chequered grip has never failed me. I've scorred it so that I've needed to emery paper off the odd
burr. But after so long it still gives as good a grip as when I first had it. I can't say that with some other
knives that use krayton or other materials.
9)I've never had a corrosion problem.
10)The hollow handle is quite voluminous. I carry some fine nylon cord an a few "Comspeed" secound skin
band aids. Both complement this knife; not that its bitten me very often, but its suprising how many cuts
one gets when soldiering and how useful cord is.

Though I have a Project II, its always bothered me that the PI would be that little bit better for soldiering. A
little bit more weight and body forward.
If I was to loose mine I would go straight out and buy another; probably the PI. One of the best
investments I've ever made."

[This message has been edited by Smooth Bone (edited 02-18-2001).]
 
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