What made you...

biggerjon

biggerjon

Joined
Nov 10, 2006
Messages
1,973
... buy your first CRK? And when?

I know I bought my first one about 6 or 7 years ago and it was because of this forum. I saw a picture in the for sale section of a regular Website knife. I thought it was beautiful. I then did a lot of research here about the brand. Obviously, I heard very good things about them. Eventually, I pulled the trigger and I haven't looked back since. I wish I still had that Website. Oh well...
 
I have been impressed with the making of this sturdy knife. So different from all the others.
It took me a while to realize, that I needed one.
The first pieces seemed to bulky to me (then) for EDCing it in my front pocket because of the thick ti-scales.
That was in 1992.
red mag
 
I got into CRK because of BladeForums. Had it not been for this website, I'd probably have a lot more money. But, I like knives, especially CRK's!!
 
I was on a survival knife kick way back when. I had seen the One Piece knives in adds and such, but never looked into them. I had a Buckmaster 184 and had some other knives, nothing high end like CRK, but I had some nice folders like the Kershaw 1050, some Puma's, and such. All good knives, just nothing like I was about to get into......lol.

Finally, after tons of research and reading online info ( this was way before my bladeforum days ), I decided on the Shadow III. I figured it was the least expensive OPK at the time ( $175 ) and if I did not like it, I would just sell it. Well, I was hooked immediately. My next was the Tanto I shortly thereafter. I had 15 of the OPK before I started looking at the CRK folders. I figured if the OPK were as good as I thought, the folders must be pretty good as well. So I stumbled upon a like new Large Regular Sebenza in BG-42 blade steel for a measly ( $280 )..........Well, the rest is history. I have owned 95 CRK since then, I dont have them all, but I have a running tally of the ones I have owned. Can't wait to see which lucky guy will be #100. Once I hit 100, I will do a post of all the ones I have had and my thoughts on it.........!!!
 
Mine was last June. It was a 25. That happened to be shortly after Blade Show (no coincidence). I had a few Spyderco, Benchmade, and ZT's and was happy with those. Handled a few Sebenzas at the CRK booth (a 25 and a small 21 w/ inlay) and immediately saw the appeal. Still didn't think I'd spend that much on a knife, fast forward a few weeks and I had clicked the order button. Fast forward a few more months and now I also have a small 21 with inlay. I guess they both rubbed off on me. The 21 is my EDC and the 25 is weekend carry. Have other knives too but that group is shrinking.
 
Hearing so many great things about CRKs broke my will and my first arrived today. It is everything everyone said it would be!

I can see where this will lead......ha!
 
When I started researching an upcoming purchase of a good knife that would hold up to both my work environment and casual usage, the name Sebenza kept popping up.
I had never heard of it before, but started to focus in on that range and spec.

Pretty soon I took the plunge and got a large 21 micarta LH.
There are many good knives out there, and I've been fortunate enough to try most any I was curious about.
The Sebenza though is still on heavy rotation, more than any other knife I have.
Regardless of price point and hype and all the rest.
Quite simply it is one helluva workhorse. IMHO.
 
nyefmaker said:
I was on a survival knife kick way back when. I had seen the One Piece knives in adds and such, but never looked into them. I had a Buckmaster 184 and had some other knives, nothing high end like CRK, but I had some nice folders like the Kershaw 1050, some Puma's, and such. All good knives, just nothing like I was about to get into......lol.

Finally, after tons of research and reading online info ( this was way before my bladeforum days ), I decided on the Shadow III. I figured it was the least expensive OPK at the time ( $175 ) and if I did not like it, I would just sell it. Well, I was hooked immediately. My next was the Tanto I shortly thereafter. I had 15 of the OPK before I started looking at the CRK folders. I figured if the OPK were as good as I thought, the folders must be pretty good as well. So I stumbled upon a like new Large Regular Sebenza in BG-42 blade steel for a measly ( $280 )..........Well, the rest is history. I have owned 95 CRK since then, I dont have them all, but I have a running tally of the ones I have owned. Can't wait to see which lucky guy will be #100. Once I hit 100, I will do a post of all the ones I have had and my thoughts on it.........!!!
Click to expand...

I can't wait to see your list. Please have LOTS of pictures. :)
 
Both of mine were in the past month. I had heard plenty about them since I got back into knives, but couldn't pull the trigger on a knife over $150. So what did I do? Amass an accumulation of many $100-$150 knives that would easily add up to a couple Sebenzas. I was on the fence about CRK for a long time due to debatably biased YouTube videos and the weekly Sebenza hate threads in the General forum.

I found myself never being satisfied with my new knife purchases. First it was Benchmades before their MAP change. Then I had a huge love for Spyderco and had to have all these different models. I think I'd worked my way up to about 15 quality folders which isn't that big of a number around here, but I hated that I had all these knives laying around that never got carried or used.

I looked at my collection and knew I wasn't satisfied. I still hadn't scratched the Sebenza itch. I had 2-3 knives that I knew a small 21 would fill their role exactly, and these knives did not have a spa service to refurbish your knife to new again. I knew I had to hold one before I bought one and I did. Angels didn't sing the first time I handled one, but as someone who can appreciate nice things, it was clear to me I was holding something extremely well made and I was impressed. To me it wasn't about the blade steel or the ergonomics which I did find comfortable, but it was the total package that got me. A package that'll last virtually a lifetime and will be passed down to the next generation. Now the toughest decision is whether to carry my small or large each day. And I'm finally satisfied. :)
 
One word: quality. Love all of my knives across multiple brands, but the CRK's are just a notch above in terms of precision, build and fit and finish.
 
I was always into knives (mostly kitchen), but even as a child I bought folders and diving knives.

Lost interest for a while, and then I decided to quit smoking cigarettes (Dec 2012) and since I smoked so much and suddenly stopped, money would pile up (quit fast food at about the same time) and thought I should buy myself a cool toy since I was proud I quit smoking.

Looked online for a folding knife about 500 bucks. Researched and no one seem to complain about sebenza other than their high price. Went to store that carried, inspected a few and picked one small bocote inlay and in love ever since.
 
For me, I first became interested in the Sebenza after a google search for the best folding knife. At first I thought it was way too expensive for what it is. A few years went by and I accumulated a moderately large collection of Spydercos and Benchmades. I acquired my first Sebenza, a small, on the exchange trading my Sage 2 plus cash. After I received it, I quickly realized why they cost what they do. The biggest selling point for a Sebenza, for me, is the ability for it to be refurbished to like new condition so easily from CRK. Also the high resale value is pretty much unparalleled compared to knives in the same category and price range. Fast forward a year and I have a 25, Lg 21, Lg Insingo, and a Sm Insingo and I got rid of all my other knives.
 
I started looking for what I considered the ideal EDC and ended up coming across the Small Regular Sebenza in 2002 or 2003, but waited for another three years before the curiosity got the best of me.

What appealed to me about Plain Jane Sebenza (in addition to the amazing quality) was its ability to be at home in pretty much any setting I could find myself in, be it at work or play. I also loved the fact that while I was carrying a piece of kit considered to be at the top of its category, it goes unnoticed by pretty everyone(that's one of the reasons I don't agree with the Sebenza often being compared to a Rolex).

I also really respect that Mr. Reeve isn't swayed by the flavour of the month and has no problem staying the course in his quest for building the ideal knife.
 
flipe8 said:
I started looking for what I considered the ideal EDC and ended up coming across the Small Regular Sebenza in 2002 or 2003, but waited for another three years before the curiosity got the best of me.

What appealed to me about Plain Jane Sebenza (in addition to the amazing quality) was its ability to be at home in pretty much any setting I could find myself in, be it at work or play. I also loved the fact that while I was carrying a piece of kit considered to be at the top of its category, it goes unnoticed by pretty everyone(that's one of the reasons I don't agree with the Sebenza often being compared to a Rolex).

I also really respect that Mr. Reeve isn't swayed by the flavour of the month and has no problem staying the course in his quest for building the ideal knife.
Click to expand...

Bro. . . This was WELL SAID! I agree with all your points!

My journey started out similar to most. I started with some Kershaws, Spydercos, Benchmades, etc. All fine companies that make good products, but my eye kept catching details that I didn't appreciate such as uneven grinds, misfit parts, unfinished or lack of finishing on certain areas. My hand kept feeling bladeplay on nearly all of them. I thought that there had to be something out there that was better.

I had never heard of the Sebenza or CRK until I started reading this forum. I read the Sebenza was "perfect" and that the tolerances, fit and finish, were amazing. I read a statement from Mrs. Reeve along the lines of "bladeplay is unacceptable in a Sebenza."

I pulled the trigger on a small 21 Insingo--I had no idea that I had just ordered what was going to become my absolute favorite knife to date. It took a month or two of holding, fondling, etc for me to REALLY appreciate it. But when I started to LOVE it was after I started using it to cut anything and everything that needed to be cut.

ZERO blade play, no need to adjust a pivot, perfect grinds, beautiful fit and finish. I was HOME.

So, fast forward to today and I have cycled through dozens and dozens of CRK's and my favorite still remains the SMALL PLAIN JANE INSINGO.
 
HwangJino said:
I was always into knives (mostly kitchen), but even as a child I bought folders and diving knives.

Lost interest for a while, and then I decided to quit smoking cigarettes (Dec 2012) and since I smoked so much and suddenly stopped, money would pile up (quit fast food at about the same time) and thought I should buy myself a cool toy since I was proud I quit smoking.

Looked online for a folding knife about 500 bucks. Researched and no one seem to complain about sebenza other than their high price. Went to store that carried, inspected a few and picked one small bocote inlay and in love ever since.
Click to expand...

Very nice story there. Good job and don't quit the quit.
 
About 2 years ago, I had to see what the fuss was all about. Now I know!!!!
 
I wanted a quality folding knife and not knowing much about folders I did a Google search. Many of the results I read about made reference directly or indirectly to Chris Reeve Knives. I continued to research the brand and finally 2 weeks ago I decided to take an hour drive in the middle of the day to see a Sebbie 25 at a dealer. Needless to say, I left with it. The honest truth is that I have not regretted the purchase even for 1 second and I'm already thinking towards the next.
 
flipe8 said:
I started looking for what I considered the ideal EDC and ended up coming across the Small Regular Sebenza in 2002 or 2003, but waited for another three years before the curiosity got the best of me.

What appealed to me about Plain Jane Sebenza (in addition to the amazing quality) was its ability to be at home in pretty much any setting I could find myself in, be it at work or play. I also loved the fact that while I was carrying a piece of kit considered to be at the top of its category, it goes unnoticed by pretty everyone(that's one of the reasons I don't agree with the Sebenza often being compared to a Rolex).

I also really respect that Mr. Reeve isn't swayed by the flavour of the month and has no problem staying the course in his quest for building the ideal knife.
Click to expand...

I agree with all of this. Also after watching the shop tour videos, the exquisite blade documentary, and videos of owners' experience with CRK customer service and spa treatment, I really like the small touches they do and the family feel I get from them. This applies to many things in my life, but I've always been willing to pay a little more for something when the maker/seller goes out of their way to please me when not even asked to.
 
Got a cheap knife, but then wanted to jump right to something I could use for a lifetime and still give away in a will.
 
Early in 2006 I started doing research, I was looking for a nice "business attire" EDC and discovered the Mnandi. I joined BF on February 20th of 2006. The very next day I purchased my first CRK, a Box Elder Mnandi. I liked it so much I decided to purchase a small Sebenza on May 4th of that same year. Jump forward to today and I have owned a total of 34 CRK's. 16 have found new homes over the years, some with good friends.
 
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