What to buy

B

Bugout Bill

Joined
Jan 2, 2013
Messages
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So the gubment has decided that I am getting a $447 tax refund.:D I want to buy something nice with it. So far I've narrowed it down to two knives:

-Strider Green Lego SNG

-Chris Reeve Small Sebenza with Micarta inlays

Both of these knives are not without their disadvantages, however. Striders F&F is supposedly a little off, and I have heard horror stories about their customer service and warranty. As for the CRK, I'm quite confident that their F&F will be impeccable, but I am not too sure about how well it will hold up to use. I've watched too many Jdavis videos about the Sebenza.

Anyway, what do y'all think I should get?
 
Bill, I just bought my first CRK, a small plain 21 Insingo, a couple of months ago, and love it. Alot of blade in a small package. I'm easy on my knives, but it seems mighty tough. Good luck with your decision!
 
The Sebenza will hold up to any use the average person will put it through. If a Youtube guy goes out of his way to destroy a knife, I would put it into perspective against the thousands of users, and hundreds of Youtube reviewers, who praise the Sebenza. I have two, of which I only use one, and have had no issues. And it has a damascus blade.

Watch "using damascus" on Youtube. I know you aren't thinking of a damascus knife, but if that user puts his damascus sebenza through what he does, and it does fine, imagine how a plain blade will fare.

I can't speak to the Strider. Don't have one.

Finally, there are some people who post or make videos about their chronic problems with certain knives. For example, they claim to have had 5 Sebenzas and all had blade play. Simple psychology will tell you it may be the user, not the knife, with problems. Just my view.
 
Thanks for all the input so far. I am not horribly concerned about how "hard" I can use the knife. The hardest task I would probably use the knife for would be light brush clearing, and even that is a pretty uncommon task. Another important factor that I forgot to add is serviceability by the end-user. The pivot on the Strider freaks me out a little.
 
Bill- Both folders are stellar. I had a Seb and now edc an SnG. It's more my style.
You need to handle both folders.
Let me know what goes down.
Rolf
 
Lycosa said:
Bill- Both folders are stellar. I had a Seb and now edc an SnG. It's more my style.
You need to handle both folders.
Let me know what goes down.
Rolf
Click to expand...

I really wish I could handle both, there are no Strider/Sebenza dealers in my area unfortunately. The closest thing I have to a decent knife retailer is Bass Pro and REI.
 
Oh yeah on to the actual question yeah I would also recommend a Strider I don't own my own but I bought one for my brother and he has been using it for quite some time now, which is good for him since he usually has a new knife every time I see him.
 
Honestly, I would probably be more inclined to use the Strider harder than the Sebenza, but both would be users. I am looking for people's real world experiences with these knives, both good and ugly.
 
Both excel at working and being looked at. YOU must decide which one you like best.
Can you afford both?
 
You're not going to hurt a Sebenza if you use it as a knife. Don't worry about that, or what some Youtuber may say.

I would go with The Sebenza myself, but you may want the large instead of the small. It's closer in size to the SNG than the small.
I carry a small more often than a large, but it is smaller than the SNG.
 
Getting both is not an option, although I wish it was. The choil on the SNG is certainly appealing, but I am unsure about cutting performance. I've heard mixed things.
 
I handled my first Strider (smf) today. I was surprised on how hard it was to open with the thumb hole (made me feel weak), but the dealer said they break in. A new Seb is easier to open, although it too gets even easier as it breaks in. The Strider is a tougher looking, and rougher looking knife. Much more tactical, to my eye. I can see why people like them.

Sebenzas are, again, to my eye, a little more elegant, yet still built like a bank vault. You probably won't go wrong with either. My preference, obviously, is for the slimmer Sebenza, which can easily be disassembled by the owner. And customer service is great. I can't comment on Strider's customer service, it may be good also, just don't know.

Bugout Bill said:
Getting both is not an option, although I wish it was. The choil on the SNG is certainly appealing, but I am unsure about cutting performance. I've heard mixed things.
Click to expand...
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
I handled my first Strider (smf) today. I was surprised on how hard it was to open with the thumb hole (made me feel weak), but the dealer said they break in. A new Seb is easier to open, although it too gets even easier as it breaks in. The Strider is a tougher looking, and rougher looking knife. Much more tactical, to my eye. I can see why people like them.

Sebenzas are, again, to my eye, a little more elegant, yet still built like a bank vault. You probably won't go wrong with either. My preference, obviously, is for the slimmer Sebenza, which can easily be disassembled by the owner. And customer service is great. I can't comment on Strider's customer service, it may be good also, just don't know.
Click to expand...

Breaking in the knife also has me a little concerned. I've heard more about the need to break in Striders than CRKs.
 
Bill- I know the Seb can get in there and work hard but I hesitated to do that with mine. With my Strider, I do not hesitate. That's why I went with Strider.
rolf
 
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