What's so bloody hot about SEBENZA?

sniperboy

sniperboy

Joined
Oct 19, 1999
Messages
2,836
"It has become the standard in which all other production folders are judged..."

Wow that's some tough stuff. I might sound quite overbearing, even completely ignorant, but please forgive me. In my eternal quest to overcome the hurdles of being a newbie I HAD to ask this. Trust me my tone is more curiosity more than anything.

So as the topic says what's so bloody hot about a sebenza? Well then again I guess the obvious answer to that ladies and gentlemen would be "just buy one, fool, and you'll find out." Yeah wish I could do that, but for a 300.00 'production' folder I have other things in my horizon rather than invest on a 'test buy'.

I thought of posting this on the CReeve forum but thought I would get a less biased (yeah right if the folder community wasn't tipped already in regards to sebenza ^_^) so I posted here. I also did my homework and read thru as much info as I can on the CR homepage and did a 60 minute search on 'sebenza' on blade discussions. (not year 1), I know how iritating newbies can be.

So what are my findings.. this amazing new 61 rockwell steel but it seems CR has only been using this steel recently so it must be something else that makes em popular. Is it the amazing new liner lock alternative? My forte is not in folders, I am a butterfly knife fanatic, and it seems that where folder nuts are concerned the lock is everything - the technological schpiel that folders are judged (^_^ like all folder owners are faced with fighting a wild boar everyday)

is it the super low tolerance in prod.? THe edge CReeeve is capable of making? super fine (and because of the 61RH super tough to maintain this razor edge?) (it could be this actually.)

Also does the handle feel goood to the hand? (yes I am the only knife nut i know in my area =( )

Quite frankly the blade is not as sexy as say a pat crawfords, elishewitz, or my personal 710 but CR did say that his motif is a non nonsense knife, and that is what the blade shape reflects. Simple and plain.

So after my long boring blanter what is just so good about this knife???

Or am I not supposed to ask this and I will be struck down by lightning for questioning such knife gospel? =)

Thanks again Sirs.



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<A HREF="http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~soo/balisong/balisong.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~soo/balisong/balisong.html
</A> If you play with love you will be heartbroken; if you play with knives you will [bleed]


 
Ok StJames, you're up.

Greetings Sniperboy,

Well what's one to say to convince a skeptic?
I don't really know where to begin.
I must say the this is by far the best knife I have ever owned(read folder).
Everything I can see in the design of this knife reads quality, strength, thought, research, practical utility, convenience and quality(oh wait I said that didn't I?)
There is no one thing about the Sebenza that gives me the warm fuzzy. The knife as a whole is what drew me in and kept me.
I would like to point out that I had wanted one long before I knew bladeforums even existed.
The first moment I saw the Sebenza(in Chris's brocure) I knew it was the knife I had to have.
I personally like simplicity in knife designs(yet another reason to move towards fixed blades). All of those fancy pivots and locking mechanisms are nice but none appeal to me the way the Sebenza does. I also like the ability and approval by Chris, to disassemble, clean and reassemble my knife at my leisure.
As for the "new" steel Chris is using, I have heard a great deal about BG-42 and am glad that my Sebenza has it. Better than ATS-34.
Now onto the handle(sorry I missed that question initially). I can't say it is the most comfortable handle I have ever held, but it does feel very good in the hand(get the right size for your hand, large for me). The bead blasted titanium scales provide some traction and all of the edges are smoothed and rounded so that it will not bite you in any way.
Finally, when you purchase a Chris Reeve blade whether a Sebenza or a one piece design, you are also getting some of the best customer service in the world.

Let me close by saying that while $325 seems like alot of money, once you get and use your knife you won't even miss it and you will more than likely start saving for your next CR blade.

A rabid, Millennial Sebenzanista
As usual, just my $0.02(with appropriate 8.4% state tax).
smile.gif


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The vague and tenuous hope that GOD is too kind to punish the ungodly has become a deadly opiate for the conscience of millions.

*A. W. Tozer

2 Cor 5:10

[This message has been edited by Scarman (edited 10 December 1999).]

[This message has been edited by Scarman (edited 10 December 1999).]
 
Sniperboy,
I do not know the answer to your questions, as I also do not have a Sebenza. I have always thought to myself, that for what they cost I can (and do ) purchase a custom, or it better open with a button. However , lately knives like the Sebenza , and the Speed Tech have had alot of positive comments. I think you have asked some good questions that I would also like to get some answers to.
Thanks
Boomer
Some days you watch the show and some days you are the show.
 
Scarman...the thing to say to one who does not own a Sebenza to convince them is: "buy one". You will never know until you own one. Besides if you don't like it you can find a ready market.

jj

[This message has been edited by jeffj (edited 10 December 1999).]
 
Well I did my research like anyone else on the sebenza. The BG42 is what attracts me. I don't own one and have decided that if I am going to own one, I would kinda like one with that "fly pattern" (well that's $100 more). There isn't a shop in my area, Kansas City, that I know of that carries CR Knives let alone has a sebenza on hand that I can try out on my hands. There are some dealers that will sell you one and allow a 5 day return policy if you don't like it. I wouldn't think you would be able to use the knife, just handle it if you planned on returning same. But again, for the price, if I buy one, its gonna have to last a lifetime. Good possiblility I'll take the CRK plunge in 2000.
 
Scarman said it all for me, almost verbatem, including wanting one well before knowing of this forum.
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ThomM, Sebenzanista first class

[This message has been edited by ThomM (edited 10 December 1999).]
 
Sniperboy, if you ever get the chance to handle a Sebenza at a show or shop, you'd be able to see for yourself why the knife is so good. I second what jeffj said. The first time I handled a Sebenza was in December of '93. I had a Terzuola ATCF with a G-10 handle on layaway at a local shop. When I went back to pick it up, there was a Sebenza (old model, no clip yet) in the display. I was curious so I asked to see it. Needless to say, I changed my mind and left with the Sebenza.

-Greg

[This message has been edited by grnamin (edited 10 December 1999).]
 
I handled my first sebenza at a gun show, I had been buying spyderco's and benchmades for 3 years and had a very large number of those brands.

I could feel the moment I picked it up it was way better than anything else I had ever bought. So I cringed and bought it.

I figure between selling off all the spyderco's and benchmades, and severly limiting what I buy new (because others almost always don't compare), I've saved at least twice what I payed for it.

DaveH
 
I'm with DaveH here. I bought more than several "every day, all day, only knife I need and use on a regular basis" knives, spending much more than I would have if I just bought a Sebenza in the first place, and always found the production pieces lacking. Since the Sebenza, I sold off most of my Benchmade/Spyderco/Kershaw stable and haven't missed them at all.

For a custom to match the build precision and tolerances of a Sebenza, it will cost more than the Sebenza price, sometimes by a substantial margin. I've been to a couple of custom knife shows and I've seen some customs costing quite a bit more than the Sebenza with nowhere near the fit and precision of Reeve's brainchild. Just my experience, mind you, but one that put me solidly in the Sebenza camp. If I lost mine tomorrow, I would replace it ASAP, in spite of what some consider a high price, but as many Sebenzanistas can tell you, you certainly get what you pay for, in fit, finish, durability, and kick@ss customer service from Chez Reeve.

------------------
Don LeHue
Royal Oak, Michigan

The pen is mightier than the sword...outside of arm's reach. Modify radius accordingly for rifle.

 
Sniperboy,
I first saw a Sebenza, and met Chris, at the NYCKS, in Nov. 1998. I was impressed with the knife design and the man. I looked at the price, and said, "Hmm, Custom." Not what I was looking for, and went on my merry way. This was before I found BladeForums, and all the Chris Reeve fans, and I did remember his name. Then all this discussion, is it custom is it not custom? Splitting hairs, as far as I'm concerned. The man stands behind his knives,and his fans stand behind the man. I don't care if elves make them in Santa"s workshop. It's a good thing if he's producing so many, when so many people want them.

I saw Chris again at this years NYCKS, took another look at his knives, and spent more time talking to Chris. Is his product worthy of all the praise? You bet? Do I want or need one? Nope, but I can sure understand those that do. Is it the best folder out there for the money? Maybe, I'd take a William Henry instead. I have a feeling Chris would understand, though some of his fans might not.

I try to look at everything, and listen to everybodies opinion, because my tastes do change. Will there come a time when I have to have a Sebenza? You never know, it could happen. For right now, it's just more for the rest of you. No need to thank me.
 
I traded one knife and sold four others to get my Sebenza and I pat myself on the back everytime I think of it.

Sebenza's are excellent.

BG-42 has been used by others, including Edmund Davidson, Bob Loveless and others. Vanadium is the thing. It is an aggressive carbide former, the carbides are aggressive and firmly in the matrix, leaving the chromium for corrosion resistance.

The action and mechanism are smooth and simple, elegant.

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Marion David Poff aka Eye mdpoff@hotmail.com
Coeur D'Alene, ID
http://www.geocities.com/mdpoff

An interesting business oppurtunity... http://www.geocities.com/selouss

"We will either find a way, or make one." Hannibal, 210 B.C.
 
Thanks for all the candid replies gentlemen.. but it seems that my answer... as i had expected.. was "try it out for yourself kid."
smile.gif
I will see what i can do. There seems t be talk about the y2k sebenza tooo.. is that thsoe fine wood inlay blades?



------------------
<A HREF="http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~soo/balisong/balisong.html" TARGET=_blank>http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~soo/balisong/balisong.html
</A> If you play with love you will be heartbroken; if you play with knives you will [bleed]


 
Guess I'll play a slight voice of dissent. I heard a lot about the Sebrenza, looked at the pictures for months and therefore made it a point to handle it a the Blade Show -- more than once. For sure it is a nicely made production knife, probably one of the best. It, however, didn't do a thing for me. In fact, I found the front of the index cutout sharp and uncomfortable. I retreated from the table and played a bit with my Pinnacle. I liked the feel of the pinnacle better in my hand.

Knives are a very personal thing. The CR just didn't do it for me. And money was not the barrier at the point when I was looking at it, as I had set aside some to buy a knife at the show. I respect however that CR makes a very good knife and the owners certainly could have good reasons to love the knife.

sing

AKTI #A000356
 
Sniperboy, I was skeptical also until I dropped into the CR shop and handled one. Then, everything Scarman said fell into play. I'm so impressed with the BG42 steel, I ordered a fixed blade hunter of my own design (sort of) from Matt Harildstad with BG42.

Bruce Woodbury
 
I agree that BG42 is a great blade material, but the Sebenza prices seem awfully high for a semi-custom knife. For example you can go to Buck's custom knife shoppe website and mix and match yourself a semi-custom 110 folder. I put one together with BG42 blade, finger-grooved stag grips and a tan leather sheath for $125.00. The 110 design is just about perfect as a folding hunter. I could get two for less than the price of a Sebenza, and I get stag as well as BG42.
 
Ooooh, I wuv Sebenza flame wars! They're the next best thing to Mad Dog flame wars, and they could be just as good if the Sebenza lovers and haters were a little more creative....

Here's my flame: No matter how precisely you machine a folding knife with a hollow-ground blade and a flat handle with corners, it'll still be a folding knife with a hollow-ground blade and a flat handle with corners.

Take that, Sebenza lovers! Go ahead, flame me back -- I can take it!

-Cougar Allen :{)
 
I see I haven't got any response yet and it's been almost two minutes, so I'll be even more provocative!

You could buy 30 or more Opinels for the price of one Sebenza, and you would have 30 flat-ground blades that can cut all the way through things with handles that fit the hand of a human being!

(Naturally that will be of little concern to those of us who have more money than they know what to do with and no place to keep 29 extra knives, never find occasion to cut all the way through anything thicker than a sheet of paper, and are robots with square grapples instead of hands, but I wonder what the human beings will think.)

-Cougar Allen :{)
 
Heck, I won't flame you Cougar....because you have a good point.
As much as I love my Sebenza, I would be even happier if it were flat ground and there were better(or any) contours to the handle.
Yet another reason I am looking at an Apogee and why I am moving more and more towards FB models.

------------------
The vague and tenuous hope that GOD is too kind to punish the ungodly has become a deadly opiate for the conscience of millions.

*A. W. Tozer

2 Cor 5:10

 
Cougar I will flame you on just one point. The Opinel is a full convex, not flat ground blade.
 
Are there any Sebenza owners out there who DON'T like their knife?
I held a few, but wasn't about to buy one for $325. I wasn't very impressed with it at the time, but I DON'T own one, so I CAN'T say that it's not worth it.
Lately though, I've been wanting to buy one to see what all the fuss is about. However, $325 is a lot of money to lay down. Even if I get one used, it will still be a lot of $$$.
I've heard from many owners who say it's worth the money. Are there any owners/past owners who are willing to come forward and tell me not to buy one?

~Mitch
 
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