What's the big deal about sebenza?

I'm sorry but I too have owned one, and I was impressed, carried it for two weeks, then traded it for two knives overral worth $450. Now it was flawless in every way, and IMO one of the nicest folding knives I have ever held, but I figure for that money I could get a Randall Model 1 with all the special stuff I want, and sebenza does not justify the cost. It might for most but not for me. If I got my hands on a TNT I may say differently, I also had a Terzuola ATCF sold said knife at a show to a japanese fellow. He bought it after I demonstrated how perfect it was. $525 he paid, but he said it was the finest folding knife he has ever seen, and after cutting like 100 pieces of paper with it he offered me the extra $100 I wanted over what I paid for it. He did not know that of course. IMO for $200+ over most benchmades the cost/performance facotr isnt there, but it does outperform by 25% or more in almost every aspect.

JC
 
Rival, here is what you are missing. Mid price range knives like you mention almost always supply the biggest bang for the buck. They cut very good, they handle well they have all the right materials and the workmanship is good. But they lack in the things that take a while to truly appreciate. Is a Tom Mayo TNT really worth 5 times the spyderco Military? Well yes it is, as proven by the fact you can't get one without a long wait, and the minute they show up on bladeart or some web site, they sell. Its the design, the hand workmanship, the bond between maker and user, all the special one of a kind touches that make the knife something special. While the Sebenza is not truly a custom it might as well be. And its truly a special knife to use and own. I have no doubt that part of the attraction is that not everyone has one. That aside it is truly the epitome of what a folder should be. A classic in its own time. The Al Mar and the Sypderco will never be regarded as classics. Be it guns, knives, cars, or homes, you can always get 90% of the performance for a more modest price. Its that last 10 percent toward perfection that gets so expensive. Especially when involving hand labor. As an example, can a $100,000 Mercedes really make your trip 5x more efficient and comfortable than a 20,000 dollar Ford Taurus SE Sedan. I doubt it. But
given the choice of which to drive, what would you take? I know my choice.
 
Ed Fowler:
Good folks and an honest knife.
Click to expand...

An honest knife. I think that just about sums up how I feel about the Sebenza, and why I can't seem to get rid of mine no matter how many others catch my eye.



OwenM
Nothing I can't stand more than some dumbass giving negative feedback on something they've never even used
Click to expand...

:D :D :D :D

( OwenM, I like your wit even more when it's not directed at me ;) :D ;) )
 
Hmmm, darn.

I don't see a "yawn" emoticon available.

I'll improvise:

:yawn:

Shoot ... it didn't work.

Ok, let's try this:

:zzz:

Nope.

One more try:

|-()
 
NOTHING. Absolutely nothing. I got to play with one a little while ago, and IMHO, it was NOT worth the $$$$. ALL of the MT's i saw that day kicked the benza's butt hands down. MT LCC has better lock, felt much better in the hand, and had a nice blade shape, and 154-cm steel and a wickedly thin edge. And after i got ironwood on it, it is that much better. Benza has a blah blade style, but the action wasn't smooth and i didn't like the lockup at all. MT LCC goes for around $150, and i know a few custom folders that can be had for not much more $$ than the benza with BG-42, Ti, etc and all the trimmings. Benza is overhyped IMHO. THere are several productiom knives out there with the same or better F&F, and cost much less. Its a groupy thing, some people swear by them and if they want to waste their money, thats fine. I honestly don't see where the high price of them comes from, especially when its the same grey design with a few small variations. Has creativity been killed here??????? I don't really know of a knife company that will keep the same design for that number of years, adding some wood to the handle, some engraving, or a slightly diff blade style, changing the size, etc. Lets see some new stuff, and new materials, and some new designs, rather than the same rectangle handle.

Yeah, its a great knife, but its SOOOOOOO blah and boring and the same. WHY???? Get a LCC, get something thats different! be ORIGINAL!!!!!
 
Funny. After picking up and checking out the benza, I wouldnt want to use it..the handle just sucked to hold, period. i was NOT at all impressed with it, and if im not impressed with it overall and the handle sucks, why buy it and use it? hy waste the money? So i can be a Benza groupy? heck no! I played with over 30 knives there, ranging from MT's, BM, spyderco, WH, etc, and the benza. I liked most of them more than the benza, period. and they were much cheaper, and looked much nicer. More variety to them, and the handles fit much nicer. Axis lock is very sweet, andf my LT LCC lock is still rock solid.

test of time? Wow...what other knives have done that? lets see...Ka-Bar, any of Old Timer, schrade, camillus, etc..oh yeah, and guess what? they are coming out with new stuff, too!

benza, solid lock up, nice grinds, but way too expensive for a production knife, and it looked blah and the handle felt like iw as holding onto a rectangle. Someone once said there shouldn't be any straight lines on a knife, and this knife proves it.
 
Whoa, Mike990 laid it out nice and easy. Not that the rest of you folks didn't say anything usefull - I read all posts, thanks for your input.

I would have to disagree with Mike990 on his "Al Mar and the Spyderco will never be regarded as classics" because they already are. I mean the overall stainless steel design of Spyderco with the round hole can be found in any descent book about knives, and IS classic... And you can also find a lot of Al Mar designs branded classic, including the original SERE.

I do get the point about that last 10 percent toward perfection that gets so expensive. However I can't really see that 10 percent unless I handle the Sebenza... Can't say nothing on the subject since I don't have any hand on flight hours with that toy ;)
 
Taz, you really thing that the MT LCC lock is better? I don't think it is stronger, but I will agree on the smoothness and fit/finish. I still think if BM came out with a small pinnacle that sebenza would lose alot of business. The frame-lock was the only reason I bought (traded) for a sebenza and when I realized it wasnt all I expected I got rid of it. Too much money and with the looks I get from my friends when I tell them my knife is worth $100 or more, if I said 3 bills they would kick my ass for spending that on a pocket knife. When they see my randall it is all ooooohhh and aaaahhhhs. but then again they are non-believers. For those bigger knives are better.

JC

P.S. Not having handled a TNT I can't comment, but If I was in the market for a folding knife in the sebenza price range, I would look for a used TNT or save more for a new one. Still a long way off for me.

JC
 
The LCC is one of the best liner locks i have handled. Its solid, NO play whatsoever, and hasnt given up on me yet. that means it is good. is it the most solid lock in the history of knives? no, but the LCC does very well with it. I dont need the strongest lock, cuz i try no to abuse my stuff, but the LCC is solid thru and thru. The benza was solid, but the lock seemed very sticky and gummy. Not pleasant at all. If i want a knife that will need the strongest lock possible, why not consider a fixed blade designed for concealement?? The liner lock on the LCC is great, as is the edge it comes with...absolutely wicked.

In short, benza is a decent knife, but not for its price. way too blah and plain. The sypderco has also stood the test of time, and AL Mar has been around for a while. They should accomplish what u need to do with your knife, also check out a benchmade or REKAT SIFU if u need a big bad knife with a solid lock.
 
I guess that Taz is the other side of the coin from my perspective. He obviously has differently shaped hands, because my large Seb feels very comfortable in a wide variety of grips. It's not perfect, but I don't have any other knives that do as well in a variety of grips. Taz also seems very concerned as to what his unknowledgeable peers think of his knives. I just use my Seb to cut stuff. And no, not all of us Sebenza owners are groupys. As a matter of fact, I've seldom ever posted in the CR forum. I also beat the crap out my knives, so lock strength if far more important to me than looks.

The Seb isn't for everybody, but it's a darn good knife. Look into one if you need what is possibly the most dependable knife around. It was designed for solid function, and (I hope) not aesthetics.
 
I've handled a sebenza. For about 4 years now, and counting. Along the way, I've also owned customs from many makers, each of which cost more than the sebenza. None of which were as good. My quest has been to have the most reliable, sturdy and capable knife in my pocket regardless of the price. I use knives a lot and rely on them. I take care of them and don't want problems. I want a knife that will last me a lifetime, hopefully a long one. A knife made by someone who was as proud of it as I am. All of those other folders are gone now, as I realize that you can't do any better than a sebenza. Believe me, guys and gals, the sebenza is NOT expensive for what it is. You get your money's worth and then some.

NOW, on to Ed Fowler knives. THE BEST FIXED BLADES (REAL KNIVES) IN THE WORLD. PERIOD. Knives are meant to be used and there is no better working companion than a Pronghorn.

Pete
 
Expensive is ENTIRELY relative......
To many on this forum.......the sebenza is an expensive knife.

Let me clue ya...........the sebenza is NOT an expensive knife. It is a very good knife that is priced at the upper end of what the market will bear in accordance with the demand. GOOD MARKETING!

I have a bunch of customers who buy $2000+ automatics. To them, the TNT is an inexpensive user.


I say, work hard, save up............and BUY THE BEST!

Cause life is real short and nobody likes a cheapskate!! :p:p:p
 
Just take a step back and look at the knives you actually USE. You will probably (not definitely) see that they all share many characteristics. If you have any that are "too nice to use", they probably don't feel good in your hand anyway. And remember. the sabre grip is NOT the only grip used if you ACTUALLY USE your knives.

Microtech builds a fine knife. The micro-bar is NOT as strong as the Sebenza.

Why does CRK still make the Sebenza after all these years with so few changes? Gee, why does Buck still make the 110/112? When you find something that works this well you don't mess with it. These knives have lasted this long for a reason...they WORK. Look at the Opinel, over 100 years and counting.

Bottom line here is a quality knife is a quality knife. It doesn't matter if it's hand made or factory made. You can make a POS by hand.

As far as money spent...it's your money, spend it as you see fit. Sebbie to steep for you? There are plenty of "cheaper" knives out there. Get the best you can afford.

RANT MODE OFF........

OwenM...LMFAO at your ignore list. I know the feeling.:)

Paul
 
I wonder, what exactly would make a sebenza last longer than a Spyderco stainless steel Endura given equal treatment?

allen.
 
You would sharpen away the Endura's blade long before you would the Sebenza.

The Endura will develop blade play long before the Sebenza.

The Endura is a great knife. It's just not in the same class as the Sebenza. BTW, Spyderco makes great knives. I love my Native.

Paul
 
Does the TNT have a lifetime warranty? Tom Mayo how old are you? A friend of mine had a 40# mount of a striped bass delivered to his door in November. The taxidermist told him "the skin mount is good for 30 years. Just bring it to me every year and I will condition it. I will replace it with a fiberglass painted replica if the skin deteriorates in any way." He received word this afternoon that the taxidermist whom completed the work just died on him (he was 68). Now will the same thing happen to me if I drop the bomb on a tnt?

JC
 
Man, that's COLD !! What if Gerber, cold steel, or Spyderco go out of biz in 15 years? Who covers your warrantee??

What if something happens to a custom maker and he's unable to work? I'd bet anything that another custom knifemaker would step up to the plate and fix it for an extremely nominal fee.

Hey man, my '36 Packard is running a little rough.....where's the nearest dealer??

Not trying to tick you off.....just buy what you like. Start with a real good knife and it'll all work out just fine.

Pete
 
A couple more points to ponder;

Unfortunately the Sebenza falls into a somewhat unique position in the knife world, it is a high priced production piece that is sandwiched between very good medium priced production folders and the custom knife spectrum. Inevitably it is compared to both the lower price of it's production brethren and the more feature laden and flexibly designed custom folders.

When being compared to customs, these customs run the gamut of makers and models. It is ludicrous to even suggest that the Sebenza is a better knife than not just any one custom, but the whole custom folder market. Heck, everyone has their favorites to compare the Sebenza against. I certainly have mine. While I don't consider it my "best" knife, it is certainly better than a majority of the customs I have owned. Imagine if you were to single out one model of custom folder and then let 100 people handle and examine it. What percentage of them would proclaim the knife to actually be the best folder they have seen and instantly become their favorite? Probably not any more (and a good chance significantly less) than the percentage of people who would find the Sebenza to their liking. I will give value to a head to head comparison between an individual custom folder and the Sebenza, but simply proclaiming that "A CUSTOM" is a better choice is like saying that Prime Rib is good but seafood is better :rolleyes:

As far as comparing the Sebenza to the rest of the production world, I would seriously doubt that any custom could be compared against the MicroTech LCC and fare any better than the Sebenza does. The LCC is simply an awesome folder for the money and I don't think that you can find a better overall value in the custom market. Better knives, yes. More knife for the money, no. Such as it is for the Sebenza.

I seems that I have also read Sal Glesser say that if he could build a knife as good as the Sebenza for the same money, he would do it. I haven't seen it yet.

So in the end what you have are five main points that you need to consider;

1. The Sebenza is not the ultimate knife. To some people it is. To others, they will most likely find a custom that they prefer. Just to much to be said about personal preference.

2. The Sebenza will never be a better value than a high quality production knife. I consider my LCC, BM 710HS and Spyderco Wegner all to be more knife for the money.

3. The Sebenza is not a poor design or overpriced junk. If it were this debate would have ended about the same time Sebenza became history :rolleyes:

4. The Sebenza is the subject of more bias and critism than any knife going.

5. And perhaps most importantly, always remeber this; "Opinions are like *******s, everyone has one" :D
 
If you're paying full retail for Sebenza's or any other knife, there's something really wrong with you. You're not taking advantage of these forums...

There's a LNIB large Seb for sale here now for $235.00 shipped.

There's a LNIB small Seb for sale here now for $270.00 shipped.

Check them out. Are Seb's worth these prices--without a freakin' doubt. And stop sour-graping the Seb. If you have only "handled" one, then fooey on you. Pick one up used, and if you really don't like it, turn around and sell it within a week or two for EXACTLY what you paid for it.

Professor.
 
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