What's with the CR Sebenza?

[cutlerylover]

for example, let me compare the sebenza parts to the favored griptilian parts list...I am not knocking the grip either here, mine gets lots of use these days, not as much as my seb, but it does handle the dirty jobs...lol

-1 blade
-2 handle scales
-2 "liner" scales or middle section parts...
-1 axis lock 2 sided button
-2 spring pieces for the axis lock
-2 spacers used on the liner or middle section...
-2 pivot screw parts, the screw and the back part
-5 body screws, 2 of them keepign the liner in place...
-3 pocket clip screws (not shown in picture because I left the pocket clip on)

So lets see...in total that makes the griptilian 20 parts competely dissasembled...the sebenza is made of 13 parts...If my calculations are correct...and I needed 2 different torx bits to dissaseble my griptilian...gettign it back together was not too hard, but not as easy as the sebenza...and again no messing with the pivot tension or loctite on the sebenza...

 

[Rich357]

Another plus for the Sebenza, a fellow on the Chris Reeve section of BF mentioned recently that when he sent his Sebenza in to CR to be refurbed he also bought, and had fitted, a second blade (this one part serrated). So, now he can switch between blade types when he pleases. I think that's a really neat idea.

Rich

 

[scott112]

Man - people sure do love to talk about the Sebenza!

I recently got my first Sebenza, and it's pretty much what I expected - the best knife I've ever owned, but probably not that much better than some of my Benchmades. The best thing about it for me is that it truly is a knife to last a lifetime: tough as nails, easily disassembled for cleaning, easily serviced & returned to like-new condition.

Unlike other high-end knives, I never think twice about using the Seb hard - it just begs to be used & enjoyed. For me, I can justify the cost as long as it gets used & enjoyed everyday.

 

[KeithAM]

for example, let me compare the sebenza parts to the favored griptilian parts list...I am not knocking the grip either here, mine gets lots of use these days, not as much as my seb, but it does handle the dirty jobs...lol

-1 blade
-2 handle scales
-2 "liner" scales or middle section parts...
-1 axis lock 2 sided button
-2 spring pieces for the axis lock
-2 spacers used on the liner or middle section...
-2 pivot screw parts, the screw and the back part
-5 body screws, 2 of them keepign the liner in place...
-3 pocket clip screws (not shown in picture because I left the pocket clip on)

So lets see...in total that makes the griptilian 20 parts competely dissasembled...the sebenza is made of 13 parts...If my calculations are correct...and I needed 2 different torx bits to dissaseble my griptilian...gettign it back together was not too hard, but not as easy as the sebenza...and again no messing with the pivot tension or loctite on the sebenza...

Where are the PB washers?

 

[Monocrom]

Interesting. Well now, I wouldn't dare underestimate your knowledge and understanding of knives.....or of others.

To be honest, I have no clue how someone who has over a thousand posts on BF could ask such a question with genuine curiosity behind it. A new member, that's one thing. But this topic has been done to death.

The most basic reason is that it costs less money per knife for a High-end production company because some of the work is done by machines. A custom knife of similar quality usually involves more hours to make because each one is hand-made. More hours, hand-made; that equals more expensive.

 

[cutlerylover]

Where are the PB washers?

lol, Im sorry, they are there, but on the inside of the middle section...the lube has them stuck there lightly in place...I just didn't take them out for the pic, I took that pic a while ago, not for this thread...Sorry for the confusion, lol...

 

[cutlerylover]

The most basic reason is that it costs less money per knife for a High-end production company because some of the work is done by machines. A custom knife of similar quality usually involves more hours to make because each one is hand-made. More hours, hand-made; that equals more expensive.

In many cases, time is money too...attention to detail means more work and more time spent on each knife...I need to pick up that Chris Reeve DVD, someone told me it was great to watch how the sebenza and other CRK are made...and he said he had no idea how many steps it takes to make a sebenza, and how many tiems they look at it to make sure everythign is perfect...My friend said it was a great buy and made him appreciate the knife even more, he has not gotten one yet, and might not for a long time...But at 1st he though the sebenza was nothing special either until he watch the making of one...

 

[KeithAM]

lol, Im sorry, they are there, but on the inside of the middle section...the lube has them stuck there lightly in place...I just didn't take them out for the pic, I took that pic a while ago, not for this thread...Sorry for the confusion, lol...

No problem. I don't think you listed them, so I think that's 22 parts?

 

[cutlerylover]

No problem. I don't think you listed them, so I think that's 22 parts?

You sir are correct...forgot about them...good call!

you know whats funny is that I was lookign at the picture to count and list the parts, and Im didn't list them because I didn't see them, like you, I forgot they were in the middle section, lol...sorry man, but good heads up on that one...

 

[StretchNM]

To be honest, I have no clue how someone who has over a thousand posts on BF could ask such a question with genuine curiosity behind it. A new member, that's one thing. But this topic has been done to death.

The most basic reason is that it costs less money per knife for a High-end production company because some of the work is done by machines. A custom knife of similar quality usually involves more hours to make because each one is hand-made. More hours, hand-made; that equals more expensive.

Your lack of a clue notwithstanding, I can only assure you and others my curiosity was genuine. I have not read all the Sebenza posts, not even many of them. As I said in my first few posts, I happened to be looking at them on the net and it occurred to me to ask why. Not having the knife so I could compare it side-by-side with the mini_Skirmish didn't help answer my question without [your] help.

Unfortunately, Monocrom, you have been no benefit to this thread. The basic Sebenza I asked about is NOT a custom. You should get that straight first before repeating it for a third time.

I find myself clueless too, sometimes. For example, I have no clue how a member with over 600 posts could jump into a thread and so blatantly insult while at the same time revealing how, because talk of the Sebenza has been "done to death", he failed to read and understand the gist of this thread.

I wanted to know the opinons of others about a knife that I did not know enough about. You are one of the "others" I wanted to hear from.....

((( )))

 

[bearcut]

Bearcut, Low-tech and simplicity will win 100% of the time in a so called survival type situation. As soon as you start adding bells/whistles and gimmicky add ons, thats when weak points are created.

Duhh! Perhaps you missed my point about FIXED blades. If I really want to avoid 'weak points', I will forgo folders altogether. Fixed blades are the epitomy of 'low tech and simplicity'. They are not very good EDC knives however. This is my point against framelocks.

The simple design of the Sebenza absolutely has the least possibility of failure because of its low tech design. So we agree on this.

The way guys talk about these knives on this forum leads me to believe that most, if not all, of them use them as an EDC, not a piece of survival equipment that rarely gets used, [or even held]. Witness the number of wooden inlay versions posted. Are these people serious? A WOODEN inlay on a 'survival' knife? Sounds 'breakable' to me. I've never heard a person on these forums talk about how their 'Sebbie' save them after the plane crashed....
They carry them as EDC's.

That said, EDC knives constantly get pulled out of pockets, opened, closed and played with, sometimes many times per day. They rarely get stressed to the breaking point unless used to do something stupid like prying.
The reason we don't carry a fixed blade is because we know that we will not need that bulletproof of a knife during our daily grind, we just want something quick and easy to use. Your Sebenzas thumbstud is an example of convenience and safety right? You would never consider taking it off and replacing it with a nick for your thumbnail would you? Of course not! Yet, that thumbstud is an unnessesary piece on a knife. You don't 'need it to open a knife. Yet, is is very nice to have and you wouldn't dream of having a knife without a thumbstud.

Thats the way it is with features like Axis locks. Once you have experienced the convienience and safety of the mechanism, you really find it hard to go back to something like a frame or linerlock.

That's the reason I have never purchased a Sebenza. They are probably the best made folder there is, but there are better EDC designs out there, for a lot less.

 

[hardheart]

one of the more annoying things that gets repeated endlessly is how the sebbie is the only knife someone would ever need. What if that someone doesn't want an S30V blade, or a metal handle, or tip up only carry, or blue thumbstuds, etc. No matter how well it is built, it's only one knife with a couple variations that do not change what it fundamentally is, a titanium framelock. If I want a pickup truck, I really won't be concerned with how well the world's best luxury sedan is built.

 

[Monocrom]

Your lack of a clue notwithstanding, I can only assure you and others my curiosity was genuine. I have not read all the Sebenza posts, not even many of them. As I said in my first few posts, I happened to be looking at them on the net and it occurred to me to ask why. Not having the knife so I could compare it side-by-side with the mini_Skirmish didn't help answer my question without [your] help.

Unfortunately, Monocrom, you have been no benefit to this thread. The basic Sebenza I asked about is NOT a custom. You should get that straight first before repeating it for a third time.

I find myself clueless too, sometimes. For example, I have no clue how a member with over 600 posts could jump into a thread and so blatantly insult while at the same time revealing how, because talk of the Sebenza has been "done to death", he failed to read and understand the gist of this thread.

Allow me to clarify, the topics that have been done to death are not the ones about the knife. Rather it is the ones in which someone asks "Why is this Custom knife so much more expensive than this one which is Production-made and of the same quality?" Which is what this topic is about. Half the time, it's some new guy who honestly doesn't know the answer. The other half.... an experienced User trying to slam the work of a Custom knife-maker, or custom knife-makers in general.

Here's my contribution to your thread..... "Use the Search feature."

But I will say this, as for the basic Sebenza NOT being a custom model; are we talking about the basic model that Mr. Reeve's puts together himself? Yeah, cause that still falls into the "Custom Knife" category. If you think it doesn't.... Wow! Just wow.

Oh I understand the gist of this thread.... Despite having over 1,000 posts; it seems you genuinely do not know the basic economics involved when it comes to Custom quality vs. High-end Production quality knives. I owe you an apology. I thought you were being an ass. Sorry! I guess you genuinely don't know something that I considered basic info. for anyone who has as many posts as you do.

 

[hardheart]

But I will say this, as for the basic Sebenza NOT being a custom model; are we talking about the basic model that Mr. Reeve's puts together himself? Yeah, cause that still falls into the "Custom Knife" category. If you think it doesn't.... Wow! Just wow.

mine was delivered by a unicorn

 

[jdowell]

Did you shoot it and cut the horn off?
Those unicorn horns make some great scales.
It's a magical kind of grippyness.

Ahhh family. Always bickering 'bout something.
We're all a bunch of cutters.

Sebenzas rock. Engineered by a machinist knife knut.
How many folks have payed and ranted...
If your happy with your $50 knife then bless you.
If your happy with your $400 knife then bless you.

 

[Steven Andrews]

They are probably the best made folder there is, but there are better EDC designs out there, for a lot less.

That was my Sebenza experience. When I had Sebenzas they sat in my knife box while Axis Lock Benchmades and lockback Spydercos found their way into my pocket or belt pouch - not because the Sebenzas were "too nice to use" or "too expensive to lose" - but because the other knives worked better for me.

 

[StretchNM]

............

Oh I understand the gist of this thread.... Despite having over 1,000 posts; it seems you genuinely do not know the basic economics involved when it comes to Custom quality vs. High-end Production quality knives. I owe you an apology. I thought you were being an ass. Sorry! I guess you genuinely don't know something that I considered basic info. for anyone who has as many posts as you do.

Apology accepted. I'm never too vain to admit ignorance. In fact, I'll be ignorant about many things well past my 2000th posting.

((( )))

 

[cutlerylover]

Witness the number of wooden inlay versions posted. Are these people serious? A WOODEN inlay on a 'survival' knife? Sounds 'breakable' to me.

I understand what you mean by your post, but what about this part? Why would wooden inlays be ok for EDC, but not ok for survival? Is there a survival teqnique I am not aware of that used the handle of the knife?

I think its the blade thats whats used for most tasks...I think it woulkd perform just the same for survial than it would EDC...but lets say for soem reason a wooden inlay braks or falls out...it does not effect the performance of the knife, just makes it a little less comfortable to use...but by no measn useless...

 

[cutlerylover]

Did you shoot it and cut the horn off?
Those unicorn horns make some great scales.
It's a magical kind of grippyness.

Ahhh family. Always bickering 'bout something.
We're all a bunch of cutters.

Sebenzas rock. Engineered by a machinist knife knut.
How many folks have payed and ranted...
If your happy with your $50 knife then bless you.
If your happy with your $400 knife then bless you.

Amen to that!

 

[allenC]

But I will say this, as for the basic Sebenza NOT being a custom model; are we talking about the basic model that Mr. Reeve's puts together himself? Yeah, cause that still falls into the "Custom Knife" category. If you think it doesn't.... Wow! Just wow.

No. The Sebenza is not a custom made knife.

If one man hand-assembled a Toyota Camry, it would still just be a Toyota Camry, and not a custom built car.