When does the "sickness" begin?

alwayscarryaknife · Feb 9, 2014

So I've had my CRK Sebenza 25 now for slightly over six months and have been very happy with this knife. It's my favorite by far but I still enjoyed other brands and have bought a few others since getting my 25. That being said, I wasn't carrying my 25 at work since I'm in an office setting but wanted that same quality to carry at work. I always have my 25 in the car to keep it near but carry my old Victoinox Pocket Pal while in the office. So as I've stated in a thread I started a few days ago I purchased a small 21 that I plan on carrying in the pouch at work. Only now I can only think about purchasing other CRK knives. I have been stung and the only relief is more CRK. I'm currently looking at getting a Nyala and then a Mnandi (might move this to office duties when/if I decide to get one.) So my question is, what was your number? For me it really wasn't one because when I got it I thought 'well I don't need anything better than this' but now that two is close by (actually in my local sort facility today) I can't think of buying anything else. Well thanks for your time and I hope to hear some of your stories as well. Take care. Oh and thanks for feeding my addiction with your great pictures around this sub forum.

MathewsZ7 · Feb 9, 2014

I've been looking at the CRK for a while now and finally got my first 21 yesterday. I'm shopping for another already. I'm pretty sure all my other folders will be sold and replaced with CRK. As for a number I'm not sure. Maybe when the bank acct is at 0 I'll stop.

Falco57 · Feb 9, 2014

Oh, it begins with a simple question. "what is so special in this knife/brand?" ok I will try a buy one.
Oh but that Sebenza with mammoth inlay is so special, and why not a wood inlay?
Ok micarta inlay is for EDC but look at that Mnandi when I am well dressed!!!
Tough guy that Umnumzaan! and the fixed blade? want we speack about that....

And you finish to have dozens and dozens of CRK boxes

kidcongo · Feb 9, 2014

Falco57 said:
Oh, it begins with a simple question. "what is so special in this knife/brand?" ok I will try a buy one.
Oh but that Sebenza with mammoth inlay is so special, and why not a wood inlay?
Ok micarta inlay is for EDC but look at that Mnandi when I am well dressed!!!
Tough guy that Umnumzaan! and the fixed blade? want we speack about that....

And you finish to have dozens and dozens of CRK boxes

Well said. The other factor I think feeds the addiction is that there is a very limited amount of great knife models, but with a huge amount of variations. I can't imagine trying to collect Spyderco! How could one ever own all the Spyderco models when they release 10 great new ones every 6 months!? I couldn't keep up with that.

However, with CRK you can conceivably own one of every model, without taking out a mortgage. You can get a Sebenza, an Umnumzaan, and a Mnandi, and have the "holy trinity" of CRK........and here is the rub: Once you own one of these very few models they offer, you realize that you are not done. You start to look at the inlays, you start to think "Damascus for black-tie nights with my wife", you start to think "I need an Insingo blade to cut up these oranges"., you start to think "I need a wood inlay for the winter"., you start to think "maybe I should buy one of those Ti-locks before they are discontinued", you start to think "what's so special about those old "regulars", you start to think "I'm going to treat myself to one really beautiful one just for the safe" ....then you're done.

There are a few folks on this forum who just have one CRK. If you can afford more than one, but stay to having just one, you have my respect!

mikepapa1 · Feb 9, 2014

I am probably the worst person to ask this questions to... I think, no I know that I have an obsessive compulsive personality. Whatever that is.. I also have a huge interest in history. When ever I dive into something I get totally obsessed with it (ah that's that obsessive compulsive thing) I purchased my first Chris Reeve Knife back in May of last year.. a little over eight months ago. Anyone want to guess what it was? Anyone? Anyone? Well if you guessed Umnumzaan you are correct!!

I had never had the least bit of interest in Knives.. well not totally true I collect WWII U.S. Military Weapons. So I do have a few trench knives and bayonets. But never any civilian "Pocket Knives" other than a couple of old Buck Knives that I have had since my youth. But I have to say as soon as I opened the box containing that first (of many) Zaan I was hooked!! I was and still am amazed at not only the quality and engineering of that knife but the simple beauty of the design. And then I discovered the Sebenza's and the Umfaan and the Mnandi and all the different varations!! And lets not forget the Ti-lock!! and the Nyala!! "P" and "Original" and "Regular"!! Decorated, Unique, CGG, Inlays, Annuals!! Prototypes!! and they come in different sizes!! So when is enough enough... I don't know yet. But when I find out I will let you know.

I do know that I have two delivering on Monday!!
And as always, all the best!!
Dave

Silvanus · Feb 9, 2014

My number was 3. Within 45 days I had bought a 25, a plain 21, and an Umnumzaan. I love the 25 and 21 and I carry them both regularly. The Zaan however, I traded off. I know mikepapa1 might think Im crazy, but I just didnt love the Zaan. No fault of the knife, it was flawless, it just didnt give me the "warm and fuzzy" like the 21 and 25. Ive been looking at getting a Micarta 21 to replace my Zaan but I need to let my bank account build up first.

coiledwire · Feb 10, 2014

Reev-fluenza hits somewhere between "getting it" and financial woes. For me it was after the 2nd one. Whomever said not to keep CRKs in the same drawer because they multiply like rabbits was right! 2 turns into 4 super quick.

Falco57 · Feb 10, 2014

mikepapa1 said:
I am probably the worst person to ask this questions to... I think, no I know that I have an obsessive compulsive personality. Whatever that is.. I also have a huge interest in history. When ever I dive into something I get totally obsessed with it (ah that's that obsessive compulsive thing) I purchased my first Chris Reeve Knife back in May of last year.. a little over eight months ago. Anyone want to guess what it was? Anyone? Anyone? Well if you guessed Umnumzaan you are correct!! I had never had the least bit of interest in Knives.. well not totally true I collect WWII U.S. Military Weapons. So I do have a few trench knives and bayonets. But never any civilian "Pocket Knives" other than a couple of old Buck Knives that I have had since my youth. But I have to say as soon as I opened the box containing that first (of many) Zaan I was hooked!! I was and still am amazed at not only the quality and engineering of that knife but the simple beauty of the design. And then I discovered the Sebenza's and the Umfaan and the Mnandi and all the different varations!! And lets not forget the Ti-lock!! and the Nyala!! "P" and "Original" and "Regular"!! Decorated, Unique, CGG, Inlays, Annuals!! Prototypes!! and they come in different sizes!! So when is enough enough... I don't know yet. But when I find out I will let you know. I do know that I have two delivering on Monday!!
And as always, all the best!!
Dave

Brother,
do you know a good doctor.
Going together maybe we can save some money... and buy a new Historical Sebenza LOL LOL

alwayscarryaknife · Feb 10, 2014

Falco57 said:
Brother,
do you know a good doctor.
Going together maybe we can save some money... and buy a new Historical Sebenza LOL LOL

Well you two stay away from me. I don't need to catch what you guys have.

But thanks for contributing to my thread. Take care.

erdoc8921 · Feb 18, 2014

Mine started with the first small 21. within a month I had bought a professional soldier and a Nyala. I then sold all those, and now I have 2 insingos (large and small), and a 25 on the way. I am thinking about an Umnumzaan- maybe if I don't like the 25. I keep telling myself "If I dont like it, it'll sell quickly" . I should stop that.

1AbominAble1 · Feb 18, 2014

kidcongo said:
Well said. The other factor I think feeds the addiction is that there is a very limited amount of great knife models, but with a huge amount of variations. I can't imagine trying to collect Spyderco! How could one ever own all the Spyderco models when they release 10 great new ones every 6 months!? I couldn't keep up with that.

However, with CRK you can conceivably own one of every model, without taking out a mortgage. You can get a Sebenza, an Umnumzaan, and a Mnandi, and have the "holy trinity" of CRK........and here is the rub: Once you own one of these very few models they offer, you realize that you are not done. You start to look at the inlays, you start to think "Damascus for black-tie nights with my wife", you start to think "I need an Insingo blade to cut up these oranges"., you start to think "I need a wood inlay for the winter"., you start to think "maybe I should buy one of those Ti-locks before they are discontinued", you start to think "what's so special about those old "regulars", you start to think "I'm going to treat myself to one really beautiful one just for the safe" ....then you're done.

There are a few folks on this forum who just have one CRK. If you can afford more than one, but stay to having just one, you have my respect!

That was very well put!
Between yours and Dave's post you pretty much covered it for me as well.
The Reeve-Fluenza is a strong illness, damn good thing I have no desire to kick it

1 turned into 2, 2 into 3, 3 into 10, 10 into 13 and then I was able to hold the virus at bay long enough to whittle it down to 9. At that point I thought I had done a good thing but within 3 weeks I had 3 new Mnandi's and now have a very old and crusty Large Regular on the way. It seems that if you lay off of your antibiotics ( daily chores ) the illness comes back even stronger !

Good luck to those of you that are trying to kick it, I'm hooked.

buckeyejake · Feb 18, 2014

The second you order number 2. A backup for knife that won't wear out

. Jake

mikepapa1 · Feb 18, 2014

Aint it the truth brother!! Especially if you have no intention of using them in the first place!!

ATB,
Dave
AKA the Zann Man!!

Just picked up another one...:grumpy:

buckeyejake said:
The second you order number 2. A backup for knife that won't wear out . Jake

lathrop · Feb 18, 2014

My first sebenza was a large 21, bocate inlays, early 2008. I bought it at a local knife shop and while I was looking at it I also handled a plain small 21. Before I paid for the large, my mind drifted to buying the small, which I did a few weeks later. So technically I was bit before I bought…..as I left the shop with my first sebenza I called a buddy and said "you've got to meet me for a beer, I just spent $455 on a knife !" He didn't really get it but I had to tell someone.

alwayscarryaknife · Feb 18, 2014

lathrop said:
My first sebenza was a large 21, bocate inlays, early 2008. I bought it at a local knife shop and while I was looking at it I also handled a plain small 21. Before I paid for the large, my mind drifted to buying the small, which I did a few weeks later. So technically I was bit before I bought…..as I left the shop with my first sebenza I called a buddy and said "you've got to meet me for a beer, I just spent $455 on a knife !" He didn't really get it but I had to tell someone.

Ha, that's a great story. I've got my small now and it's growing on me quickly. Might want to try a small insingo next. Or a Nyala.