Which Knife and why?

S

Sure Shot Rick

Joined
Feb 25, 2006
Messages
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I am thinking of making a knife purchase with some of my tax return. Trying to decide between an A. G. Russell Acies Titanium frame lock with a ZDP-189 blade 64-66 Rc or a Chris Reeves Large Sebenza Insingo S30V 57-59 Rc. I’m a really fan of ZDP-189, but I really like the blade style on the Sebenza. I EDC a small standard Sebenza and think it to be a great knife. Any one with experience whit the Acies please comment and let me know how you think it compares with the Chris Reeve product. This is a big purchase for me and I’m sure I’ll always have a question in the back of my mind no matter which one I choose. I’m trying to educate my self a little before I make my choice. It will be used and not purchased as an investment for collecting.:confused:
 
Sure Shot Rick said:
I am thinking of making a knife purchase with some of my tax return. Trying to decide between an A. G. Russell Acies Titanium frame lock with a ZDP-189 blade 64-66 Rc or a Chris Reeves Large Sebenza Insingo S30V 57-59 Rc. I’m a really fan of ZDP-189, but I really like the blade style on the Sebenza. I EDC a small standard Sebenza and think it to be a great knife. Any one with experience whit the Acies please comment and let me know how you think it compares with the Chris Reeve product. This is a big purchase for me and I’m sure I’ll always have a question in the back of my mind no matter which one I choose. I’m trying to educate my self a little before I make my choice. It will be used and not purchased as an investment for collecting.:confused:
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My advice is that you buy the Sebenza. Your preference for the shape of the blade is more important than the advantage of the blade steel or any of the other advantages of the Acies. Do not buy a blade that does not appeal to you. It is important that you enjoy a knife or why own it.
 
I will have to disagree with Mr. Russell. I think you are supposed to try to sell your product not the other guy's. :D

You already have a sebenza go for something new. I am not impressed with S30V @ 57-58. That might be good for a chopper but not a pocket knife. I really like ZDP and would go with it. Everyone has a Sebenza but not the Acies. Right now the Acies is a far more rare knife and a refreshing change from the Sebenza.
 
A. G. Russell said:
My advice is that you buy the Sebenza. Your preference for the shape of the blade is more important than the advantage of the blade steel or any of the other advantages of the Acies. Do not buy a blade that does not appeal to you. It is important that you enjoy a knife or why own it.
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What a stand up guy Mr. Russell is. He gives honest advice.
 
I had the pleasure of carrying an Acies for a couple of days. I am extremely impressed with this knife in all aspects. I hated that I had to give it back. I also own a Classic large Sebenza, and I find the two very close as far as comfort in your hand when using the knife. The Acies opens just as smooth as my Sebemza, lock up is rock solid, and fit and finish are close enough between the two that it is not an issue worth discussing. I am also a ZDP junkie. To me there is nothing I have used to date that compares with it. So with that said, since you already own a Sebenza, my suggestion would be to get the Acies. I don't think you will be disappointed. And if you are for whatever reason, A.G. will stand behind his no questions asked return policy.
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
You already have a Sebenza go for something new. I am not impressed with S30V @ 57-58. That might be good for a chopper but not a pocket knife. I really like ZDP and would go with it. Everyone has a Sebenza but not the Acies. Right now the Acies is a far more rare knife and a refreshing change from the Sebenza.
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I agree totally. Get something new! I love the grind on that Acies.
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
You already have a sebenza go for something new.... Everyone has a Sebenza but not the Acies. Right now the Acies is a far more rare knife and a refreshing change from the Sebenza.
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That Sebenza looks like a pretty unique blade so I doubt it's something "everyone" already has.

I don't know the history but if it's not going to be around for long and you really like the blade shape you should jump on it.
 
I have a large Sebenza but have not tried the Acies yet.

The large Sebbie is a great knife.

My only concern is the lack of the frame lock stop, which the Acies has.

If the frame lock is of no concern then I vote the Sebbie.
 
Hi Sure Shot Rick -

I think either one would be a fantastic knife.

I only have experience with the Acies - I bought one as soon as they were available and have been carrying it ever since (02/15/10).

My Acies is perfect for me, it is large enough to be truly useable, and it just disappears into my pocket. I work in a large office environment and most people never even know I have my Acies with me.

The leaf-shaped blade is very unique and I think it is beautiful. I have cut up large cardboard cartons with the blade and it has held it's edge beautifully, with no marring of the blade at all, I just wiped it off and it still looks like new.

Having the flat grind, the Acies really slices great, and it is controllable with a nice point for detail cutting and enough belly to work with.

The feel of the knife in your hand is really nice - you can tell that someone spent a lot of time thinking about how the knife would be used.

As far as the ZDP-189, this is KAI/Kershaws version of it which gives me a lot of confidence in it.

I do intend to buy a Sebenza, but I am very happy I picked up the Acies. If I remember correctly, there will only be 600 Acies made (I think I remember Mr. Russell posting this here....).

As I stated previously, I am sure either one would be great, but I would get the Acies first, particularly if I already had a small Sebenza.

Here is a link to my pictures of my Acies so you can see more detail of it -

http://www.iammoon.com/albums/knives/A.G. Russell/Acies/index.html

best regards -

mqqn
 
would it be out of line if I suggested trying to find a large sebenza in bg-42?

out of the two you mentioned, honestly I would probably go for the sebenza because of resale value. it's nice to know that you can use your pocket knife and if you dont get attached to it or you need to get some cash to pay for groceries that you can sell it quickly.
 
This would be an extremely tough choice for me! I love the whole design of the Acies, especially that short, deep pocket carry, pocket clip. Never had the ZDP-189 steel before so that would be another plus. As far as the Insingo, the blade shape alone sells me! The only thing that would make a no contest for me would be if it came with the wood inserts of the Sebenza21. But since it doesn't I would go with the Acies.
 
Ramm9 said:
That Sebenza looks like a pretty unique blade so I doubt it's something "everyone" already has.

I don't know the history but if it's not going to be around for long and you really like the blade shape you should jump on it.
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Chris Reeve cranks out Sebenzas all year long. There are only 600 of the Acies right now. There are many more Sebenzas out there in peoples pockets than the Acies. Sure everyone doesn't have one, but it is a heck of a lot more common knife.
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
Chris Reeve cranks out Sebenzas all year long. There are only 600 of the Acies right now. There are many more Sebenzas out there in peoples pockets than the Acies. Sure everyone doesn't have one, but it is a heck of a lot more common knife.
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Think you missed the point...
 
LaBella said:
All of them until you find *the one*.

Trust me.

Ron LaBella
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That makes the most logical sense, really. I mean, how else will you really know which one really is "the one", until you collect and use all the aforementioend knives?:o
 
SPX Trader summed up my position on the descision too. Get it while you can.

I'll add that while I respect Mr Russell I do feel that the performance of the ZDP is more important than me liking the shape of the blade. There's not enough difference in the shape to make it a better performer. In addition, The RC 57-58 average hardness of the sebenza does not even come close to bringing out the real performance of the S30V steel, which at it's best wouldn't really outperform ZDP.
 
I don't have an Insingo, but I do have the Acies and a few Sebenzas. I carry both, I use both. The Sebenza needs to be sharpened and stropped every so often and the Acies was stropped when it came out of the box and I think I've stropped it lightly once since I received it when they first came out. I got a chance to handle the Insingo and I really like the blade shape, but other than that it's the same steel, same handle, same everything as a Large Sebenza. I will admit that I would like to pick up an Insingo if I ever have the chance, but I'm not on the hunt for it. The Acies was different. I wanted one as soon as I saw one and the day I got the call from AG Russell I bought it. I wanted something different and the way it carries, looks, and even opens is different than my Sebenzas. Some may look at the two and see to very similar knives, but once you carry and use both you can see the differences.
 
Ramm9 said:
Think you missed the point...
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I didn't miss the point, I missed the word after Sebenza. Doesn't change the fact that the S30V is ran to soft in many people's opinion. I would still take the Acies over a sheepsfoot sebenza but in the end he has to buy what he likes not what someone else likes.
 
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