Why Are Sebenzas So Popular?

Thomas W said:
*snip*
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considering energy costs and credit issues from the sub-prime meltdown, I just wonder what they expect to do with this.

Though there is growing consumer dissent with the Wal-mart approach. You can discount only so much before your 'efficiency' costs you value in the customers' eyes.

Although, discussing the better deal one gets spending $150 on a tool to peel apples and open boxes over spending $350 for one, it's not really the same realm. Too often, we seem to lose all perspective. I know I've spent too damn much money when I have $200 of knife in my pocket that has been hair popping sharp the last couple weeks, not because of superior geometry or steel (though it has that), but because all I've done with it is cut two clothing tags and opened an envelope.

I still like my knives, but any 'need' for an expensive folder is rather silly, imo. In fact, when I have real work to do, I break out the sub-$50 folders, cause I know damn well I can break a proper knife blade with actual abuse, no matter what's in the handle or the pivot.
 
jarlaxle said:
I personally think sebenzas are UNDERrated. I finally got to handle one, and it is more amazing then everyone says. To each his own though.
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If I had the chance to handle one and use one, I might change my mind. Who knows? Hey, I've got an idea. Why don't you send me yours and I'll try it out for a week or two and then send it back. If I like it, I may get one, too!
 
If I had the chance to handle one and use one, I might change my mind.
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hmmm, you know maybe there's such a thing a a passaround? Nah, never happen.
 
Confederate said:
Great. What kind? Are you going to use it or sock it away to preserve its good looks?

Hope you come back and post your first impressions.
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I placed the order at newgraham 2 days ago. A large regular Sebenza with
Vines model on handle . I just can't wait :)...
Definitely, I'll take with me :)
 
I agree with the original post. There is no reason a production Sebenza should cost as much as a S&W 686.

When you put it in that light, it is clear that something is going on. Either the gun is being sold for a loss or the knife is being sold for a HUGE profit. Clearly, the gun is not being sold at a loss or they wouldn't bother. That means, they are making an absolute KILLING on the Sebenza.

I have no problem with someone making a profit but when it becomes clear that they are making a HUGE profit at the expense of the consumer, it doesn't sit well with me.

Of course, the CRK company may not be making a large profit on the knife. They could somehow be spending $300 to make a knife they sell for $400. I would seriously doubt that and if they were, they are being mismanaged.
 
Sure, Sebenza is expensive. So is Surefire. Both are high quality products priced within a range that quite a few users are willing to pay. Surefire pushed the envelope for pricing of production flashlights. So does Chris Reeve for knives. No one can really say either puts out bad product, and nobody else offers products that compete aesthetically and quality-wise and with the amount of R&D, so they are "justified" in charging more. After all, if you offer something no one else does, something generally accepted as better or consistently high quality, don't you deserve to charge a premium?
 
I recently got a Sebenza, and while I didn't pay for it, I did trade about $330+ worth of knife for it.

In my opinion, the knife itself, the materials, design, precision, and usefulness are probably not worth $330. I do have to say the Sebenza is the best built knife I have ever handled and is, in my opinion, far ahead of the Spydercos and Benchmades of the world in terms of F&F and overall build quality. But I could do the same job with a $100 Spyderco (except the precision fit).

Would I actually go ahead and pay for it? Yeah, because I like quality knives, and I think a lot of people on this forum come here because they share my opinion. In my few years collecting knives, I've paid well over $330 for a large amount of other knives, yet I only use one or two of them regularly. So I have no qualms selling the few that I don't use and getting a Sebenza. If my mind set was that a knife is just a tool and nothing more, I would buy a single Paramilitary or Mini Manix and be done with knives for the rest of my life.

I'm a little surprised to see some posts with that mindset of "a $50 knife will do the same job, it's crazy that anyone would pay $350 for a knife." May I ask how many $50 knives those people own?
 
carrot said:
No one can really say either puts out bad product, and nobody else offers products that compete aesthetically and quality-wise and with the amount of R&D, so they are "justified" in charging more.
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That's an interesting idea...quality may be measurable using a fixed standard, I suppose, but how can one person announce that the aesthetics of a given product surpass all competition? The aesthetic appeal of a knive would be 100% subjective on the part of the beholder.

Quality aside, I have gotten the feeling over the years that lovers of the CR Knives are strongly attracted to the knives aesthetically, which is fine, and for that individual, would be worth paying more, but it's hard to say that a higher price based on personal aesthetics is justified for everyone....

A certain quality can demand a price, but if you throw aesthetics in as a justification, you're leaving out everyone who has a different aesthetic for knives.
 
speed01 said:
That's an interesting idea...quality may be measurable using a fixed standard, I suppose, but how can one person announce that the aesthetics of a given product surpass all competition? The aesthetic appeal of a knive would be 100% subjective on the part of the beholder.

Quality aside, I have gotten the feeling over the years that lovers of the CR Knives are strongly attracted to the knives aesthetically, which is fine, and for that individual, would be worth paying more, but it's hard to say that a higher price based on personal aesthetics is justified for everyone....

A certain quality can demand a price, but if you throw aesthetics in as a justification, you're leaving out everyone who has a different aesthetic for knives.
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Certainly aesthetics are subjective, but you can generally find things people find attractive in common, as long as their tastes are not too extreme. Clean, flowing lines, graceful curves and simple elegance is usually well-liked by most, or at least has a very specific target audience (Sebenza might be considered the knife of those who enjoy simplicity, for example). The flip-side is the tactical style with ridges and scallops and crenellations and heavy texturing, like Strider, or Surefire or any number of other things. Many like this because it gives the feeling of being over-engineered and is "cool" looking. This is also a pretty popular style, and considering each of the three companies I mentioned, each knows their target audience and designs accordingly. There are also people who don't care so much about aesthetics as much as performance, and more often than not they are brand-agnostic or loyal to one company that has treated them well.

The "tacti-cool" fad is an excellent example. How many "tactical" looking or designated things have you seen priced higher than the non "tactical" versions? Streamlight Stinger vs. Streamlight TL2, for example?
 
Amen to that. It's NOT worth the money in the same sense as when you buy a Spyderco, but again, that's also NOT the reason you want a Sebenza. So, Sebenza is NOT worth the money, but so what? People buy the knife because they simply like it for whatever personal reasons, not because they conclude that Sebenza is the most cost-efficient knife.

ehhh said:
I recently got a Sebenza, and while I didn't pay for it, I did trade about $330+ worth of knife for it.

In my opinion, the knife itself, the materials, design, precision, and usefulness are probably not worth $330. I do have to say the Sebenza is the best built knife I have ever handled and is, in my opinion, far ahead of the Spydercos and Benchmades of the world in terms of F&F and overall build quality. But I could do the same job with a $100 Spyderco (except the precision fit).

Would I actually go ahead and pay for it? Yeah, because I like quality knives, and I think a lot of people on this forum come here because they share my opinion. In my few years collecting knives, I've paid well over $330 for a large amount of other knives, yet I only use one or two of them regularly. So I have no qualms selling the few that I don't use and getting a Sebenza. If my mind set was that a knife is just a tool and nothing more, I would buy a single Paramilitary or Mini Manix and be done with knives for the rest of my life.

I'm a little surprised to see some posts with that mindset of "a $50 knife will do the same job, it's crazy that anyone would pay $350 for a knife." May I ask how many $50 knives those people own?
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buying used is good - but if ya gotta have it (been there!) then just go ahead and buy it! (succinct is my middle name!)
 
I am a carpenter by trade and have found the Fein Multimaster to be one of the most useful tools in my arsenal. I was skeptical at first, but after using it, it has become the goto scapel for close detail work, and makes many more frustrating jobs a breeze. That being said, they charge a repulsive amount for their blades. You can get a 3 pack for 80 bucks. I work with four other guys that have the tool, and we all end up buying the blades not matter what the cost, because of what the tool does for us. Why can they charge that much when the blade is really no different than a saw-z-all blade? Because they are the ONLY ones with a tool like that on the market.
Much is similar to the Sebenza. Until you have owned or use one, you really can not understand.
 
not because they conclude that Sebenza is the most cost-efficient knife.
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But it is, because once you have one you generally don't bother buying lesser knives so in the end it saves you money.
 
implied that the Sebenza is a better knife than most customs. I've owned quite a few custom folders and I have to say that I agree 100%. There are some nice ones to be had, but if you really start comparing, the Sebenza looks like money well spent. Every time. Everyone's tastes are different, but for straight out performance and quality, I submit that, for the same price, there is NO CUSTOM folder that is equal to the Sebenza. I tried everything I could get my hands on for about 10 yrs and always went back to the large Sebenza. If there was anything better, I'd be carrying it.

Pete
 
I think he's priced it just right... ...look at all the free publicity it gets him!! If it were less money, this thread (and others like it) wouldn't exist, he wouldn't have the buzz. It's a great marketing strategy.
 
Kennyroo said:
I think he's priced it just right... ...look at all the free publicity it gets him!! If it were less money, this thread (and others like it) wouldn't exist, he wouldn't have the buzz. It's a great marketing strategy.
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Oh so very true!
 
i think there has been more posts about the sebenza than almost every other knife combined.the only thing ive seen equal or more posts on is cold steel bashing.i have noticed the retail on the sebenza slightly going up all the time,a new one,especially the ones with the inlays,may soon price them to a point where they might not be selling as well as they used to.but you never know,it still may be just as desirable.........
 
Sebs are worth every bit of the $ to me.
Not had a folder to date that has ever kept the seb from having prime time in my pocket for more than a day or so.

The best advice I got when considering whether or not to buy a seb was from fulloflead (where is he any way?), he said "Buy the Seb, you'll never look back." He was right, I haven't, but I have gotten into a couple more since then :)

It is great to me for everything from day to day chores, to whittling, skinning etc.

On the esthetic side, not had one that rode more comfortably, or looked better in my pocket either.

That rounded spine is the bomb for intricate work as well.

sp
 
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