Why did you trade/sell your Sebenza?

I like my Sebbie, but my customs are a lot smoother. DDR Madd Maxx, JW Smith mini-Scimitar, have it beat. But I like the design, ergonomics, looks and performance, so I keep carrying it. I think they are worth the price. I wish the woodies weren't so much more expensive (I have a Lg Classic Cocobolo) but the quality is impeccable.
If you're not sure, pick one up used. They definitely hold their value...
 
I sold one because I needed the cash at the time. I still miss it, but my tastes are for different styles of knives now, so it was never replaced. It is a top notch knife though, and you won't be disapointed.
 
I sold mine because I really wasn't thrilled with the tanto blade.

I should have replaced it with another Sebbie, but I used the cash for another project.

One of these days, I'll get a large regular or classic. I have to convince myself to spent the money first.
 
I've sold several Sebenzas in order to upgrade to wood inlay and unique graphic versions. The only one I regret getting rid of was a flat grind.
 
Last year I ordered a plain small Seb from 1SKS...Kevin (aka Spark) emailed me back saying he didn't have a plain one right then, but would give me a CGG for the same price...I took him up on his offer.

Anyway, this High Circle was soooo nice I couldn't bring myself to use it....soon after found a plain one and sold the HC knowing I would never use it. The plain Seb is my edc.

I think Sebenzas are extremely high quality knives....there are also lots of others....custom and semi-production; which is a good thing for knife nuts.
 
I sold my second Sebbie to help pay for a Custom - a Koji Hara Pearl Air Step to be exact. The seller was letting it go for what I considered an unbelievable low price.

The way I looked at it was, you can always buy a Sebbie, but some Customs come along once in a lifetime! Sure you can buy any Custom from a Dealer or Purveyor, but you're going to pay through the nose. Sometimes a Forumite has a deal that you'll never see again.

BTW That's what I thought when I bought my first Sebbie - the richly anodized and appointed Calvary Unique Graphic.
 
The Sebenza is a great knife. It's really bigger than I'm comfortable with, even the small Sebbie. The Umfaan and especially the Mnandi are much more to my liking when it comes to actual use. I have sold one Sebenza and plan on selling my other. There will definitely be at least one more Mnandi in my future.

Paul
 
I have owned two of the Handmades...from the early 90's...#5( partially serrated) and #16 IIRC and an EARLY production model...sold them all.

The Handmades got sold b/c they weren't being used. When I did use them, they felt ungainly to my hand. Even though they were much more massive than today's Sebs, they had tons of play.

The Production model, even more beefy than today's seb also had too much play. Also, I was ticked at CRK, b/c being an early supporter and frequent customer waaaay back then, they wouldnt retrofit a clip on my p model. So I sold it.

But then, I bought one in 11/03 b/c of all the talk about S30Vand "amazing" QC...it has no play, is very sharp and very well done. But, it remains unused, NIB. Why? I dunno.

Some people love 'em, some people have disdain for them. For me, it could be a real user, but I am waiting on something that looks more ergonomic, and if it is, the seb goes.

I gotta tell ya, the Ritter Grip is filling my needs now. S30V, good heat treat, great lock, good ergos, easy to carry and 1/3 the price.

Don't get me wrong, the seb is a dang fine knife, and you should get one, use it and see how you like it.
 
fisherk said:
I sold my second Sebbie to help pay for a Custom - a Koji Hara Pearl Air Step to be exact.
Click to expand...
Not trying to hijack the thread but could you post a pic? I’m curious as to how it looks. I've got a Lakeland which is a production model from Knife House Hara (it has the most beautiful MOP scales I've ever seen in person).

As to the question, yes I've sold one of the two Sebbies (both small) that I've owned. I sold it because I'm something of a minimalist/user and I don't like to own a bunch of "safe queens" and although the Sebbie had a nice unique graphic it wasn't "unique" enough to justify keeping it just for the sake keeping it. ;)
 
I love Sebenzas and I think they are great knives but I don't currently own any. I've gotten into custom folders and I have found a few makers whose quality, fit and finish are easily a match for the Sebenza and I prefer their style better. I had a small wood inlay Seb that I sold for personal reasons (gift from someone that I didn't want to be reminded of every day) and a large that I sold only after I got into customs.

I'm very picky when it comes to fit and finish, that was why I was initially drawn to Sebs, but I have since found custom makers doing equal quality work and I tend to like the designs better. JW Smith, Chris Smith (JW's son), Lee Williams and Mike Obenauf are three makers who's knives I currently own. All are absolutly flawless in construction, at the very least equal to the Sebs I have owned and IMO better. Obenauf, Williams and Chris Smith knives can be had for prices very close to a plain Seb. JW's cost more new, but I recently picked up a mint mini-scimitar for only $300 and it's amazing. I like these better because they are bolstered liner locks, which is my favorite style (though most of those makers do frame locks as well if you want something more like a Seb) I also like having a knife made by a knife maker and not a company (I know CRK isn't like most knife companies, but it's still different)

On the other hand I have had some custom knives pass through my hands that did not measure up in the fit and finish to a Seb. These were from popular, well respected makers and while I found most of the designs to be great, the quality just wasn't there IMO. You have to do more research into a custom maker before buying a knife from them, and sometimes you may just have to handle one for yourself.

Before I got into customs I loved my Sebenza's, but after owning and using some of the knives from these makers I just can't see myself going back. The Seb is a great knife, a wonderfully made, utilitarian knife but it just doesn't have as much appeal to me as the knives I currently own and use. My current EDC is the afore mentioned JW Smith mini-scimitar and I have never been this happy with and EDC knife before. If you havn't, I would highly suggest checking out a knife from him or one of the others I mentioned before you make your decision. You may find that they arn't for you and that you still prefer the Sebenza, but you just may discover something you like even better, I did.

For the best deal in a utilitarian knife, check out Obenauf. His knives have perfect fit and finish and his prices are very low for the quality you receive (too low IMO, but don't tell that to Mike :) j/k) Williams and Chris are both very close in price as well.
 
I was very pleased with my Sebenza, but over time I gradually developed more specific ideas about what I want in an EDC. The Sebenza is a great knife, it just isn't the knife for me.

I strongly prefer recurve blades and I insist on a lower guard or some other form of "hard stop" to keep my hand from sliding onto the blade. Also, the Sebbie's ergonomics never really impressed me. There are plenty of knives that feel better in my hand.

Once I decided on exactly what I wanted (a Darrel Ralph Madd Maxx 4" recurve in Talonite) I sold my Sebenza to help raise the money for it and I've carried it ever since.

--Bob Q
 
I bought a strider sng and soon after sold the sebenza. The sebenza was really really nice... but the sng was BADASS and more my taste. I would love to have kept both but I cant afford to own 800 dollars worth of knifes these days. :grumpy:
 
This is really gonna bug the crap oughta me... where is the blade on the Sebenza that you posted?
 
Until I find something better, the Sebenza is in my pocket. Find me another knife of the same quality, I will switch.


Steve-O
 
Until I find something better, the Sebenza is in my pocket. Find me another knife of the same quality, I will switch.


Steve-O
 
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