Why Do People Sell Their Sebenzas?

Well if you want a new knife maybe you cant justify owning more than X amount or Y dollars worth so you can either sell it or trade it.

People sell their ferraris on occasion too.
 
StotheE said:
i think logic plays a huge part
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So do cryptic comments.

I've sold a few knives that I intend to buy back at some point, simply because I just wasn't using them and didn't need to have them around.

I can see someone buying an expensive knife like the Sebenza, deciding it was too nice/expensive for what they intended to use it for, and couldn't bear to keep it as a safe queen.
 
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I recently traded my last Sebenza for a partial trade on a custom XM-18. Not because I didn't like the knife, simply because I had a chance at something I wanted more, and needed the cash for part of the trade.

Sebenzas are always available, other things are not. Ive gone through 4-5, I always try to keep one, but if I see another high end knife come along I want more, they are easy to sell/trade for 95% of their value.
 
These comments make sense. I've always thought about buying a knife
just to try it and then selling it back at a small loss. Almost a way to
"lease" a knife. The only problem is I'll probably grow to like it too much!
 
I don't own a Sebenza, but am pretty sure that their owners have a hard time parting with them for whatever reason they have to. I have never owned a Sebenza (I will though), but I do own and have sold/or traded William Henrys. They were all hard to part with. I would imagine the same would hold true for the Sebenza guys/gals.
 
Sebbies have an allure that makes them desirable, heck I want one, and one day I may, but it will be a the cost of selling blades I currently care too much about to sell.

For me it is becoming "steel out before more steel in" as I fear a hobby has turned into an obsession if not addiction. :confused:
 
Lots of guys buy a $350 knife and then stick it in a safe because they are afraid to scratch their expensive knife. So after the newness wears off, it's just $350 sitting in the safe. So they move it out NIB to get money to spend on something else.
 
safetyman said:
Some people like to buy knives to try them out. If they don't like them then they just sell them and move on to another knife. There is nothing wrong with that, if you don't like a knife or can't justify using or having it, there is no use in keeping it.
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I agree with the above. I also think people are somewhat dissolutioned in thinking that this knife is really going to be something special. It's just another knife isn't it? Is it really all that better than some of the other knives they might own?
Expensive, and perhaps a bit of a disappointment, and also having equity tied up in something they aren't getting anymore enjoyment from might be one of the reason's you see one for sale.
 
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Infi-del said:
Lots of guys buy a $350 knife and then stick it in a safe because they are afraid to scratch their expensive knife. So after the newness wears off, it's just $350 sitting in the safe. So they move it out NIB to get money to spend on something else.
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It would seem so. I recently bought my first SnG, two months ago. I have yet to use it.:)
My Spydercos are still my EDC knives. Cheaper to replace is my top reason.
 
ive sold sebenzas to finance other purchases.

ive sold sebenzas because i got them in trade and only took the trade because i knew i could easily sell the sebenza.

ive sold sebenzas because i didnt care for them (smalls).

ive sold a sebenza because it was just sitting in my safe and knew there was a collector out there who would enjoy it more than i.

and i also know i can always pick up another.
 
In my opinion Sebenzas are over-hyped, so I should imagine that many get sold on as the new owner is underwhelmed by his purchase.
 
I've had 13 Sebs and I currently have 6, so I've sold off 7. My reasons for selling have nothing to do with the quality of the knife or it's suitability for my needs. My wife and both I EDC small Sebs and they work fine for us.

When I first got into Sebenzas, I preferred the regular model. I collected a large and a small, then a DBL LUG small. I also picked up a small micarta to see if I'd like it. I didn't at the time and sold it. I sold a small plain classic because it was uncomfortable, too.

Over time, I've found the classic / 21 style Sebs easier to open and close, so I've switched to using that style with an inlay of some sort. I sold off my regulars to fund the purchase of a small Ironwood 21 for dress and another small micarta for work. I bought a large micarta to have a bigger Seb for outdoor carry when we're camping or hiking.
 
I'm selling one of mine, but it has nothing to do with the quality of the knife. It's perfect. I just decided that I didn't need it, because my little Seb will never leave my pocket, and it's just too beautiful a knife to sit in my safe.

You don't see many people who have actually owned and carried a Sebenza hating on Sebenzas. They rule.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=651793
 
amen74 said:
It would seem so. I recently bought my first SnG, two months ago. I have yet to use it.:)
My Spydercos are still my EDC knives. Cheaper to replace is my top reason.
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Often people lose knives. Those people refrain from carrying a sebenza as well cause they get that sick feeling in their stomach of "What if I were to lose this knife". So your cheaper to replace idea is probably right one for a percentage of sebenza owners.

I for one only own a handful of folders cause I'm a fixed blade type of guy. On little ladybug hangs on my keychain. The other two are a leatherman and a strider AR. I EDC all three. And the last is a Balisong that I have cause it's cool. But then again I've only ever lost one folder in my life and now I take extra precautions to insure that I won't drop and lose another. I never pocket carry, I carry in belt pouches and that seems to work great for me. Makes it possible to comfortably EDC an AR. Which is a pig.
 
Steven Andrews said:
In my opinion Sebenzas are over-hyped, so I should imagine that many get sold on as the new owner is underwhelmed by his purchase.
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I wouldn't say they're over-hyped. They are everything they are advertised to be. I lean more towards the Strider type folders in that price range cause I like big chunky tanks over sleek sexy James Bond type folders. But they really are that well made and expertly crafted. Though I will say I've known some gents who expect it to make toast and coffee for them in the morning if it costs that much and are let down when it turns out to be just a knife. One of the nicest made knives in the world, but still just a knife.
 
Steven Andrews said:
In my opinion Sebenzas are over-hyped, so I should imagine that many get sold on as the new owner is underwhelmed by his purchase.
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Surprised to hear this from you as much as you like to disassemble knives.
Sebs are elegant in their simplicity, and strong to a fault. Incredibly smooth.
I have a few Benchmades that get more pocket time because they are
lighter to carry than my Lg Seb. For important jobs I always grab the Seb.

I have small Seb that I'll probably sell eventually, too small for my big hands.
Had to check it out, I don't think you really know a knife until you carry it.

But many people I've met who sold a Seb regret it later.
I think the only reason one may see more Sebs for sale now is the economy.

-Ron
 
I just got my first Sebenza (small LH Classic). So far, so good. Will I have it 50 years from now? I don't know.

Why do people sell off other "universally acclaimed classics"? As discussed above, if a knife has a lot of buzz/hype surrounding it, there is bound to be some letdown when it arrives and it's just a knife in a box (or a ziploc). Soon after, it's back up for sale LNIB. On a headphone forum I frequent this phenomenon is known as FOTM: flavor of the month. That observation made, I don't think that Sebbies are FOTM.

That being said, I have slowly accumulated several such "Best Knife Evers" to try them out.
Some were obvious keepers (MiniGrip, Caly3CF, 110, small Kreins, various Barkies).
Some unexpectedly grew on me (Endura4).
Some I'm still warming up to (Delica4, Mikro Canadian)
Some were fun for a while before their resale value/equity exceeded their utility to me (Leek, Dozier, ZT301, Bravo-1, a few small Busses, BM710).

The very first time this happened to me, I was shocked, SHOCKED! How could I not like the Leek? It's a CLASSIC after all! Why would anyone ever sell one? The same thing happened with my grail Dozier. These experiences were confusing at first, but now it's much easier.

Every knife isn't for everybody. Many people seem to sell their Grails two weeks after they get them. Steel in, steel out.
 
440hard said:
Surprised to hear this from you as much as you like to disassemble knives.
Sebs are elegant in their simplicity, and strong to a fault. Incredibly smooth.
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I appreciate the build quality of the Seb, but Benchmade's Axis Lock has spoiled all other folding knives for me :(.

That said, I will keep my Seb...


..It is a great knife, but the practicality of the Axis means that those knives see a lot more carry.
 
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