Why Do People Sell Their Sebenzas?

[CL01]

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.

Interesting opinion. I doubt that's the case for most, but interesting, none the less.

I don't think this has/needs to be overthought. As many have said (Along with me), you tend to get more than one & figure you might not want/need the others (In my case, the classics are more comfortable). Also, they're great to get in trades or if you need $ & to sell, because they are so popular.

I recently had a Seb up F/T for a certain knife. I didn't not get that offer, but I received MANY emails/PMs for trading it for something else. It's always amazing me when I've had one up F/T what kind of response I get. Just based on personal responses, I think people might not have or don't want, to spend the $ for one or once they have one (If bought at retail or close to it), it's hard to use something that expensive for many people.

Anyways, I think many of the sales of Sebs right now are because people need $ & a Seb sells pretty quickly.

 

[tradja]

"How dare you sell a Leek!!!"


Exactly!

Another thing that I think is interesting: knifezoid (the OP) wonders why anyone would ever get rid of a particular knife that he doesn't even own! (I may have misinterpreted this). To be clear, this isn't any kind of criticism of knifezoid's perspective, but it speaks to the spell/cult/mystique of the Sebbie -- knuts who don't own one can't fathom being without one!

As a new owner, I'm already realizing that vanilla Sebenzas are somewhat of a commodity -- you can always pick one up again in the future if you regret the sale.

I just got a Leek, am I'm gonna ask you the same thing: How could you NOT like the leek?!

(I'm left handed. Otherwise I'd have every variant including the goldtone one. )

 

[tradja]

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

Fixed that for ya.

That's how most of us feel about a lot of knives, and is probably the best answer to the OP's question. Ultimately, no matter how well-regarded any knife is, there is no perfect knife.


...except for my LH Classic, of course. Or maybe the CF Caly3. Or my Murray Carter neck knife. Or the MiniGrip...

 

[Steven Andrews]

There may be no perfect knife, but some knives work better as knives than others.

I understand that most won't agree, but I think that humble 556 Mini Grip is a better knife than the Seb.

When I say "knife" I mean tool for cutting things. Yes, the Seb is beautifully made, with perfect fit-and-finish, but when I just want to produce a knife, open it, cut something, close it and re-pocket it, the little Mini Grip just works better.

I know that the Seb holds its value well.. but I would never want to sell my Mini Grip!

 

[p_mcmanis]

There may be no perfect knife, but some knives work better as knives than others.

I understand that most won't agree, but I think that humble 556 Mini Grip is a better knife than the Seb.

When I say "knife" I mean tool for cutting things. Yes, the Seb is beautifully made, with perfect fit-and-finish, but when I just want to produce a knife, open it, cut something, close it and re-pocket it, the little Mini Grip just works better.

I know that the Seb holds its value well.. but I would never want to sell my Mini Grip!

What exactly about the mini grip makes you think that? Because the blade shape and grind on the sebenza are just better than the grip for every day cutting imo.

 

[mongomondo]

I like the ergonomics of the mini grip better, and the axis is a better lock than the framelock IMO.

 

[p_mcmanis]

I like the ergonomics of the mini grip better, and the axis is a better lock than the framelock IMO.

do you think these are qualities of a pocket knife or the qualities of a cutting tool?

I dont know, it may just be that Ive always had a problem with that damn swedge thats on like every benchmade; and I just feel like that super high hollow ground blade cuts better.

Ill give you the lock going to the grip for sure though.

 

[StotheE]

350+ dollars for s30v. no thanks.

 

[tapedeck74]

I own and use a BM 556 mini-grip and small and large regular Sebenzas.
I use the BM at work, to do awful, awful things. I don't care if it gets killed, it's a cheap knife. The blade looks like crap, I sharpen it every couple of days, fast and messy like.
The Sebenzas are my "personal" knives, not professional, and get carried on the week ends.
Now, which knife is a better "knife"? The Sebenza, hands down, no contest. Cuts better, feels better, the whole deal.
Then why do I use the BM to bring home the bacon? Because it's a good knife that does the job.
Would I like to use a Sebenza for work? Hell yeah! And some day I might, but I'm just not comfortable dragging the Seb across concrete just yet.

 

[Steven Andrews]

There may be no perfect knife, but some knives work better as knives than others.

I understand that most won't agree, but I think that humble 556 Mini Grip is a better knife than the Seb.

When I say "knife" I mean tool for cutting things. Yes, the Seb is beautifully made, with perfect fit-and-finish, but when I just want to produce a knife, open it, cut something, close it and re-pocket it, the little Mini Grip just works better.

I know that the Seb holds its value well.. but I would never want to sell my Mini Grip!

What exactly about the mini grip makes you think that? Because the blade shape and grind on the sebenza are just better than the grip for every day cutting imo.

1. The thumb studs. I find the design of the Mini Grip's to be superior, making it much easier to thumb open.
2. Ease of opening. My Seb's lock bar exerts a lot of lateral force on the tang of the knife. It requires quite a lot of force to get the ball out of the detent when the knife is being opened and the lock bar pressing against the side of the tang means that is doesn't glide as well as the Mini Grip.
3. Ergonoics. I find the Mini Grip more comfortable to use and the Noryl GTX scales offer better grip.
4. Ease of closing the knife. The Axis Lock is quicker and easier to disengage than the Seb's frame lock.

Regarding blade shape and grind: there isn't much in it really. I had to spend a lot of time on my new Seb, thinning out the excessively steep edge bevel before the knife would cut well, whereas the Mini Grip came with a nice shallow edge bevel.
Both knives now cut well, but I have a slight preference for the Mini Grip's straighter edge (less belly) and flat sabre grind.

The Seb's beauty is in its simplicity. It is much quicker to strip and clean a Seb than a Mini Grip... but if I am heading down to the beach or out to sea, I'll grab my Pacific Salt!

 

[randomlooker]

If I owned a Sebenza, I'd sell it to raise money for a Mnandi. That's the only Chris Reeve knife line that makes me go "I want!".

 

[mongomondo]

do you think these are qualities of a pocket knife or the qualities of a cutting tool?

I dont know, it may just be that Ive always had a problem with that damn swedge thats on like every benchmade; and I just feel like that super high hollow ground blade cuts better.

Ill give you the lock going to the grip for sure though.

I have a Ritter griptilian, it's more expensive than the regular grip, but much cheaper than a Sebenza. it has a very similar grind. I like Sebenzas plenty, but like Steven I reach for my grip much more often

 

[robicon]

As the new owner of a small classic plain sebenza; I don't plan on selling it.


I've found that great knives, like firearms, are not to be sold and to do so invites great regret.

I'll keep it, use it, and when the handle/blade picks up mars and scratches (which it already has) I'll send it back to CRK who'll make it new again.


Twice in my life I sold firearms after I convinced myself I didn't need that particular model...both times I've come to seriously regret it.

 

[knifezoid]

I'll keep it, use it, and when the handle/blade picks up mars and scratches (which it already has) I'll send it back to CRK who'll make it new again.

I like this concept. Cause that way you can have an expensive knife and
use it hard without worrying about it looking bad cause it can always get
a face lift.

 

[knifezoid]

"How dare you sell a Leek!!!"


Exactly!

Another thing that I think is interesting: knifezoid (the OP) wonders why anyone would ever get rid of a particular knife that he doesn't even own! (I may have misinterpreted this).

I guess you're not totally misinterpreting. I don't and have never owned one,
but I've read a lot about them on the forums and I guess through that I've come to see it as this highly revealed blade.
That's why I was surprised to see so many people selling it. But this thread cleared it up for me.
Now I wanna go on a spending spree for a bunch of knives I always wanted
to try out with the intention that I'll just sell them back to the market... Yeah
right! I know myself, I'll just end up going bankrupt with nothing to show
but a bunch of blades. But that might not be an entirely bad thing.