Why dont sebenzas ever have problems?

T

TOMAHAWK70

Joined
Oct 26, 2004
Messages
33
I was reading about some other high end knives and the owners had some typical problems; such as blade play and the like. How come i never see any problems with sebenzas. They are made of metal like other knives but you just never hear of any problems. Why dont other makers just fallow what chris reeve does? Im not a knife maker and i dont play one on tv, but if chris reeve builds such problem free knives, why doesnt more companies fallow his leed?
 
You have seen what they charge for those knives, right? That is one of the reasons why other companies don't "do what he does".
 
TOMAHAWK70 said:
I was reading about some other high end knives and the owners had some typical problems; such as blade play and the like. How come i never see any problems with sebenzas. They are made of metal like other knives but you just never hear of any problems. Why dont other makers just fallow what chris reeve does? Im not a knife maker and i dont play one on tv, but if chris reeve builds such problem free knives, why doesnt more companies fallow his leed?
Click to expand...

Well....it isn't that they NEVER have problems, although I would guess that the rate of quality control problems with CRK folders is less than for most (if not all) other manufacturers.

It is possible that CRK owners don't whine as much, I don't know.
It may also be that CRK offers incredible customer service if you sniff out a problem.

These knives get a lot of handwork done on them, and the pivot design is intended to eliminate adjustment issues, a source of much angst and trouble with some other pivot designs.

Finally, notice that CRK has a total of 5 designs. (Sebenza, Classic & Regular; Small Sebenza, Classic & Regular; and the Mnandi.) I don't count handle treatments, as they do not change the blade shape or basic handle frame design. Look at most other companies and even "custom" makers. Many of them have literally dozens of different blade shape and frame designs going at any one time. They are contracted to a variety of shops to keep up with demand. Quality control is much, much harder in that kind of manufacturing environment.
 
Other knives that cost as much and use the same materials do not measure up to CRK because he works to finer tolerances and his knives are semi-custom as much as production, for all the hand finishing.
 
Unfortunately not all makers and/or companies have the integrity, dedication to their customer base and willingness to stand behind their product as CRK does. Don't get me wrong there are many fine makers and/or companies who do excellent work and have admirable levels of fit/finish, top drawer parts and customer service but with CRK al these things merge to form one terrific company. ;)
 
Small shop mentality. Do what you do right every time.

Measure Twice - Cut Once.

Seems it's not just a Motto with Reeve.
 
but if chris reeve builds such problem free knives, why doesnt more companies fallow his leed?
Click to expand...

Because they would have to charge as much as CRK does if not more.

The market is probably not sufficient in that price range to support anything but small companies or makers.
 
On a side note, how many cheaper (but still decent) equivalents could one buy for the price of Sebenza and then just junk them if they fail ? I'm sure somebody has more experience with less expensive (trying to avoid the term "cheaper")well made knives too, what's your verdict ?
 
faramir said:
On a side note, how many cheaper (but still decent) equivalents could one buy for the price of Sebenza and then just junk them if they fail ? I'm sure somebody has more experience with less expensive (trying to avoid the term "cheaper")well made knives too, what's your verdict ?
Click to expand...


There are lots of decent knives out there. Heck, I consider my cheap $8.00 Opinel a decent knife and just think how many Opinels I can get for the price of one Sebenza. :D

Seriously, you could cycle through all of the folders made by Buck, CRKT, Gerber, Timberline and others and still not find one with the fit/finish and attention to detail that a Sebenza has. Does this make them bad knives? No, just not in the same class. The same can be said of higher end production folders by Benchmade, Spyderco and others. All are superior production knives, but they are still not in the same class as a Chris Reeve Sebenza.

You get no bells and whistles with the Sebenza. You buy a large regular Sebenza and you get a simple looking, clean, yet meticulously crafted knife. You can use the knife as hard as you want (I've never heard of a Sebenza failing). You can take it apart as many times as you want and not worry about voiding the warranty. The best part is if you get the blade and handle all scratched up you can send it back to CRK with a few bucks get the knife refurbished to like new condition. Show me another production company that will do that.
 
Good one Esav :D I've carried a small Sebenza or Umfaan for the last three years and have never felt cheated by the price I'd payed. The three Reeves that I've owned were all at the same level of quality (perfect fit and finish, no blade play whatsoever). The one experience that I had with customer service was also wonderful. I had to field sharpen my small Sebenza and really botched up the symmetrical grinds. I carried it for another few months until the looks of it really started to bother me. I sent it back to Reeve and for 25 dollars, his crew not only re-ground and sharpened my knife, but also fully satin finished the blade grinds. Alot of other companies would have not bothered but also charged me for a new blade. You do pay for your Reeve knife, but you get alot more than just a knife!
Matt
 
As much as I love my small Sebenza, there is one issue that irks me--the softness of the steel used in the hex screws, particularly the pivot screw. (This is fairly common in classic hex head fasteners...anyone who has ever stripped the hex in a Hogue 1911 grip scew can give me an 'amen').

My sebbie is back at the Reeve Hospital in Idaho getting the pivot screw replaced, as I stupidly rounded out the hex.

Otherwise it's my favorite knife.
 
I think this is where CRK really excells. I love the design (especially the pivot) and the materials are top notch, but the consistancy of the quality that they put out is simply amazing. No other knife company can match it and very very few custom makers can either IMO. Almost any other time I buy a knife I'm concerned with how good it will be, wether it will have blade play or other issues. This is the same for all production knives and many customs. When buying a CRK that issue doesn't even concern me. I know that it's going to be perfect. Every one I've ever handled has been perfect. I'm sure there are a few that sneak out with a flaw every now and then, but the percentage of those must be incredibly small compared to other makers.
 
Some people complain of stiff opening of new sebenzas.

Some people have had trouble with the thumb stud being too rough.

Some people have had trouble unlocking the bar.

A few people have had them open in their pocket and stab 'em.

A few people believe the clip was too tight.

And some are so screwed up they are sent back to the factory to be reconditioned.
 
It sounds like pretty much all of the complaints on the Sebenza are design issues, which are entirely a matter of opinion.

I'd be the first to complain if my Sebenza ever showed a problem, but it's been darned near prefect for all these years. It's not my favorite folder, but it's probably my best one.
 
I have problems with my CRK knives. They just can't stay sharp. Must be all that cutting I do with it. Oh yeah, and then there that stupid opening where the blade folds into. Lint and dust and stuff always seems to get in there and makes the blade look dirty and all..... ;)
 
Could be the owners are a little more careful in selecting what tasks they are willing to do using a $300 plus dollar folding knife. There's not a doubt in my mind that many Sebenzas were status (only the best sort of thing) purchases and do nothing more than open letters, packages, clean fingernails, etc. That's not a slam at the knives or their owners and I also have no doubt that there are Sebenzas that work very hard for their living, but I think most of them live normal pocketknife lives. You take a knife thats built to take abuse and don't abuse it, well, it's going to live a long time trouble free.
 
Terhune said:
Could be the owners are a little more careful in selecting what tasks they are willing to do using a $300 plus dollar folding knife.
Click to expand...


Nope! I've used my small Sebenza in some pretty tough situations even around the campsite and in food prep. Never fails.
Matt
 
You won't find a finer, or more stand-up outfit than Chris Reeve Knives. ;)

Paul
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top