Why I Love My CRK Umnumzaan: An In-depth Review w/ Pictures!

Thanks everyone!

I have developed a complete LOVE for this knife as it takes the concept of a folding knife up another notch. I am hoping to see a 2/3 size version.

Going back to the 'rubber bands' that are on the thumb studs...your tires are made of materials many people refer to as 'rubber' as well. They make contact with hard concrete traveling at speeds of 70-80MPH on a daily basis, carry at least a ton and a half of weight on them, and on certain cars, 200MPH plus. They live outside in the worst of worst environments and you only replace them every few years at most. By all means they go through more hell than we can ever take a pocket knife through yet they perform just fine as well. You must not let rubber stop you from your mission which is to buy this knife!!!
 
The Umnumzaan was put to the test in this review.Could the same things be done with a large or small Sebenza without doing any harm or would this cause any trouble?
 
Nikzac,

Your review has inspired me to order an Umnumzaan--thanks for all the research and the photos! I have a question, if you don't mind, how does it carry as compared with a large Sebenza? Is it more or less comfortable in the pocket? I had always kind of assumed that the Seb was the biggest knife I could comfortably carry. What are your observations on this?
 
I've been carrying the umnuzaan for about 6 months and before I EDC'ed a large Sebenza and I can hardly tell the difference. The Umnum is a little thicker thatn the large Seb but carries the same IMO.:thumbup:
 
This is how a knife review should be done. Lots of pictures, a little humor, and a large amount of heavy-duty use. I don't need reviews in which people type up the published specs and reinterpret the manufacturer's ad copy, I want something that shows me what the knife can do and how it will handle hard use- and you've done just that. Fantastic job, sir.

I love my Small Seb 21 (Simple! Classic! Beautiful!), and I was on the fence about the Umnum- until now. You've just convinced me, and the Umnum is now at the top of my list. I'm still getting a Mikov first (they are so fun) and probably an Al Mar Falcon (to wear with a tuxedo) but those aren't too expensive.

As an aside, I know that Umnums aren't customizable, but does CRK make exceptions for special orders? I recently bought a Small Seb for my dad with a few minor customizations (ambi thumb lugs, silver instead of blue, engraved text) and despite the usual month-long backorder on even bone-standard knives, they were able to turn out my customized piece in less than two weeks. If I wanted a custom Umnum (say, with all-black handles and hardware, maybe a different texture pattern on the slabs) do you think that would work?
 
marcengels said:
The Umnumzaan was put to the test in this review.Could the same things be done with a large or small Sebenza without doing any harm or would this cause any trouble?
Click to expand...

I don't really see anything in this review a Seb couldn't do..
I'd be careful batoning any folder though.
 
Thanks again to everyone for the kind remarks. I guess it is time for a few month follow up. The Umnumzaan is still kicking and I carry it about 13/14 days; I only carry something else when the knife is too large for the situation which is rarely. I stand behind everything I said before with this being the ultimate folding knife which stands high above the others. Pictures are below:


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marcengels said:
The Umnumzaan was put to the test in this review.Could the same things be done with a large or small Sebenza without doing any harm or would this cause any trouble?
Click to expand...

I don’t think the Large Sebenza or any other folding knife, hold maybe the ZT030X series, could withstand the abuse the Umnumzaan can handle. The Large Sebenza is a tough knife but the Umnumzaan’s considerably larger pivot pin, thicker blade, thicker handle and stronger tip all helps it hold up to heavier use.





Evany said:
Nikzac,

Your review has inspired me to order an Umnumzaan--thanks for all the research and the photos! I have a question, if you don't mind, how does it carry as compared with a large Sebenza? Is it more or less comfortable in the pocket? I had always kind of assumed that the Seb was the biggest knife I could comfortably carry. What are your observations on this?
Click to expand...

The Umnumzaan has a profile very similar to the Large Sebenza. It is slightly thicker but you really don’t notice this. The textured handles on the Umnumzaan keep it more secure in your pocket than the plain Sebenza but it will also create a little more friction upon deployment; again this is trivial and you will notice little difference. The pocket clip and lanyard design combined with a profile which is not much larger makes it so if you are used to carrying a Sebenza, an Umnumzaan will be very, very similar






mrpinkbullets said:
This is how a knife review should be done. Lots of pictures, a little humor, and a large amount of heavy-duty use. I don't need reviews in which people type up the published specs and reinterpret the manufacturer's ad copy, I want something that shows me what the knife can do and how it will handle hard use- and you've done just that. Fantastic job, sir.

I love my Small Seb 21 (Simple! Classic! Beautiful!), and I was on the fence about the Umnum- until now. You've just convinced me, and the Umnum is now at the top of my list. I'm still getting a Mikov first (they are so fun) and probably an Al Mar Falcon (to wear with a tuxedo) but those aren't too expensive.

As an aside, I know that Umnums aren't customizable, but does CRK make exceptions for special orders? I recently bought a Small Seb for my dad with a few minor customizations (ambi thumb lugs, silver instead of blue, engraved text) and despite the usual month-long backorder on even bone-standard knives, they were able to turn out my customized piece in less than two weeks. If I wanted a custom Umnum (say, with all-black handles and hardware, maybe a different texture pattern on the slabs) do you think that would work?
Click to expand...

Thank you very much as this is how I see reviews. Formulas don’t mean much as we don’t go camping or hiking with our graphing calculators. Simultaneously, we don’t go to war with 55 gallon drums so the idea of this review is using it for practical but heavy use so this review is the middle ground. Other things this knife pleased me with was ease of sharpening with just a bench stone, ease of regrinding the tip when I broke a piece off from playing with the knife and metal, and the fact that the knife stays lubed through the nastiest of sand and dirt particles and even liquid. I’ve used this knife in manners that would qualify me to work on a Cold Steel video just because I could and this knife does not suffer from it. Most knives can be driven through a car hood, 55 gallon drum or hammered directly on as if they were a chisel…most knives (probably including Cold Steel folders), do however get their locks messed up afterwards. While the knife may still open and close, its lock is usually thrown off spec and weakened greatly; this is not this is not the case for the Umnumzaan whatsoever. With all of that said, me screwing around with this knife like that has little practicality to real world use and so I don’t include it in an interview.

As far as customization, CRK does not customize at all. All Umnumzaans come with ambidextrous thumb studs and the only option is a tanto blade over the production modified drop point. With that said, the tanto blade looks good but like most tantos, it has less functionality than other popular blade shapes. Many users here have made the knives look GREAT. Contact Big Mark as he has a few Umnumzaans with custom work that looks like it came straight from the factory.
 
This is the next knife I buy... after I recoup from buying my sng.... mostly because of this review.. so thank you. I am really torn between getting the large seb 21 and the um. but, since they are both similar and size and price.. I think the "tougher" umnumzaam would be better? bah... this is not a fair choice to be forced to make.
 
Im surprised you didn't add the part where you make love to it. I guess the pics won't be appropriate. Ok jokes aside, great review. I'm sold... Just need the cash.
 
NickZac said:
You only live once and this thing is made to be used. Furthermore, I really enjoy using it for everything. It has the thickest blade I have ever owned on a pocket knife and it batons as well as a smaller FB
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Amen. More power to you!

BTW, the picture below totally cracked me (and my two sons) up:

7-11-09ChrisReeveUmnumzaanInActi-42.jpg
 
I wish the Sebbies and Umnums came in black/charcoal or at least some other other colors. I realize the gray color is intended to be consistent with the simple design and all but it's just a little bland for my taste.
 
This has got to be one of the best reviews I've ever seen. I've just committed to a deal for an Umnum Which will be my primary EDC and this review has certainly added some assurance for my decision. Thanks:thumbsup:
 
most awesome review. read it before, but glad it got bumped. We need more umnum stories
 
will come out in a few months with s35vn, however damascus and other embellishments are not planned
 
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