Why is the Sebenza so popular?

This is the finest made production knife on the planet. It is built with more precision that a lot of custom knives are. Chris Reeve has perfected this design and gone on to add a little beauty to it by offering the woods in both versions. For the longest time I couldn't decide what I was looking for in a knife and it finally dawned on me that I was looking for absolute precision in the execution of the knife. Craftsmanship and engineering are tops for the Sebenza. That might only be a 3.5" blade but it is a fairly wide one and you will be able to cut whatever it is you want to cut. Now you might say, "well your biased because you are a sebenza collector" can't say that because I don't even own a Sebenza anymore. I have fallen for three knifemakers and am gonna run with that for a while! I will say this I am looking to get another Sebenza simply because it is the best engineered knife available at the low price that you are able to get it.
 
Why, simply because there so darn good and i have a Large Classic in my Levi's that i use every day so i know first hand! hehe

"Built like and Tank and cuts like a Dream"

James
 
 
Originally posted by Jeremy Reynolds
People buy the sebenze as their first step up from the world of lower end production, not quite wanting to break into the custom knife world. Sad thing, if they would shop around, they would find better knives for the same prices in the custom world. I get what I want, in the materials I want, and the size I want. I'll say it again, if you want a framelock, get an Obenauf. Better prices, holds value better, more blade shape options, blade steel choices, etc... Hell, JW Smith was selling his framelocks for $375! There's far too many better custom choices in the sebbie price range to make the sebbie an option for me.

JR
Click to expand...

Actually, I've tried to contact Obenauf via email, for a quote and delivery estimate. It's only been a couple days, but haven't heard back from him yet. I'm kind of leaning in that direction right now, are the mid-range customs really much of an improvement over Sebies? I only ask because I've never personally owned either one yet. I doubt I'll ever be a collector, but am determined to have at least one knife that's special, even if I have to go through half a dozen before I find it. I know I can't afford the artsy/fartsy super customs, with price tags from $800-$2,500 or more, but would at least like to have one nice enough that occasionally somone would see the knife and say "Wow, that's nice!". JDBraddy
 
Originally posted by holdanedge
as usual, i am going to go against the grain here!
to me the sebenza would be a super deal for $200. they would sell a lot more and volume would make up for per unit cost. it just ins't worth $100 to $150 more than any other comparable production knife, in my opinion. why? because 15% more quality doesnt seem to be worth 50% more money. that seems to be backwards economics!
thank you,
holdanedge.
Click to expand...

What??!! You say a Sebbie is overpriced and not worth the extra money for the amt of quality you say they offer? Yet, in your other post today, you talk of wanting to dump $130 for a POS knife that you list all these major defects in just because it looks cool. Dude, you don't make any sense at all! For those wondering, Here is the post I'm referring to

The more posts of yours I read, the more you lean toward troll status in my opinion. At first I felt bad for you because everyone was picking on you, but now I feel like you enjoy ruffling feathers for attention.

Mike
 
I don’t believe there is anything “wrong” with a Sebanza. Does it appeal to me? No. I am a great admirer of Chris Reeves Knives and think they are some of the best-built knives you can find and the Sebanza is one of them. I think the knife is not attractive in it’s looks and part of buying a knife is liking the way it works, you have to mesh form with function in order to have a knife you will want to keep and use. You can buy Benchmades and Spyderco’s that will serve your EDC needs just as well as a Sebanza and still have money left in your pocket. If your wanting to spend that kind of money on a folding knife I would say save a little extra and get a Sebanza that’s dolled up or buy a custom that you will enjoy not only the function but also the looks of.

I see a lot of post here and elsewhere on how people love the Sebanza and they would not hesitate to buy another, but they have sold the one they had and no longer own one, I think this is odd, If I love the knife and it is everything I am saying it is I sure wouldn’t trade it or sell it, unless I just lost my job or something and had to eat.
 
here on this forum but it doesn't do me any good. It's like saying the BMW M5 is the ultimate driving machine. That may be, but that doesn't do me any good either. I drive a '65 VW, my feet have been clad in the same pair of steel-toe Cats for four years now, I paid $30 for my watch at Target and my EDC has been a CRKT M16-03Z. For me the Sebenza is like a '53 Split Window. A beautiful work of art that I wont own any time in the near future. Don't get me wrong, if you can afford such luxuries by all means enjoy. That's what we slave away for, isn't it? To enjoy the finer things in life.

Frank
 
I personally find my Sebenza to be butt ugly. I've got Spydercos that have it beat in the looks category, and Spydies 'aint none too pretty, IMHO.

With that said, the large Classic Sebenza is my favorite folder. The lock is tough as nails, and the blade geometry is excellent. This is a knife designed to cut, and never fold up on you. It even has nice frills like a rounded spine. The handle shape provides a very secure grip.

My favorite aspect of the knife is that it can be field stripped with one allen wrench. I've gotten my Seb VERY dirty and mucked up with outdoor use. The knife was back to pristine cleanliness in only a few minutes. Any other production folder would have cleaned up as fast, but wouldn't have been fully cleaned.

When I bought my Seb, I needed the toughest folder I could afford, with the highest level of durability and cutting efficiency. I didn't care about the looks, and still don't. I bought the Sebenza to use hard. Any folder would look just as bad after what I've put my Seb through. Probably worse.

The Sebenza is for people who need a hardcore tool. It's for people who use their knives daily for cutting, and don't have time to baby them. It's my most expensive folder, and it's my "beater" knife. I don't have a single regret for buying it.
 
Why do people occasionally post an anti-Sabenza thread? Must be jealous folks who lack the bread to lay out for a quality using folder. Or someone who likes to incite fireworks and then stand around and lurk at the fallout they've started.

Once you get a Sabenza and start using it, you realize you've got a great knife. Once you've sent it back all beat up and used to CRK and they return it to you all pristine and ready for many more years of use for just a few sheckels, you become more than hooked.

Instead of standing on the sidelines and taunting others, maybe get a better job that pays more so that you can buy something truly great.
 
Originally posted by Jeremy Reynolds
It's simply a production folder that sales for about twice what it's worth.

JR
Click to expand...


The Sebenza is worth every penny. Just because you don't like the Sebenza, doesn't mean it's not worth it. IMO, the Sebenza may not be as stylish as some custom's, but it is equal to all and better than some in fit and finish, tolerances, lock strength, reliability, etc. And lets's face it, if Chris was making the Sebenza by himself without the help of a few well trained employees, it would be called a "custom."
 
I have yet to read anything explaining what a Sebenza does better than another knife for equal or less money. Nothing about a sebbie is unique, save for perhaps the tolerances appearing in a production folder. Then again, is anyone calling Benchmades, Spydercos, and Microtechs sloppy?
 
There's a quick and simple bottom line here. If you don't think a Sebenza is worth the money don't buy one. If you do, . . . . . .do.
 
This is turning into another "Sebenza" thread. Apparently there are two categories of people here; those who love the Sebenza, and those who hate the Sebenza! Count me among the group that loves the Sebenza, would I buy one after all the Smith's, Carson's, and Obenauf's I've picked up lately.......YES, without a doubt in my mind I would. If you are among the other group, that's fine. No problem with having an opposite view of it. Just don't buy one and that will solve it. Enough said.
 
Originally posted by hardheart
Then again, is anyone calling Benchmades, Spydercos, and Microtechs sloppy?
Click to expand...

Nope. But in comparison to a Sebenza, Spydercos and Benchmades are very noticably lacking in terms of blade play and overall fit of the blade to the handle. With Spydercos and Benchmades, you adjust the pivot screw until you find your best compromise between blade play and opening smoothness. If you tighten the pivot screw down too hard, the knife is VERY hard to open. If you loosen the pivot too much, you get blade play and maybe gravity openings. You may also have lock failures from a loose pivot screw. Don't even get me going on the effects of pivot tension effecting how well the blade centers in the handle

This is not so with a Sebenza. The blades are hand fit to the handle. There is no pivot adjustment. You screw in the pivot screw as far as it will go, and that's it. No blade play. No smoothness problems. No gravity openings. No lock failures. No uncentered blades.

I've never played with a Microtech, so I can't comment on them.
 
MT's have a similar system to CRK in that they have a bearing that the blade rotates around. Three or four years ago the MT's I got were tight as a Sebbie, but the ones lately (within the past couple of years) may come with a bit of play or may not. With a Sebenza there is NO blade play, none, it is not even a factor. CRK is also one company that ENCOURAGES the owner to take the knife apart to clean and lube it when needed. How many other companies tell the end user to do that........zero to very, very few.
 
WHAT is the big deal? Well, until you have carried one for a few days and really used and THEN go back to a Benchmade, Emerson, Buck, etc...you will not be able to appreciate it.

I am new to the customs thing and I am looking into it, but until I decide, my small Sebbie will be with EVERYWHERE I go. I have felt NOTHING smoother (not saying there are not smoother knives out there...just I haven't felt them) out there or able to get as sharp. My Sebbie (NOT a "status symbol" like some other guy said) is a beautiful tool that works, is GREATLY respected, had a great company backing it and has proven itself to me and THOUSANDS of others.

Try it..if you don't like it,, sell it here or on eBay. Bought mine from a guy who bought it and didn;t like it and got it for $205...pretty pumped.

David
 
:rolleyes:

Good gosh, this reminds me of that old joke about the guy who got sent to prison. He's standing in the mess hall, and occasionally hears people shout out a number, followed by immense laughter. It is explained to him that they've all been there so long that, instead of re-telling a whole joke, they just say the number that corresponds to that joke.(*)

I swear, one of these days, we're not even going to have to post on this subject anymore. The dialogue will look like this:

Thread starter: "1! :confused:" (Translation: Sebenza...huh?)
First respondee: "278 :)" (Translation: Rock-solid, no blade play)
Second respondee: "514 :grumpy:" (Translation: overpriced)
Third respondee: "105 :barf:" (Translation: You won't know until you hold one)

and so on...

:rolleyes:

And just for the record, my two cents on the original question: 301! :p ;) :p

Matthew

(*) the punch line is, of course, when the inmate decides to tell his own joke. He yells out "215", and nobody laughs. It's all in how you tell it :D
 
Emerson encourages maintenance by the owner, and they're not winning QC awards.

I haven't had to adjust a pivot on over a dozen Spyders and BMs, not that I haven't handled other decent brands that needed it. I can believe that a Sebenza has $300 worth of machining and fitting, I just don't believe you need more than $100-150 worth for a very tough production knife.
 
I am neither a Sebenza lover or hater. I fall somewhere in between. As good a knife as I think the Sebenza is, it just doesn't impress me enough to purchase one. I once dreamed of owning a Woodie, but if I was going to spend that much on a folder now, it would be for the Scott Cook Lochsa.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top