Why Sebenza vs other customs knives?

Sebbies are sweet no doubt about it. :) If you have a little patience and track afew on ebay or watch the exchange here you wont have to pay retail.
I picked up this like new, in the box large cg for $400.

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carrot said:
For normal EDC I'd never pick a ZT over a Sebenza, unless maybe I got paid to carry it. I admit they are great values and solidly built knives, but the ZT is sort of altogether a different sort of knife, one that I hardly see need to carry. It is bigger and bulkier, not nearly as elegant, and seemingly designed for a completely different audience than the Sebenza crowd.

The knives that are closest to ever replacing my Sebenza for EDC are the humble Spydercos that joined my collection long before the Sebenza did, and in fact today I am carrying the UKPK in my pocket because it is a little more inobtrusive in my pocket and lighter.
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I guess we have a different opinion on what makes a good everyday carrier. I work construction so my EDC sometimes gets heavy use. I would honestly trust my ZT300 over a sebbie. I expect my everyday carrier to be able to handle what ever i throw at it. You never know when a regular day could turn into a survival situation. And just from some of the reviews on the sebbie seems to indicate that there are some real duds out there. I know what my ZT can handle and i would hesitate to use a sebbie for the same things i use it for. IMO a sebbie is over priced when you get into that range i would rather have something that is made for rather then something everyone else had.
 
sorry , but in my eyes , there isn't anything elegant about a plain seb.

None of us will ever agree on one knife , buy what suits you , what suits your uses and in a price range that makes sense to you.

Each of us has an opinion of what a knife should feel like in the hand , I used to think the seb felt good , but upon seeking other knives , I found many that felt far better in my hand than the Seb ( speaking of the large & small reg , don't / never have owned a classic ). My others are staying , the seb is going.

Only way to be sure is to handle them , then make your choice.
 
It's apparent that we're not going to change the mind of somebody who is already biased.

But once you've beaten the shit out of that zt try sending it to kershaw to be made like new and see what they tell you.

I have only heard of one sebbie dud(in this forum) and I tested mine with more extreme cuttingto see if that is the case with most and if you're interested in the results go look at the s30v for steel junky thread and see pictures not just words of what happened.

At one point I didn't see the allure of sebbie(When I was knew to knives.) at that point I was interested in tacticool looking knives with bells and whistles and camo blades.

But once I got the sebbie I understood what the big fuss was about.

I wouldn't give much value to a review of a ferrari by someone who's never driven one and is giving a negative review.

I give the same kind of value to someone who hasn't used a sebbie and is saying they're overpriced.
 
just for the record , I have owned numerous Sebbies , and own a large Seb (reg) now , also a ZT0300 that is currently on loan to a L.E. friend.

It's a nice knife , well made , without a doubt. Worth the price of $380..perhaps , but since it doesn't feel as good in the hand as I remembered it ( only bought this one as I thought I was missing something ) , it won't get used , and if it won't get used , it dont get to stay :)
 
nathan310 said:
It's apparent that we're not going to change the mind of somebody who is already biased.

But once you've beaten the shit out of that zt try sending it to kershaw to be made like new and see what they tell you.

I have only heard of one sebbie dud(in this forum) and I tested mine with more extreme cuttingto see if that is the case with most and if you're interested in the results go look at the s30v for steel junky thread and see pictures not just words of what happened.

At one point I didn't see the allure of sebbie(When I was knew to knives.) at that point I was interested in tacticool looking knives with bells and whistles and camo blades.

But once I got the sebbie I understood what the big fuss was about.

I wouldn't give much value to a review of a ferrari by someone who's never driven one and is giving a negative review.

I give the same kind of value to someone who hasn't used a sebbie and is saying they're overpriced.
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Kershaw has excellent customer service. They in some cases sending new knives to customer without waiting him to send first one back - this is pure bias based on luck of information - just go and check Kershaw forum.

I have quite a bit of different knives and based on my experience and handling Sebenza on the shows I made my opinion. I know what to look for in knife and how knives act in different situation, but of course I will not buy it if I think it is overpriced just to be convinced that it is overpriced after spending money and time. But there are some people here who clearly stated that they owned Sebenza and were not impressed.

Sebenza is more statement more sign of cult membership and all this decorations convinces me more and more that this is for someone who want to think he own Ferrary for $500...

Honestly I think Ken Onion customs is what I can call Ferrary of knife world, Sebensa is far from being Ferrary, may be Acura may be BMW, but not even close to be Ferrary...

Thanks, Vassili.
 
I owned nine Alfa Romeo's, the first having been bought new, over eleven years. Enzo Ferrari was a driver for Alfa - as was Farina and Fangio... they haven't even had a dealer network in this country in years! I enjoyed rebuilding their engines - and trannies - and, as a poor college instructor, had to become all too adept at it. Then, I discovered MOPAR - and no more burnt offerings just to get a car to start. I'll always love Italian cars, but I'll never own one again. My first bride's FIAT was by far the most dependable Italian-made car I'd ever seen.

In the knife world, we have the equivalent of Rollex, Omega, etc - and Ferrari's. The William Henry's and C.R. Sebenza's are more like Rolls Royce - and Rollex. They are status symbols - statements of station for some - for technical simplicity meets ability and ultimate quality for others. All sorts own them. I, gasp, have even looked at some - as recently as this afternoon! No jewel-encrusted 'lookers' - all real ones, albeit $500-$800. But - then I recalled - how upset I became last winter when I errantly carried my new Buck #503 Prince, a whopping $25 from Wally World, in my front pocket with my keys, etc - gads, I had scratched the Ni-Ag bolsters! What if I had done that to a Sebenza?? No, I am a user - I know their function is supurb - but I am also a realist. Sure, my Bucks and Kershaws aren't up to the fineness of construction - but they suit me - and permit my teacher's retirement to be spread over other interests, too. No, I'll never own a Korth revolver... new S&Ws are quite nice... to me. It's all in your values.

All that said, I do admit that the Sebenzas and W. Henry's are beautiful - congratulations to those of you who can own such workmanship - you, indeed, must be proud!

Stainz

PS I drive an '05 Jeep Liberty now...
 
Some of you guys try so hard to find some hidden reason why people own Sebenzas. Maybe we just like them?

I virtually always have a limited edition Benchmade 335 with a Ti frame. It was around $80, I think. It is a very lightweight frame lock that is also a money clip.

Usually I carry a second knife, a $130 Microtech Mini SOCOM Elite Frame Lock, or a $120 Benchmade 941, or a Small Sebenza, sometimes plain and sometimes fancy. The Sebenza is a nice sturdy knife. I know if I screw up the blade I can get it replaced. I'm not so sure if MicroTech would replace the blade on a knife that hasn't been in production for a few years. The Sebenza is also a little more sheeple friendly.

I have some Strider folders that are pricy and maybe to some of you, "cult knives". They seldom get carried because I usually want a less bulky knife in my pocket.

Rich
 
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nozh2002 said:
Kershaw has excellent customer service. They in some cases sending new knives to customer without waiting him to send first one back - this is pure bias based on luck of information - just go and check Kershaw forum.

I have quite a bit of different knives and based on my experience and handling Sebenza on the shows I made my opinion. I know what to look for in knife and how knives act in different situation, but of course I will not buy it if I think it is overpriced just to be convinced that it is overpriced after spending money and time. But there are some people here who clearly stated that they owned Sebenza and were not impressed.

Sebenza is more statement more sign of cult membership and all this decorations convinces me more and more that this is for someone who want to think he own Ferrary for $500...

Honestly I think Ken Onion customs is what I can call Ferrary of knife world, Sebensa is far from being Ferrary, may be Acura may be BMW, but not even close to be Ferrary...

Thanks, Vassili.
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Well that again is a matter of opinion.

Anyone that knows anything about cars would see how zt is to kershaw what acura is to honda.

And as far as I know kershaw does not offer that service of making your knife new again once its been heavily used.

I personally like a small compact knife that is extremely tough.

Anyone that says a sebbie is not that is not going to be humored with a conversation arguing that point by me.

A big tactical knife would never be neccessary for my uses being that I live in LA county and knives 3in and over are illegal to carry.

So my small sebbie fits my needs perfectly for my uses.

I understand that everyone has a different uses and I wont be so arrogant as to say zt or any knife is overpriced because I don't use it and it doesn't appeal to me.

If they're getting business at their prices they're asking than it's worth that much.
 
Stainz said:
I owned nine Alfa Romeo's, the first having been bought new, over eleven years. Enzo Ferrari was a driver for Alfa - as was Farina and Fangio... they haven't even had a dealer network in this country in years!
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There's some dealers around...in case you want to trade that jeep.... http://www.ferrarisanfrancisco.com/ :D

From what people are writing here, scratch up the Sebenza a couple of years and have CRK refinish it for you. No worries, maybe expensive though.
 
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Great discussion. Very helpful to me; I really appreciate it. And I love the Sebenza porn. But there's this question - what specific customs would you put against a Sebenza in the $500 and lower range for a working knive. I saw a few Mayo mentions, Vassili likes his Yuna, and Hinderer came up a few times. Any others?
Porn Welcome! :P
 
If I HAD to pick one folder, the choice would be simple. SEBENZA.
I'm glad I, and we, don't!
 
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