Would you baton a Sebenza?

FoldersForever said:
You have gone from asking questions about the sebenza to making negative statements about CRKs. You seem to have an agenda here.
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Not sure I said anything negative about CRK, as opposed to positive about TSF, but perhaps it would have been better as a question: if you are responsible for damage to a Sebenza (as opposed to some QC/warranty issue), is it easily and cheaply fixed? Is that better?

Honestly, I'm still unsure about whether I went the right way on the Sebenza vs. TSF Beast issue. But there does seem to be a difference in usability--most of the folks around here seem to treat the CRK as fragile, and are no liable to push the limits of the knife. Instead they say "use another knife". Well okay. But then why own the Sebenza, if a different knife is more versatile and useful?

No agenda. But hey, here's another question--would you use (okay, collectors can walk away, I'm talking about actually using the knife) a Sebenza in salt water situations? That is, would you wear it in your pocket while surf fishing? The TSF didn't hold up to that well, but my Strider PT hasn't had a problem, even full of sand and without being taken apart for cleaning for about 5 years. Often times there is a lot of talk about CRK's impressive machining tolerances, but are such close tolerances desirable to have in a tool you use?

Cheers,
Daniel
 
Hauling said:
probably justifying his purchase seeing as he said it was a sebenza he originally wanted. I have a beast and a sebenza, both nice but the sebenza sees the pocket where as the beast is in a drawer currently.
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Close--still more of a question about whether a Sebenza would see more use than the Beast does. I got the one I wanted, but it doesn't mean I don't want the other but wonder whether it would be worth it.
 
expwmbat said:
Close--still more of a question about whether a Sebenza would see more use than the Beast does. I got the one I wanted, but it doesn't mean I don't want the other but wonder whether it would be worth it.
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I think every knife has it's place. Even folding knives vary in use. I have owned dozens of Sebenzas over the years. (I was a CRK dealer). Chris puts out an outstanding product. If you want a nice .45 that you can shoot but you still don't want to drag through the mud, you might look at Wilson Combat etc. I would put Reeve here. If you want a .45 that you can drag through the mud and still performs you might go Glock. I would put Benchmade, Spyderco here. I guess what I'm trying to say is you can do whatever you want with your knives, but certain knives fill certain rolls better than others.
 
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I would not baton an ESEE-5 unless I was trapped somewhere without an axe and life or limb depended on it. Infer from that what my answer is regarding an expensive folding knife.
 
I can't think of a situation in which my Sebenza would be the only tool available to me in the wilderness and I had to survive with it, but if something like that were to happen I'd take the best possible care of my only cutting tool. I'd probably try to avoid putting more stress on it than what's absolutely necessary to keep me alive.
 
expwmbat said:
Not sure I said anything negative about CRK, as opposed to positive about TSF, but perhaps it would have been better as a question: if you are responsible for damage to a Sebenza (as opposed to some QC/warranty issue), is it easily and cheaply fixed? Is that better?

Honestly, I'm still unsure about whether I went the right way on the Sebenza vs. TSF Beast issue. But there does seem to be a difference in usability--most of the folks around here seem to treat the CRK as fragile, and are no liable to push the limits of the knife. Instead they say "use another knife". Well okay. But then why own the Sebenza, if a different knife is more versatile and useful?

No agenda. But hey, here's another question--would you use (okay, collectors can walk away, I'm talking about actually using the knife) a Sebenza in salt water situations? That is, would you wear it in your pocket while surf fishing? The TSF didn't hold up to that well, but my Strider PT hasn't had a problem, even full of sand and without being taken apart for cleaning for about 5 years. Often times there is a lot of talk about CRK's impressive machining tolerances, but are such close tolerances desirable to have in a tool you use?

Cheers,
Daniel
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Other knifes are not more versatile, they are more robust to stand up to abuse. The seb is designed as a sharp and thin gentlemen's knife. You question involves buying a Mercedes SL and wanting to know if you can drive it through a mud pit. Just because something is expensive, it does not only mean that it is design for hard use. If your life is depended on it and you only have one knife, then you'll use what you have regardless of what it is. If you want to go down to the ole hiking trail and cut up some tree for a walking stick with your seb, then the question is how much does 300 bucks worth to you.
 
expwmbat said:
Close--still more of a question about whether a Sebenza would see more use than the Beast does. I got the one I wanted, but it doesn't mean I don't want the other but wonder whether it would be worth it.
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You bought a nice pair of wolverine boots, but still have your eyes on a pair of oxfords, you want to know if you will have a chance to wear your dress shoes. No one will know what your day is like and what you cut most, we can't tell you if your fancy stuff will get good use out of it or not.

One thing is for certain tho, those nights where you have to put on a tie for dinner, you'll be glad you have a fancy knife to go with your cuff links and tie pins.
 
Professor said:
You could do it, it's been done. To avoid lockface damage, it's been done with the blade unlocked and in the 90-degree position. Seems better to perform a rocking pushcut and apply pressure in the direction of the cut at the same time, essentially opening the cut as you go.

I batoned an Opinel #13 in this manner (unlocked) through a fallen tree's branches to clear an ATV path only because that's the largest blade I had on me at the time. It worked but was less than ideal. Now I carry a hatchet in my ATV's gear bag.

As far as splitting wood/kindling, I'd carve a hardwood wedge and baton that rather than the knife. Create tools with your primary tool, that's how I look at it. Kinda like guys who attach their primary knife to the end of a long stick, fashioning a spear. Why? Just carve a spear tip on the long stick and harden the point in a fire.

Treat your primary with high respect. Just my .02.

Prof.
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Wow Prof. you beat me to it! Pretty much exactly what I was gonna say!

1. Don't baton with your folder.
2. If you HAVE to, rember "Your knife is your life" & take caution when doing it. Do it with the blade UNLOCKED with the handle at such an angle that it will not fully open and lock.
3. Once you have started a cut, carve a wedge out of harder wood & use that to baton with.
4. One of the best outcomes of carrying/using a knife often is learning IMPROVISATION. Stop & take a sec to think about the consequences of the particular use/method. Unless haste is imparative, there are probably better options.
 
Daniel, you mentioned the TSF beast had problems at the beach. I'm assuming given the fact that the handles are solid titanium that the problems you had were with the blade as it is bead blasted which just invites rust in salt water environments? Am I correct or were there some other issues? Please elaborate?

Thank You

MikeC
 
I suppose it would work fine.....I have even batoned my SAKs when the need arose without any problem. It is the proper technique and learned skill that is needed ...not a heavy handed brute with a club. Placement of your hits, and an even hand with it...No problem. Yes, CRKT will consider it abuse probably, but they are cheap and you could afford to get 2 I guess.
 
expwmbat said:
Maybe overstated--I don't know exactly how large they are, do you? They are making a lot more production knives than individual custom knife makers make. And I didn't say there was anything wrong with that, just that given the option, I prefer supporting the little guy where more goes directly to the maker rather than various other corporate things like marketing, sales, administrative costs, etc.

DJK
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I've heard they have about 22 folks in their "LARGE" corporation. Couple of secretaries, a couple in shipping, a few in administration, a couple to put the parts together...that's a VERY small corporation...which is why it's so GOOD.
I don't know if there's anything any smoother than a Sebenza, and I've owned more than a couple.
Anyway, NO, I wouldn't baton a Sebenza unless it was an emergency and then anything's acceptable.
Sonnydaze
 
broe said:
I suppose it would work fine.....I have even batoned my SAKs when the need arose without any problem. It is the proper technique and learned skill that is needed ...not a heavy handed brute with a club. Placement of your hits, and an even hand with it...No problem. Yes, CRKT will consider it abuse probably, but they are cheap and you could afford to get 2 I guess.
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CRKT's may be cheap but this thread has been discussing CRK's which are quite expensive at around $400.00 each.
 
archieblue said:
Wow Prof. you beat me to it! Pretty much exactly what I was gonna say!

1. Don't baton with your folder.
2. If you HAVE to, rember "Your knife is your life" & take caution when doing it. Do it with the blade UNLOCKED with the handle at such an angle that it will not fully open and lock.
3. Once you have started a cut, carve a wedge out of harder wood & use that to baton with.
4. One of the best outcomes of carrying/using a knife often is learning IMPROVISATION. Stop & take a sec to think about the consequences of the particular use/method. Unless haste is imparative, there are probably better options.
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Agreed.

Did this video for fun though, still wont baton with my folders, would rather carve fuzz/feather sticks with them before ever batoning. Many feel they can baton a 12 Inch log with a 3 Inch blade....applying common sense is important.

Knives used American Lawman, Spyderco Manix and Gareth Bull small Warlock.

Please note, I dont talk much, so you can mute the sound and just watch, a lot of background noise.

[video=youtube;XVYmShQuTlU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVYmShQuTlU[/video]
 
nope. id just gather smaller sticks to start the initial fire. there's really no need to baton if you need to make a fire anyway
 
I used my decision not to baton with my knives as the impetus
to obtain two shaving sharp Granfors Bruks Axes;
the Small Forest Axe for car camping,
and the Hand Hatchet for my day pack.

Good Stuff. :thumbup:

I use them to make fuzz sticks, shave tinder, etc.

And infinitely more fun for processing wood than the thought of trying to drive
my folder through a stick by beating on it with another stick.

I use my folder to cut up my apple at lunch.
 
james terrio said:
I do baton fixed blades from time to time, because I can. I would not baton any folder unless I absolutely had to - and I can't think of any time I've had to.
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Ditto on what James said.

No reason to be pounding on your folder, except a last ditch effort.



Big Mike
 
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