Would you baton a Sebenza?

I'm glad you all didn't take me too seriously in this thread. The result has been pretty informative--I've learned some things from several of the posters and their excellent suggestions. Don't worry, I don't baton my folders (or anything really), but the question came up in the context of trying to get a nice clean cut through a 1" diameter walking stick--the TSF was easy to carefully (and responsibly) baton through for a perfect cut, and it seemed unlikely to be the sort of thing anyone would do with a Sebenza. I also doubt that anyone would be carrying a Sebenza in their pocket when fishing in the surf (although the TSF fared less well there, and my Strider excels).

I wasn't aware that leaving the knife unlocked would be better, nor had I ever thought about carving a hard-wood wedge if needed in survival situations. It will probably never happen, but if it does now I'll think of those (and hopefully other) alternatives. So thanks!

The TSF is a great knife--very smooth, well-made (but not precious), and very robust. I recommend it, but wish there was an Insingo-shaped blade option.

Cheers,
Daniel
 
MikeC said:
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
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Hi Mike,

The titanium was fine, obviously. However, the blade and hardware reacted fairly quickly to the salt water exposure. I was surprised about the blade, as I thought CPM154 CM was more resistant to corrosion (my Strider PT has never even had a spot of anything after years of prolonged exposure and poor care). The spots that appeared came off the polished parts very easily, however, while the stonewashed parts of the blade were much more difficult to clean up (and indeed I can't get some of the spots off). I've been toying with the idea of polishing the lower grind on the blade anyway. Additionally, the thumbstud, stop pin and standoffs rusted very quickly. But when I got home they were easily cleaned up with a little polish.

It was an experiment to use the knife in those conditions, but I figured since the Strider had been so good for so long (even the hardware on the Strider has no reaction to salt/corrosion), the TSF might be fine in those conditions, but it's clearly not cut out for salt water. I'm going to Borneo for 3 weeks in January, so maybe we'll see then how it holds up in the rain forest conditions--wet but without the salt.

Cheers,
Daniel
 
expwmbat said:
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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The Sebenza is the most versatile/useful knife I've ever had. I've had around 10 & currently have 2. Though my Shirogorov is coming in HOT the more I carry it! I have/would take a Sebenza into saltwater. But definitely give it a good rinse with freshwater ASAP (Honestly, why wouldn't you?).

As far as tolerances... It's double edged. On one hand, the perfect knife is not broken in the middle. Fusing the broken part as well as possible is ideal. The tighter the tolerances, the more fused the hinge is. Looser tolerances are more gunk resistant. Personally I can appreciate both. I can see where someone would see CRK as too tight.

CRKs one point less RC hardness should make the blade a good bit more durable than others with the same or similar steel even if they are thicker. I've seen soooo many pics of broken Strider SnG/SmFs & I've never seen a single pic of a broken Sebenza.

I do consider my Sebs my "best" knives but I carry an SnG as often mainly because I like the way it handles.

Another thing about the current (21) sebenza that is far too overlooked is the hardware. The bushing & stop pin sleeve are hardened while the pins & screws are unhardened 303. What you get is great wear resistance where needed. But that wear resistance does not translate into brittle hardware. Also you have a pinned knife whose pins are held in place by screws. Not really just handle scales screwed together or screwed into spacers like many knives.

Add in machining tolerances equaled only by much more expensive knives if anyone & TONS of "unnecessary" refinements.

I've never had a TSF, but I have passed on it a few times. It does have an extra screw/standoff which I appreciate. The super thick blade/grind is obviously super stout but the stock is tooo thick for anything but a full-to-spine grind for my uses. Honestly I see it as a jack of all trades knife but ideal for none.

Buy a used Sebenza. You'll see.
 
I would never baton with a sebenza, its just a not a strong enough design. Good call on the Three sisters forge beast. May not be as refined as the sebenza but its carbidized and performs better.

There is a correct way to baton with a folder that doesn't put any wear on the parts except the pivot and blade. Stick the edge in the wood release the lock and pound away. Any reputable folder should be able to handle it. But then again my sebenza couldn't hold up to normal edc use with out developing bladeplay so take that for what its worth.

overall Id say get the sebenza too to try out in the future and make your own decision.

I learned my lesson buying a Reeve product :rolleyes:
 
wolf5391 said:
I would never baton with a sebenza, its just a not a strong enough design. Good call on the Three sisters forge beast. May not be as refined as the sebenza but its carbidized and performs better.

There is a correct way to baton with a folder that doesn't put any wear on the parts except the pivot and blade. Stick the edge in the wood release the lock and pound away. Any reputable folder should be able to handle it. But then again my sebenza couldn't hold up to normal edc use with out developing bladeplay so take that for what its worth.

overall Id say get the sebenza too to try out in the future and make your own decision.

I learned my lesson buying a Reeve product :rolleyes:
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Thanks, wolf5391! I actually agree with archieblue about the grind on the TSF, and would prefer a full height convex, but the smoothness and robustness of the knife has been impressive. I keep toying with the idea of having a custom regrind. And also getting a new thumbstud, but that's easier.

And I would buy a Sebenza, but I made the "mistake" of signing up to buy another custom instead--one of Gareth Bull's Warlocks. I'm pretty sure it's a good choice, at least until CRK offers RWL34 steel ;-) (Or should I get the M390?!?)

Cheers,
Daniel
 
Only time I'll consider batoning my Sebenza is if I'm stuck in a desert island and need to baton wood to survive and all I have in my pocket is the Sebenza. Until that situation happens, I'll be using fixed blades and hatchets for my batoning, thanks.
 
i would never recommend batoning with a folder. Batoning is for a large fixed blade, and the sebenzas are a little bit expensive to go batoning with
 
wolf5391 said:
I would never baton with a sebenza, its just a not a strong enough design. Good call on the Three sisters forge beast. May not be as refined as the sebenza but its carbidized and performs better.

There is a correct way to baton with a folder that doesn't put any wear on the parts except the pivot and blade. Stick the edge in the wood release the lock and pound away. Any reputable folder should be able to handle it. But then again my sebenza couldn't hold up to normal edc use with out developing bladeplay so take that for what its worth.

overall Id say get the sebenza too to try out in the future and make your own decision.

I learned my lesson buying a Reeve product :rolleyes:
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Funny, I have both Sebenzas and Beasts and they both perform brilliantly, with no blade play whatsoever.

The Sebenza is a far better cutter though.
 
I EDC my Sebenza and carry it every single day. I use it for most tasks.
It's had zero issues. I however would not baton with it. Not because I don't think it could handle it(I believe it could) but because I just do not want to mess up ANY of my folders. Even if you do something right it's no guarantee that you're doing it perfectly and any knife could get messed up. I would hate for that to happen even to my Tenacious.
 
expwmbat said:
Thanks, wolf5391! I actually agree with archieblue about the grind on the TSF, and would prefer a full height convex, but the smoothness and robustness of the knife has been impressive. I keep toying with the idea of having a custom regrind. And also getting a new thumbstud, but that's easier.

And I would buy a Sebenza, but I made the "mistake" of signing up to buy another custom instead--one of Gareth Bull's Warlocks. I'm pretty sure it's a good choice, at least until CRK offers RWL34 steel ;-) (Or should I get the M390?!?)

Cheers,
Daniel
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good choice, I heard many great things about Gareth's work and that it rivals the sebenza at a lower cost. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Honestly either steel from Gareth will do, remember a lot of it is Heat treat, and Gareth knows how to heat treat steel:thumbup:
 
expwmbat said:
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?
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Of course! I would probably take the Sebenza over any other folder I own for use in salt water due to its materials.
 
It would have to be a do or die situation. These bare titanium frame lock bars don't like hard steel mashing on them with that kind of force. Not a slam, they just aren't designed for that abuse. Hopefully a box of ice skates washes ashore for that purpose!
 
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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According to the wiki page, 19 employees.
 
What?

Erm, well... Hell no. Sebbies are too aesthetically pleasing to destroy. I wouldn't baton with a fixed blade either; i'd just take an axe.
 
Karda said:
You May want to contact CRK about batonning with your Sebenza.
Just as he considers flipping abuse, he probably considers batonning unwarrantable also.
Batonning with a folding knife is not only dangerous, it's idiotic.
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I think batoning is stupid with a folder or a fixed blade, so I wouldn't bato-wait. Chris Reeve considers WHAT abuse?

I'm going to be laughing like a school girl until 3 in the morning.
 
I would never Baton with a folder,

...but then again, I am an experienced knife user.





Big Mike
 
Anyone who batons with folders much more a Sebenza is (I'm sorry to say) an incompetent moron and should not be allowed to own knives.

Hell, I wouldn't even baton with a fixed blade unless it was truly necessary. If you really want/need to chop stuff buy an axe, simple as that.
 
archieblue said:
I've seen soooo many pics of broken Strider SnG/SmFs & I've never seen a single pic of a broken Sebenza.
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Meh, doesn't mean a thing. Folks wail on Striders if for no other reason but knowing Strider will fix the damn thing regardless. I own both and I sure as heck won't put my Seb through the same torture as my SnG. Doesn't make the Sebenza a bad knife or the Strider a great knife but the two are surely different.
 
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