Would you rather...

jackthedog

jackthedog

Joined
Dec 21, 2009
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Spend the money on a single knife (large Sebenza) or buy several good quality but lower priced knives (Para Military 2, Sage, ZT 350)?

Just curious how people generally view buying their knives? I'm considering a Sebenza but I am not sure if I want to use my whole knife budget on one knife.
 
There are no substitutes for what you truly want. If you really like all four of the knives that you mentioned, then you wont truly be satisfied until you have them all.

Look at it this way, if I wanted a Sebenza, then no other knife would satisfy that particular want. Three less expensive knives would not satisfy that want and neither would three more expensive knives.

When we are talking about $40+ knives, we are looking for more than a utility tool. At these price levels, we are in the realm of art appreciation as well as function. A work by Da Vinci, does not satisfy the want for a work by Goya (and visa-versa).
 
I'd go with two really good knives over one amazing knife. For example, a Bark River Gunny and a Schatt & Morgan jack. An ESEE 6 and a Manix. A Fallkniven A1 and a Benchmade 705. I don't like to put all my eggs in one basket.

Frank
 
I used to want several knives. Now I'm going in the direction
of having just one real nice one. I've already begun selling off
a lot of mine in order to get nicer more expensive pieces.
 
I'll take the one great knife. I am a firm believer in quality over quanity.
 
jackthedog said:
Spend the money on a single knife (large Sebenza) or buy several good quality but lower priced knives (Para Military 2, Sage, ZT 350)?

Just curious how people generally view buying their knives? I'm considering a Sebenza but I am not sure if I want to use my whole knife budget on one knife.
Click to expand...

You might be feel a bit underwhelmed with a Sebenza right off, wait until the time feels right.

That being said, I would go for the Sebenza. :)
 
jackthedog said:
Spend the money on a single knife (large Sebenza) or buy several good quality but lower priced knives (Para Military 2, Sage, ZT 350)?

Just curious how people generally view buying their knives? I'm considering a Sebenza but I am not sure if I want to use my whole knife budget on one knife.
Click to expand...

I prefer several good quality folders. There is no folder that can take on quite different cutting chores...

I'm always carrying a Spyderco endura wave for selfdefense, a Byrd Cara Cara frn for edc and a Victorinox camper or a Spirtit for everything else...
 
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jackthedog said:
Spend the money on a single knife (large Sebenza) or buy several good quality but lower priced knives (Para Military 2, Sage, ZT 350)?

Just curious how people generally view buying their knives? I'm considering a Sebenza but I am not sure if I want to use my whole knife budget on one knife.
Click to expand...

The reality is that at some point, you will buy all the aforementioned knives. Your decision is really which one you want first.
 
I will go for the knife(s) that I really want; it could be sebenza, para 2 or etc... It does not matter to me if it just one knife or several, if I really want to own it. I will have it.
 
I'd have to agree with SilverFoxKnows. I'd much rather have two or three very nice, high quality knives rather than just one super duper one.
 
If you keep lusting after the Sebenza then you'll eventually end up buying it anyway, even after you have a number of good quality folders.
I don't have a Sebenza (perhaps one day I'd by a small one. perhaps.), currently for the approx $400 for a bare bones large Sebenza I'd rather buy a set for example like this:

- Victorinox SAK alox Soldier/Pioneer (approx $25)
- Chambriard Le Compagnon for stylish food use (approx $100)
- ESEE 3 or 4 or HEST full tang fixed blade (approx $120)
- Depending on your expected usage, a hard-use Spyderco Manix folder (approx $90) or a refined general use Spyderco Stretch 2 ($90 to $160, depending on version)
 
hey jack,
for what it's worth, i'd get the few others instead of the cr. i think they're overated, and the price is through the roof.
variety is the spice of life!
just my $.02.
later,
don
 
If you're a new user / collector / accumulator, I'd say get a variety of less expensive but good quality knives. Build the collection, learn about different brands and qualities, and have a variety of knives for different occasions.

But if you're an experienced knife buyer and really want the super-expensive lone knife, why not? If that's the one you really want, you'll regret not buying it and settling for 'less'.
 
Go for 3 quality knives first. You'll go through many knives before you find your favorite.
 
There are plenty of quality inexpensive knives out there. Until you know exactly what you're looking for in something of that price range it's probably best to start less expensive.
 
5.56 said:
Go for 3 quality knives first. You'll go through many knives before you find your favorite.
Click to expand...

Indeed. However - If you already have the itch for a certain knife, get that one. If not, I would recommend what 5.56 suggests, pick around 3 good ones:

Spyderco Military or Para2
Kershaw Blur CPM154 or Leek with D2 CB
ZT 0350 or 0200
Emerson Mini A100 or CQC8 Horseman
Benchmade Griptilian or 710 in D2
 
3 quality folders if well maintained and cared for can last longer than one superb folder (even if it is well maintained and cared for) in terms of sustained wear and tear for EDC (if that is what OP intends to do).
 
I bought several different folders before getting the Sebenza. But once I bought a Sebenza my collection downsized by 2/3. The Sebenza see's pocket carry almost everyday. The only folders that see carry outside the CRKs are select Spydercos and Buck Mayo collaborations ie. Waimea/TNT.

Honestly you really won't know until you try one out. If you don't like the Sebenza you can sell it with little or no loss and you can continue to buy many production folders.

I still continue to buy production knives that I like even after having the Sebenza and well that's because I'm a knife addict!v:D
 
If you can find one "do it all" knife and at a price/weight that means you won't be afraid to carry it around all the time, go for it!

But I have found that, with folders, there is no "do it all" knife. I like a little knife on my key chain, I like having a "gentleman's knife" for when I wear a suit, a fast-opening tactical knife for SD, a rugged knife for the heavy stuff, a cheapie to lend out or to use when you want to be sheeple-friendly...so I like to have a few folders around, including different makes so I can judge their quality and decide which makes I like best.
 
A.P.F. said:
The reality is that at some point, you will buy all the aforementioned knives. Your decision is really which one you want first.
Click to expand...

You all made a bunch of good points. I've got a collection of about 15 knives. They are mainly Spydercos but I have a Benchmade 707 and a few SAKs. I've sold off most of the knives I didn't like (but then I just seem to accumulate more).

I think APF's quote above is the "sad" truth when it comes to this addiction. Given that I'm still relatively new to this hobby, I think a variety of different knives appeals to me right now. That said, it's probably inevitable that I'll get a Sebenza at some it (maybe soon?).

I suppose the price point is the thing holding me back from pulling the trigger on a Sebenza. I can only think of a very short list of items (well, fun-related items) that I have spent more on, because paying the car insurance bill just isn't as much fun as getting a new knife.

Anyway, thanks for the good points, keep 'em coming.
 
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