Thoughts on CRK Sebenza, help me spend $500!
Thoughts on CRK Sebenza, help me spend $500!
I ended up getting ALOT more in my tax return than I thought and I've got $500 burning a hole in my pocket. I know we all love Spyerco, but we're also knife lovers. To that end, I'd love to hear thoughts and opinions on the Sebenza. I've wanted one for some time, but could never justify the cost. I'm looking at a Large 21 with micarta inlays. Spyderco doesn't have anything out now that I'm interested in, so this might be the best time for me to jump on one.
I wish I was at home, I have a whole folder on where Sal Glesser talks about CRK and his knives.
Even Sal likes CRK, Bob Dozier collects CRK knives. If two of the worlds best known makers appreciate the fine knives CRK produces it has to say something.
I had a small Regular. Carried and used to dress deer, edc chores and hiking. Loved it. Was taken from me in a mugging.
Replaced that with a Large Insingo in 2010. Been using it since, great knife. No complaints.
Look at post 19 I did in this thread. It has a lot of Sal's comments on CRK. A good read as well through the thread.
http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthre ... rco-vs-CRK
Or you could get a custom or the Umnumzaan.
I saw a 15+ year sebenza carried by a local wildlife ranger. I did not know what it was at the time. It functioned perfectly. IMO they are worth it, others will not agree.
Even Sal likes CRK, Bob Dozier collects CRK knives. If two of the worlds best known makers appreciate the fine knives CRK produces it has to say something.
I had a small Regular. Carried and used to dress deer, edc chores and hiking. Loved it. Was taken from me in a mugging.
Replaced that with a Large Insingo in 2010. Been using it since, great knife. No complaints.
Look at post 19 I did in this thread. It has a lot of Sal's comments on CRK. A good read as well through the thread.
http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthre ... rco-vs-CRK
Or you could get a custom or the Umnumzaan.
I saw a 15+ year sebenza carried by a local wildlife ranger. I did not know what it was at the time. It functioned perfectly. IMO they are worth it, others will not agree.
"If you wish to live and thrive, let the spider run alive"
"the perfect knife is the one in your hand, you should just learn how to use it."
If you don't have anything good to say, then don't say anything at all
My Youtube knife use videos and more: http://www.youtube.com/user/mwvanwyk/videos
Knife makers directory: http://www.knifemakersdirectory.com/
"the perfect knife is the one in your hand, you should just learn how to use it."
If you don't have anything good to say, then don't say anything at all
My Youtube knife use videos and more: http://www.youtube.com/user/mwvanwyk/videos
Knife makers directory: http://www.knifemakersdirectory.com/
Well, let's see....
I like you, lusted after a Sebenza for some time, then I finally got one. I like it but it was kinda like a let down for me. Don't get me wrong, they are great knives, but at a premium. The knife I chose was the Carbon fiber Sebenza 21, small. It is is really light weight, perhaps too light for my liking. The ergo's are pretty good, but in my opinion, there are better fitting Spyderco's... The blade is flawless and blue thumb stud really neat. It sits really low in the pocket and overall build is beyond reproach. From that standpoint the knife is killer. From a collectors and knife historian's perspective, you just have to own at least one Sebenza. It was after all CR who invented the frame lock and thus the design is historically significant and a must for your collection. From a practicality standpoint, I hear the knives are very durable, but mine is a drawer queen, or occasional dress EDC, but I doubt it will see heavy use like my regular EDCs. Plus if I lose this one, I would be dead from the wife's perspective :rolleyes:
I guess, bottom line, that as knife nuts most of us will probably own one sooner or later, sounds like you fit the bill too. Get one, see if you like it, if not you can always sell it, they seem to hold their value really well.
I like you, lusted after a Sebenza for some time, then I finally got one. I like it but it was kinda like a let down for me. Don't get me wrong, they are great knives, but at a premium. The knife I chose was the Carbon fiber Sebenza 21, small. It is is really light weight, perhaps too light for my liking. The ergo's are pretty good, but in my opinion, there are better fitting Spyderco's... The blade is flawless and blue thumb stud really neat. It sits really low in the pocket and overall build is beyond reproach. From that standpoint the knife is killer. From a collectors and knife historian's perspective, you just have to own at least one Sebenza. It was after all CR who invented the frame lock and thus the design is historically significant and a must for your collection. From a practicality standpoint, I hear the knives are very durable, but mine is a drawer queen, or occasional dress EDC, but I doubt it will see heavy use like my regular EDCs. Plus if I lose this one, I would be dead from the wife's perspective :rolleyes:
I guess, bottom line, that as knife nuts most of us will probably own one sooner or later, sounds like you fit the bill too. Get one, see if you like it, if not you can always sell it, they seem to hold their value really well.
-
DeathBySnooSnoo
- Member
- Posts: 3660
- Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2011 6:30 pm
- Location: Toronto Canada
Just be warned, there wont be a shining light out of heaven when you get the knife.....but use it for some time, work her and then those tolerances, pivot busing system, everything starts making sense.46Alpha wrote:Great info, thanks to everyone. I've been doing my homework and I'm thinking I'll pull the trigger on this tonight.
"If you wish to live and thrive, let the spider run alive"
"the perfect knife is the one in your hand, you should just learn how to use it."
If you don't have anything good to say, then don't say anything at all
My Youtube knife use videos and more: http://www.youtube.com/user/mwvanwyk/videos
Knife makers directory: http://www.knifemakersdirectory.com/
"the perfect knife is the one in your hand, you should just learn how to use it."
If you don't have anything good to say, then don't say anything at all
My Youtube knife use videos and more: http://www.youtube.com/user/mwvanwyk/videos
Knife makers directory: http://www.knifemakersdirectory.com/
-
Wildernest Survivor
- Member
- Posts: 212
- Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2012 11:12 pm
- Location: FEMA region I
I've had the pleasure of handling many Sebenzas, and they truly are a piece of usable art. Before you buy one, make sure to actually hold one in your hands. With a knife this expensive, you really have to get the feel for its construction and workmanship. You could be making a very expensive mistake. :eek: I have large hands, and the small Sebenza I was able to borrow from a coworker felt uncomfortable in my hands. It was just too small, and I had a hard time deploying the blade. At a local knife shop, I was able to try-out various large Sebenzas - both classic and 21. I settled with a wood inlay - both for looks and the price bump is worth it. (I purchased the knife online for much less than the shop.) The micarta inlays looked dull in comparison, so make sure you have a good vision of what the knife will actually look like. This is why it is so important to test these knives out.
I love my Sebbie - the feel of the handles in my hand, the smooth operation, the quality craftsmanship, and the overall joy of having such an elegant tool are all part of the Chris Reeve Knives' experience. :) The Sebenza instills pride of ownership like no other knife. :D But in the end, no matter how well-made or exotic the materials, it is just a knife. A very expensive knife.
I don't carry my Sebenza very much - I fear losing it or causing some type of horrible damage to the titanium.
To be quite honest, I get more use out of my Bradley Alias I - which cost $184 BNIB. :D I am not afraid of the potential for catastrophic loss if I damage or lose the knife.
Overall, I feel that a lot of Sebenza owners, myself included, tend to look at their "precious" more often than they let it loose in the wild. To many people the Sebenza is their Grail knife - the perfect blend of style, craftsmanship, and exclusivity. Just be darn sure you really want this knife - for the secondhand market is full of Sebbie dreams dashed by the cold-hearted reality that it is just... a tool. No +1 to Charisma, no +2 to Cool. I hope that this testimony helps you and other potential Sebenza owners by bringing clarity to the mystique, and... well, hype that is the Chris Reeve Sebenza.
[End note: I highly recommend the Bradley Alias I as a good "starter" Sebenza. For less than half the price, you get a quality knife that feels great and functions well. I know that this is sacrilege, but I feel it to be the truth.]
I love my Sebbie - the feel of the handles in my hand, the smooth operation, the quality craftsmanship, and the overall joy of having such an elegant tool are all part of the Chris Reeve Knives' experience. :) The Sebenza instills pride of ownership like no other knife. :D But in the end, no matter how well-made or exotic the materials, it is just a knife. A very expensive knife.
I don't carry my Sebenza very much - I fear losing it or causing some type of horrible damage to the titanium.
To be quite honest, I get more use out of my Bradley Alias I - which cost $184 BNIB. :D I am not afraid of the potential for catastrophic loss if I damage or lose the knife. Overall, I feel that a lot of Sebenza owners, myself included, tend to look at their "precious" more often than they let it loose in the wild. To many people the Sebenza is their Grail knife - the perfect blend of style, craftsmanship, and exclusivity. Just be darn sure you really want this knife - for the secondhand market is full of Sebbie dreams dashed by the cold-hearted reality that it is just... a tool. No +1 to Charisma, no +2 to Cool.
I hope that this testimony helps you and other potential Sebenza owners by bringing clarity to the mystique, and... well, hype that is the Chris Reeve Sebenza.[End note: I highly recommend the Bradley Alias I as a good "starter" Sebenza. For less than half the price, you get a quality knife that feels great and functions well. I know that this is sacrilege, but I feel it to be the truth.]
"Next time there's a revolution - wake up earlier!"
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Vince Aut Morire
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Vince Aut Morire
This was exactly my experience. I was underwelmed with my first Sebenza. I trade it after a month of hardly even carrying it. I bought and traded 2 more until I bought myZenith wrote:Just be warned, there wont be a shining light out of heaven when you get the knife.....but use it for some time, work her and then those tolerances, pivot busing system, everything starts making sense.
most recent lefty large 21 last November. Since it was a dedicated lefty I've been carrying it everyday since. I've slowly warmed up to it and now am starting to appreciate the craftsmanship and small details put into this knife. I've traded some knives since I bought this one but haven't had the urge to buy anything else.
As Zenith said, don't expect anything magical about it. Out of 4 CRK's none of them are as smooth opening and closing as my Gayle Bradley. This may be due to the stronger detent of the frame lock though. Anyhow, if you're looking for a dependable user I don't think you'll be disappointed. Maintenance is very easy with the Sebenza and I've never had to worry about stripping a tiny torx screw.
If you have the luxury of holding one in your hand as opposed to ordering on line that would be great. I have a small with ebony inlay and in retrospect a large may have been better. I would definitely get the inlay, I don't love the micarta because I think it looks pretty dull with the sand blasted titanium as opposed to the polished on the wood and ivory inlays. Also the sandblasted finished scratches mush easier than the polished and the inlay helps to protect the titanium from getting scratched as you don't just have one big polished surface sliding in and out of your pocket. I have the model with S30V (as opposed to s35VN) and once I got the hang of polishing it I loved, you can get a great edge on it and it holds out well. Everything about the knife is great but I have also found that it doesn't see a lot of pocket time.
-
Fred Sanford
- Member
- Posts: 5736
- Joined: Fri Jun 02, 2006 12:41 pm
- Location: Ohio, USA
I think they are amazing. I have handled them but never owned one. I have never been able to get myself to drop $400 on one. I may do it some day but before I do that I would much rather have something from Brad Southard. :)
"I'm calling YOU ugly, I could push your face in some dough and make gorilla cookies." - Fred Sanford
-
MachSchnell
- Member
- Posts: 617
- Joined: Sun Feb 13, 2011 10:52 am
For what it's worth I'd hold out for the techno, because it's similar in construction to the CRK sebenza and will cost quite a bit less.
$400+ for a titanium frame lock with a hollow groung CPM-s30v/s35vn blade
or
$190ish for a titanium frame lock with a full flat ground CTS-XHP blade
I can justify putting a sub $200 knife to work, but as the price goes up the more it will sit on the shelf/in the safe.
$400+ for a titanium frame lock with a hollow groung CPM-s30v/s35vn blade
or
$190ish for a titanium frame lock with a full flat ground CTS-XHP blade
I can justify putting a sub $200 knife to work, but as the price goes up the more it will sit on the shelf/in the safe.
Eh they aren't too bad!
Hard to switch it out for another knife so I always end up carrying 2-3. The Sebbie never leaves my pocket; the build is just superb. My framelock purchases (other than CRK) has really died down. If you do end up picking up a Sebenza, its the choice between a large or small that really gets you. If you ever get a chance, watch the Chris Reeve DVD. (Available for purchase for about $30) You'll really develop a new level of respect, especially for Lisa's Picks. I always forget how much hand work is involved.
There is nothing wrong thinking that you might as well buy a custom for that price. It's entirely true; I just don't know what gets me about CRK.
Hard to switch it out for another knife so I always end up carrying 2-3. The Sebbie never leaves my pocket; the build is just superb. My framelock purchases (other than CRK) has really died down. If you do end up picking up a Sebenza, its the choice between a large or small that really gets you. If you ever get a chance, watch the Chris Reeve DVD. (Available for purchase for about $30) You'll really develop a new level of respect, especially for Lisa's Picks. I always forget how much hand work is involved.
There is nothing wrong thinking that you might as well buy a custom for that price. It's entirely true; I just don't know what gets me about CRK.