Sebenza & S35V questions...

[JohnKSa]

I've recently gotten interested in the small Sebenza. Looks like a handy knife with a decent following.

Being the data freak that I am, I started collecting information on the knife. Reading/watching reviews, reading the Crucible data sheets for S35V, reading comparisons on knife steels that include S35V, etc. I'm not saying I do that for everything I purchase, but this is quite a bit more expensive than any folding knife I've ever purchased. Actually it's quite a bit more expensive than any two folding knives I've ever purchased...

Anyway, the general consensus seems to be that S35V provides some benefits over S30V in some areas (toughness) but maybe gives up a little to S30V in other areas (edge retention). It's better overall, but probably not a lot better and not better in every respect.

It also seems that there are better steels out there and maybe it's pretty reasonable to expect a $400+ pocket knife to use a blade steel as impressive as the price.

It also seems that there are some questions about whether or not CRK hardens the S35V in their blades to an optimum level--maybe they leave them a little softer than is ideal. I don't quite get why the maker of a $400+ pocket knife would leave the steel softer than is ideal for the application.

I understand that not too many people are going to buy a Sebenza and then torture test it given the purchase price so I don't expect a wealth of hard evidence of the type: "My Sebenza held up after a full day of stabbing steel barrels while my brand X broke on the third stab.".

I also understand that while S35V may not be the best knife steel available, it's still a lot better than most of the steels the knife community was raving about 20 years ago.

All that said, what's the current dirt on the Sebenza, S35V steel and CRK's choice of hardness for the blade?

 

[hso]

You'll wonder what the internet babble was all about after actual use. Chris Reeves Knives win the Blade Show Quality Award year after year after year for a good reason. I've carried a small Sebenza for a very long time and I've done stupid things with it that are pure abuse that I warn others to avoid with any knife. I'd bet my butt on a Sebenza.

 

[waterhouse]

I don't know the answer to your question about hardness, but I've got a few sebenzas with different blade steels . . . I honestly don't notice the difference and I'm very happy with all of them.

 

[redneck]

I saw a clip on youtube where Chris Reeves is giving a tour of his shop, don't have a link anymore, but in it he talks about his choice of blade steel and he basically says its a compromise. He has considered all the options and finds that S35V offers the best overall performance. There are other steels that will hold an edge longer, but the average user will never be able to sharpen them. There are steels that are tougher, but don't hold an edge as well etc.

 

[Blade First]

"I'd bet my butt on a Sebenza."

Actually, you have, haven't you?

 

[lobo9er]

I too have been giving the sebenza knives a look. I just blew my disposable cash on a vallotton spyderco though... I know cry a river
The only thing I can add is be very careful where you buy it. The counterfeit Chinese knock offs I have heard are hard to tell apart, and even get good reviews in some cases. So be aware.

 

[JohnKSa]

The counterfeit Chinese knock offs I have heard are hard to tell apart, and even get good reviews in some cases. So be aware.

Thanks for the warning.

I've carried a small Sebenza for a very long time...

Do you know what steel your blade is made of? I know they've used ATS34 (up to 10/1996), BG42 (10/1996 to 1/2002), S30V up until the 2011/2012 timeframe, and are now using S35VN.

 

[hso]

It is the current version. I've had all 3 materials now and don't have a problem with any of them, but the S35V seems to perform a bit better.

 

[JohnKSa]

Good to know.

Ok, now I'm curious. Why have you owned multiple Sebenzas? Do you sell them and buy new ones, collect them, or wear them out?

 

[lobo9er]

Unless you are jerk to your gear, sebenza look like they may take awhile to wear out.

 

[hso]

I've owned standard and small most of the time until recently when I just decided the small Sebenza was what I carried most of the time and the large one was just around the barn/property.

Why more than one over the past 20 years?

One was sold to a buddy that wanted it.

One was "lost" from my checked bag on a flight.

One was given to my son upon graduating college.

One was traded to a buddy.

I keep carrying Sebenzas because they have never let me down in extreme situations and I've abused them repeatedly without failure.

 

[JohnKSa]

Well, I see that no one is going to talk me out of this purchase...

 

[hso]

Welllll, for half the price you can get 75% if the ability from other companies. (How's that?)

 

[JohnKSa]

Ok, I'm game.

I assume the small Sebenza is your first choice, what's your second choice?

For some background, my current EDC is a Spyderco Worker, so I'm doing reasonably well in terms of functionality. I just have an itch for something new and figured I might as well make it a significant improvement if I'm going to change things.

 

[hso]

It is hard to beat pride of ownership on a Sebenza simply because it has been the pinnacle for working folders for so long.

OTOH, you can spend a smidge less for a gentlemanly Lionsteel Ti Spine and be pretty proud of it (and the envy of many of us) or the more utilitarian SR2. You could jump onto any of Spyderco's Ti body S35V folders for less than either Ti handled knives. You could be very happy with AG Russel's Ti body folders.

But...they wouldn't be a Sebenza.

 

[JohnKSa]

Yes... sadly I'm with you on that.

But I'll still check out your recommends and see if any of them can steal my heart.

 

[ugaarguy]

I assume the small Sebenza is your first choice, what's your second choice?

Benchmade 940-1 Osborne: It's the 940 tricked out with a beautiful and feather-light yet ultra strong carbon fiber handle and S90V blade. If I wanted a bruiser I'd either buy the ZT 0801 I already have or buy a ZT 0566CF.

But those are my preferences. Other than wanting something nicer, what do you want specifically from the knife? Preferred opening mechanism, handle material, blade steel, size (not just blade length but how thick or thin front to back, and how tall top to bottom on the handles), RH or LH carry, tip up or tip down clip? If you're going to drop $200-$400 on a knife there's no need to compromise, so be picky.

 

[JohnKSa]

I like the Sypderco opening method best, but can deal with any of them as long as they're workable. Axis is my preferred locking method but again, I'm flexible.

I'm looking for something with a blade right around 3". A little shorter is ok, but I don't want to go significantly over 4".

Might as well go all out on blade steel. S90V is obviously really nice, but I'm willing to look at something in any of the super stainless steels. I'm not averse to using diamonds/ceramics to sharpen so I'm not overly concerned with sharpening issues.

I like the idea of titanium handles but anything is ok as long as it holds up well to hard use. My knife handle is actually more likely to take abuse than the blade itself.

RH carry, tip down is my preference but I can tolerate tip up.

 

[hso]

Nothing's going to stand up to abuse as well as Ti for handle materials in that weight range. The only thing likely to stand up to the same abuse is going to be steel.

I've hammered with my Sebenza and broken up ice and clumped fertilizer with it so I understand what you mean when you say you abuse the handles.

 

[JohnKSa]

Ok, I've looked at all the recommends. I like the Lionsteel Ti Spine a lot, especially the Elmax blade. If it were offered in a 2.75"-3" blade and were significantly cheaper than the Sebenza I'd have a hard time turning it down.

Nothing Spyderco makes these days is tempting me much. The blade lengths I want don't come in blade styles I like. I already have lots of big knives, and usually carry one but I got tired of people gasping and recoiling when I pulled out a big folder for a routine cutting job. So now the knife I use for everyday stuff is small.

The Benchmade knife is nice--I've always liked their stuff but the 940-I is too big and I don't like the blade style. HOWEVER, poking around Benchmade's products turned up the 484 Nakamura and that's one I'm going to have trouble ruling out. Wish the handle was made of something with a little more heft to it. The 556-141 Mini-Griptilian is really nice but I'm not quite ready to go that high yet...

By the way, I prefer tip up carry. I was thinking in terms of hinge in my previous response. I like the hinge down so dirt doesn't fall into it.

 

[hso]

Just buy the Sebenza. I used the handle of mine to break up ice and then scrape it off yesterday. Can you get away with that using the others?

 

[JohnKSa]

Yup, I think that's where I'm headed. None of the suggestions have made me not want to buy a Sebenza. The've only made me want to buy some other knives in addition to a Sebenza...

Thanks for all the input!

 

[lobo9er]

Besides steel type not being up to par with s35v, I use a Gerber paraframe for as hardcore uses as any other folder available. And it was like 12 bucks. Stainless steel construction can be used to bash and pry. And I believe carries a lifetime guarantee. Just saying for conversation sake and not trying to say a paraframe is in the class of a sebenza.