I'm not anti Sebenza, but to me the juice just ain't worth the squeeze. They are incredibly well done, but to me, there are many better options out there at or below the Sebenza Basic price point. I honestly don't think the Sebenzas nail down cutting geometry as well as Spyderco. With the aftermarket scales, thumb studs, different locks, wonder steels, etc. I think the knife world is just alot more interesting than a frame lock Sebenza that's using the same Magnacut as all the top manufacturers. Now, I am a firm believer that Magnacut needs to hit 62-64 HRC. I got a BM Dacian with the softer 59-61 HRC, and it is VERY unimpressive. If I hadn't gotten a David Mary Magnacut blade, I would have written it off, but to me, them couple/few HRC points make a huge difference. I'm not sure where Chris Reeve is hitting on the hardness scale, but if they're on the higher end, I would consider that a bonus. On the overall, yes...fit and finish is impeccable, but there are many other knife manufacturers right up there, and if there is a difference, it's only found with calipers and such, not the naked human hand and eye.
My best Sebenza horror story: When I was a younger lad...say my early 20's I scrimped, saved, and bartered for enough money to buy a large Basic Sebenza with the BG-42 blade. Being a lad of little brain, I thought it a great idea to carry while I was working on a road crew. In short order my foreman asks if anyone has a knife he can borrow to cut some landscaping fabric or something. "This is my shining moment! " I thought. "The boss man will see my incredibly good taste in tools, admire the top notch fit and finish, and appreciate my keen eye and selection!" Well...no. He took my freshly sharpened edge straight down a brick wall to cut the landscape fabric. When he saw me turn pale, and then red, with balled up fists and gritted teeth he couldn't figure out what was wrong. When I told him he just abused a $400 knife, he laughed and asked what kinda (derogatory term) idiot would carry a knife like that?! At that time, I was making Davis Bacon for the first time in my life, and just starting out my union apprenticeship. I exercised A LOT of self control that day, and learned a hard lesson about the real appropriate cutting tool for a job. I'm glad I didn't do anything rash. Later in my life, I've moved to public sector employment. I plan to retire from it. That would have never happen if I'd given in to the impulses I had. I eventually traded that Sebenza off due to boredom. It was a nice knife, but I reckon I just wasn't ever discerning enough to note the craftsmanship that other folks talk about.
