- Joined
- Jun 5, 2002
- Messages
- 2,761
Well, i just bought 2 more SNG's today, both SW, one tanto, one SP, i already had a first run striped tanto, so i now have 3, so, nobody can accuse me of not liking this knife quite a bit. However, i also own and have owned Sebenzas and am a VERY big fan of them. In fact, i might even say that part of what attracts me to the SNG is that it is a knife that strikes me as being as strong as a Sebenza, and yet a very different knife, and since I have a nice Sebenza, and have had several, different is good. And yet, they are somewhat similar knives. Both are arguably semi-custom. Both are extremely strong with thick frame locks. Both have S30V blades. Theyre close in size. So, my question is, how would you compare them in terms of quality, which knife do you feel is the better built, better put together knife? Which do you think is stronger? Obviously this being the Strider forum, i expect to hear a lot of pro-Strider votes, and yet, im still interested to hear how you would compare the 2 knives.
I can give you my quick take on them. Remember, i LOVE the SNG, so im in no way bashing it. In short, i think the Sebenza is the slightly better made knife, and yet, i like the SNG just as much, ill quickly explain. I think that more time goes into the final, small touches that give the Sebenza truly flawless fit and finish, and incredible consistancy knife to knife, while the SNGs are slightly less refined, though i wouldnt call them crude, and slightly less consistant. The SNG is a very well made knife to be sure, i have no complaints, i just think the Sebenzas are slightly better made, though not neccessarily a better knife, thats a matter of taste.
I was recently able to handle and examine honestly, about 40 brand new SNG's, half tanto, half spearpoint, and yes, i actually opened and closed every single one, several times, im crazy like that, and i found that 1) Not a single one had any blade play, definitely admirable, the lockup is just as solid as can be. 2) Most of the locks engaged the blade well, fully, but towards the left, where i like it, though there were just one or 2 that went too far to the right for my tastes, though i admit, it didnt seem like it would hurt lock strength at all. 3) I found that some knives had slightly uneven grinds. 4) I found that some of the frame locks were much stiffer to disengage than others, im pretty sure the stiff ones would smooth up a bit with use though. 5) Finally, most blades were well centered, though they did vary slightly. So, overall, i found the knives to be fairly consistant, especially where it counts, no blade play, and a solid, well fit lock engagement.
On the other hand, i have yet to see a Sebenza without a perfectly centered blade, without perfect lockup, never seen one with blade play and i have never seen any sort of flaw in a Sebenza, and i have examined at least as many as i did the SNG's. So, please, dont take my post as bashing Strider in any way, i am in LOVE with Strider knives, and love the SNG, just as much as my Sebenza, but, if i have to say which is the more consistant, higher quality knife, i have to give the nod slightly to CRK. That being said, i still feel the SNG is a better built knife than most knives i have seen, and is up to any task asked of it, its just that to me, perfectionist I am, the Sebenza is flawless and thats a very tough thing to beat, by anybody. Now, i understand that im a perfectionist and that most of my minor gripes about the SNG have nothing to do with how well the knife will perform, and everything to do with my craving for perfection, and so, when i say that the Sebenza is the higher quality knife, i do NOT intend to say that it is a BETTER knife, rather it better satisfies my odd sense of perfection, and Strider knives arent about looks and absolute perfection, theyre about performance and strength, and in this regard, as i said earlier, i have no complaints. Im just giving you my opinion on the question i have asked.
So, your thoughts? (I hope i dont get flamed for this, its just one knife nuts experiences and statistically insignificant)
I can give you my quick take on them. Remember, i LOVE the SNG, so im in no way bashing it. In short, i think the Sebenza is the slightly better made knife, and yet, i like the SNG just as much, ill quickly explain. I think that more time goes into the final, small touches that give the Sebenza truly flawless fit and finish, and incredible consistancy knife to knife, while the SNGs are slightly less refined, though i wouldnt call them crude, and slightly less consistant. The SNG is a very well made knife to be sure, i have no complaints, i just think the Sebenzas are slightly better made, though not neccessarily a better knife, thats a matter of taste.
I was recently able to handle and examine honestly, about 40 brand new SNG's, half tanto, half spearpoint, and yes, i actually opened and closed every single one, several times, im crazy like that, and i found that 1) Not a single one had any blade play, definitely admirable, the lockup is just as solid as can be. 2) Most of the locks engaged the blade well, fully, but towards the left, where i like it, though there were just one or 2 that went too far to the right for my tastes, though i admit, it didnt seem like it would hurt lock strength at all. 3) I found that some knives had slightly uneven grinds. 4) I found that some of the frame locks were much stiffer to disengage than others, im pretty sure the stiff ones would smooth up a bit with use though. 5) Finally, most blades were well centered, though they did vary slightly. So, overall, i found the knives to be fairly consistant, especially where it counts, no blade play, and a solid, well fit lock engagement.
On the other hand, i have yet to see a Sebenza without a perfectly centered blade, without perfect lockup, never seen one with blade play and i have never seen any sort of flaw in a Sebenza, and i have examined at least as many as i did the SNG's. So, please, dont take my post as bashing Strider in any way, i am in LOVE with Strider knives, and love the SNG, just as much as my Sebenza, but, if i have to say which is the more consistant, higher quality knife, i have to give the nod slightly to CRK. That being said, i still feel the SNG is a better built knife than most knives i have seen, and is up to any task asked of it, its just that to me, perfectionist I am, the Sebenza is flawless and thats a very tough thing to beat, by anybody. Now, i understand that im a perfectionist and that most of my minor gripes about the SNG have nothing to do with how well the knife will perform, and everything to do with my craving for perfection, and so, when i say that the Sebenza is the higher quality knife, i do NOT intend to say that it is a BETTER knife, rather it better satisfies my odd sense of perfection, and Strider knives arent about looks and absolute perfection, theyre about performance and strength, and in this regard, as i said earlier, i have no complaints. Im just giving you my opinion on the question i have asked.
So, your thoughts? (I hope i dont get flamed for this, its just one knife nuts experiences and statistically insignificant)
