CRK Sebenza V.S. Spyderco TI Military/Fluted TI Military

[Handwrecker]

Honestly I've never seen a CRK Sebenza with a broken tip, but have seen/heard of a handful of millies with a busted tip. Probably a topic on the front page here about it right now- so it seems the CRK is actually more of a heavier use knife as well as a dress knife. military is good for food prep maybe....even in the SD role the blade is a bit thin for that sorta stuff IMO

Not trying to call you out, but I'm a little curious where this is coming from? I even googled "Spyderco Military broken tip" and this one thread from 2004 (back when they used the less tough S60V) is all I could find.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...ve-broken-tips

I've been using my S30V Military pretty hard and have never had any "fragile" issues. Also, the Para2 is one of Spyderco's biggest sellers with an even thinner tip. Haven't seen any of those snapped and posted up yet but you never know.

[Senate]

Military and Sebenza which have a completely different grind and blade geometery, IIRC the military has a thinner tip therefore more fragile.

[psychophipps]

Don't use you Military for prying and you'll be fine. Pretty simple concept.

[tacticooledc]

Not trying to call you out, but I'm a little curious where this is coming from? I even googled "Spyderco Military broken tip" and this one thread from 2004 (back when they used the less tough S60V) is all I could find.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...ve-broken-tips

I've been using my S30V Military pretty hard and have never had any "fragile" issues. Also, the Para2 is one of Spyderco's biggest sellers with an even thinner tip. Haven't seen any of those snapped and posted up yet but you never know.

Well as a recent example find that topic with the guy who bought an old ti millie and it had a broken tip. another topic was the "has anyone broken a spyderco" and a person said they chipped their millie or para by cutting cardboard or something

[chuck_roxas45]

Well as a recent example find that topic with the guy who bought an old ti millie and it had a broken tip. another topic was the "has anyone broken a spyderco" and a person said they chipped their millie or para by cutting cardboard or something

So buy a sebenza already and don't take a second look at a millie.

[cosmo7809]

Well as a recent example find that topic with the guy who bought an old ti millie and it had a broken tip.

Who knows how it originally broke though?

So buy a sebenza already and don't take a second look at a millie.

I concur.

[tacticooledc]

So buy a sebenza already and don't take a second look at a millie.

I was responding to the other poster "not calling me out" with the broken tip sightings.

In terms of the models, I'm on the fence. Amazon no longer has Black/satin millies for some reason, and I only shop on ebay as a last resort. Also whenever I look at pics of the military I don't like the way they look, but when I hold them in my hand they are amazing. Really strange relationship the military and I have

[Creepo]

As far as the "heavier use" thing goes, first of all blade isnt everything. Whittle some hard wood with a Sebbie, then with a Military. Which feels more comfortable and secure?

Second, if you look at the customer base for Militarys vs. Sebenzas, MOST of the people who buy Sebenzas, recognize them as true functional pieces of art and don't do dumb things to knives, like pry stuff and then come crying to the forums.

Military on the other hand is a lot cheaper production knife so the customer base is wider. Some of those people get ideas from the name "Military", ideas along the lines of "this is meant to stab through flak jackets, metal barrels and pry open crates".
No.
The Military was designed for hard cutting, not abuse. It is a high power CUTTING tool. Even though it is a large blade it is not a SD knife, nor is the Sebenza for that matter. It was designed for utility cutting by Military personel, it needed to be high performance and lightweight as they tend to carry a lot of gear. The primary weapon is their firearm(s), secondary being a fixed blade.

Since the Military doesn't quite appeal to you for one reason or another, get the Sebenza. Or if it's all about the tip, look into Striders.

[tacticooledc]

As far as the "heavier use" thing goes, first of all blade isnt everything. Whittle some hard wood with a Sebbie, then with a Military. Which feels more comfortable and secure?

Second, if you look at the customer base for Militarys vs. Sebenzas, MOST of the people who buy Sebenzas, recognize them as true functional pieces of art and don't do dumb things to knives, like pry stuff and then come crying to the forums.

Military on the other hand is a lot cheaper production knife so the customer base is wider. Some of those people get ideas from the name "Military", ideas along the lines of "this is meant to stab through flak jackets, metal barrels and pry open crates".
No.
The Military was designed for hard cutting, not abuse. It is a high power CUTTING tool. Even though it is a large blade it is not a SD knife, nor is the Sebenza for that matter. It was designed for utility cutting by Military personel, it needed to be high performance and lightweight as they tend to carry a lot of gear. The primary weapon is their firearm(s), secondary being a fixed blade.

Since the Military doesn't quite appeal to you for one reason or another, get the Sebenza. Or if it's all about the tip, look into Striders.

I think the military can very well serve a purpose in the SD role.

I looked into striders, held one, and was amazed at how fat that blade spine was. Really enjoyed it but not sure if I liked how heavy and bulky it is, almost makes it feel more dull by the way it was built, along with how it usually isn't centered when closed, etc.

[jimnolimit]

Personally, I would probably buy a fluted millie or a sage 2 before a sebenza because your dollar goes farther. I would sacrifice a little fit and finish to save alot of money (for a given type/style of knife).

If I was looking to spend sebenza money, I would also look into the A.G. Russell acies and maybe even the William Henry B12 before making my decision.

[defenestrate]

I voted for the Military because I don't know whether I want a Sebenza yet (and I won't until I have more disposable income and get to handle a few) but I am set on getting a Ti Mili (would prefer M4 but since that ship has sailed I will keep my eyes peeled for either a good deal on one or watch for offerings of other steels).

[Water Bug]

I have both the Spyderco Ti Military and the Chris Reeve Sebenza, I like both very much, and won't pick one over the other. Both knives have outstanding merits!

[Dr. Snubnose]

I didn't place a vote....Bottom line is neither knife appeals to me....not saying they aren't well made....just not me...for the price tag my feelings are I could buy a lot more knife for the money that would suit my needs better....So my vote is "Neither"...Doc

[tacticooledc]

I didn't place a vote....Bottom line is neither knife appeals to me....not saying they aren't well made....just not me...for the price tag my feelings are I could buy a lot more knife for the money that would suit my needs better....So my vote is "Neither"...Doc

Dr. Snubnose, would you be so kind as to tell me where my $400 would be more well spent?

[jimnolimit]

Dr. Snubnose, would you be so kind as to tell me where my $400 would be more well spent?

i would first start with all the criteria you want the knife to fill.

[tacticooledc]

Lol I was just curious what Dr. Snubnose had in mind, not any particular criteria

[jimnolimit]

if both knives appeal to you and neither appeal to Dr. S, what he looks for in a knife must be different than what you look for in a knife.

[2cha]

Well, this is the Spyderco forum,... You might get a somewhat less biased opinion over on Bladeforums.

It also seems like your question is whether you want to have 2 top end Spydercos or 1 Sebenza. If my choice were between a Ti Millie AND a Ti UKPK or a Ti Lum, versus a Sebenza, hands down, I'd choose the Spydercos. I own these knives (a small seb).

If the choice is between the Ti Fluted Millie and the Sebenza, I'd still choose the Millie. Millie's ergos are much more friendly in my opinion, and I love the fluting, tapering and the idea of a unique heat pattern on each knife.

[2cha]

Another thing to consider is whether you want to be a "collector" or an "accumulator" of knives. I thought there was a discussion about the differences on The Deacon's website, but after a quick glance, I couldn't put my finger on it. From what I recall about the little blurb, the difference between accumulating and collecting is focus and direction. I had a bunch of disconnected, randomly chosen knives, and I used all of them. Now I have a specimen of almost all USA made Spydercos--and many others besides. You could still be a collector, and not an accumulator, if, for example, you chose to collect flippers, and pursued flipper variants from established manufacturers. Or, you could collect ethnically inspired folders and buy inspired knives from Spyderco and Coldsteel.

At any rate, for the first decade of having enough cash to indulge my knife obsession, I bought all kinds of stuff. Once I "discovered" Spyderco, I traded off many of those knives for Spydercos. I learned from those purchases, but if I knew then, what I know now, I could have saved a bunch of money/had more spydercos. There's absolutely nothing wrong with accumulating knives--it's your money, whatever floats your boat is fine by me. But, if you are considering collecting instead of accumulating, especially where the more expensive knives are concerned, then I suggest you decide what you plan to collect sooner rather than later.

[tacticooledc]

Another thing to consider is whether you want to be a "collector" or an "accumulator" of knives. I thought there was a discussion about the differences on The Deacon's website, but after a quick glance, I couldn't put my finger on it. From what I recall about the little blurb, the difference between accumulating and collecting is focus and direction. I had a bunch of disconnected, randomly chosen knives, and I used all of them. Now I have a specimen of almost all USA made Spydercos--and many others besides. You could still be a collector, and not an accumulator, if, for example, you chose to collect flippers, and pursued flipper variants from established manufacturers. Or, you could collect ethnically inspired folders and buy inspired knives from Spyderco and Coldsteel.

At any rate, for the first decade of having enough cash to indulge my knife obsession, I bought all kinds of stuff. Once I "discovered" Spyderco, I traded off many of those knives for Spydercos. I learned from those purchases, but if I knew then, what I know now, I could have saved a bunch of money/had more spydercos. There's absolutely nothing wrong with accumulating knives--it's your money, whatever floats your boat is fine by me. But, if you are considering collecting instead of accumulating, especially where the more expensive knives are concerned, then I suggest you decide what you plan to collect sooner rather than later.

I feel collecting is rather pointless, at least to me- I buy knives that "call out" to me when I see them/hold them in person. Collecting knives that don't give me that special connection when I first read about them or see some pictures wouldn't make me happy, and they would just be some knives in a case rather than MY knives, the ones that I specifically chose for a reason.