Enjoyed the comparison as im in the market for a large CRK soon to complement my small 21 inlay. I like how you touched on the zaan lock bar disengagement because I've heard people complain about that. also heard that the zaan lock bar can kinda stab into your grip but I haven't handled one so not sure. is the zaan thicker behind the edge than the sebenza and is it also a hollow Grind as I do love the high hollow on my 21.
Good video Vinny, I’ve been wondering about your thoughts on the Zaan for a while. Only thing I was curious about, that you didn’t go over, was the ceramic ball lockup vs the standard sebenza lockup (unless I missed it).
Just found your vids today-- great stuff. I've only been collecting EDC type knives for 6 months or so. I've bought maybe 25 knives past 6 months and been learning a lot. I needed a new hobby!! Oddly enough, I did buy the Sebenza years ago before I even started really collecting knives-- But I never carry it cause I don't want to lose my $400 knife!! Great presentations keep em coming.
Excellent video!! Been going back n forth between Hinderer XM or Umnumzaan. I think I’ll have to get both 🤷🏼♂️...just wondering , you got pre workout in your system ? Sorry I had to ask lol ...keep Up the good work
I have those 3 knives (plus a few more) and the Large inlay CRKs win every day of the week for mw. my current favorites are the Seb 25 and Large Inkosi. I used to carry my zaan a lot until I got a large micarta 21...then it was instant change of hearts. I need to send my Zaan in for spa - it's beat to death and the main pivot is completely seized.
Nice discussion Vinny. I agree with most of your points but am surprised you didn't mention the glass breaker or the ceramic lock face/detente ball of the 'Zaan. I think these features, the blade shape (great leveraging points for control), and the adjustable pivot make the 'Zaan the winner for me. I too have a double stud 21 and stupidly sold my micarta inlay Sebbie for an Inkosi which I just don't love like the Umnumzaan. Will probably sell/trade the Inkosi for another micarta 21. Can't go wrong with any CRK!
Yea i always feel like there's never enough time to get to everything i want to hit on. I find that anything longer then 20 minutes, most people don't make it to the end. Even in this video i thought i was moving quickly, aiming for 20 minutes, and it turned out to be 30 anyway 🙄. I'll hit on the ceramic interface in the week update. I'm really interested to get a 31 that has the ceramic ball as well. And yea the control you have over the umnum is definitely note worthy (not that the 21 is bad) but the umnum has a slight advantage. Thanks for watching
Just swapped my inkosi for the umnumzaan adn its the superior blade in control, sharpness and tolerances. Should have done this sooner . The new overtravel stop is nice too, another feature on the sebenzas
Great comparison. Picked the small inkosi tanto as my first CRK. It's a super small stubby blade tank. Somehow it feels great in my L/XL hands with the landyard. Very slight hotspot with the clip. Super easy to carry and vanishes in your pocket. Liked it so much I just got a used small 21. Being slighly bigger helps ergos, but action is totally different. Even broken in I prefer the inkosi. Smooth, but has resistance. Sebenza is smooth with way less resistance. Want a large CRK, but still deciding if I need one. My XM18 3.5 skinny fills all my large knife role demands. IMHO any small CRK can do everything a large can and be easier to carry. No wrong choice and feel fortunate I can experience any CRK.
I did the same. My first one is a small inkosi tanto. Love it that much that i’ve ordered a umnumzaan tanto in s45vn. Can’t wait to get it! I have a skinny xm-18 as well and i love it too. But i ordered the umnumzaan anyway hahaha
Great video! Really enjoyed it. I have a large 21 and I'm currently debating on picking up an Umnumzaan. Quick question for you. Is the hollow grind on the Umnumzaan the same as the Sebenza, or is it closer to the flatter style hollow grind of the Inkosi? Thanks!
10:07 Thumbs up for having a format and striving to put out your best video. It ran long but that's ok. A ramble with no direction of any length is tough to watch (unless you agree completely with the content provider). Being organized and going over time is passion - that deserves a 👍🏼!
@neroknives, hope you consider doing the inkosi in the future. I have both large 21 and the umnumzaan, but have yet to own an inkosi. not sure if I should get one or just wait for the 31.
At my day job not so much. But then after I'm generally working or doing some kind of construction project. That's when they really get used and i get an understanding of performance.
your videos have started to grow on me,,, I think your a mad man and have a ton of passion and I for one don't always have to agree but have realized most of the time I due...I went thru maybe 50 knives last year and in the end my "keepers" are pretty random. One knife I have not seen you mention and to me was Les Georges VECP, I like it so much I ordered a second the same day I bought the first, smoother then all of my Chris Reeves, Lock up is perfect as well as so easy to release and really comfortable, have you had one of handled one? Recently I sold most of my collection and only kept about 10 knives or I would have offered to send you one to review. Keep up the great work Nero!
@@neroknives1828 Yes the latest VECP are amazing, it comes feeling like and already broken in sebenza and lock up and everything it amazing. I work as a custom fabricator and exotic metal welder and have made parts for other campanies and les george is top notch.
Hey Vinny, I’m about to buy my first CRK and I’m thinking either a 21 or a Zaan, you know me and how I prefer and need an HD Knife for my EDC Tasks, do you thing the Zaan would be a better option than the 21? I carry Striders, Emerson’s, Hinderers, Medford’s, etc....I’m worried the blade stock will be too thin, and my recent experience with my Hinderer in S35Vn in that it’s too brittle.
It's used to determine edge retention....if something holds an edge at 100 cuts and something else doesnt ....it is likely one has a better quality steel or heat treat
Good diagnostic exam. When I got my first Sebbie ~ a small Insingo ~ I sent it back due to some minor up & down play. Not terrible, but based on the CRK reputation and $375, I guess my expectations were too big.
For the random reader who can't afford or simply wont spend the money to get a Sebenza a really amazing knife that IMO feel like if Chris Reeves made a medium sized sebenza is Kizer T1. I personally don't like buying Chinese knives but can say the dam kizer T1 and Kizer guru are two of my favorite knives ever, I have owned more then two samples of each and hard use them daily and in a drawer of Chris Reeves,Hoback,Hinderer,Spyderco, can say my T1 and Guru get carried dam near more then everything. I think the T1 and new Hogue Ritter are two of the best knives at any price and for around $150 are so good it just a great time to be into knives. Oh and another Favorite the budget king Kabars- Bob Dozier Lock back,, It is so dam good and for $20 you can cut down a tree and it will keep slicing without braking a sweat. The End.
Kizer is one of the only companies i refuse to have on the channel. They started out as a company by copying custom makers designs, and until very recently just stopped. I think they stopped anyway.
@@neroknives1828 Kizer made a copy of what knife? they work with dam near half of the biggest names in the Industry and i've never once heard of them making clones?? I work and deal in the Precision Machine world and know how many times parts and builds don't always come from where they may have stamped on the box, but I again have never heard of Kizer doing such work myself of would have never purchased as money is not the reason for my purchase it was because the knives I named are amazing in every way and the build specs and materials are in line with any other top tier maker in the Industry. They build knives for others who can't afford to due all there work in house but I have never heard of them doing unlicensed work ever or I would have never used them, they are no different the Reate just another large Chinese company working with many top makers but they are upfront and put the makers name and again not one maker have I ever seen make a claim there design was a fake or they were not paid for there design. Not sure what company your thinking of but never heard of Reate or Kizer doing and clone knives as I don't support clones. The only reason I purchased a Kizer was because is was Matt Degnan work and a tribute to Matt Cucchiara his mentor and I can name 10 other makers they work hand in hand with. Maybe your thinking of something else?
I would have to see a thread with the owner or a maker making this claim I was not buying all these knives till about 2 years ago so anything possible as in China machine shops and makers actually do not take clowns as and insult, working in my field I've seen some crazy stuff and making a clown if done well was actually a sign of respect which of course in America we would never tolerate and why I said I don't have many thing marked Made In China unless its a very specific item. If anyone knows otherwise feel free to post a link as I'm told the ownder of Kizer is a very stand up guy and man with a good name in the community but anything is possible over there.(and no insult to anyone Chinese I know the culture is very tricky for an American to understand as one of my good friends is from China and what is standard business was just shocking to me.)
So, you're the clock police? You could hit the stop button or switch to a different video at any time. He even gave you a warning at 17:00 that he'd be running longer than intended. He was aware of the time and apparently you were not aware of what he said concerning the time.
Oversized washers on the Sebenza? Yea on just one side. The umnumzaan has big washers on both sides.. I would love to see big fucking washers in the sebenza and the zaan. The same ones the inkosi has.. I don't get why they are not doing that.
The Zan Thumb stud is acceptable the sebenza Thumb stud is garbage. I can’t believe they have stuck with that same Thumb stud all this time and not improved it
Some people appreciate the finer things in life mate, like why buy a sports car if you’re only gonna drive it in the streets? Coz it feels awesome and it’s pride of ownership 🤷🏻♂️
Why cut cardboard with a nice pocket knife? Just seems so unnecessary, that's your own personal tool being abused on boxes. Grab a boxcutter when you're deleting boxes.
Nice video, but hop on discord more you nerd. Edit: finished your "less than 20 minute video", and it has me even more excited for my 31 order to get completed!
I enjoy your videos but wayyyy to wordy. Your listeners already have a good bit of knife knowledge , I would assume. Too much. Sorry. Still enjoy the videos, I just can’t finish them. Too much repetition also.
Oh. I forget to mention, they're both 60 hrc. And the best 35vn on the market we've come across so far when it comes to edge retention. Crk s35vn beats most companies m390 on cardboard.
So no it's actually some of the hardest s35vn on the market, while being the most consistently heat treated s35vn we've come across so far. To hit the level of consistancy crk does, Is incredibly expensive compared to standard heat treats. I think it deserves some respect because of how few makers actually go the extra mile to give you such high quality steel.
