The Chris Reeve Knives Sebenza 25 Pocketknife: The Full Nick Shabazz Review

The Chris Reeve Knives Sebenza 25 (now known as the "Large Inkosi" with a few small tweaks) is a very interesting successor to the their iconic Sebenza 21.
Although it's a fine knife in its own right, it seems a bit like a solution in search of a problem, and ultimately, Chris Reeve Knives has proven the impossible: That 25 is actually less than 21.

[@jayweast1306]

0:54 You know you're deep in the folding knife game when you say the Slysz Bowie is "in the lower price brackets."

[@NickShabazz]

Hah. Guilty as charged.

[@journeymanedc]

Interesting take on the 25. I've been waiting for this review for a while to hear your thoughts. I've owned large 21's (plain and inlaid), and a couple umnumzaans and several 25's. In my hand, the 25 has the best ergo's of them all. I was surprised and bummed to hear that you had the opposite experience. Its amazing how subjective ergonomics can be. You mentioned the rotating stop pin as a design flaw and I see your point but really, there's no reason to remove the stop pin during maintenance so to me its a non issue. As far at the pivot bushing system, I think it has pros and cons. Personally, it didn't blow me away. It seemed that in order to keep my pivot screw from coming loose, I had to crank the pivot so tight that it affected my action in a really negative way. I also found reassembly of the 21 to be much more fiddly than the 25. All that aside, this was another great review. I do see reasons to purchase a 25 over a 21 but I also understand why someone would prefer the 21. I'm just glad that they both exist. Love your videos man! Good to see an objective reviewer on youtube.

[@Superderek908]

Hey I have a sebenza 25 that the lock on the lock side broke, I contacted crk about the issue and they don’t have parts for the knife anymore, I was wondering what you would suggest. If you had a better way to communicate other than the comment section that would be great.

[@Dafoodmaster]

my favorite thing about the 25 over the 21 is that there's no calibration hole

[@alittleolder]

I agree with the bad about the Sebenza 25 it still has a special place in my heart since it was the first CRK I ever bought.

[@todaysgrailtomorrowsbeater]

I got in touch with your assistant Pritam regarding sending you an Umnumzaan to compare with this knife.

[@SuperPeleke]

I can't believe you've never reviewed the Sebenza 25 yet! Long long overdue. My favorite knife! I'm a huge fan of this knife. The lock detent interface is so wonderfully smooth. Personally I find the take down and reassembly to be simpler than the 21. I always have anxiety about pinching the washer on my sebenza 21's. The sebenza 25 also has a bigger pivot. I like it more aesthetically. My only wish is that they make a medium sized sebenza one day. (I know, it will never happen) but an EDC sebenza 25 with 3.35" blade would be awesome.

[@neokuji]

Fred T medium Sebenza 21 would be solid, medium 25 not so much.

[@jeffreymliss]

Excellent review. You were spot-on on each point.

[@aleksijevujovic7262]

Jeff Liss He always is

[@danbalcom8510]

Hey there captain shabazz I actually owned the large inkosi and alot of the issues in the 25 are actually fixed on it. The rotating stop pin, no issue there at all. I did find the shaping comfortable but i always held mine with my pointer finger on the back of the blade as opposed to my... oppossable thumbs? Lol Working in a dusty and occasionally oily environment, the handle finish was actually perfect. But hey different strokes for different folks. This is coming from a guy who carries a medford praetorian T every day. I know, im a monster

[@neokuji]

😂

[@ATechReviewsKnives]

Hey Nick, great review as always! Would be interesting to hear your position on the recent claims made against CRK (or ARK) regarding the overall quality and particularly the uneven grinds they have been (allegedly) putting out since Chris left the company. Cheers!

[@NickShabazz]

These things are very hard to get a handle on, as I can't inspect a bunch of knives to make claims. But I absolutely had to send a brand new Sebenza 21 back to the factory which had a terrible action and grind, and I've heard similar issues from others. The one they sent me after the return was perfect, though. Tim has denied to me that anything has changed in terms of tolerances or QC, in correspondence, so hopefully these are just flukes. But I know how hard these sorts of leadership transitions can be, and we'll find out in the coming years. I just really hope that Anne and Tim are working to keep the focus on tight tolerances and incredible QC and "perfect" production, because otherwise, CRK won't last long with the current competition.

[@sour7786]

That happened to me as well. Except I got my same sabenza back with the same problem a month and a half later. Fixed it myself so I didn't have to wait again

[@powerfulk9790]

I'm not sure when Chris left CRK but around 2010 I bought a new in box sebenza 21 which had a terrible grind bordering on just plain dull. It was my first $200+ knife and I couldn't have been more disappointed.

[@haldendoerge]

The Inkosi now comes in an Insingo blade as well.

[@jwalt833]

I need help I'm gonna pull the trigger on my 1st Chris Reeve should I go large inkosi or large sebenza? I'm ready to pull the trigger immediatly

[@ironox99]

Do you have a video on the regular large sebenza 21? Was just curious lookin through your good vids

[@DoctorFrunkey]

Loved my 25. Lusting after a Large CF Inkosi. I like the larger size, but I do think the ergos on the 25 are kinda...weird. The finger "choils" line up with no one finger...it's really odd.

[@the_average_fisherman_hawaii]

What I like about the 25 over the 21 is the thicker titanium slabs. The thicker blade. I like the blade profile better on the 25. It's just an overall stronger, beefier knife imo.

[@philberto23]

Is the Rat 2 still the best budget under $35 dollar range? Is the Rat 2 the same thing as "Ontario 8848 RAT" which is what I come up with searching on Amazon? Thank you.

[@ChuckBeefOG]

Yes rat ii in D2 is great if you can find one. Here is another very similar choice with D2. www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B071LHKPFB/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1503249068&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=esee+zancudo+d2&dpPl=1&dpID=41ooFUgME1L&ref=plSrch

[@alisuperhornet]

Pocket clip hot spot issue is fixed on the inkosi..its bent a a bit toward the center of the handle

[@OnTheEdge5950]

I have a 25 with micarta and it does solve many of the ergo issues that I have with the plain titanium scales. I can also choke all the way up on the handles and not have many ergo problems. These days I'm kind of gravitating to plain handles without many sharp curves. I never felt a 21with micarta but, I would probably like the ergos better than my 25. I like CRK but they're all overpriced IMO and mine is very smooth but I don't totally get "Sabenza smooth ". The review was right on Nick.

[@louiss.w1944]

Should I buy a used Seb25 on Arizonacustom?

[@Pew7070]

So what is it? Adjustability or convenience? Criticizing both at some point doesn't add up (no math joke). What do you actually like?

[@NickShabazz]

There's a trade-off there, and I think it's perfectly valid to point out that the same feature can be good (for some people and perspectives) and bad (for others). For me, personally, the fact that you can adjust the pivot is kind of nice, because I've gotten pretty decent at doing so. But for an inexperienced user, the 25 is a bit less intuitive as a result!

[@Ondal1]

I'm starting to miss more than the size comparison. Rather recently bought a RAT 1 in D2, and it is pretty, well, amazing as a knife. Could you make some sort of scale between your cheaper knives and these expensive ones? I'm kinda thinking placing them on the logarithmic curve, which the bang-for-the-buck dictates.

[@NickShabazz]

Hah, I'm contemplating doing more recommendation-style videos along those lines.

[@randallkelley3599]

I like the Umnumzan, mine has old style pivot, 2009 model. I guess I have sand blasted it like 5 times, looks perfect, even for weekly carry.

[@TheReligiousLeft]

yea I don't think i'd get a 25, but the differences in the Inkosi are appealing to me over the 21.

[@btl5008]

another difference is the blade grind. rather than the really nice hollow grind on the 21, the changed it up a little to a hybrid between a hollow and a flat grind. ive never owned a 25 or an inkosi, so i dont have any personal experience, but a lot of people seem to not like the "large hollow" (as they call it) grind on the 25 as much as the standard hollow.

[@plamen2110]

I don't always disagree, but when I do, it's about Sebenzas :P Nick, in my personal opinion the 25 and the Large Inkosi are different enough to warrant a separate review. To me the Large Inkosi is a sign that CRK listens to complaints. The pocket clip digging into the palm was a big one for me. Also I really appreciate fewer parts when disassembling. So to me it is the little things that sometimes make a big difference. So many times I've sold a knife because it just wasn't quite there for me, and with a few tiny design adjustments it could have been a gem. That being said, I have a large Inkosi (natural micarta inlaid) coming in so perhaps i could ship it to you for review/comparison?

[@Mrb00st]

ooof, my heart. I've never owned a CRK yet, and have been in my head trying to pick between a Large 21 or a Large Inkosi when i finally can afford one. I guess go for the 21 if you're getting your first and probably only?

[@NickShabazz]

The 21 is the most unique knife that CRK makes (now that the TiLock is dead), and it's sort of the historically significant Sebenza. So, that'd be my recommendation.

[@neokuji]

There's definitely a greater contouring difference between the 25 and large inkosi, however having owned the large 21, 25 and large inkosi Im in agreement with and can confirm the conclusion(s).

[@gerardopietrantoni6452]

Hi Nick. What are you doing reviewing a discontinued Sebenza 25? You should have reviewed a large Inkosi. The 25 and the Inkosi are not at all more similar than different. Washers are very different from the 25. They don't rotate and without the need of tabs and they seal the pivot from dust and grime and retain the grease inside much better than the Sebenza. The pocket clip is like the small Inkosi so there's no pressure on the lock bar and no hot spots. Adjustability is a breeze and there's no break in period like with the Sebenza. No lock stick and no bump when opening due to the detent/lock interface ceramic ball. The Inkosi does not require as much maintenance as the Sebenza. I have two large Sebenzas and a small one and love them for the pivot bushing too. Both are good. I also have a Slyzs Bowie with perfect smooth action and I agree with you that it is smoother, scales are contoured and stonewashed. But the disassembly part, although it's easy, the screws are smaller and takes a little more time. Also the Techno is a great small knife with a blade on steroids. Great action. Please check out the large Inkosi. Forget about the bad experience you had with the smaller one. LAST THING, I BOUGHT A MNANDI AND HAVE NOT SEEN A SINGLE VIDEO ON KZbin ON THE DISASSEMBLY. YOU HAVE ONE. DO IT. I always follow your reviews. Take care.

[@NickShabazz]

+Gerardo Pietrantoni I had one, sold the Mnandi. And maybe someday I’ll check a large inkosi

[@kerryrwac]

"Lanyardocity" a new entry int EDC vernacular along side "pocket sword" . I wish pocket knife makers would stop drilling holes in nice knives just to accommodate the pocket jewelry crowd . The 25's standoff is a better option .

[@valkyriesurvives5109]

Hey Nick you should review a Millit Knives/Moen Knives Max Evolution. I think you'd love it.

[@xDarkPrototypex]

Someone should make an ice cream flavour called "the Lick shabazz". And it should taste like pure critisism and give you a funny accent when eaten.

[@sjoerdstok1]

I agree that the 25 is not a big upgrade. I feel like the Inkosi is the way to go. Forget the 25! Just the little things like the clip that acts as an over travel stop, that the washers are held in place, the different stop pin. The 25 is just between the Sebenza and Inkosi. I own the micarta small insingo and the Small Inkosi. They really feel like different knives. The Inkosi (if it fits your hand) really is a tank and much more solid. Im way more confident in the strongness of the Inkosi. The Insingo however is a cute French girl compared to the Inkosi. It's much more smooth and elegant. But it does feel a bit outdated since there is no overtravel stop and no lock bar insert. The 25 is just a bit awkward inbetween

[@neokuji]

😂

[@jliu919]

Hey Nick, you now can have insingo with the inkosi models. Not a big change for the review though

[@NickShabazz]

That's a nice change! This was filmed before that was announced, alas.

[@knifebitten1613]

I think the most ugly thing about CRK is that they forbid you to flick open their knives...or so I've heard...and if they somehow find that you did - it voids you warranty, maybe stopping pin gets hammered and flattened while flicking so that becomes telltale sign...

[@dubglock2312]

It's a little tick behind the edge

[@Demanufactur3]

I'm beginning to consider "USA made" a negative. For the simple reason that this means it'll be unaffordable in Europe (where I live) and will have next to no warranty here. These "issues" aren't half as present with Japanese, Taiwanese and naturally European (French, Swiss, German, Spanish, Italian) knives. For example the Spyderco Slysz Bowie is 421 euros here. (495 USD) which I wouldn't exactly call "affordable". [End of rant]

[@NickShabazz]

To be fair, the Slysz is Taiwanese made. But that's a serious problem US-based makers need to work on, agreed.

[@jackdarippa8119]

2 big differences of 25, thicker blade stock and a "hollow/flat grind."

[@dalecarpenter8828]

$500.00 or more knife shouldn't have to use glue to keep it together or adjust .oops perfect knife

[@tobias9396]

one day i will have one ....

[@draco00]

So I met Chris few years ago at Blade and when we talked about the 25 and you read between the lines, he was saying that the 25 was a corner cut version of seb because his prices are increasing and he needed to keep the price the same. The hand crowning and the pivot bushing on the 21 took a lot of time and money. 25 did away with both and it's why there's that weird groove between the crowning and the jimping. It's for indexing on the machine. IMO, seb hit its peak with the 21

[@26point2madness]

Another great review, but you missed the worst thing about that knife. That awful notch in the top of the blade. Just can't stand it, and too me, it looks like someone slipped with the grinder and they put the notch in the blade to cover it up. I had a 25 a few years ago when they first came out. I did not like the ergonomics and pivot as compared to the 21, but the big annoyance was that stupid, ugly notch.

[@rob1480]

Good evening

[@sarge1231]

I thought sure you would do an eclipse glasses review...a little disappointing!!!

[@jessenieto9479]

Are these things still made in Idaho? Or has the land of cheap labor, taken over?

[@NickShabazz]

As far as I know, still Idaho made, and I've never even heard rumors otherwise.

[@jessenieto9479]

Me neither, the thought just occurred to me, in case I were to ever pick one up. If that happens it won't be for a while though, so I guess it doesn't matter much where they're currently made.

[@AlfredoRGuillen]

I love sebenzas...nevetheless what bothers me is two things: 1) some bladestick....titanium against steel...no lockbar steel inserts.. 2) lockbar travells way too much inside....almost 80% of overall surface which males scales unconfortably thinner from side to side. I was told by CRK guys that grinding this blade was a pain as the grinding wheel they had to use to achive this particular "mixed grind" was waaay too big and was only used for this particular knife. The result is an extremely beautiful and rare grinded blade but very expensive to manufacture....love it.

[@grirrat]

It's the nineteenth here... What. nice review though!

[@dalecarpenter8828]

Sanrenmu land 9103 10× smoother .

[@PS3isAwesomeeee]

Is this real life

[@NickShabazz]

Is this just fantasy?

[@neokuji]

😂

[@brianfreeman2500]

Daniel Hernandez easy come easy go little high little low.

[@dalecarpenter8828]

Expensive for no reason!

[@TheFiendRacer]

The slyz Bowie is an ugly ass knife. I don’t know why everyone all crazy over it.

[@nobodysreview6137]

all spydercos are ugly.

[@reds7vn644]

Over priced for a midtech.

[@dalecarpenter8828]

The 21 pivot was the only thing good about that knife and they changed that .so why does the perfect knife need changing ? The patent ran out!

[@dalecarpenter8828]

There not inlays they are glue ons

[@dalecarpenter8828]

Crk has no inovation sense 25 yrs ago .

[@Onedayilbeok]

you want him to innovate on perfection?

[@dalecarpenter8828]

Crk makes no sense .its just greed .

[@dalecarpenter8828]

Sh sh dont tell the sabenza cult kids .

[@saiyanprince7325]

did you just reply to your own comment?