I love both knives. I honestly couldn't pick one over the other. My one big gripe with the SHF is with sharpening. The slight recurve and lack of a choil make it really easy to screw up. Not a good blade for a less experienced person to try to put an edge on.
I have both the Sebenza & the SHF in plain Ti & love both equally. The Harsey just feels so Amazing in the hand & built like a Tank. Both are such great pieces💯
I purchased my first Sebenza in 1990 and my last one in 2017 , I’ve owned 9 Sebenza’s in that 27 year span , I think they are beautiful knives ( showpiece’s) ,sadly I had issues with all 9 with lock disengagement with normal cutting tasks , I’ve purchased a Spartan Harsey in 2018 liked it so much I have 3 now and never had any issues doing same cutting tasks with them , I still think the Sebenza’s are beautifully made knives but more of a showpiece than a user , but that’s just my personal experience with them.
I have both in s35vn. My CRK is an Inkosi drop point. I like and carry the Spartan more. I like the longer blade. I can't disagree with any of your conclusions though. I wish an Insingo blade was an option when I got the Inkosi.
Have to give the nod to CRK for being consistently perfect knife after knife ( have owned about 10). They just don't leave Idaho unless they are perfection. Not the same experience with Spartan Hearsey( own only 1). thanks for the vid.
I had a Sebenza 31, had being the key word. Really wanted to like it. I had wanted one for years but was really disappointed. There wasn't anything particularly wrong with it, I guess it just didn't feel special enough to justify the price. And I really didn't like the deployment. I know some people think that's the best part but not me. I really want a Harsey but I've never handled one.
Spartans warranty is Top Notch!! I own 2 one l did have a little issue with but they took care of it and had my knife back to me in 2 days..I also own one Inkosi which is also Great!! 👊🏼
Great video- the inkosi is my all time favorite, although I have no experience with the harsey. I am reluctant to try one because I sort of don’t want to risk the inkosi being de-throned!
I have the large Inkosi Drop point I think S35 I love the knife except for a few things Thumbstudds, if I get the knife wet the action is crap all day and the metal is a Bit soft and kind of disappointing. Going to get myself a Spartan 4” or maybe a Hinderer Xm-18 3.5” Can’t decide
Great review as I consider a SH. Respectfully, I'll disagree on the grind. I find little difference in cutting performance between a high flat grind (my personal preference), to a hollow grind. I do however find it very annoying than a hollow grind will turn and twist in a cut following the hollow contour. It's akin to using a chainsaw with a worn out bar, if you know what I mean. I like my CRKs, but the grind is a turn off. Regarding ergos, I can figure out why CRK continues to leave the angular corner on the end of the handle. The lanyard on the Inkosi minimizes this, but on the large Seb it's pretty annoying. They figured it out on the Zaan however. Great video!
I’ve had many CRKs both Small and Large Sebenza as well as a Tanto Umnumzaan. Super high quality, yet for some reason I never fell in love. I have a Harsey arriving this week and I’m hoping it will stick. One change I noticed on your Harsey that will be different on the newer ones is the overtravel has been moved from inside the lock bar to an oversized pivot.
Also one less body screw...I own Both...The inkosi and The SHF but l actually own 2 Harseys 😉 What people never talk about with the Harsey is the HUGE pivot and their awesome Hardware that is designed to stay tight and require no loctite which l can vouch for once you snugg them down you never have to worry about them again.
I think Chris Reeve Knives sell themselves by their long standing reputation, while Spartan is obviously the newer company offering more anodized options, the detail and blade shape on the Spartan Harseys is more attractive or appealing. I wish the tanto point on the Inkosi wasn't angled so high. Nicely done
I think you are wrong. The Sebenza is a proven knife. If they try something risky and it doesn’t work then what are they supposed to do? Spartan is a newer company. They have to take risk in order to stand out. You can buy a Sebenza with scales, and you can have the knife modded. Chris Reeve has been around for a long time and they have a legacy.
The CRK Inkosi is a far better choice. The simple finish, easy disassembly, practical blade shape, and the tolerances are extremely tight to perfection. Spartan is in the same class regarding the premium U.S. made blades. I have a Spartan/KA-BAR that is the best example of the blade ever produced.
I like to support my fellow Idahoan’s but the CRK’s have never appealed to me. I’m not the best with my knives and I’m a bit biased having the Lone Wolf T2 as my beater for over a decade. Love my fancy new (Tank) Spartan, but my favorite in this category of blades is still the XM-18...
Took me several years and to much $$$ to piece together my full Ti custom ground Spanto. My EDC is a newer basic XM-18 skinny or a USA Made Blades version of the ZT 0640...
Which ones if you don’t mind me asking? What were your qualms with them? I just got a large Inkosi in s45 and so far it feels great besides no lockbar travel stop
@@Imgonnakmsstg I have a large 31, zaan, and nyala. Had a small regular (90’s model) and a 25 in the past. The only one I really care for is the nyala.
Both are great, but the SHF wins for me because better thumbs studs and better action. Wish it had a sharpening choil, but other than that Spartan does a great job.
Spartan was inspired by CRK. Owners actually spent the day with Chris Reeve (at his house) when they were a small start-up. They were invited to the Reeve house when they approached Chris and told them their plan to make folders. I love the SHF. Hard to beat the products they are making. They produce a SOLID product. When it comes to design changes, most are motivated by sales and marketing. The Sebenza 21 didn't need any upgrades. The pivot bushing was perfect. They titanium/steel lock interface was perfect and DID NOT WEAR over 20+ years. All the upgrades seen in the Sebenza 31 have detracted from the Sebenza, IMO. I've owned dozens of CRKs and even bought two Sebenza 31s. I prefer the older Sebenza 21 over the 31 hands ground. Gotta love a knife with a plain old titanium frame or liner lock and no inserts.
Judging from the knives I see on the secondary market, these knives, especially the Reeve, don’t get all that much hard use. You RARELY see anything even slightly beat up…
My attitude to a lot of high end knives changed over the last year or so. Before I’d give anything to own one of these over priced knives. Now they aren’t much different to anyone else’s higher end, nowadays I’ve even started carrying a fixed blade. There’s to much hype around in the knife community, most of which is just that, hype! At least with a fixed blade, mostly what you see is what you get.
I'd go Harsey but the size. I will not carry a knife with a 4 inch blade. If it was 3.5 inches I'd have multiple. The blade grind on the Spartan is also fine. It was designed for Military/First Responder EDC, not civilian EDC.
@@caseymoore4759 i have a 3.25 and it's surprisingly tiny. For me, i really like solid 3.5 inch blade. In my mind it sounds ludicrous that .25-.5 inches can make that big of a difference, but it does. I do carry the 3.25 SHF but not enough to justify what I spent on it.
Oh awesome, yeah for sure when dealing with something small even small changes make big differences. It’s crazy how small my small inkosi feels in hand vs my small sebenza and their handles are prob about .25 apart, But that’s a big diff in hand imo I’ve been wanting to try something a bit bigger so I’m debating between a 3.25 harsey or mcnees 3.5 mac 2
I own both. SHF is definitely more hard use feel to it. Both great knives.
I got myself a green plague doctor. My grail knife. Beautiful!
If this had been a 3-way battle with the PM Mac2 3.5” thrown in, all my questions would be answered. Great video! Subbed
I love both knives. I honestly couldn't pick one over the other. My one big gripe with the SHF is with sharpening. The slight recurve and lack of a choil make it really easy to screw up. Not a good blade for a less experienced person to try to put an edge on.
I have the spartan folder and also have an old lone wolf harsey T2. Love Mr. Harseys designs.
I have both the Sebenza & the SHF in plain Ti & love both equally. The Harsey just feels so Amazing in the hand & built like a Tank. Both are such great pieces💯
Easy choice Kevin: Spartan SHF all day long! (And I have both) Great vid as always, thank you.
I purchased my first Sebenza in 1990 and my last one in 2017 , I’ve owned 9 Sebenza’s in that 27 year span , I think they are beautiful knives ( showpiece’s) ,sadly I had issues with all 9 with lock disengagement with normal cutting tasks , I’ve purchased a Spartan Harsey in 2018 liked it so much I have 3 now and never had any issues doing same cutting tasks with them , I still think the Sebenza’s are beautifully made knives but more of a showpiece than a user , but that’s just my personal experience with them.
I'd have to agree.
Alas, I’d second this.
Great Timing Kevin! I just got one of each in the last week! Looking forward to seeing if I agree in a couple of weeks.👍
I have both in s35vn. My CRK is an Inkosi drop point. I like and carry the Spartan more. I like the longer blade. I can't disagree with any of your conclusions though. I wish an Insingo blade was an option when I got the Inkosi.
Have to give the nod to CRK for being consistently perfect knife after knife ( have owned about 10). They just don't leave Idaho unless they are perfection. Not the same experience with Spartan Hearsey( own only 1). thanks for the vid.
I had a Sebenza 31, had being the key word. Really wanted to like it. I had wanted one for years but was really disappointed. There wasn't anything particularly wrong with it, I guess it just didn't feel special enough to justify the price. And I really didn't like the deployment. I know some people think that's the best part but not me. I really want a Harsey but I've never handled one.
That’s $5,000 worth of the same knife.
Spartans warranty is Top Notch!! I own 2 one l did have a little issue with but they took care of it and had my knife back to me in 2 days..I also own one Inkosi which is also Great!! 👊🏼
Great video- the inkosi is my all time favorite, although I have no experience with the harsey. I am reluctant to try one because I sort of don’t want to risk the inkosi being de-throned!
Spartan has changed there pivot system making the former small sized wash a bigger one and the pivot acting as an over travel stop.
I thought that was just on the mini.
I have the large Inkosi Drop point I think S35
I love the knife except for a few things
Thumbstudds, if I get the knife wet the action is crap all day and the metal is a Bit soft and kind of disappointing.
Going to get myself a Spartan 4” or maybe a Hinderer Xm-18 3.5”
Can’t decide
Great review as I consider a SH. Respectfully, I'll disagree on the grind. I find little difference in cutting performance between a high flat grind (my personal preference), to a hollow grind. I do however find it very annoying than a hollow grind will turn and twist in a cut following the hollow contour. It's akin to using a chainsaw with a worn out bar, if you know what I mean. I like my CRKs, but the grind is a turn off. Regarding ergos, I can figure out why CRK continues to leave the angular corner on the end of the handle. The lanyard on the Inkosi minimizes this, but on the large Seb it's pretty annoying. They figured it out on the Zaan however. Great video!
I’ve had many CRKs both Small and Large Sebenza as well as a Tanto Umnumzaan. Super high quality, yet for some reason I never fell in love. I have a Harsey arriving this week and I’m hoping it will stick.
One change I noticed on your Harsey that will be different on the newer ones is the overtravel has been moved from inside the lock bar to an oversized pivot.
Also one less body screw...I own Both...The inkosi and The SHF but l actually own 2 Harseys 😉 What people never talk about with the Harsey is the HUGE pivot and their awesome Hardware that is designed to stay tight and require no loctite which l can vouch for once you snugg them down you never have to worry about them again.
Own Both... But own two SHF'S!! 😉👊🏼
The inkosi was my first real knife for good reasons but my Spartan harsey is in my work pants since the first day for better reasons.......
I'm buying older knives now because many of these knife makers are delusional with their prices for cheap materials.
I think Chris Reeve Knives sell themselves by their long standing reputation, while Spartan is obviously the newer company offering more anodized options, the detail and blade shape on the Spartan Harseys is more attractive or appealing. I wish the tanto point on the Inkosi wasn't angled so high. Nicely done
I think you are wrong. The Sebenza is a proven knife. If they try something risky and it doesn’t work then what are they supposed to do? Spartan is a newer company. They have to take risk in order to stand out. You can buy a Sebenza with scales, and you can have the knife modded. Chris Reeve has been around for a long time and they have a legacy.
Ooh this one’s a hard one-simple answer: get both!
I just did! 👍🤣
I just did too😂
I prefer the CRK but the Spartan Harsey is nice.
Buy both of them cuz everyone needs bragging rights..😂🤙🏼 And I love them both... Chris Reeves magna cut is unbelievable.
How they put that edge on the Spartan just makes it look cheap.
it's a high sabre grind, it's not made to slice - it's not cheap it's deliberate
@ttattx $500 knife, and they can't add a sharpening choil ? Sorry looks cheap.
The CRK Inkosi is a far better choice. The simple finish, easy disassembly, practical blade shape, and the tolerances are extremely tight to perfection. Spartan is in the same class regarding the premium U.S. made blades. I have a Spartan/KA-BAR that is the best example of the blade ever produced.
Why doesn’t the spartan have a sharpening choil? Spyderco does this and it’s really annoying to me.
I know. So easy to fry it right, I don’t understand it
I like to support my fellow Idahoan’s but the CRK’s have never appealed to me. I’m not the best with my knives and I’m a bit biased having the Lone Wolf T2 as my beater for over a decade. Love my fancy new (Tank) Spartan, but my favorite in this category of blades is still the XM-18...
Took me several years and to much $$$ to piece together my full Ti custom ground Spanto. My EDC is a newer basic XM-18 skinny or a USA Made Blades version of the ZT 0640...
Not a crk fan personally. I had/have a few.
Which ones if you don’t mind me asking? What were your qualms with them? I just got a large Inkosi in s45 and so far it feels great besides no lockbar travel stop
@@Imgonnakmsstg I have a large 31, zaan, and nyala. Had a small regular (90’s model) and a 25 in the past. The only one I really care for is the nyala.
I gave the Harsey to my best friend, the CRK Tanto is still in my pocket.
Both are great, but the SHF wins for me because better thumbs studs and better action. Wish it had a sharpening choil, but other than that Spartan does a great job.
Spartan was inspired by CRK. Owners actually spent the day with Chris Reeve (at his house) when they were a small start-up. They were invited to the Reeve house when they approached Chris and told them their plan to make folders. I love the SHF. Hard to beat the products they are making. They produce a SOLID product.
When it comes to design changes, most are motivated by sales and marketing. The Sebenza 21 didn't need any upgrades. The pivot bushing was perfect. They titanium/steel lock interface was perfect and DID NOT WEAR over 20+ years. All the upgrades seen in the Sebenza 31 have detracted from the Sebenza, IMO. I've owned dozens of CRKs and even bought two Sebenza 31s. I prefer the older Sebenza 21 over the 31 hands ground.
Gotta love a knife with a plain old titanium frame or liner lock and no inserts.
Judging from the knives I see on the secondary market, these knives, especially the Reeve, don’t get all that much hard use. You RARELY see anything even slightly beat up…
Yeah you do see a lot of that. I put my Inkosi to work tho and that thing has stood up to some gnarly shit
My attitude to a lot of high end knives changed over the last year or so. Before I’d give anything to own one of these over priced knives. Now they aren’t much different to anyone else’s higher end, nowadays I’ve even started carrying a fixed blade. There’s to much hype around in the knife community, most of which is just that, hype! At least with a fixed blade, mostly what you see is what you get.
I'd go Harsey but the size. I will not carry a knife with a 4 inch blade. If it was 3.5 inches I'd have multiple.
The blade grind on the Spartan is also fine. It was designed for Military/First Responder EDC, not civilian EDC.
Spartan makes 3.25 versions
@@caseymoore4759 i have a 3.25 and it's surprisingly tiny. For me, i really like solid 3.5 inch blade. In my mind it sounds ludicrous that .25-.5 inches can make that big of a difference, but it does. I do carry the 3.25 SHF but not enough to justify what I spent on it.
Oh awesome, yeah for sure when dealing with something small even small changes make big differences. It’s crazy how small my small inkosi feels in hand vs my small sebenza and their handles are prob about .25 apart, But that’s a big diff in hand imo
I’ve been wanting to try something a bit bigger so I’m debating between a 3.25 harsey or mcnees 3.5 mac 2