Anyone carry a Gayle Bradley Air? Opinions? Similar size as a Mnandi?

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manowar669

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Oct 1, 2002
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Thinking of getting one. Seems it's about the same size as a Mnandi, maybe a tad smaller. Of course pics are welcome. Oh, any issues with corrosion with an M4 blade, especially for a pocket carry knife?
 
I've never held a mnandi but the GB air is pretty darn small. And like its name implies, it is super light. Fit and finish were excellent and m4 is great stuff! I got to play with one a few months ago and it wasn't for me, but I'm kind of a larger folder guy.
 
I owned one, but it got sold. It was extremely small, and to be honest the ergonomics weren't that great. The inside of the thumb hole and some spots on the spine did rust, but I got it off with some oil and a brass brush. Don't know what a Mnandi is, but the CPM-M4 is really great stuff. For around the same price, a Gayle Bradley would be about 100 spots higher on my list if I didn't already own one.
 
Thanks for the input. For me, a 3" blade is about the limit for carry, and anything bigger is too big. 2.75-3"" is perfect for me around the farm and abroad. If I need something bigger than a 3" knife, I probably need another tool, like an axe.
A Mnandi is the little brother of the Sebenza by Chris Reeve. Pretty much a grail gentleman's knife.
 
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I wasn't going to bother mentioning it but since I see you have a thing for <3" higher-end knives have you considered a Benchmade 480-x Shoki (there are several different "flavors", the 480 is wood, the 480-1 is CF and I believe there are a few other options). They're no longer in production but they're not that hard to find NOS. Before I got me CF Sebenza I was going to get a 480-1 for my anniversary. They're M390 steel and Benchmade's version of a button lock (the "Nat-lock"). Very elegant knife but like the Air there is no pocket clip if that's important.

Also the 2.75" E6 series from WH, plenty of great handle options (inlays) but tis a mere D2.
 
I own or have owned the Gayle Bradley Air, the Mnandi, the Shoki, and the WH-6. I would rate the Air slightly below the other three in terms of build, however it is also considerably less expensive. The only one of the four I still own is the Shoki, I just love that knife. I do plan on picking up another Mnandi though.

Another to consider would be the Spyderco Dragonfly G10 version. Classy looking knife with a small blade, superb ergos, stout build, and a good steel.

Here are a few pics of the Shoki 480-1...



Spyderco G10 Dragonfly
 
The lanyard attach and is my favorite part on those Shoki's! Thanks for the good pic's, way better than BM's stock photos.
 
Top to bottom: Benchmade 480-1 Shoki, 482 Megumi, Chris Reeve Knives Mnandi, Spyderco Air by Gayle Bradley.

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Nice photos guys. I would love a Shoki but they're a bit pricey and hard to find sometimes, and I've never handled one. Have a Mnandi, and like it a lot. Not too fond of the Megumi, just based on vids I've seen, it looks a little sloppy, but maybe I need to handle one. Not fond of the pronounced sharpening choil (on any knife, it is a HUGE detriment to utility, at least Sal at spyderco must have realized it and does not have it on most models). I had a regular Dfly and carried it exclusively for 2 years. Stolen in a burglary of my home 3 years ago (old AUS-8 with molded FRN clip). I HAVE been shopping the D'fly models in ZDP and the Nishijin model, and maybe I'll go that route, but I stumbled across the Air, so I posted this thread to get some opinions. The dragonfly has quite a bit shorter cutting edge than these other knives though.
 
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I would recommend you try to find somewhere to handle the GB Air before you buy. It's a very nice knife, but quite different from what I expected from just pics and specs.
 
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