Arno Bernard iMamba praise

My kudu renkhals will not be ready until Nov.!!
I canceled my iMamba. I know US rep has some because he called me ...for what it's worth.
 
Rufus1949 said:
I'm joining some of you in the waiting room...
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I've been in the waiting room for three months, but am out now, having just been alerted by my dealer late last week and confirmed by and picked up from USPS today.

It's pretty much exactly what I expected after following others' posts on this and other threads. As I thought, it's almost exactly the same size as a Griptilian though not as hand-filling, given its lesser girth. It's just a taste handle-heavy with two not-milled-out Ti slabs and a balance point toward the rear of the forefinger cutout.

It does indeed channel CRK-like design language with basically no embellishment, open backed, minimal hardware, sandblasted finish, all the way down to it's circled show-side logo adjacent to the pivot. Despite my crack in another thread, it is very much that mythical, medium-sized Sebenza, albeit with a flipper tab and ceramic bearing pivot, speaking of which the flipping action is very much to my taste out of the box--light and light-switchy. It's maybe just a taste slow and not yet free-dropping, but it's still gotta break in, get disassembled, cleaned, and re-lubed.

And then there's the blade--high hollow, large radius grind, ceramic media tumbled with the grind lines just faintly telegraphing through. It's also wicked TBE by touch and really, really sharp. I expect this will prove to be one helluva cutter.

This one's smaller than my usual sweet-spot as I tend to favor 3.75" blades and up, but I'm fond of my Grips and similar sized knives too. I'm already looking again and am tempted to go all Sharp & Fiery Sharp & Fiery and order a Natural Warthog Tusk so I'll feel better about beating this one up.

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ChazzyP said:
I've been in the waiting room for three months, but am out now, having just been alerted by my dealer late last week and confirmed by and picked up from USPS today.

It's pretty much exactly what I expected after following others' posts on this and other threads. As I thought, it's almost exactly the same size as a Griptilian though not as hand-filling, given its lesser girth. It's just a taste handle-heavy with two not-milled-out Ti slabs and a balance point toward the rear of the forefinger cutout.

It does indeed channel CRK-like design language with basically no embellishment, open backed, minimal hardware, sandblasted finish, all the way down to it's circled show-side logo adjacent to the pivot. Despite my crack in another thread, it is very much that mythical, medium-sized Sebenza, albeit with a flipper tab and ceramic bearing pivot, speaking of which the flipping action is very much to my taste out of the box--light and light-switchy. It's maybe just a taste slow and not yet free-dropping, but it's still gotta break in, get disassembled, cleaned, and re-lubed.

And then there's the blade--high hollow, large radius grind, ceramic media tumbled with the grind lines just faintly telegraphing through. It's also wicked TBE by touch and really, really sharp. I expect this will prove to be one helluva cutter.

This one's smaller than my usual sweet-spot as I tend to favor 3.75" blades and up, but I'm fond of my Grips and similar sized knives too. I'm already looking again and am tempted to go all Sharp & Fiery Sharp & Fiery and order a Natural Warthog Tusk so I'll feel better about beating this one up.

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Congrats!! Glad the wait is over for you. :)

I use my PJ iMamba at work heavily and love it.
The inlayed iMamba’s do feel a lot more hand filling. Good if ya have larger hands. :)

You will not be disappointed in a warthog tusk iMamba, that I can guarantee. 😁
 
Rufus1949 said:
My kudu renkhals will not be ready until Nov.!!
I canceled my iMamba. I know US rep has some because he called me ...for what it's worth.
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Yea, the US Rep got my iMamba order from July and sold it to someone else instead of shipping it to me! AB gonna do what they can to expedite a replacement. We'll see how that goes. Pretty f'd up tho.
 
I'm still new around here so take what I say with a grain of salt, not looking to get piled on for my opinions. I only have 2 knives so far and 1 hasn't even arrived yet. I'm trying best I can to zero in on what I like to keep from wasting money on impulse purchases. I had a mis-step with a CRK small sebenza and bought one, read about lock rock, got turned off when I noticed mine had it, and returned it immediately. I'm also trying to zero in on my size and seem to lean towards the 3.25 +/- size blades. I like smooth clean lines, thin blades and handles, lightweight. I love the look of the AB knives, especially the inlay material they use. The iMamba reminds me a bit of the Sebenza and some Shiro knives. Here's my thoughts:

Is it reasonable to worry that they seem to be new to folding knives and are more known for fixed blades?
They seem more showpieces than users.
They seem to be on the thicker and heavier side.
I wonder why they don't recess the screw heads.
I like satin finish blades over shiny.
 
NYP said:
I'm still new around here so take what I say with a grain of salt, not looking to get piled on for my opinions. I only have 2 knives so far and 1 hasn't even arrived yet. I'm trying best I can to zero in on what I like to keep from wasting money on impulse purchases. I had a mis-step with a CRK small sebenza and bought one, read about lock rock, got turned off when I noticed mine had it, and returned it immediately. I'm also trying to zero in on my size and seem to lean towards the 3.25 +/- size blades. I like smooth clean lines, thin blades and handles, lightweight. I love the look of the AB knives, especially the inlay material they use. The iMamba reminds me a bit of the Sebenza and some Shiro knives. Here's my thoughts:

Is it reasonable to worry that they seem to be new to folding knives and are more known for fixed blades?
They seem more showpieces than users.
They seem to be on the thicker and heavier side.
I wonder why they don't recess the screw heads.
I like satin finish blades over shiny.
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Oh, where to start while being mindful not to pile on....

Many of my favorite modern folder makers started out making fixed blades and the Bernard brothers are 2nd generation knife makers.
I bought my PJ iMamba to be a user and it certainly seems to be just that, very reminiscent, as you say, of the Sebenza, though nothing like a Shiro.
Blade stock is 1/8" and handle is 7/16", both on the thinner side. Weight is commensurate with 2 full Ti slabs with no internal milling.
A couple unrecessed screw heads into the single stand-off at the butt seem irrelevant--I actually kinda like 'em.
Given a choice, I'd prefer a satin finished blade over polished, but the blade is nicely ground, wicked TBE, and sharp.

You say you like the inlayed models, those do look more "showy" than the plain version and are certainly thicker as well. A lotta guys here like the extra girth and feel that makes the knife more solid in hand, which would make it perhaps more useful.

BTW and FWIW, regarding your experience with "lock rock" after reading about it, all my CRKs with the ceramic ball lock--'Zaan, 25, 2 Inkosi's, and 2 31's--will demonstrate a slight downward flex when subjected to the stupid, irrelevant table-top test, an exercise I find about as meaningful as spine-whacking.

Anyway, welcome to BF and have fun reading, learning, and sharing your thoughts as you negotiate and find your way through the world of knives.
 
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NYP said:
I'm still new around here so take what I say with a grain of salt, not looking to get piled on for my opinions. I only have 2 knives so far and 1 hasn't even arrived yet. I'm trying best I can to zero in on what I like to keep from wasting money on impulse purchases. I had a mis-step with a CRK small sebenza and bought one, read about lock rock, got turned off when I noticed mine had it, and returned it immediately. I'm also trying to zero in on my size and seem to lean towards the 3.25 +/- size blades. I like smooth clean lines, thin blades and handles, lightweight. I love the look of the AB knives, especially the inlay material they use. The iMamba reminds me a bit of the Sebenza and some Shiro knives. Here's my thoughts:

Is it reasonable to worry that they seem to be new to folding knives and are more known for fixed blades? No, they're very well made.
They seem more showpieces than users. Hardly.
They seem to be on the thicker and heavier side. Plain is the same thickness as a Sebenza
I wonder why they don't recess the screw heads. who cares? there's only two. You dont feel them in hand.
I like satin finish blades over shiny. its not a mirror, its a belt finished 'polish'
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See responses in red.

I think Sharp & Fiery Sharp & Fiery woodysone woodysone Ellis Wyatt Ellis Wyatt Keyopp Keyopp ChazzyP ChazzyP alliuse alliuse and a few others would agree with me that the AB Imamba is second to none in fit finish and quality.
 
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The iMamba is a great user 😉
eMdVBRZ.jpg
 
Murphjd25 said:
The iMamba is a great user 😉
eMdVBRZ.jpg
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Whew, yours is looking real good man! I love seeing those wear marks.

And N NYP I think you'd really like an iMamba if you were to get one. I think you think they are a newer maker because you don't see them around much and they didn't become popular on Bladeforums until this year. But remember Arno Bernard had been making knives for a long time. These iMambas are made by Arno's sons, so they grew up with a knife maker dad and were around it their whole lives. I would think that they also grew up helping their dad finishing their knives. Usually makers hate doing the hand sanding and what not, so a lot of times they'll try to get their friends or hire someone to do it and other finishing details. Also, the iMamba is based on the Arno Bernard Orca, so it's not a new design.
 
NYP said:
I'm still new around here so take what I say with a grain of salt, not looking to get piled on for my opinions. I only have 2 knives so far and 1 hasn't even arrived yet. I'm trying best I can to zero in on what I like to keep from wasting money on impulse purchases. I had a mis-step with a CRK small sebenza and bought one, read about lock rock, got turned off when I noticed mine had it, and returned it immediately. I'm also trying to zero in on my size and seem to lean towards the 3.25 +/- size blades. I like smooth clean lines, thin blades and handles, lightweight. I love the look of the AB knives, especially the inlay material they use. The iMamba reminds me a bit of the Sebenza and some Shiro knives. Here's my thoughts:

Is it reasonable to worry that they seem to be new to folding knives and are more known for fixed blades?
They seem more showpieces than users.
They seem to be on the thicker and heavier side.
I wonder why they don't recess the screw heads.
I like satin finish blades over shiny.
Click to expand...

I agree with ChazzyP ChazzyP And badmatt badmatt above. The iMamba is a great knife. Is it a great knife for you? Only you can try one and find out. To address some of your specific concerns:

-No issue with quality from Arno Bernard. These knives are stout, and the fit and finish rivals anything on the market
-The inlay models certainly have the “showpiece” look to them. Some people prefer the plain titanium for their EDC, but they all function the same. The inlay models are no less durable and sharp than the plain TI. The blades are sharp, easy to keep sharp, and the knife carries well.
-I agree on the weight. A large Sebenza, iMamba, Umnumzaan, etc. are all pretty large and heavy. I don’t find them thick, but iMamba is definitely in the same class as these other larger folders for size and weight. No issue with jeans or work pants. Lighter fabric on dress pants will sag with any of these large folders clipped to them.
-I never really thought about the screw heads. Looks more like a styling choice by the maker than anything else.
-Kind of like the screw heads, this is a design choice and doesn’t really impact the use of the knife.
 
I appreciate the feedback. I feel myself being sucked in to buying one of these, but I tend to overthink these decisions when the price is high. I'll spend it, but I like to be sure. Here's what I'm thinking right now, other than I want one! The size seems right, right in between the small & large Sebenza, which I like. I may just be a newbie who is a sucker for fancy inlay material. My Shiro has ball bearings and was thinking about ordering the iMamba with washers for easier disassembly and reassembly. But then if I think from a practical point of view, I doubt I can see myself using the shiro neon nl or the iMamba, they will wind up sitting in their boxes and getting flicked around once in a while being an expensive letter opener. I have 2 knives (at the moment) that I am dedicating to using and carrying and don't mind if they get dinged up. I would feel terrible scratching up my 2 expensive knives. So, from what I read in another thread, they will make it in washers, and I'm also going to ask if they can make the blade satin and not high polished, but then my overthinking kicks in again and I think, if I'm not going to use it, might as well get it with bearings & polished as it looks better.

P.S, I don't know any of the members here yet so I might be getting some of the best wisdom and experienced advice ever and not know it.....
 
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NYP said:
I appreciate the feedback. I feel myself being sucked in to buying one of these, but I tend to overthink these decisions when the price is high. I'll spend it, but I like to be sure. Here's what I'm thinking right now, other than I want one! The size seems right, right in between the small & large Sebenza, which I like. I may just be a newbie who is a sucker for fancy inlay material. My Shiro has ball bearings and was thinking about ordering the iMamba with washers for easier disassembly and reassembly. But then if I think from a practical point of view, I doubt I can see myself using the shiro neon nl or the iMamba, they will wind up sitting in their boxes and getting flicked around once in a while being an expensive letter opener. I have 2 knives (at the moment) that I am dedicating to using and carrying and don't mind if they get dinged up. I would feel terrible scratching up my 2 expensive knives. So, from what I read in another thread, they will make it in washers, and I'm also going to ask if they can make the blade satin and not high polished, but then my overthinking kicks in again and I think, if I'm not going to use it, might as well get it with bearings & polished as it looks better.

P.S, I don't know any of the members here yet so I might be getting some of the best wisdom and experienced advice ever and not know it.....
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I figure I may as well jump in here too. :) Since badmatt badmatt called me out. ;) JK
First and foremost, welcome to Bladeforums, N NYP

As I have the privilege of calling the Bernard friends, I have a little insight into their business, but particularly the iMamba.

The iMamba is not their first folding knife, and neither was the Rinkhals. ;) They had a few test pieces and protos a number of years ago, which never made it to production.

Arno Sr has been making fixed blades and folding knives for years now. Beautiful, useful, thought out tools. The 4 brothers basically grew up being around knives. The brothers are not new or “fresh” knifemakers, that is a guarantee. :)
The brother’s skills are incredible, and every knife is beautiful and made to exacting tolerances. The fact that a lot of the process is done entirely by hand is a testament to how honed in their skills are.
I was lucky enough to visit them and their workspace while in SA a few years ago, and it was a very eye opening experience.

On to the iMamba. First we must start at Arno Sr.’s Orca, a classy workhorse of a folder. It is larger than the iMamba but is the father of the design (I believe).
The iMamba shape is different and slightly smaller, but you know they are in the same family.
I had extensive chats with AB during the end of the design process for tweeks, and I will confirm that the iMamba was a well thought out knife. It was in design stage for over a year and was scrutinized and tweeked many times over.

From the shape of the handle, the tension of the lockbar, the pocket clip, the hardware, to the shape of the blade, every aspect has been well thought out. The iMamba is a very comfortable knife that will handle every cutting situation you throw at it (folding knife situations).

It is definitely on par with the best cutting tools out there. The final product is something to be extremely proud of.

My 2 iMamba’s get hammered on at work regularily. I love the size. It works well for me and my needs.

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I hope this was helpful, and happy hunting!!
 
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Ok I can feel the addiction creeping under my skin, I seem to be losing my grip ( see what I did there ;) ! I just ordered the iMamba ( I keep wanting to call it the iMambo ) with mammoth molar inlays. I also liked the dyed warthog but it was a tie, so mammoth molars were in stock so I went with fate. I'm going to resist the temptation to order it with washers because I doubt I'll be taking it apart often, if at all, and I'm pretty mechanically inclined and there's youtube videos out there for that. This thread helped convince me to buy it, so even though it's more expensive than the Sebenza, I think I'll be happier with the iMamba. Can't wait to get it, thanks for the help!
 
With all the knives I've accumulated, many of them with ball bearing pivots, I wasn't at all familiar with the Ikoma Korth Bearing System. While I routinely disassemble, clean, and re-lube my knives, I haven't actually had them all apart so I may already have one or more with IKBS and don't know it. I cracked open the new iMamba yesterday for my first experience with that style BB pivot.

Unlike the BBs that are fixed in cages with cutouts and rolled edges as in many knives, or, as with Shiro's, which have cages with cutouts but unfixed (free) bearings, IKBS pivots feature continuously milled gutter-like races in the blades with similar races opposite outboard. Those outer could be milled into the handle slabs or liners themselves, but the iMamba (as well as others, I would assume) has separate races, similar to thrust washers, inserted in recesses in the handles to prevent wear to the Ti slabs. Here's the milled race in the blade...

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...and here's a handle slab with the outboard race/washer inserted around the somewhat unusual threaded-both-ends bushing pivot.

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I didn't get very good nor complete pics of my process as I was somewhat surprised by the knife's construction and struggled a bit with its dis- and re-assembly. This is not to say that it's too hard, just that it took me a while to figure it all out as I didn't know what I was in for.

Here's another pic of the mostly disassembled parts, though the pivot bushing and outer washers/races are still in place.

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When disassembling, I needed considerable torque to break free the pivot and body screws. I though at first that they were simply galled down hard, but when reassembling I (surprisingly) found I had to back the pivot off just a tiny bit to get the action right, so I suspect there must have been some thread locker in there, though my old eyes found no real trace of it. Note that the pivot bushing has a flat side to hold it in a fixed position for loosening and tightening the screws. That's only reflected in the show side slab, so that's really where one has to start for ease of re-assembly, building up from there and dropping the lock side slab on last.

You'll see the ceramic bearings in the dish of alcohol in the last pic. They are tiny--there's actually 26 of 'em in that little clump. I found it a bit difficult to place them all and keep them in place when dropping on the blade and then the lockside slab with the 2nd race pre-installed. It took me two tries to get it all done right. I did find the nature of the IKBS a bit harder than putting my Shiros back together, given that each bearing didn't have its own retained location and one has to make sure each one is not slightly out of alignment and is in the milled trough correctly.

Anyway, there wasn't much lube to clean out in the knife, any burrs found, or any interior polishing that needed to be done. It was really clean inside. I've got the flipping action a little freer and quicker now, but that might just be a result of backing the pivot tension off a taste or break in from many flips already. There really wasn't anything wrong with it to begin with--just a little slower than I like. Once one knows what to expect, the iMamba's not all that much harder to work on--it was just a bit different for me the first time through.
 
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