CRK Mnandi or ???

cmd

cmd

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Feb 7, 2004
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It seems to me that the Mnandi is a knife that has no competition. Most designs, and I think this includes the Sebenza, have at least some competition from other makers.

Is there anything that compares well with a Mnandi?

Chris
 
Well there are hundreds of knives this size, but it youre referring to size, quality and price similarities then I can't think of any. The Mnandi sure is a good looker too. I bought a Shadow III a couple weeks ago (my first CRK) and loved it so much that I sold all my other knives (and a few other items) to buy a Large Classic Sebenza which will be arriving tomorrow (can't wait). I have been eyeing the Mnandi too but honestly I can't justify buying a knife that small the way I use and abuse them. It would just sit in the safe. Sure is a purdy knife though! I can't think of anything that compares in quality, design and price range that is the same size.
 
I'm thinking of overall design, size, fit&finish, materials used, for about the same price or less.

William Henry are very nice but don't measure up when you consider the blade materials and locks they use. To my thinking, they are beautiful pieces of cutlery art designed for infrequent and careful/light use.
 
One of the recent issues of Blade featured an article about a wilderness survival intructor who uses a William Henry knife for his classes. :eek: I'm not making this up! I'll check the issue and model when I get home tonight.
 
It was the Tom Brown "tracker" guy...advisor for that movie with the funny looking knife and Tommy Lee Jones. I couldn't believe it either, ...a William Henry at the tracking school. I guess, why not? It wasn't one of their gold/diamond/wooleymammoth/damascus zillion dollar ones...
 
I'll go with the Mnandi any day. Yes the WH knives are nice and may rival the Mnandi in areas such as esthetics, materials and fit/finish. However, I think the Mnandi blows them away when it comes to sheer blade strength and dependability. Therefore, I’ll give the edge to the Mnandi.
 
Okay, I found it -- it's in January 2005 issue of Blade. As Cricket said it's Tom Brown who teaches tracking and wilderness survival. He and his instructors use William Henry knives -- the discontinued Icon and the current Quest, which he helped develop. Anyway, it's available with a ZDP-189 blade (the latest wonder steel with Rc 65-67) for MSRP $375, a bit more than the $305 for a basic Mnandi.
 
I agree that the Mnandi is in a class of its own for several reasons:
  • It doesn't have a "tactical" (for sheeple) stud
  • It has a slim profile and beautiful flowing lines, both open and closed
  • The blade is very stiff, unlike many other "gentlemen" knives
  • The prefect radius on the entire length of the back of the blade
  • The subdued thumbnail recesses (allowing one handed opening) blends in perfectly with the lines of the knife
  • The way it opens and closes *exactly* centered each and every time
  • The variety of inlays available
  • The delicate "snick" as the ball detent grabs the blade closed
  • And the completely unique, functional and beautiful one-piece machined titanium clip
all combine to make it almost the ultimate light folding knife. Why almost? I wish I could get a flat ground blade.
 
You can look at knives like the stainless steel Spyderco Cricket or the Benchmade Big Spender for small framelocks with similar strength and sharpness, but they obviously don't match the Mnandi in terms of elegance.

The Mnandi is practically as tough as any of the larger CRK knives. Clip it to a shirt pocket and it disappears from sight. Take it out, and you have a seemingly tiny knife with the same length of cutting edge, for example, as a Spyderco Native.

There are many beautiful and functional small knives on the market. I am not familiar with all the custom knives available, but of the production and semi-production, you won't find a real match for the Mnandi.
 
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