Educate me on the Mnandi, please...

Redwood25

Redwood25

Gold Member
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Mar 31, 2015
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Hey, all. I'm hoping some of you can educate me on this knife, please. Sure, it's a very nice looking knife, I get that. But over the past few years that I've been into knives, I've never really been attracted to, or compelled to buy the so-called "gentleman's knife", a category that, I think, the Mnandi would fall in.

My main issue, I think with these types of knives is the lack of a thumb stud. Makes it harder to open, I would think. Nail nicks, or whatever, seem small and difficult.

Someone please tell me I'm wrong. Or at least educate me a bit about how to open these knives easily.

I'm interested in a Mnandi, but am hesitating to pull the trigger on a purchase or trade because I'm just not sure I'll really like the knife.
 
There are a few ways to open the Mnandi actually. Its quite easy and i think you might like it...IF you like knives that small. I personally dont, but its still an awesome knife:)
 
I love my Mnandis! The Mnandi is smaller of course, so it is less intrusive. I think a thumbstud is easier to open. I carry a Mnandi in the office daily. When I get home I switch to my regular. Hope this helps...
 
I think some re-tooling of ones thought processes is needed to enjoy the Mnandi. Although it can be opened one handed, that is clearly not what CRK intended, or they would have put a thumbstud, etc on it.

The idea of the Mnandi is that you are a gentleman, or Lady, and have all the time in the world to open your knife with both hands before opening that letter from the Queen, or nipping the end off your Cuban. It's not supposed to be something you struggle to deploy to fend off a rabid aardvark. It's about enjoying the process in due time.

Having said that, I personally lament the size of the Mnandi. I feel it is just a little too small. I think it could be larger without losing it's graceful design or lightweight appeal. I tend to only collect knives I enjoy using, so my Mnandi collection stopped at one example, that does not get much pocket time.
 
Although it has a nail nick (on both sides of the blade) it does not have a back spring like a slip joint. With no back spring providing tension on the blade, it opens very easily. I use the "pinch" grip on either side of the blade. Every knife does not have to have to be one hand opening. I even take off the pocket clips off mine.
It takes two hand opening to truly experience the "Zen" of knife opening.;)
 
I love the Mnandi. It is very easy to open one handed, as many others have said. It is a great little knife.
 
I can open my old model Mnandi as if the nail nick was a thumb stud no problem. Its a nice little knife and I really like it. It normally sits on my desk where I play with it and open mail while my Inkosi/Sebenza rides in my pocket. The Mnandi is not for everybody. Its more of a dress knife then a hard work knife and its size does not work for everybody. You will have to try one and see for your self if its for you or not.
 
Thanks, everyone for your input. I am pretty interested. I'm going to see if I can work a trade for one before I resort to buying one. To that end, I've posted an open trade offer on the Trading page, if anyone cares to look. I'm offering another CRK knife for a Mnandi.
 
Redwood25 said:
Thanks, everyone for your input. I am pretty interested. I'm going to see if I can work a trade for one before I resort to buying one. To that end, I've posted an open trade offer on the Trading page, if anyone cares to look. I'm offering another CRK knife for a Mnandi.
Click to expand...

Just an FYI, the Mnandi that you're getting is the one that starred in the video I posted. :)
 
Redwood25 said:
Thanks, everyone for your input. I am pretty interested. I'm going to see if I can work a trade for one before I resort to buying one. To that end, I've posted an open trade offer on the Trading page, if anyone cares to look. I'm offering another CRK knife for a Mnandi.
Click to expand...

You should put the link in your signature.....
 
I agree with Thomason. I'm used to carrying slipjoints, so two handed opening is normal for me.

But like the video that Lone Wolfe posted, it is easily opened one handed. I do the one handed, pinch move that she showed. After a little practice, it's nearly as easy as opening my small Sebenza.

As to why the Mnandi is great, it's probably half the weight of the small Sebenza but has nearly the same blade length. Plus it just looks fantastic.
 
I feel that way about slip joint knives. I see some custom ones go for nearly 500 dollars on the forum. It'd be really hard for me to justify buying one of those, but the Mnandi on the other hand, is really sweet. Yeah it has a thin profile, but the cutting edge is just as long as the small Sebenza.
It's quite easy to open it with one hand, but I really like the feel of opening it with two hands sometimes as well. It gives it that gentlemen feel regardless. Also the exotic woods really make you feel like you have an elegant piece.

I was surprised by how much I liked it. You should definitely pick one up if the price is right. If anything, you could easily sell it back to another member.

Poor quality photo, but here ya go:
aajOJpq.jpg
 
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