First Mnandi - Some Questions

M

Muaddib1116

Joined
Dec 26, 2010
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1,091
Hi Guys, I just got my first Mnandi, and old-style nail nick, pivot, and pocket clip. I got if off the exchange, and the seller has a great feedback rating, and it came with a box, birthcard, and leather pouch, so I'm not really concerned that it's fake. I just have a few questions. The birthcard says S30V made in 2009, the washers are solid, not perforated, and the blade has an S, which seems fine. But there is no date code on the inside of the slabs, as there is on most Sebenzas. Did they not do that with Mnandi's?

The non-visible portions of the pivot are anodized blue, which seems weird, but I'm guessing they anodize the whole thing, then polish the face, and that's how they achieve the blue lettering on the pivot head.

The lockup is about 70-80%, which seems fine. There is zero back and forth play, but there is some lateral play. I cleaned and reassembled it, and the play is still there, but it doesn't look like the washers have been polished down at all (I would assume that side to side play would be caused by the pivot bushing being slightly too wide for the washers/blade stackup). If I polish the bushing down a hair, should that solve the side to side play?

It has beautiful box elder inlays with streaks of black and red. How do I care for the wood? Is it very susceptible to moisture? If I wanted to get more of a shine off it, could I buff it with some sort of polishing compound?

Here's some really mediocre pictures (unfortunately, this is the best that my photo skills are capable of).

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No date markings on the inside that I am aware of. I am actually awaiting a response from CRK about the Mnandi and will post it to the timeline when I hear back from them. Some people wax the woods and mammoth. I have inlays and have never done such. The wax is mentioned in my CRK timeline when talking about mammoth. As for blade play, send it to CRK for spa/service and they will take care of it. Original Mnandi washera were not perforated either.
This is a nice Mnandi, I was pondering it when on the exchange, but ended up getting another.
 
You have nice colors on your scales! Since your other questions have been answered, I will just chime in about the polishing scales. I use wax (regular car wax) and it works great for me. The wood scales on a CRK are pretty durable, I have some wood scaled knives (sebenza) that are 15 years old now and they still look great.
 
Nice knife. I edc a 2009 Mnandi elder burl inlay. Havent taken mine apart but ii would send it in for the blade play.
 
I'm a very hands-on, do it myself person, but if I'd just bought a CRK Sebenza or Mnandi there's no way I'd be trying to fine tune parts fit myself. It's a bummer, but it should go back to CRK for that.
 
Come to think of it that is the first time I remember seeing anyone with blade play in a Mnandi. I'm sure it happens but it seems to be rare. I don't know the seller but I saw the ad and it definitely indicated New condition and solid lock up. I'm sorry that it came to you less than perfect. The inlays are beautiful, great purchase, a spa treatment will fix it up perfect. As soon as you get it back you'll be happy.

Do you plan to use it or is it a safe queen?

Cheers
 
Nice bit of box elder burl! My Mnandi had some side to side play in it too. But I fixed it.
 
rishma said:
Come to think of it that is the first time I remember seeing anyone with blade play in a Mnandi. I'm sure it happens but it seems to be rare. I don't know the seller but I saw the ad and it definitely indicated New condition and solid lock up. I'm sorry that it came to you less than perfect. The inlays are beautiful, great purchase, a spa treatment will fix it up perfect. As soon as you get it back you'll be happy.

Do you plan to use it or is it a safe queen?

Cheers
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To be fair, he said like new, which except for the play it is, and the lock up is very solid, the play has to do with the bushing/washers, not the lockbar/tang. It's possible that he, and any previous owners, barely used it and didn't notice it, I'm pretty observant about these things. I think I might try some gentle DIY tweaking like flyingjon, and if I somehow mess it up, I can send it to the spa to get fixed. I plan to use it for fairly light duty, probably only in an office/slacks environment. I only really have one safe queen, which is my Jereboam MkII, since I have my Shadow I to beat up on when I'm in the mood to use a CRK opk. Everything else in my collection will get occasional light use, at least.
 
Like new shouldn't have blade play but I applaud your benefit-of-the-doubt perspective.

Let us know how your attempts to correct work out.
 
I picked up some 600 and 1500 grit sandpaper today, and using a mirror and some formax green compound that I have, I took a couple thousandths off the pivot bushing and polished the PB washers. The play is gone, and the action is smooth. I don't think I managed to mess anything up. Now that everything is tight, smooth, and sans-play, I can appreciate it a little better.

It's definitely not just a smaller Sebenza (someday maybe I'll get my hands on an Umfaan). It doesn't have the rock-solid confidence-inspiring feel of the Sebenza. Not that there's play (anymore), but it does feel a little flexier. Obviously the much thinner ti slabs and blade stock aren't going to provide the same stiffness as the Small Sebenza. I definitely intend to use this knife, but I feel like I'll only be comfortable using it in 'civilized' circumstances. I think it's because I feel like I have to baby the wood inlays.
 
Good job! I figured you'd get it alright! But me first on the umfaan! Lol. I've wanted one for quite a while now. 😃
 
rishma said:
Like new shouldn't have blade play but I applaud your benefit-of-the-doubt perspective.

Let us know how your attempts to correct work out.
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Maybe, but then new shouldn't have blade play either. Not every knife that CRK ships is as perfect as we, and they, expect. It could have come that way to the original buyer and not been noticed.
 
I really think the inlays are very durable. Nobody ever seems to have an issue with users, sebenza or Mnandi with inlays. I haven't had mine long enough to confirm that but I intend to use the hell out of it. The heaviest task mine has seen so far was cutting some plastic tabs off some toilet hardware. They were 1/4" thick and took some pressure, but sliced right through. I was impressed. No concerns from me about the stoutness of the Mnandi.

Use it and I bet you gain confidence. It's tougher than its weight implies.
 
I was forced to bury my Mnandi for three days while I went on a trip. When I returned and dug it back up the knife was perfectly fine. Pretty durable in my book!
 
Nothing exciting, trust me. Flying out of town, I took the train to the airport and forgot my Mnandi in my pocket. Instead of turning it over to TSA or mailing it (didn't have the availability to) I strolled outside to the nearest patch of dirt and buried it in a hole. Got back, dug it up and put it in my pocket. Other than minor rust at the ricasso and between the stop-pin and the titanium it was perfectly fine. The Snakewood scales were a little darker.
 
somber said:
Nothing exciting, trust me. Flying out of town, I took the train to the airport and forgot my Mnandi in my pocket. Instead of turning it over to TSA or mailing it (didn't have the availability to) I strolled outside to the nearest patch of dirt and buried it in a hole. Got back, dug it up and put it in my pocket. Other than minor rust at the ricasso and between the stop-pin and the titanium it was perfectly fine. The Snakewood scales were a little darker.
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I can barely remember where I parked after a trip, happy it worked out . cool tale!
 
A few years back I attended a seminar at the knife show in Eugene Oregon where I heard Wayne Goddard say that you could use ear wax on wooden scales to make um shine. Dont let you wife catch you doing it though :topsy_turvy:
 
somber said:
Nothing exciting, trust me. Flying out of town, I took the train to the airport and forgot my Mnandi in my pocket. Instead of turning it over to TSA or mailing it (didn't have the availability to) I strolled outside to the nearest patch of dirt and buried it in a hole. Got back, dug it up and put it in my pocket. Other than minor rust at the ricasso and between the stop-pin and the titanium it was perfectly fine. The Snakewood scales were a little darker.
Click to expand...

Haha, nice. Glad you were able to remember where you buried it.

Glennfuq said:
A few years back I attended a seminar at the knife show in Eugene Oregon where I heard Wayne Goddard say that you could use ear wax on wooden scales to make um shine. Dont let you wife catch you doing it though :topsy_turvy:
Click to expand...

Hm... that's sorta gross... I wonder if SnoSeal would work, I have that.
 
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