Grail?? Oh noes!

[Mighty1]

Dear fellow knife addicts, I must share

So I have been slowly been cultivating my CRK obsession. First was the Small Sebenza Micarta (EDC 6 out of 7 days), then was the Umnazaaan in which was gifted (ouch, but much deserved to the gift-tee), then the Nyala and Pacific. For the most part all have been put through their paces aside for the pacific given the lack of "outside" time recently. I work in the Casino industry and the small sebbie has fixed/felted more tables and gaming equipment than any of yours has...neener, neener!! (I kid, I kid) but really though, at least 40 tables plus a plethora of random uses. I love it. Really, and have made others love it as well. perfect for suit or jeans days, great to show off to people with pockets much, much deeper than mine while still being like a tank in performance.

Skipping forward, I finally bit the bullet for a mnandi (never even handled one before). Just ordered the Mammoth ivory/Damascus from TNK. I will post pics when I get it, I promise but I had to share. I fear this will lead me to the higher end of knifes that I feel bad running through the paces. I will state now that this is no safe queen.

With this I humbly ask a few questions to the experienced:

-Is the mnandi as bombproof as the sebenza? There is no way I'm letting this sit in a box. I have put my small through a hot sink and dishwasher liquid and even just dishwasher when lazy, still opens like butter. Every time.

-Does not having a thumb stud make it harder to open? I flick my small when needed(gasp, for shame!! , again never handled a mnandi.

- Rockwell hardness on a stainless Damascus? By that also the ease of sharpening/edge retention?


Where to go now??

Thanks for looking and any potential answers/opinions. Pics to follow, hopefully by the end of the week

 

[Jos]

Just ordered the Mammoth ivory/Damascus from TNK.

You WHAT????

That was MINE, GIVE IT BACK!




Just kidding. Congratulations!

And to answer some of your questions, yes the Mnandi is as bomb-proof as the Sebenza, it can be opened one-handed even if it doesn't have a thumb-stud.

Enjoy it!

Kind regards,

Jos

 

[maxbelg]

I don't have any experience with damascus Mnandis, only "normal" ones with BG42 and S30V. It's very easy to open the blade (even flicking it) with one hand after practicing a bit, even easier than the small sebenza. It is VERY solid and bomb proof. The small sebenza will be slightly stronger due to a thicker blade and handle slabs but this is only a theoretical advantage for me, as the Mnandi will never break during ordinary and even heavy usage. With the wood inlays I dry it off after washing it and oil the wood every couple of months, nothing special. Lately it has replaced my small sebenza in my pocket most of the time although this may change back in future. It can do almost everything the small sebenza can without scaring people.

Personally I don't like shelf-queens at all. If you can't afford to use the embellished Mnandis buy a standard one and USE it. If you can afford to, USE your damascus Mnandi. That is what they where made for. Only thing you need to know is that it can't be reconditioned to look perfectly new like the standard sebenzas, but I prefer how the users look anyway. Enjoy your Mnandi!

 

[rpdknife]

Nice pick-up. I've been thinking about getting a damascus / ivory one, but haven't seen one with pure white ivory and snake skin mosiac. Anyway, I think the Mnandi is a great knife and it is the one I carry most; just as strong as the small sebenza, cuts better since the blade is a little thinner, 1/2 the weight and very people friendly.

I can't flick it open with my thumb, but it opens very fast. It is also much easier to grab the blade and with a quickly open it by letting the handle drop. I find that I can open it with my thumb, quickly cut something and put it away much faster then my small sebenza. The inlay also works like a Hinderer lock stabilizer and doesn't let you overextend the lock bar.

I can't speak to the damascus properties as it is only on my wish list. Here's a pic showing mine compared to a few other CR and Spyderco Knives:

Please post some pics when you get it!

 

[rpdknife]

Sorry, I forgot to answer "Where to go now?"

Obviously you need a damascus / ivory large Sebenza to match!

 

[Mighty1]

Thanks everyone! I'm very excited about this buy and absolutely intend on using it. I appreciate the comments. I figured it was as built as strong as the small sebenza.

Here is what I am getting. Pics for sure once it's in hand.

 

[Mighty1]

Came today

Neil at TNK is top notch. Made me a customer

More thoughts and impressions after I have a chance to take it to work tomorrow and cut some stuff with it...plus I havent drooled on it enough yet!!!

ETA: I will get better pics..