Help with first CRK - update: Insingo has arrived!

oprichnik

oprichnik

Joined
Jul 9, 2015
Messages
397
Hi guys,
Looking to order my first CRK in the next day or two.
Narrowed down to two models that speak to me the most:

Small sebenza 21 insingo and mnandi with cocobolo.

I am sure at some point I will own both, but as a first CRK knife, which should I get, since I can only afford one or the other at this time?
Thanks in advance.
 
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I would recommend the small sebenza, it's the classic CRK. It is also the one that started it all for me!
 
I would also go with the small Sebenza. Unless you're planning on mostly carrying in slacks, then I might go Mnandi.
 
oprichnik said:
Hi guys,
Looking to order my first CRK in the next day or two.
Narrowed down to two models that speak to me the most:

Small sebenza 21 insingo and mnandi with cocobolo.

I am sure at some point I will own both, but as a first CRK knife, which should I get, since I can only afford one or the other at this time?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I would definitely go small 21 Insingo, as I feel that knife is more universally useful, and by all accounts, including my own, the greatest EDC knife CRK produces.

If part of your desire for the Mnandi is the beauty of the wood inlays, you might want to go small 21 standard blade with wood inlays. The wood inlays are super duper tough on the small 21s, and you get the extra warmth and beauty of the wood, with the functionality of a small 21 blade (albeit not Insingo). If CRK ever produced a small 21 Insingo with wood inlays (they don't) that would be my grail EDC.
 
The ti lock is a rock solid knife and surprisingly outperforms the small seb IMO> The mnandi is a gorgeous knife on its own. If you need a framelock get the mnandi. I handled my first one a month ago. If I were a rich old man I would get a mnandi. :)
Am I biased since I love my Ti lock so much?
 
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I did a blade swap on a buddys knife. I think it was a small bocote? And I took his insignio blade and tuned it to the lock. Almost needed nothing. But I have to say. It was as solid as any CRK I have handled. I just dont talk about it.

kidcongo said:
I would definitely go small 21 Insingo, as I feel that knife is more universally useful, and by all accounts, including my own, the greatest EDC knife CRK produces.

If part of your desire for the Mnandi is the beauty of the wood inlays, you might want to go small 21 standard blade with wood inlays. The wood inlays are super duper tough on the small 21s, and you get the extra warmth and beauty of the wood, with the functionality of a small 21 blade (albeit not Insingo). If CRK ever produced a small 21 Insingo with wood inlays (they don't) that would be my grail EDC.
Click to expand...
 
I was in this same boat. I ended up getting a small 21 Insingo, love it so much I sold a bunch of my other knives and saved up for a cocobolo mnandi that's coming in the mail tomorrow!
 
kcdurocher said:
I was in this same boat. I ended up getting a small 21 Insingo, love it so much I sold a bunch of my other knives and saved up for a cocobolo mnandi that's coming in the mail tomorrow!
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LOL - and what will be your next one after that? and the next one? and..... It will never end, believe me.
 
Small plain jane 21 insingo to start. The blade length is really an exceptional EDC size. The Mnandi's are beautiful but I like the thumb stud for opening.
 
Thanks for the suggestions,
I will be ordering the insingo tomorrow!
Will post an update later,
 
BellaBlades said:
The ti lock is a rock solid knife and surprisingly outperforms the small seb IMO> The mnandi is a gorgeous knife on its own. If you need a framelock get the mnandi. I handled my first one a month ago. If I were a rich old man I would get a mnandi. :)
Am I biased since I love my Ti lock so much?
Click to expand...

You and I, biased, extremely biased! The Tilock is what drew me to CRK; but the consensus is solid, small 21 for starters[emoji106]
 
Choose wichever one you like best....... As soon as you can afford, you'll buy another..... And another

I started out with a small 21.
My collection counts 9 users now, small&large regular in Bg-42,
small damascus 21,
mnandi,
tilock,
umnum,
25 and latest gem the lnkosi!

Not a big fan of the inlays, insingo, and strangly the large 21..... Owned them, but not my cup of tea
Dont like safequeens either.
 
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