How do you choose wood inlay?

JediKnight86

JediKnight86

Joined
Jul 9, 2003
Messages
1,702
I'm going to buy a Mnandi. I've not had one in about five years. I'm staying under $400, so it's S30V blade and basic wood inlay.

But there are many choices in stock at several places! Bocote, Cocobolo, Camel Thorn, Snakewood, Desert Ironwood, Bloodwood, Tamboti, African Blackwood....

How the hell do I choose? I like them all!:confused:
 
Do yourself a favour... take the desert ironwood!

Kind regards,

Jos
 
Look at my avatar. The top one is Bocote, The next one down is Bocote also. The jigged one is madagascar ebony. The bottom damascus one is cocobolo.

IMG_2558.jpg


I always look for one with a beautiful grain, but all my mnandi's came at prices I could not pass up. I have always loved the Camel Thorne and just missed one on another forum, even though I think I was first in line. I like so many of them, but I do wanna get one with grain that has more character. Lignum Vitae sometimes has really nice grain; Camel Thorne almost always has excellent grain. Desert Ironwood has nice character like the above post states, there are so many others, I could go on and on. I have noticed though that the nicer grains seem to be on the plain ones and not the damascus as nearly all the damascus mnandi's I have seen have plainer type wood. The mnandi is a tough as nails knife for looking small and petite. I certainly plan to add more mnandi's in the future. Make sure if your buying online you ask if the one pictured is the actual one as I know of 2 different websites that seem to show a stock photo of a particular wood as I have seen the exact same picture on 2 different sites. Only Fine Knives has a nice selection with really nice pics + shipping if free. TNK has some nice ones as well, but they charge $30 shipping I believe. On ebay, customers favorites has several nice ones to choose from and they offer free shipping as well, I have purchased CRK from them and they are great. Definately Post Pics of which one you get !!!
 
nyefmaker said:
Look at my avatar. The top one is Bocote, The next one down is Bocote also. The jigged one is madagascar ebony. The bottom damascus one is cocobolo.

IMG_2558.jpg


I always look for one with a beautiful grain, but all my mnandi's came at prices I could not pass up. I have always loved the Camel Thorne and just missed one on another forum, even though I think I was first in line. I like so many of them, but I do wanna get one with grain that has more character. Lignum Vitae sometimes has really nice grain; Camel Thorne almost always has excellent grain. Desert Ironwood has nice character like the above post states, there are so many others, I could go on and on. I have noticed though that the nicer grains seem to be on the plain ones and not the damascus as nearly all the damascus mnandi's I have seen have plainer type wood. The mnandi is a tough as nails knife for looking small and petite. I certainly plan to add more mnandi's in the future. Make sure if your buying online you ask if the one pictured is the actual one as I know of 2 different websites that seem to show a stock photo of a particular wood as I have seen the exact same picture on 2 different sites. Only Fine Knives has a nice selection with really nice pics + shipping if free. TNK has some nice ones as well, but they charge $30 shipping I believe. On ebay, customers favorites has several nice ones to choose from and they offer free shipping as well, I have purchased CRK from them and they are great. Definately Post Pics of which one you get !!!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the Only Fine Knives recommendation! Wasn't familiar with them. I was looking at eBay, NGK, and Plaza. I'm also going to call CRK tomorrow to see what they have in stock. I like getting them "factory wrapped".
 
Some pics to help you choose (or tho make the choice even more difficult? ;))

Snakewood:
IMG_0627.jpg


Bloodwood:
IMG_0631.jpg


Desert Ironwood:
IMG_0628.jpg


Another one with bloodwood:
IMG_0298.jpg


Another one with snakewood:
IMG_0300.jpg


African blackwood:
IMG_0301.jpg


Mesquite:
IMG_0303.jpg


Box Elder:
IMG_0306.jpg


Kind regards,

Jos

PS. For good measure one in mammoth ivory:
IMG_0409.jpg
 
rolexkid said:
bocote has some good grain patterns.. thats what i have.
Click to expand...

The top two in my pic posted above are Bocote and the grain looks completely different. You would almost think its a different wood, but if you compare the two side by side, you can see the grain
 
Jos said:
Some pics to help you choose (or tho make the choice even more difficult? ;))

Snakewood:
IMG_0627.jpg


Bloodwood:
IMG_0631.jpg


Desert Ironwood:
IMG_0628.jpg


Another one with bloodwood:
IMG_0298.jpg


Another one with snakewood:
IMG_0300.jpg


African blackwood:
IMG_0301.jpg


Mesquite:
IMG_0303.jpg


Box Elder:
IMG_0306.jpg


Kind regards,

Jos

PS. For good measure one in mammoth ivory:
IMG_0409.jpg
Click to expand...

Beautiful Collection of Mnandi. The plain ones have Excellent Grain Character.
 
It's all a matter of personal taste. Just keep your eyes out, you'll know when you see it. I personally perfer the box elder. I just received this one from Helen at Customer Favorites. It is a wonderful knife!
DSC_4258.jpg

DSC_4257.jpg

DSC_4262.jpg
 
Jos said:
Some pics to help you choose (or tho make the choice even more difficult? ;))

Snakewood:
IMG_0627.jpg


Bloodwood:
IMG_0631.jpg


Desert Ironwood:
IMG_0628.jpg


Another one with bloodwood:
IMG_0298.jpg


Another one with snakewood:
IMG_0300.jpg


African blackwood:
IMG_0301.jpg


Mesquite:
IMG_0303.jpg


Box Elder:
IMG_0306.jpg


Kind regards,

Jos

PS. For good measure one in mammoth ivory:
IMG_0409.jpg
Click to expand...

I bought my first one about 3 weeks ago and I got Bocote because I got a great price on it. Really all the woods are nice. I wanted to get one to see if I liked it before I started spending large dollars on something I didn't like.
Guess what they are great. I would love to have the Damascus & White Ivory one in the picture, but I'm sure its not for sale.

Rickster
 
jritayik said:
It's all a matter of personal taste. Just keep your eyes out, you'll know when you see it. I personally perfer the box elder. I just received this one from Helen at Customer Favorites. It is a wonderful knife!
DSC_4258.jpg

DSC_4257.jpg

DSC_4262.jpg
Click to expand...

You got a killer deal on that knife, When I found out that Box Elder is Premium and it sells for $420.00 I went back to buy Helen's from Customer Favorites and it was gone. You nailed a good one.............

:D Rickster :D
 
I gotta get a Mnandi. I can not for the life of me remember why I got rid of the one I had.
 
I can't tell if Only Fine Knives pictures represents what they currently have in stock, they have a lot of really good stuff but some of the pictures are dated 2006-2008
 
Personally, I look for wood that is attractive and a bit unusual or highly figured. The box elder is beautiful, as well as the satinwood, bubinga, snakewood, etc. I hadn't seen the Mesquite before and that's interesting as well.

Of course the mammoth inlays are in a league of their own. Wowsers.
 
I learned Lignum Vitae is the hardest wood in the world, and I forgot I once had a lignum Mnandi. That's a good a reason as any to get another, but I'm sure Desert Ironwood and Snakewood are pretty damn hard too, and that Camel Thorn has such a cool grain! Ugh if I could only buy 3...
 
For the median Mnandi user, resistance to moisture damage is not an issue. If, however, you tend to send your mnandi through the washer once in a while :o, clip it IWB and sweat all over it during a workout, or otherwise let it stay wet for a relatively long duration, moisture damage is a consideration. Cocobolo has natural oils that make it pretty hearty in wet environments (CRK's bird 'n' fish "Inyoni" model sports cocobolo). My cocobolo small classic has held up very well despite some abusive environments.
 
If the wood is stabalized then wouldn't all types be the same strength?

Maybe I do not understand stabalization of wood?
 
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