Inlay durability

L

loveit

Joined
Sep 16, 2003
Messages
12
I am looking to buy a Mnandi and love the options of inlays. Does CRK treat the wood for durability? I hope to carry this one a lot and don't want one that will nick or show much wear. Anything to stay away from? The box elder is very nice looking, but I know it is a soft wood. Is this a bad choice for a EDC knife?
 
My experience is that the inlays wear very well. The wood is "stabilized", a process by which the water and air in the wood is replaced by resin. I'm not exactly sure how it's done and I believe that it is a propietary process. I would not carry keys and change in the pocket with the inlay as they may ding it up. With resonable considerate care you shouldn't have a problem.;)
 
Thanks for the response. So if the wood is stabilized, all should wear about the same? I have no plans to abuse the knife, but I do plan to use it. It may be in my pocket, but if it is clipped to the pocket, it shouldn't get dinged with my other stuff much. I just don't want a knife I have to "baby," but I do want a small, high quality knife. The Mnandi fits this criteria, right?
 
I carry a Mnandi almost every day and have for about 6 or 7 months now. I haven't had any problems with the inlay getting damaged or showing wear.
 
My daily carry for quite a while now, box elder with Damascus blade. I don't abuse hard but do use it quite a bit, no decernable marks on the inlays. It stays clipped to my pocket. I've had nothing but good things to say about any inlayed CRK product. They've seemed to perfect the stabilization process pretty completely.
Elder1.jpg
 
Had a fellow from Florida, electrician by trade, uses his Sebenza's every day
he sent up a large wood inlay that was a bit roughed up, still solid, I sanded
it a little and took it to the buffer and looked quite nice. The tape that holds
the inlays in place is very tough stuff. I know this guy really puts his knives
to the test down there and if they stand up to his work, they should put up
with about anything you toss their way.
G2
 
Usually the wood is stabilized by covering it with resin then submitting it to a vacuum so it permeates the wood. This is the same material used for wooden pistol grips so it is pretty durable.

I've got a Mnandi I carry several days a week (when in slacks) and, while you can ding the inlay if you whack it hard enough, it will stand up to anything that won't deteriorate the resin. A daily dunking in solvent, for example, wouldn't be recommended.
 
Thanks for the responses! I feel comfortable getting one now. Blackend, that is one beautiful knife! Wow!
 
I've reported some time ago that my Mnandi has gone through the wash many times and I have no problem with it. I forget it's in my pocket all the time.
 
How about the leather inlays? How durable are they? Do they scratch, get somehow cut or marred in any way or does it being inlayed somehow protect it? I was thinking about one for a edc.
 
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