Is Mnandi still the best small knife?

Chronovore said:
There are lots of great options for a smaller knife, including for around half the price of a Mnandi or less. Between someone else's thread about being pick-pocketed and all the other things that can happen, I feel renewed in not always wanting that level of overhead in a pocket tool. Luckily, there are lots of quality knives that aren't expensive knives.

For instance, you could check out either the WE Elementum with 20CV and stonewashed titanium or the BladeHQ exclusive Civivi version with S35VN and Micarta. The Mini Begleiter from Kizer is a great little knife that can be had in a variety of materials, from premium versions in M390 and titanium to budget versions in N690 and Micarta. Either of those are a bit bigger than the Mnandi but still small, very nice, and very capable at half or less the cost. If staying smaller matters, the WE Mote has a 2.75" blade with a 6.2" OAL.

I could get out a few of my Mini Begleiters for a group pic if anyone is interested. LMK.
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I bet all those are flippers. Flippers are stoopid. 😬 Just kidding, all though I really don’t like flippers and I’d trade 3-4 of the knives you mentioned for a Mnandi I’d fancy.
 
CHNeal said:
I own several GEC and while they are a quality slip joint they are not even comparable to the Mnandi in quality of material or fit and finish.
Now if you happen to have a carbon fiber and raindrop Damascus Gen 2 Mnandi I’ll be more then happy to trade you 2-#14 one glow in the dark one Micarta, a two blade ebony #15 and a single blade red jigged bone #15 for it.
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Does gen 2 signify when they went from a nail nick to the through hole on the opener? I kind of just realized that they did this the other week.
 
353 said:
I bet all those are flippers. Flippers are stoopid. 😬 Just kidding, all though I really don’t like flippers and I’d trade 3-4 of the knives you mentioned for a Mnandi I’d fancy.
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Flippers are my favorite way to open a knife. Current versions of the Mini Begleiter use thumb studs. They are very satisfying to thumb-flick. :)

That is another reason I haven't tried the Mnandi. Yeah, it's over $400 for a pocket tool that could get damaged, lost, stolen, etc. It's over $400 for a really small pocket tool. However good the fit, finish, tolerances, or aesthetic beauty here, it's way out on the curve of diminishing returns. It also doesn't offer much in a category that I care about: action. I like to use a knife with one hand, with a fairly seamless motion, and with a little "snap" of satisfaction each time.

Don't get me wrong. I can understand owning a Mnandi as treasure or for fancy dress but I'm just not sold on it for EDC. As far as the curve of diminishing returns, a Civivi Bo is solidly "okay" in this size category. The regular model costs a seventh as much as the Mnandi and the fancy model with carbon fiber scales costs a fifth as much. The similarly thick blade is only Nitro-V but that isn't exactly terrible. It's a good little user and again, it costs a seventh as much.
 
Chronovore said:
Flippers are my favorite way to open a knife. Current versions of the Mini Begleiter use thumb studs. They are very satisfying to thumb-flick. :)

That is another reason I haven't tried the Mnandi. Yeah, it's over $400 for a pocket tool that could get damaged, lost, stolen, etc. It's over $400 for a really small pocket tool. However good the fit, finish, tolerances, or aesthetic beauty here, it's way out on the curve of diminishing returns. It also doesn't offer much in a category that I care about: action. I like to use a knife with one hand, with a fairly seamless motion, and with a little "snap" of satisfaction each time.

Don't get me wrong. I can understand owning a Mnandi as treasure or for fancy dress but I'm just not sold on it for EDC. As far as the curve of diminishing returns, a Civivi Bo is solidly "okay" in this size category. The regular model costs a seventh as much as the Mnandi and the fancy model with carbon fiber scales costs a fifth as much. The similarly thick blade is only Nitro-V but that isn't exactly terrible. It's a good little user and again, it costs a seventh as much.
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Hey its all a very subjective thing for everyone. I find that in my normal day to day life the Mnandi and a little AAA flashlight does all I need. I have done more with the Mnandi then a great number of folks here have done with their entire collection of pretty picture taking knives. Its gone to work in the office and the shop/field and never let me down.
All this may full well just be because for 40+ years I only carried a Buck 303 so I am no stranger to using a “small” knife daily, but again everyone is different.
 
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Don’t have many small knives, but these are keepers:

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I know, it’s just a “lowly” Spyderco :)
 
CHNeal said:
Hey its all a very subjective thing for everyone. I find that in my normal day to day life the Mnandi and a little AAA flashlight does all I need. I have done more with the Mnandi then a great number of folks here have done with their entire collection of pretty picture taking knives. Its gone to work in the office and the shop/field and never let me down.
All this may full well just be because for 40+ years I only carried a Buck 303 so I am no stranger to using a small knife daily, but again everyone is different.
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Nice post. I think it's really an apples and gorillas comparison to put a CRK up against a Civivi; markedly different audiences and the level of craftmanship involved - not to mention the pride of ownership and pedigree.
 
CHNeal said:
Its a sweet knife! What model is that? Ive never actually even held a spyderco.
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Thats a Franken Native 5, CHN, 3” blade: a Blade swap between a G10/Cruwear and Ti/S35VN. Daughter #1 is using the G10/S35VN knife now.
 
Boattale said:
I can't get behind the idea that an Mnandi is a small knife.
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Oh in principle I agree. It’s actually very close in size to the small Sebenza. It’s actually bigger then most knives I carried in my youth.
In todays world where every one needs a 4 inch super steel auto flipper rocket launcher to check the mail and post to the gram it’s tiny and unusable ( gentleman’s knife is code for unusable to the youngens).
 
CHNeal said:
Oh in principle I agree. It’s actually very close in size to the small Sebenza. It’s actually bigger then most knives I carried in my youth.
In todays world where every one needs a 4 inch super steel auto flipper rocket launcher to check the mail and post to the gram it’s tiny and unusable ( gentleman’s knife is code for unusable to the youngens).
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The Buck 55 I cited earlier is a small knife. A Gerber LST is a small knife. A Case Peanut is a small knife. SAK classic is a small knife. Get much bigger than these and it's no longer a small knife. For one example, a Leek is not a small knife.

Yours truly,
The Arbiter of Small
 
CHNeal said:
Oh in principle I agree. It’s actually very close in size to the small Sebenza. It’s actually bigger then most knives I carried in my youth.
In todays world where every one needs a 4 inch super steel auto flipper rocket launcher to check the mail and post to the gram it’s tiny and unusable ( gentleman’s knife is code for unusable to the youngens).
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Perhaps in length...
But it is a much less bulky knife.
Lay a Mnandi over top of a small Sebbie; the difference is readily apparent.
 
Heres a quick photo I just took of some knives off my dresser. Vintage Case 087 medium stockman, modern 087 pen, modern Buck 303 cadet, vintage cami 303, then buck 505, 503, and 501 all around a Mnandi. These are all what I call pocket knives. The only one I consider a “ small knife” is the diminutive Buck 505. These are just normal mens ( and ladies r8shell r8shell ) pocket knives from when they were tools for use. I see the Mnandi as the modern representation / evolution of these tools. It has all the charm of a vintage two handed opening slipjoint knife, minus the beloved 1/2 stop, and all the wonder that is the modern folder, minus of course the flipper tab and the ” thawp” from using it.
Gentleman’s knife? I don’t know about that. I’m betting that the 65‘-69‘ 087 was owned by a gentleman and its a real tool. Is the Mnandi a pretty knife? Yep one of the prettiest as far as I am concerned and it will still excel at the job a pocket knife was invented for, cutting stuff that needs cut now, not when I when I have time to go get a knife.
As for the cost and such comments I am reading, well if you would rather have a handful of cheap knives then one expensive knife I’m not mad at you and Ill ask the same in return. I am a quality over quantity guy. I also buy American when its an option no matter what the cost is. I as you can see also like traditional knives and their charm. That’s just me, you all do you.

To the OP, my answer remains a resounding YES the Mnandi is the best “ small” single blade modern folder, for me. I recommend giving it a shot.
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I have to say that for me, no, the Mnandi has never been "the best small knife". In fact, I'd put my McGinnis Proline Mini Exo up against a Mnandi all day long for an actual knife that's beautiful, useful, and fun to carry. It's a fair comparison, given that they're around the same price, with the Exo having better action (seriously, dropshut actuation on a 3 inch bladed knife? Nice!).

All the Mnandi's I see folks post are indeed beautiful knives. I just don't think there's anything about them that make them the best. 🤷‍♂️
 
CHNeal said:
Heres a quick photo I just took of some knives off my dresser. Vintage Case 087 medium stockman, modern 087 pen, modern Buck 303 cadet, vintage cami 303, then buck 505, 503, and 501 all around a Mnandi. These are all what I call pocket knives. The only one I consider a “ small knife” is the diminutive Buck 505. These are just normal mens ( and ladies r8shell r8shell ) pocket knives from when they were tools for use. I see the Mnandi as the modern representation / evolution of these tools. It has all the charm of a vintage two handed opening slipjoint knife, minus the beloved 1/2 stop, and all the wonder that is the modern folder, minus of course the flipper tab and the ” thawp” from using it.
Gentleman’s knife? I don’t know about that. I’m betting that the 65‘-69‘ 087 was owned by a gentleman and its a real tool. Is the Mnandi a pretty knife? Yep one of the prettiest as far as I am concerned and it will still excel at the job a pocket knife was invented for, cutting stuff that needs cut now, not when I when I have time to go get a knife.
As for the cost and such comments I am reading, well if you would rather have a handful of cheap knives then one expensive knife I’m not mad at you and Ill ask the same in return. I am a quality over quantity guy. I also buy American when its an option no matter what the cost is. I as you can see also like traditional knives and their charm. That’s just me, you all do you.

To the OP, my answer remains a resounding YES the Mnandi is the best “ small” single blade modern folder, for me. I recommend giving it a shot.
View attachment 1748949
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Now THAT'S a nice pile of knives!!
Old-timers carried smaller pocketknives because they knew just what they could do with them.
(Should I tell the story of the fella who gutted a big buck with a .348 Win case that was pounded flat, and sharpened on a rock?)
 
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