Mnandi..advice..help..suggestions..

NGK-Webmaster

NGK-Webmaster

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Jun 21, 2002
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I want to hear what people have to say about the Mnandi, I have never held one buthave been eyeballing them lately. Please fess up and tell me what you all know of them. Fit finish functionality ect. Anyone want to lend me one for a day or too? :)
 
The Mnandi is smaller than a small Sebenza and much lighter.

Fit and finish is typical of any Reeve knife-outstanding. The blade locks up solid and it is a little worker!

Opening the blade one-handed takes a little practice, but it is easier than opening an Umfaan.

Overall, it is a solid little knife. A great gentleman's knife that can be a solid workhorse. My only complaint is also its' strength- it is smaller than I expected.

Anyone collecting and carrying a Reeve knife needs to have at least one!

Daniel
 
As Daniel said... fine knife ! It is in the "gentleman class" ... here is a comparison picture of the small sebenza, mnandi and an umdfaan
 

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I never realized how small the small sebbie was until today when I recieved Rev. Pete's small classic 2000 on loan. I can't imagine being able to open and close the umfaan. Boy, that thing looks small!

Mike
 
How well does that "slot" for opening work? looks like it may be hard to manipulate one handed. thanks for the call today and the pic tallpaul. That is smaller than I was expecting it to be.
 
I rotate between my small sebenza and my mnandi. I carry my mnandi more because I find I like it a little more. I think it is a really beautiful knife. However, I think the small sebenza's size is more ideal.

The slot works really well for me.
 
While the build quality is very special in the Mnandi and it is a true gents knife I also was quite surprised how small it is!

It is somewhat awkward to open one handed, I have med/small hands so someone with large mits would need quite some practice to open one handed.

In fairness one handed opening is a 'tactical' feature in my mind and this is a gents knife.

The one thing I would really critisise would be the way the inlay on the oposite side goes right across...hmmm difficult to explain this one. The inlay is unbroken opposite the lock (even where the lock bar is). Thus this might break? Can't think of a better way to explain this.

I do love my Redwood Burl Numbered Mnandi though (24-25)

As a side note I also find the Small Sebi a little too 'small' for my liking. Both are amazing blades, but the large Sebi just suits me in work so much better. Perhaps the small and Mnandi are perfect for polite carry and I am just not a polite person!:D
 
I carry and use a large Sebenza more than any of the CR line. I own them all(except for the Umfaan)and like using them all. But as I stated, the large Sebenza is a great overall knife. When stepping out for a semi-social event and I don't want to drawn undo attention to myself, I carry my Mnandi.

I really like this gentelmens pocket knife. Like General, I have medium size hands, but don't find this folder too hard to work opening. As far as carry, I can up with a sheath idea to carry both my large Sebbie and Mnandi. I had a sheath made where the Mnandi sits on top/or in front of the large Sebbie when in the sheath. Pretty smart. There is a snap flap that covers both knives when in the sheath. I'm not at liberty to discuss where I had the sheath made, but I'm sure many of you can figure it out.:)

Oh, by the way, I just traded my custom lacewood B&W raindrop Damascus Mnandi for one with Mammoth ivory scales inlayed with gold and a diamond, steel of S30V. As much as I liked the Damascus, the idea of ivory scales instead of wood was pretty appealing.
 
Originally posted by K-guy
...Oh, by the way, I just traded my custom lacewood B&W raindrop Damascus Mnandi for one with Mammoth ivory scales inlayed with gold and a diamond, steel of S30V. As much as I liked the Damascus, the idea of ivory scales instead of wood was pretty appealing.
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Wow, traded that one? That was a very lovely knife, or so I've heard...make sure you post some pics of the new one when you can! ;)

As for me, the Mnandi is a very solid locking folder, a bit awkward one handed opening but for a gents knife it's not a real problem, and there are some that open it with one hand with ease, so it's a matter of getting used to it. It is larger than the Umfaan and a little handier with it's slightly longer blade, nice knife!

G2
 
Opening the Umfaan with my thumb generally sent me to the emergency room - either with irreversible hand cramps, or a deep puncture wound from the thumblug.:D

Opening the Mnandi is kind of like joining a secret handshake club - act carefully and patiently and you will finally a reasonably reliable opening skill. I wouldn't use it in a fast draw contest. But really, it is a one-hander, just not the fastest one-hander you ever used.

It is very durable and strong and ideal for many tasks. It is more rugged than a William Henry Lancet for certain.
 
As others have said, the Mnandi is a gents knive, read light duty. It's sleak and beautiful, but won't replace the ECD Sebbie. Used it to cut through some copper wire and hard plastic the other day, it did the job, though the narrow handle and thin blade make it less than ideal for such tasks.

As long as you understand the limitations, this blade will serve you well.
 
From what I have seen and read I think the Mnandi may be smaller than what I was wanting. I have never really liked the looks of the Seb not that it doesn't feel great and like it's made to do some major hard work I just never like the looks. Until I saw the stars and stripes handles and the wood. So now I guess I am going to step into the Sebenza world, oh what have you all done to me? I think I will keep my William Henry's for dress carry and pass on the Mnandi but a Sebenza is on the way! Thanks for all the input guys you talked me out of a Mnandi but into the Sebenza geeez glad you forum people don't live close enough to be anymore influence on me than you are already I'd be dirt poor broke.
 
Originally posted by NGK-Webmaster
From what I have seen and read I think the Mnandi may be smaller than what I was wanting.
Click to expand...

Of all my knives, I carry my Mnandi the most. Don't discount it on what you have read here.

It's not too expensive for an EDC. It's not too small and not hard to open. It's not a large leather Classic (my favorite) but for me, well, it's all I need.

CR.jpg
 
NGK, I never liked the look of the plain ones myself, guess that's why I've gone for the wood inlay models (though some of Lisa's decorations are quite nice). I especially like the way the inlay rounds out the handle.

You want to talk about dirt poor, somehow I managed to buy 3 CRKs, a Brend hawk, and yet another SureFire within the past month. Hope there's still enuff left in the bank to get presents for others next month :)
 
I carry a Mnandi clipped to my wallet, one of the Mission wallets from Bladeart. I also carry a small classic in a G2 sheath for the heavier tasks. The Mnandi can be opened in public without causing folks to go weak in the knees and I highly recommend it as gentleman's knife. However, I have to face up to the fact I have a disease, acquiring steel. I could just as well justify a Eugene Shadley mini-Congress if I had the funds.

You won't go wrong picking a Reeves knife.

Jack C.
 
I have big hands and I find the Mnandi a easy knife to open quickly. The one thing, however, is that mine will not flick open. The Mnandi is indeed a gents knife, but it one that is capable of pretty heavy duty cutting. The blade is ground thin but are the blades of Sebenzas. I just think Chris Reeve is partial to thinly ground, super sharp knives. They cut like crazy but they also demand thoughtful use on the part of the owner if she or he does not want to damage the knife.
 
I have carried my Mnandi (#21 with Ziricote) every day for two years now. It has been used for a wide variety of things, amongst which are opening mail, boxes, dog food packets, clamshell packaging; cutting fruit, jerky, steak (some of those restaurant steak knives are awful!), brownies, threads, tags; trimming tomato plants, roses, stuff in the yard; it has been through the wash in my jeans pocket (not the drier, mind you!); I have used it in food preparation at friends houses where their kitchen knives are dull.

Just last weekend, I used it to scrape off the tatty "God Bless America" sticker that was on the back window of my car so I could put up a new one. That sticker stuck tighter than paint - I have never struggled so hard to remove a simple sticker! My Mnandi was covered with WD40, disintegrated sticker and as yucky as you can imagine. It did a great job on the sticker (didn't scratch the window) and when I was done, I just washed it - under running warm water - with some diswasher detergent, dried it off and it was perfect. I have never had the knife serviced and have only had Bryan sharpen it twice - the second time was after the sticker episode. The lockup is a solid as it was on day 1, it has a few character scratches and I just love it!

I take it out often to show people in response to the question "what kind of business?"!! The thumb notch works great - sure it is not a super fast opener, but it was not exactly designed to be used in a back alley knife fight. My life mostly revolves around a regular city environment - household, school, groceries, post office, bank - I don't frequent back alleys much!

To the best of our knowledge, no inlay has broken on side of the locking bar with the exception of Anthony Cheeseboro's knife that got run over by a variety of trucks.

Just thought you'd like some input from a regular user!!

Anne
 
:o :o :o :o

Sorry Anne but I had to think of something that concerned me and the inlay fragility was the only thing I could think of! Worries in the bin! As ever no need for concern!:)
 
NGK wrote: I think I will keep my William Henry's for dress carry and pass on the Mnandi but a Sebenza is on the way!

I don't know what WH models you have, but mine very favorite EDC has been a T10 Lancet, with the amber bone handle. This is the perfect size for me.

Interestingly, my new Mnandi (Tambouti inlay) is almost exactly the same size as the Lancet. I think the WH will go to half-time carry!
 
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