Mnandi Alternative

When I wear a suit, I typically carry a ProTech Newport. And a slipjoint. I'm going to a conference Thursday & Friday. Taking a new picture will probably be easier than finding an old one.

I used to want a Mnandi; but I couldn't find one with acceptable inlays (at that price, you can bet I was going to be picky). I guess I still sort of want one; but I've given up on snakewood.
 
Yup. ac3boyz had it right - AB Rinkhals. Another one that might fit the is the Spartan small SHF.

gTz3hwI.jpg


bBVVVjW.jpg


ibAeBZa.jpg
 
Last edited:
This is the small Cheburkov Strizh (,Sparrow in English). This one is Ti with gold CF inlay. Mine is linerless CF. Simple cleand design, yet rides on bearings and is also a discreet front flipper. Similar price, maybe a little more than a Mnandi.

DSC03371_1410x_crop_center.jpg

Mine in CF

20230523_115335.jpg
 
K.O.D. said:
This is the small Cheburkov Strizh (,Sparrow in English). This one is Ti with gold CF inlay. Mine is linerless CF. Simple cleand design, yet rides on bearings and is also a discreet front flipper. Similar price, maybe a little more than a Mnandi.
Click to expand...

I'd been on the fence with that and a few other models but I might need to sell a few things before I pick up another Cheburkov. 😮

Alex has that one in stock. His customer service is excellent.


DSC03371_1410x_crop_center.jpg
 
Although the title is an alternative to mnandi, as far as I understand, we are talking about knives that will go with a suit. My choice would be: (as an alternative to mnandi I just put rockstead higo)
Cold steel spectre, rockstead higo, medford gentleman jack, kershaw leek, boker kwaiken, zero tolerance 0707, crkt kiss.
 
Chronovore said:
I'd been on the fence with that and a few other models but I might need to sell a few things before I pick up another Cheburkov. 😮

Alex has that one in stock. His customer service is excellent.


DSC03371_1410x_crop_center.jpg
Click to expand...
This is the second year I've met him now, both times at the GAKC show in St Louis.

Last year I wasn't too familiar with these knives other than seeing some here on BF. He really sold me on both Cheburkov and Biryukov. As I've mentioned in prior posts, last year when I met and talked to him he'd been considering becoming a supporting dealer here, and I pushed him over the edge.

If you are a repeat buyer, at least in person, perhaps over the phone, he threw in a little discount for me this year.

I'm probably done buying knives (or at least high end) the year. But I do feel the call of the Cheburkov Russian in Damascus.
 
I know everyone has different tastes, but there's a lot of stuff being thrown around in here that definitely doesn't fit what I would consider a suit knife/gentleman's folder.

OP, I think the Mnandi is the obvious choice for a reason. If you get anything else you're probably still going to want a Mnandi unless you up your budget into custom territory. Personally the next dress knife I buy will be a Scott Sawby in one form or another, but the right one hasn't popped up for sale since I decided that.
 
I've worn both of these suggestions with a suit (well, dress pants anyway).

The Buck 501 is slim and the same blade length as the Mnandi. If you can find one, the Larrin version is nice or maybe an Elk or stag handled one. Without a clip, it doesn't really need a sheath, but the Larrin comes with a sheath with a clip. For thickness, it just a fraction thicker than an alox SAK Cadet. My LionSteel two-blade BestMan is much thicker as is my LionSteel Jack (with corkscrew). Here is a thickness/size comparison of my LionSteel bestman, LionSteel jack, 501 Larrin, and SAK Cadet.
53171256404_7ebefed4bd_k.jpg


Here's the Larrin.
53156772504_216e12937c_k.jpg

53156571871_05b01af2e8_k.jpg


The small Sabenza is a bit longer than the Mnandi, but looks nice with the box elder burl and blue lugs. The slip sheath makes it an okay pocket carry. The clip can be replaced with an insert to make it a bit slimmer still. Here is a photo of it next to a large Sabenza.
53157064083_2b182ea538_k.jpg

53155986797_80512d48f2_k.jpg


Here are a couple of comparisons between the 501 Larrin and small Sabenza.
53171555828_041ed176ec_k.jpg

53171068011_b81d4211d2_k.jpg
 
If you're interested in going the auto route, I've always thought of the Godfather and Godson from Protech as "Gentleman's" or "dress" knives. The price is probably a little more reasonable than an CRK or AB and Protech's quality is outstanding.
 
I bought a Sebenza and SHF to be my dress up knives but they are big and heavy in the pocket so I carry a CF Bugout most of the time. I dont dress up that often, fortunately.
 
Danny Linguini said:
I just ordered one of these … for the zero times I have to dress up. Because after all I am a cheapskate, and you never know when the next time is you’ll have to wear a tie again.

View attachment 2317462
Click to expand...
Nope, no more ties. Next time I wear a tie is if I hang myself from one. And in that I don't believe in suicide, I'm never gonna wear one. Everyone I know is married with kids. Well except my mother, and she'll be married on the beach if she remarries.

I do have a few "gentleman knives, from a $80 Civivi Exarch to $1200 Alan Davis.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top