Mnandi calling my name!!!!

H

hokiewise

Joined
Mar 5, 2013
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Good morning all! As some of you may know, I recently purchased both a large and small Insingo. Although the large is so incredibly smooth, I find myself carrying the small as my EDC. Large just seems ever so slightly "too" large. Considering selling the large and going for a Mnandi. What do you recommend for wood choice? I like the snakewood, box elder and the cocobolo, but all of the handle materials are beautiful. Mammoth is out for now due to cost. Is one " tougher " than the others, or since CRK stabilizes the wood, are they all pretty much the same? Thanks for all the great posts, photos and info here. You have truly made the world of these wonderful knives easier to access. Thanks in advance! Hokiewise:D
 
Awesome! Wish I could help you identify the right inlay, but I love most all of them!
I have sometimes bought a Mnandi based on the beauty of the wood, some of them just capture your imagination.
Enjoy your search!
 
There are so many great wood choices that it is hard to try to pick a favorite. They each have their own unique grain and character. A few of my favorites are Lignum Vitae, Bocote and Honduran Rosewood. The best advice is to make sure the dealer you are buying from is showing pics of the actual knife you are buying because grain variation in woods of the same type can be quite significant. Choose a color/pattern that appeals to you and go for it....you won't regret it :)

MnandiCollectionWeb.jpg
 
I'm not sure if you're going to be buying new or used. In my opinion there are two main categories of Mnandi:

1) Old pivot style, sharper edged nail nick, easier for one hand opening
2) New recessed pivot, nail nick that is a bit smoother at the edge, trickier to open one handed, but it can be done.

A new clip was added and I have seen the new clip on both old pivot and new pivot.

I see SaddleSC, posted while I was typing. It appears his are all new pivot.....and it seems that maybe his top one has the old nail nick.
 
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My advice (from a quick to admit it .... Mnandi lover) .... would be to take your time. Make your first experience count. Look over the various Mnandi threads, peruse retailer sites, the exchange and other places that they are offered for sale. Then pick an inlay that speaks to you. Trust me, if the right Mnandi calls your name ..... you will be well on the road to wanting others!!

Here are mine. Would be hard pressed to pick my favorite .... and each and every one called out to me!!

NonDamMnandis.jpg


DamMnandis.jpg
 
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The nail nick difference is pretty easily seen in SaddleSC's photo. It does seem like it would be easier to open an old one. And thanks for the advice on the photos. I had a feeling lots of the retailers had generic photos of some pretty awesome wood selections.
 
From an aesthetics point of view, the Mnandi is my favorite knife from Chris Reeve. But it's just a little too small for me. I'm more of a Small Sebenza kind of guy. But if Chris ever makes a Large Mnandi with a 3" blade and 7" overall, for instance, I'll be on it like white on rice.

PS: Stunning collection you've got there, d.r.h. :)
 
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I tend to agree with you, BLD522. My Mnandi (box elder with raindrop damascus) just sits in my case, while I actually carry my small Sebenza. I may have to let my Mnandi go to a deserving home, since I just scored another small Sebbie.

bld522 said:
From an aesthetics point of view, the Mnandi is my favorite knife from Chris Reeve. But it's just a little too small for me. I'm more of a Small Sebenza kind of guy. But if Chris ever makes a Large Mnandi with a 3" blade and 7" overall, for instance, I'll be on it like white on rice.

PS: Stunning collection you've got there, d.r.h. :)
Click to expand...
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
I tend to agree with you, BLD522. My Mnandi (box elder with raindrop damascus) just sits in my case, while I actually carry my small Sebenza. I may have to let my Mnandi go to a deserving home, since I just scored another small Sebbie.
Click to expand...

I'll TAKE IT!
 
Locutus D'Borg said:
I tend to agree with you, BLD522. My Mnandi (box elder with raindrop damascus) just sits in my case, while I actually carry my small Sebenza. I may have to let my Mnandi go to a deserving home, since I just scored another small Sebbie.
Click to expand...

So did I. Well actually, I re-scored a Small Ironwood Sebenza that I had traded away some time ago for a Large Micarta. Then recently, I ended up buying a Bloodwood Mnandi that I hadn't really intended to purchase at all. I won't bore you with how that all came about. I'll just say that I traded the Mnandi for the Small Ironwood Sebenza I had originally traded away. So I came full circle on that one.
 
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I love the LOOK of the Mnandi. Dennis certainly just showcased a beautiful collage of why. However, I prefer the FEEL of a small Seb.
 
Having never handled a Mnandi, but loving the small Sebenza, is one of my primary stumbling blocks. Is the weight difference very noticeable? I always try to carry enough for my needs, but no more. I may be better off just staying with the small Insingo. Just not sure if the large will be getting much use since I always grab the small, and thought the Mnandi would be the next logical step. The "look vs feel" discussions are making me think twice. Maybe an inlaid small? Tough decisions. Wonderful, but tough.
 
MostMenAreRuthless said:
I love the LOOK of the Mnandi. However, I prefer the FEEL of a small Seb.
Click to expand...

hokiewise said:
Having never handled a Mnandi, but loving the small Sebenza, is one of my primary stumbling blocks. The "look vs feel" discussions are making me think twice. Maybe an inlaid small? Tough decisions. Wonderful, but tough.
Click to expand...

Hey .... don't get me wrong .... I also love the small Sebenza!!! It's just that I am retired ..... don't REALLY need to carry a knife for anything but pleasure and the occasional task that might come up. I have plenty of knives reserved to do "dirty" work. There is just something about a small, elegant gent's (and that's short for gentlemen and gentlegals!!!) folder that I just find appealing. There are, however, plenty of reasons to love the small Sebbies too. Here are some of those reasons:

SmSebsInlay.jpg


SmSebsGraph.jpg


While I still like the large Sebenzas ..... my preference has definitely shifted to Mnandis, followed closely by the small Sebenzas.
 
hokiewise said:
Having never handled a Mnandi, but loving the small Sebenza, is one of my primary stumbling blocks. Is the weight difference very noticeable?
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Yes. the Mnandi weighs about half as much as a Small Sebenza . . .1.5 ounces for the Mnandi versus 3.0 ounces (or 2.3 ounces for the Knifeart.com CF Exclusive) for the Small Sebenza. I LOVE lightweight knives. So when I carry a Small Sebenza, it's usually the CF.
 
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The Mnandi is light enough to carry clipped to a shirt pocket, the small Sebenza isn't....
 
Thanks bld522, and JB in SC. That helps me out. Light combined with strength is a good combo. Amazing that it is only half the weight of the small sebenza. Almost hard to imagine.
 
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