Mnandi new owner. And Regular Small Sebenza owner

D

Davor

Joined
Mar 10, 2010
Messages
669
This is not a review post. I rather leave the reviewing to the experts. Worth mentioning in folders I own a Spyderco Progrip, Para 2, Swiss Army 4 inch, Spyderco Cricket, CR Small Regular Sebenza and a Mnandi.

I now want to add my first impressions of the Small Regular Sebenza built in 1997 with BG-42 blade and handle stamped B98. I've only carried this for two days I'll update this later if I decide to keep it or sell it.

Pros:

The blade is stone washed and the shape is not so pointy. I just sliced paper and it cuts it like butter. The BG 42 blades were heat treated at 60 to 61 HRC.
The handle is perfect for medium hands and the blade and total knife size is perfect. Not too small.
The handle fits my four fingers and just a bit more.
The lock was solid and the titanium frame has a grippy feeling.
It appears to be a durable knife, which can do anything including small prying.
Overall feel is firm, industrialized and solid. Perfect to wear with a pair of jeans.

Cons:

I wasn't initially impressed b/c I had the mnandi for a week prior to handling the sebenza.
Its not a classy knife, but its a simple firm working knife. You can still wear this with a casual day and use it for cutting mail and/or tires if you work on the border. I've seen these in action on the border cutting tires open.
Opening the knife was uncomfortable at first. Now after much practice I can open it by pressing away using the tip of my thumb nail and not meaty part of my thumb.
While opening its smooth and locks up with snap.
The lock up bar gets in there 50%, but to disengage the thumb itself will not do. At least with this knife it took a little bit of effort to disengage.

This 1997/1998 blade stamped B98 with original box and 14 years sticker and certificate was a display model. I took it apart and cleaned it and lubed it. Its smoother now, but not like the mnandi.
Heather recommended I send it in for a tune up b/c it was sitting in display for so long. She said I have it back like new.
When I get it back, I'll consider keeping or selling it.

I've being carrying my snake wood Mnandi for a week and so far this is what I think.

Pros:
Blade is thin and razor sharp.
Handle feel is 5 star.
Classy look is superb.
Balances in the middle.
Weight is ideal, not too light or heavy.
Open and closing action is very smooth.
It clips well to suit pants and not very visible.
Blade is centered and lock up is around 50%.
Snake wood inlay, never get tired of looking at it.
Handle fits concealed in my fist and the handle covers four fingers.
It appears like a great whittling knife.

Cons:
It can be small for some those with large hands.
$375 for premium wood inlay can be high for some.
Its not easy to open quickly, but with practice it becomes easier.
You can't pry with the blade.
Its a bit more delicate than a fixed blade or a Small Sebenza.

Overall, I've spent $375 on taxes, rent, food, drinks and others. I have no regrets b/c this knife can easily last me a lifetime and another generation.

I didn't post any pics, but there are is a nice comparison by LMT below.

For those who have owned a Small regular sebenza and a Mnandi, let me know which you prefer too. My small regular sebenza is a nice knife, but I want to use the Mnandi before switching over. The mnandi imo is a great little knife which can be clipped anywhere. The Sebenza is more of a casual day wear.

Both are different in each way. I'm glad I have both. Did I need them both, no. Either one would have been my EDC.
 
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David,

Mnandis are fantastic little knives, but the solid feel of even the small Seb has me hooked. It's all up to personal preferences because there isn't really any downside to either once you get past the initial cost. Hold onto that small Seb though, it's special.
 
Dallas: I agree, the small regular was a lucky find. I just kills me to use it, but I guess knives are meant to be used and not admired in a safe.
 
The mnandi is one of my all time favorite crk. I have had up to 5 but am down to two now as I traded some of the plainer ones away when I was buying xm-18's. The xm's are nice knives, but I should have kept all the mnandi. I now have a jigged madagascar rosewood with s30v and a stainless basketweave damascus with cocobolo mnandi. Both are definately keepers. I have used my damascus mnandi ( which I edc'ed for a month or two ) and used it for everything from cutting cardboard, whittling, cutting dog bones, food, you name it and there is not even the slightest blemish on the damascus. I wear size large gloves and have bigger hands, but the mnandi never feels small. You see them on the forums every once in awhile for $250 - $350 depending on the woods. I got a steal on my damascus mnandi on ebay about 2 years ago for like $380. They are a little pricy maybe when you consider a small sebenza is only about $30 less, but a large sebenza is only about $30 more. But once you handle one and see all that goes into it, you will easily see that its money well spent. I am always looking out for them with just that right piece of wood that grabs your eye. The ones I traded away were (2) bocote and ironwood or ebony ( I cant remember ). I love the look of the camel thorne, lignum vitae, and of course my grail mnandi, a nice mammoth bark mnandi.

As far as toughness, is it tougher than a small regular sebenza, No. I also feel a small regular sebenza is tougher than a small 21 sebenza, strictly because of the heavier blade profile and just overall ( overbuilt ) regular styling. The small sebenza in any configuration is definitely built for heavier duty carry than the mnandi, but the mnandi was not designed to do things the umnumzaan can. It was made as a small elegant gentlemans knife for edc office/business/normal edc carry and at this, it excels.

I have absolutely NO cons about the mnandi. I would change nothing about it. I would admit I would like a larger version, but thats never going to happen. So I will live, carry and am happy with the mnandi the way it is. Definately will always get my :thumbup::thumbup:
 
I mostly carry my Umnumzaan. I bought the regular one awhile back and used the heck out of it, not long ago I got a nice tanto umnumzaan from a fellow forum member. I now have a wilson combat umnumzaan on the way, should be here either today or monday. Will be sure to post pics of the trio.

For the longest time, I always thought the small sebenza was too small for my needs. I always went with the large regular. I recently picked up a small regular meteor shower and I love it. Definitely makes me rethink that the small is too small for my needs. I do prefer the regular over the 21 because of blade shape.

But when I go out to more formal occasions, the holidays, etc.....its the mnandi all the way for me. For normal edc, the mnandi will fit the bill. If your opening boxes, envelopes, your normal cutting, whittling, food prep, the mnandi will not disappoint. Plus with the beautiful woods, you do it in style.

I think alot of it has to do with how you use your edc knife. If you live on a farm, or use it heavily outdoors for god knows what, then a large sebenza/umnumzaan is the way to go because they are big tough folders. If you want a smaller version, the small sebenza works great. If you just use a knife to open envelopes, boxes, are a business man or woman and just want a "pocket knife", then the mnandi would be my choice. But like I said in an earlier post, I have used my mnandi for very heavy duty tasks and it did not disappoint. Surprised me actually at how handy it indeed is. I am sure my thinking might not be the norm. For instance, last summer when I was building a 8x8 shed, I cut the shingles ( from the backside ) with my umnumzaan. When changing deck boards , wood was between the nails and I used my umnumzaan to pry/knock/twist them out. I would not do that with a mnandi.
 
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Personally, I love the Mnandi. I've got 9... ;)

Kind regards,

Jos
 
I ordered my snakewood Mnandi directly from Chris Reeve about three weeks ago. I'm hoping it's here near the end of May or very early June. The carrying this knife in addition to my small Sebenza with insingo blade, my Umnumzaan, and my Ti-Lock, which I think might be delivered tomorrow.

The Mnandi is going to end up as my most carried a knife by default, as I'll carry it every day in my office environment. I'll probably switch off between the small Sebenza and the Ti-Lock for my off-work EDC needs. The Umnumzaan is my outdoors, work around the yard, knife. I think these four knives complement each other well and have me covered for all situations I'll find myself in.

I can't wait to get my hands on my Mnandi, I'm really excited. I've been really impressed by the quality of all the CRK knives that I've held and I know the Mnandi will not disappoint.

Thanks for sharing your views on your new knife. Saying that yours is also a snakewood Mnandi just makes me want to have my even more.

Take care, John.
 
John: The mnandi may appear small when you first hold it, but you won't be disappointed in the handle design and the appearance of the inlay and overall knife. The blade is razor sharp, b/c of its thinner profile and the blade is close to the length of the handle. The best part of this is it really draws positive attention. When clipped to your front pocket, it looks like a pen. When you open and close it, it reallys becomes easier. I plan to carry my new small regular sebenza this week and I'll post my thoughts. The mnandi is a classy looking solid feeling gentleman's knife that can be used to slice, whittle and cut boxes, food or anything else. I find myself just holding it for hours throughout the day rubbing my fingers on the wood inlay and part of the titanium handle, great stress reliever feeling. Enjoy. Post your thoughts after you've receive yours.
 
Congrats Davor!

As for opening it quick, the key is to use your thumb and index fingers to grab both sides of the blade. You'll get used to it in no time. Oh and alternatively, you can do "Spyder Drop" which is an exclusive feature with Mnandi thanks to non-stud design. Hold the blade with thumb and index finger, slightly push out the handle with side of fingers and gently swing down the handle. By doing the little "push" you don't have to flip out, but gently swing out.
 
I've played with a Mnandi in the store a few times. Really wanted one, but ended up getting a Small Annual Edition Sebenza, which offers a nice inlay look and feel. The Small Sebenza is so much smaller in person that it looks online. I have pretty slender fingers for a guy, and the Mnandi is almost too small, and the Small Sebenza with an inlay is Just Right. The only way I'd end up with a Mnandi is if I ended up working in a really conservative corporate environment. I'd have to wear it in a sport coat or shirt pocket with a nice fountain pen to complete the look, LOL.

Of course I got a Large Regular for more of a workhorse EDC. The fancy Small Annual is my "gentlemen's" knife now. Haha.
 
I added some new comments on my newly purchased BG-42 regular small sebenza. Still new, and I may sell it or keep it.
 
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