Mnandi- will it grow on me???

H

hokiewise

Joined
Mar 5, 2013
Messages
182
Hey everyone! Just a quick background on my CRK experience. Last year, I started reading this forum , and learned about the quality of the Sebenza. Bought a new small 21 insingo last year. Loved it. Wanted to try a large. Bought one, but found it a bit large, so I traded it for a mint Mnandi from 2009. Bloodwood and beautiful. Like it, but can't seem to fall "in love" with it, so it is not carried, just sitting there looking lonely in my knife drawer. Thinking about selling, but every time I do, I think I may not find another with the old pivot, nail nick and now discontinued Bloodwood in pristine condition if I change my mind , and decide that a Mnandi should bump my small Sebenza. Just don't see it happening. Has anyone ever had a Mnandi that wasn't loved, that became their "go-to" after awhile? Should it go to a home where it will see more use? Let me know your thoughts, and thanks for reading. Have a good one all! Joe
 
I don't think it's a go to knife for general purposes, like not a knife that would knock a small sebenza out of my rotation, not for general edc at least. It's more of a specialty knife, considering the size i'd mostly use it on light tasks and carry it if i ever got dressed up. I'm sure it can hang in there though with a sebenza if you really needed to. Why not carry both, it's light enough, to try and get more use out of it, see if using it is to your satisfaction for that type of knife.
 
I carried a mnandi for quite awhile, but always had another CRK in my pocket for the big boy chores. I much prefer the older design to the newer one. You do see the older pivot design out there, they are just not as plentiful as days past. I have tried 2 of the newer ones and just do not care for them as much as the originals. It may warm up to you to where you will not think of selling it, but I doubt it will replace your small sebenza as that seems to be your go to CRK.
 
I also had a Bloodwood Mnandi that I ended up trading for a Small Ironwood Sebenza. The Mnandi was beautiful and extremely well made, but it was just a little small for me to get a comfortable grip on. So it had to go.
 
I appreciate the Mnandi for what it is and really enjoy looking at all the different flavors(especially the mammoth) but i realized a while back that it was too small for my needs.
 
I have two now, and they have grown on me. In fact, I have a new version cocobolo in my pocket right now! As mentioned, I don't think they replace a small sebenza in carry or use, but they are great little knives in their own right. It is also less likely than even a small sebenza to attract unwanted attention, as well as lighter to carry.
Btw, blood wood is a great inlay! They stopped making it before I could pick one up........
 
Thanks for the input everyone! Since I don't work in an office and am a "casual" type guy, the dress side isn't really that important to me. That is a big part of the reason I was wondering if it would "grow on me". Guess only I can answer that question. Just seems a bit small in my handl and light, especially compared to the small Sebenza. It is just so smooth and beautifully finished, and like Ernie1980 said, the Bloodwood is a great inlay. Hard to keep and not use, hard to let go.
 
I also have a nice Damascus Mnandi that I enjoy. I am enjoying the larger knives as of late.
 
Im interested should you decide to let it go.

My initial purchase was a couple of sebenzas with a mnandi on a whim. The mnandi has become my favorite edc. So you never know. It may grow on you.
 
If you ever want to sell it, shoot me a PM and I will probably take it off your hands. I do not have one and yours is exactly like I would want.

Thanks,

Martin
 
dress knife, light knife, dinner night knife, backup knife...
small, sturdy, sharp so it's a GO! and a must have

carry it a while, it does grow! bought one out of curiosity, have 3 and rotate them all
 
You'll never know unless you give it a chance. Carry it now and then and you will find out if it grows on you.

We can say all kinds of things, but if you don't give it a chance you'll never know.


BTW- if you do decide to sell it to someone here you'll need to buy a membership. Well worth the price, and much better than fooling with ebay(IMO anyway).
 
Oh yeah I've had one that I been using at work for about ten years. The more you use it the more you will appreciate it. IMO it's no lightweight either. It's a very stout little blade, sometimes I use it for gardening.:D
 
I won't know until tomorrow.....my brand new Mnandi is in transit and due here tomorrow! Pics will be forthcoming to be sure.
 
In this configuration - keep it.
As you can see it is a desirable piece.
While it is percect for office carry it is also nice in summertime, because of the light weight it's small size.
It is half the weight of the small, so you can easily add it to your edc.
red mag
 
Masterserg, really good points. Selling wouldn't be such a big deal if it wasn't what it is. Can always buy another Mnandi, but the old style in LNIB condition may not roll around again very easily. Still deciding what I want to do. If I do sell, someone is gonna get a beauty. If I don't, I sure am gonna keep a beauty! And the Bloodwood is actually kinda red too! Really appreciate all the comments, everyone.
 
I'm not the norm amongst the forums' crk nuts. I started out buying 3 small sebs, then bought a mnandi as the small seb was too big for my needs and couldn't get around the one side nature of the seb. i prefer two similar sides to a knife like the mnandi . sill have a nib damascus small seb but also now have 13 mnandis which I really like. I now carry one of my bark damascus mnandis-others are safe queens. diff strokes for diff folks
 
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