My visit to Plaza Cutlery.... now lusting after a Mnandi....

E

Edw00d

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Jan 21, 2008
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412
Just got back from Plaza Cutlery. Very nice folks there. I was most interested in checking out the Sebenza's, as I was set on getting either a Classic or regular Small Sebenza.

But lo and behold, I decided to hold a Mnandi in my hand and try it out just out of curiosity. After a nice demo of how to hold, open, and close each knife, turns out, I love the Mnandi much better. The Sebenza was quite a bit more difficult to close than the Mnandi. A little easier to open because of the thumbstud, but once I understood the technique for opening the Mnandi, it was very easy to open one handed.

Also, the narrower blade makes it easier for more delicate cutting which is what I would probably use it for more. Perhaps my hands are just not manly enough, but the Mnandi was easier to manipulate in my hand. And I really love how it feels in the hand.

I think the main problem is the location of the pocket clip for the Sebenza for me. I keep grasping it on the clip, which works against my unlocking the frame lock, while the Mnandi has scales on top of the frame lock (basically a super liner lock in a way) and the clip is centered.

Oh, and it helps that the price of the lowest end Mnandi is "only" $20 more than a Classic or Regular Small Sebenza. I think overall for my uses, I have a Ritter RSK-1 Mini-Grip on it's way which will be my "beater" utility knife. I am lusting after the Mnandi for a nice small EDC knife.
 
I know how you feel...:D The first time I held a Mnandi, I immediately purchased it. Now I have six(6) already! Very nice knife and my favourite folder up to now!
 
I know how you feel. I visited Plaza Cutlery just to browse while I'll was in the area and walked away with a Large Classic Sebenza and an empty wallet. You're right too - great people there.
 
The Mnandi really is so nice. They are small but surprisingly sturdy for a gents knife.
 
Nukemkb said:
This thread needs pictures! :D
Click to expand...

Pic of my frist Mnandi: (African Blackwood)
Picture081.jpg


The 5 others (pics borrowed from TNK as I don't have my own pics yet!)

Mammoth Ivory/ ladder damascus:
P-CR2418.jpg


Snakewood:
P-CR2410.jpg


Mesquite Burl:
P-CR2408.jpg


Bloodwood:
P-CR2396.jpg


Box Elder:
P-CR2394.jpg
 
Oooo. I like Box Elder. It's going to be a long wait until I can find a good deal on one.
 
Ed,

That Mini-Ritter should be getting to you Monday or so. Thanks for the quick sale ;)

Here's a pic of my old Mnandi (sold) to entice you further.

Oh I should mention that the Mini-Ritter took over EDC duties from my Small Seb (Blasphemous I know).

Mnandi023.jpg
 
fleetparadox said:
Ed,

That Mini-Ritter should be getting to you Monday or so. Thanks for the quick sale ;)

Here's a pic of my old Mnandi (sold) to entice you further.

Oh I should mention that the Mini-Ritter took over EDC duties from my Small Seb (Blasphemous I know).
Click to expand...

LOL. you know if you still had that Mnandi, I'd have probably bought it as well.
 
Great choice on the mnandi! It is my favorite knife and I'm sure it will be yours also. I do wish CRK would have more burl inlays in different colors in addition to the box elder though.
 
Nice! Every single one! It is hard to pick a favorite...easy to understand why you have that many! Thanks for pics.
 
I have my first "real" folder. My new RSK-1 Ritter Mini-Grip. It is a fabulous letter opener today. :)

I think the other activity I use a knife for most is food prep, lots of impromptu paring knife use. So the narrower Mnandi blade looks to be a superior shape than the wider blades of the Sebenza and Ritter RSK-1.

Plus, even though my Ritter Mini-Grip is going to be my "beater" knife. I hesitate to use it for cutting foodstuffs, as it is way more difficult to take apart and clean. Unlike the Mnandi, which ironically, looks much nicer but is far easier to clean.
 
My Mnandi feels great in my hand, and is really suitable for delicate tasks as well as day-to-day stuff.
The wood also makes it fairly easy on non-knife-people's eyes.
Greg
 
Funny, over 3 years later and I ended up not getting a Mnandi, but getting a Small Sebenza 2008 LE. After some time, I checked out the Sebenza's again, small and large, and found the small one to be the perfect "gentleman's" size. The Mnandi is just too small for me now. LOL, funny how size perception changes over time. And now that I've been used to having other frame lock knives, I don't find the lock bar on the small Sebenza difficult to use at all.

While I used to prefer Mnandi's, I'm getting pretty addicted to Sebenza's. I'll have to get a large one next. :)
 
I love going to Plaza!
Always reignites my itch for a blade purchase.

I love the Mnandi as well, but sold the 2 that I've owned. I guess I feel more comfortable using my Sebs for dirty work. haha

I will acquire another down the road once I can justify the money for my age and uses.
 
Just browsing through Plaza Cutlery's website is enough to empty my wallet--a most futile attempt at only "browsing". I ended up getting a Lg Sebenza with pearl inlay and another knife. This Chris Reeve sure has some bad voodoo.
 
I just received my snakewood Mnandi and Small Sebenza today. The Mnandi is very classy, great gentlemen's knife even for NYC standards. The blade is thinner, but a slicer and razor sharp. The handle is a bit thin, but the length is almost as long as a small sebenza. Overall, either the small sebenza or the Mnandi would be the perfect EDC to pass down to your kids when you are too old to wipe yourself. Yea, I'm really excited, now I can't figure which one to EDC. Overall, Mnandi is classier and I like the way it looks, but the small Sebenza is easier to open. In a party, the Mnandi would get more attention, but at a work site, the Sebenza seems like it can handle a bit more. Either way, they are both great and worth the purchase and price. Ok, if I had to pick only one, it would be the Mnandi, just b/c of the look. The movement, buttery smoothness and design are great on both and similar in some ways, which is why I pick the Mnandi overall just for the classy look.
 
Heheh, get an Annual LE Small Sebenza. Still quite small, and the inlay is much nicer than the Classic and 21 two "strips". Best of both worlds, Gentlemanly looks, and Sebenza utility.

I'm still keeping an eye out for a "beater" Large Sebenza when I don't need to be so "gentlemanly".
 
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