Post your Arno Bernard Pic's!

Very nice! I only have a plain jane at the moment, how does the inlay feel in hand? One thing I really like about the iMamba is just how thin it is, do the inlays add that much in width?
 
BTTLBRN said:
Very nice! I only have a plain jane at the moment, how does the inlay feel in hand? One thing I really like about the iMamba is just how thin it is, do the inlays add that much in width?
Click to expand...
Thank you. (if that was directed my way). I'll try to answer anyway. I think they're both very comfortable. I actually went back and forth with both for some time until I realized I didn't have a preference as to how one felt over the other. Not much difference in width, about 0.1". (0.53" vs 0.43")
 
inComing iMamba preorder! Thanks to Arno Bernard for bringing it to Blade Show for me, and to Jim at African Sporting Creations for shipping it the minute he got back from Blade Show!

I first had the plane Jane imamba, which lead me to order this blue kudu bone inlay model (and a fixed blade that will be here in 1-2 days). The pics don't do justice to the polished blade, as the iPhone grains it up a bit in post-processing.


IMG_7094.JPG
IMG_7082.JPG
IMG_7097.JPG
IMG_7096.JPG
IMG_7098.JPG
IMG_7099.JPG
IMG_7101.JPG

iMamba next to two other incoming knives (Benchmade Narrows and Hogue Ritter mini RSK Magnacut and carbon fiber)

IMG_7102.JPG
IMG_7103.JPG
 
DocJekl said:
inComing iMamba preorder! Thanks to Arno Bernard for bringing it to Blade Show for me, and to Jim at African Sporting Creations for shipping it the minute he got back from Blade Show!

I first had the plane Jane imamba, which lead me to order this blue kudu bone inlay model (and a fixed blade that will be here in 1-2 days). The pics don't do justice to the polished blade, as the iPhone grains it up a bit in post-processing.


View attachment 2211372
View attachment 2211371
View attachment 2211370
View attachment 2211369
View attachment 2211368
View attachment 2211367
View attachment 2211364

iMamba next to two other incoming knives (Benchmade Narrows and Hogue Ritter mini RSK Magnacut and carbon fiber)

View attachment 2211365
View attachment 2211366
Click to expand...
Doc, I wish you never posted these pictures of this lovely iMamba. I have a PJ and CF but that bone is stunning.🤔
There maybe another pre-order in the future.😉
 
Got my iMamba today. The blade finish is nice. But the flipper deployment is very disappointing. The tab by itself constantly fails to fully deploy the blade. I have heard weak detent is a common problem with this knife. Didn't know it would be this bad though.

Another issue is there is no chamfering on the underside of the knife handle, leaving the edges of the titanium somewhat sharp. So when I use the flipper, my finger goes right in between those two sharp edges and makes it uncomfortable to fidget with the knife.

I have two other titanium frame locks at ~300 and ~400 USD and both have chamfering on the underside where your finger would hit after using the flipper tab. So it's disappointing to see a knife twice the price overlooking those details.

The handle inlay options are very nice, and my plan was to use this Kudu bone model to "test the waters" before buying some of the other options. But the test results on this one are not favorable. 🙁

 
A few more pics

Kude Bone looks nice


Blade has mirror finish


Back inlay


Sharp edges on the bottom of the titanium


Definitely a beautiful knife, just not great for fidgeters like myself
 
I have not noticed any sharp edges on either of my iMamba, PJ or blue kudu bone. And the action/detent is great too. They're perfect. Sorry you got a slightly off one.

I have a new addition to the stable that came in yesterday. A Gecko with 2.75" N690 blade and Purple Kudu Bone handle.

IMG_7209 2.JPG
IMG_7210 2.JPG
IMG_7211 2.JPG
IMG_7230.JPG
IMG_7229.JPG

As far as size goes, it's a good 3 finger grip - the Reconnaissance Adzin above it is 3.375" blade and the Herman Sting below it is a 3.35" blade. All came in yesterday.

IMG_7220.JPG
 
APB9785 said:
Got my iMamba today. The blade finish is nice. But the flipper deployment is very disappointing. The tab by itself constantly fails to fully deploy the blade. I have heard weak detent is a common problem with this knife. Didn't know it would be this bad though.

Another issue is there is no chamfering on the underside of the knife handle, leaving the edges of the titanium somewhat sharp. So when I use the flipper, my finger goes right in between those two sharp edges and makes it uncomfortable to fidget with the knife.

I have two other titanium frame locks at ~300 and ~400 USD and both have chamfering on the underside where your finger would hit after using the flipper tab. So it's disappointing to see a knife twice the price overlooking those details.

The handle inlay options are very nice, and my plan was to use this Kudu bone model to "test the waters" before buying some of the other options. But the test results on this one are not favorable. 🙁

Click to expand...

I have not experienced any of those issues with mine. I have multiples and they are nothing short of great!
 
cutchu said:
I have not experienced any of those issues with mine. I have multiples and they are nothing short of great!
Click to expand...
You can just push the flipper tab and it completely deploys? I've been playing with mine for a day or two now trying to get it to work for me (because it is a beautiful knife, I really do want to like it), and it fails 100% of the time unless I flick my wrist to assist it.

Could you describe the motion/pressure you're using on the flipper tab? I usually press the tab into the knife (somewhat perpendicular to the handle), and that sometimes works with the iMamba, but then when the tab goes in, my finger pushes hard into the edges of the titanium, which is uncomfortable. So instead I've been applying pressure parallel to the handle, but that seems to not generate enough force by itself to fully open the knife.
 
APB9785 said:
You can just push the flipper tab and it completely deploys? I've been playing with mine for a day or two now trying to get it to work for me (because it is a beautiful knife, I really do want to like it), and it fails 100% of the time unless I flick my wrist to assist it.

Could you describe the motion/pressure you're using on the flipper tab? I usually press the tab into the knife (somewhat perpendicular to the handle), and that sometimes works with the iMamba, but then when the tab goes in, my finger pushes hard into the edges of the titanium, which is uncomfortable. So instead I've been applying pressure parallel to the handle, but that seems to not generate enough force by itself to fully open the knife.
Click to expand...

It seems that it is difficult to verbally describe specific actions in trying to open a flipper knife. However, in your statement saying that you press the tab into the knife, in a perpendicular manner relative to the handle, I have never done it that way. For clarity, I "pull" the flipper tab directly back towards the palm of my hand. The direction of motion of the flipper, would be parallel to the scale / frame of the knife.

I made a screen shot of this below. This is just my opinion. I am sure many people flip their knives in many different ways, which is just how it might naturally work for them.

This is always is how it works for me, 100% of the time. I have several iMambas and this works each and every time for me. For every other brand of flipper type knives that I have, just feels natural in my hand to open them like this. This is particularly true with how it feels to flip my XM series Hinderer knives open. Because of the jimping on the scale just behind the flipper tab, there can be some bite there if you ride the tab back, but too close to scale. For me personally, I really have to be mindful to pull the tab back towards me, in a very specifically parallel direction, to the scale.

This might be the reason that it feels like the scale edges feel sharp to you. I imagine that if you are pressing the tab almost directly back down into the knife scales as you describe, after a while it might feel harsh on you finger.

Good luck getting the flipping motion down pat. In my opinion, the AB knives are absolutely great knives, and will be worth it to try to give it a shot. Your iMamba is very nice and I bet if you make it comfortable to flip, you will really love it.

I hope this helps.

r21Pedu.jpg
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the reply C cutchu I agree, if I can get the flipping action more reliable, it would be one of my favorite knives. It seemed very strange at first because I own many other flippers and don't have trouble with them. But this one, I think, requires slightly different mechanics. With more practice, I'm starting to get successful deployment, so I'll keep at it and hopefully find some consistency 🙂
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top