Should I get a Mnandi or Small Sebenza?

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aurabattler

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Mar 4, 2017
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Hi. This may be the same old question being asked over and over. I have been reading so many reviews and comments but I still cannot make up my mind.

My birthday is no way close but I am planning to get myself my first CRK as my birthday gift. I am a marketing guy working mainly in office and the edc knife is just a standby tool and 95% of time are light simple duties. Size wise, I do think the small Seb will be more robust but I have some other knives which are similar in size like the Kizer Gemini, 0450, LS TRE if I need something a little bit bigger.. I do have bigger guys like Rat 1 for bigger task when I think I need them that day so I don't really need something big enough for batoning or survival. Also, my hands are ridiculously small. I can hold my mini griptilian well on all four fingers grip with little bit of handle remaining, so I generally prefer smaller knife for edc.

And, I don't think I will be allowed to get another CRK until next birthday so I have to choose very carefully. For the moment, I am probably lean to the Mnandi but a friend told me if I don't get the iconic Seb I will regret the very next day. So, if you were me, which one would you pick? Thanks for the advise. (No both please, save my marriage, save my life.)
 
If you are comfortable with the Mini Grip, the Small 21 will be as well. I like the 21 better.
Of course the Mnandi is more of a gent's knife, that is tougher than most gent's knives. Small in the hand though.
 
market in guy in office.....mnandi is highly appropriate.

it was my second crk...should have been my first.

My sebbies get zero pocket time.

Either way they are easy to move if not your style.
 
Start with the one that you like best. You KNOW you WILL end up with both!! :D
 
Since you say the tasks are extremely light duty, and in an office environment, I say mnandi. It's classier, less obtrusive, and much smaller in pocket. And it's underrated. It'll do a lot more than it's size implies.

The small wouldn't let you down though. It's a little less classy, a bit more utilitarian, and a little tougher. Little more blade size. But it also does have a larger pocket presence.

Given your choices and uses, I vote mnandi.
 
Thanks guys! I can stick to the one now. Can't wait to get it but I have to wait for awhile until my birthday to not making my wife mad.

Yes...Maybe I will ended up having both.... Or even more than both........
 
The Mnandi is better for an office environment, but a small Sebenza is great too! Based on what you said I would go with the Mnandi but you can't go wrong with either one. If you are having too tough of a time deciding maybe one of your kids or wife can choose for you! I have done that before and it works well:thumbsup:
 
I stayed away from the Mnandi initially because of its smaller size and tried both a small 21 and a small Inkosi. That was definitely a mistake! I could've saved some cash if had just gone with a Mnandi first!!

The smalls both were ok to carry but endeded up tearing up my pockets on all of my work khakis. I then realized that I rarely used my knife at work and just wanted to carry a nice on with me.

A Mnandi in the leather sheath works perfectly!!
 
aurabattler said:
Thanks guys! I can stick to the one now. Can't wait to get it but I have to wait for awhile until my birthday to not making my wife mad.

Yes...Maybe I will ended up having both.... Or even more than both........
Click to expand...

I think a wood inlay sebenza 21 would be perfect for you. I carry a small micarta 21 and I love it. Like others have said, they are both good choices and I think you will like either one you pick. Be sure to keep us updated and post pics of what you select.
 
I work in an office and I carry one or the other every day to the office. The advantage of the mnandi is that it is much less imposing so you can actually use it more often if needed, and it fits nicely in a shirt pocket and coin pocket of jeans. The small is small enough for sure and I have no issues carrying it in a slip with my keys (I don't use the clip at work). I don't like carrying the mnandi in a pocket slip with keys. Many do and they have no issues but once or twice my mnandi has come out of the slip. Can't go wrong with either, which is why I have both. If you plan on using it a lot outside of work too I would lean towards the Seb. I tend to "Mr. Rogers" my knives after work and switch out the mnandi to something else.
 
Both at great knives. I have two Mnandi in my collection one new one old. I like them both but always reach for the old model I just love the way it one hand opens for me. That said my EDC is my Inkosi over my Mnandi or small Sebenza. At times I carry the old Mnandi as a second knife so it gets some away time. It mostly gets used at my desk for opening mail and packages. So one idea could be is to the the Sebenza (or Inkosi) now and save for when a old model Mnandi comes up on the exchange.
 
I prefer the Small Sebenza over the Mnandi. However, even the Small is too large to go through security in a Federal building ....so is the Mnandi. I solved the issue by purchasing a Umfaan. ;)

The Mnandi is a very cool looking little knife and feels pretty great. However, I prefer the blade shape of the Sebenza and prefer having the thumb stud for one handed opening.
 
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I have a small Insingo 21 (bought first, and carried almost exclusively for about 6 months) and a Mnandi in Ebony (which I got this passed Christmas), love them both, but the Mnandi is taking up all my pocket time. I hardly carry anything else anymore.
I have fixed blades for any tough use.
I work in office and plant floor and find the Mnandi perfect...
Like many said here, you will probably end up with both, so get what you speaks to you...
 
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