Small Style folder, max budget $350 what would You get...

Check out the knifemakers area here on this site, have one custom made for you. I just picked up a smaller folder mainly for a "work" knife (dress business casual) , it is really nice a lot of detail, Damascus blade, stingray handles , titanium clip for a little less than your range.
 
^^^Just curious, but what was your lead/wait time from order to receiving finished product? I know it's nice to have a custom, but for some folks (myself included) waiting a year to a year and a half or more isn't very appealing. Or did you just buy a knife that was already made by a knifemaker?
 
For a gentlemans folder the Mnandi is where it's at. My second choice is the small Sebenza. Enough said.
 
Does an Mnandi fit the $350 budget?? Seems like every Mnandi I've seen for sale is over $500.
 
Take a look at the Mcusta knives and the Moki. The Moki are more traditional patterns, since they are not one-hand openers. The Mcusta use thumb studs or holes. The smaller Mcusta models are quality gents knives. They use VG10 steel. I like VG10.
 
Medic1210 said:
^^^Just curious, but what was your lead/wait time from order to receiving finished product? I know it's nice to have a custom, but for some folks (myself included) waiting a year to a year and a half or more isn't very appealing. Or did you just buy a knife that was already made by a knifemaker?
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I found his post and the knife was already sold, I made a comment about it and he (Eugene Iverson) contacted me. We talked, made a slight change and I had the knife in my possesion within 3 weeks, actually a little under that. I was very pleased with the detail and construction of the knife. I will probably purchase another from him in the future.
 
cziv said:
GOOGLE is your friend! :)
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I'm no new kid on the block with Google. I just know that the internet knife stores I purchase from (knifeart, knifecenter, newgraham, tnk) sell Mnandi's, and last I remembered, all were in the $500 range.:thumbup:
 
$350? That sure is a lot for a factory folder; but at the same time it limits your custom options.

I would probably buy a Spyderco CPM-M4 Military with Ti scales off of ebay.

Barring that I might buy a new Spyderco with a ball bearing lock and modify it. I would remove the factory blade and scan it, and then I would turn the scan into a CAD image. Then I would redesign the ground portion of the blade, but keep the lock face the same. I would ship the thing to a good machine shop with a waterjet cutter -- probably leading edge fabrication. I would probably use a p'kal -- and I would re-do the wave design to make it more comfortable in a filipino grip, and make the blade into a chisel ground wharncliff. I would probably use CPM M4 for the blade. I think that would run me close to 350. Maybe I'd use a different knife if the p'kal were too expensive.

If you want a gents folder -- something 'less tactical' -- I would do something similar to the above to a Spyderco Lum Chinese folder. I would keep the standard blade shape. I would get the blade in 1084 and give it a nice hamon. I would run the edge at a very high hardness. I might send it out to someone who does liner locking folders if I couldn't get the liner to work to my satisfaction.
 
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Mathew J said:
Just curious as to what you would get if you had $350 kicking for a gentlemans style folder...
Thanks
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Spyderco Kopa Turquoise or Mcusta Bamboo Cocobolo, each a little under $200, or save $350 more and get William Henry.
 
Medic1210 said:
I'm no new kid on the block with Google. I just know that the internet knife stores I purchase from (knifeart, knifecenter, newgraham, tnk) sell Mnandi's, and last I remembered, all were in the $500 range.:thumbup:
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Maybe you're getting special versions? Those top 3 google results were $375 to $425. I'd be buying there, also PeasAndCornCo.com has a nice selection of them, but I see that some versions are pricey. Those must be the kind you're looking at. :)
 
Don't know. I didn't google them because I remember seeing their prices on the websites I listed. Maybe they are special. Who knows. I haven't looked much into the Mnandi since I think it's a bit small for my needs. I just remember after the recent thread where it was explained to me that the Mnandi could be opened with one hand, I looked at a few, and saw they were more than a large wood inlay Sebbie, so I scratched it off my list for good. Then I see a Lignum one on the for sale forum today for $275, but it was admittedly a user knife, so I thought maybe he knocked a good chunk of price for that reason.
 
A run of the mill mnandi can be found for $350 all day. Well worth it IMO. Had two myself, but they are just a liiiiitle too small. Go for a Sm 21 woodie. $400... Or wait til one pops up "pre loved" for less.
 
Thanks all, I am also looking at the Sage II, amazon has it for under $150 and it seems nice enough.
 
jackman2 said:
I think he is talking about the loop thing on the Benchmade. Pretty weird.
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Is it? I think a lot of SAK knives have the lanyard/keyring loop like that as well(probably more for the keys than a lanyard).

I should have the knife in today, so I'll share as soon as I get it.
 
AGR Acies, Sebenza or William Henry would be my short list based on your parameters.
 
Well I'm a sebbie fan so that's what I'll suggest. If you want the knife to fill both gents and edc roles then the small sebbie might be a better fit than the mnandi. If gents only then it's hard to not suggest the mnandi, it's a beautiful knife.
 
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