Which CRK would you get?

BOK

BOK

Joined
Apr 16, 2002
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Sooo I have about 50 bux credit at CRK which I plan to use sometime this year.

In all honestly I dont really 'need' anything right now. I pretty much have all my needs covered with what I currently have (2 large Sebs and a small).

The Umnumzaan has its appeal though. When is CRK gonna offer the breakdown tool with it though? I'm not really inclined to have to buy an aftermarket one.

I've also considered the Mnandi for years now but I'm so used to larger folders that I'm not so sure I'd be happy with an Mnandi.

Which CRK is next on your list? Might give me a few ideas.
 
my vote would be for the mnandi. you would be surprised how good it feels in the hand. it is definitely a different animal than a sebbie, but in a good way. give one a try. i would recommend one in mammoth ivory. for some reason i do not care for wood on a knife. if you do not like it, i will buy it from you. :)
 
I second the choice of a Mnandi. I bought mine last week and I have not put it down since. Its a SS Damascus with Cocobolo handles. I am definately considering a second Mnandi. I will probably go with a wood with a lighter grain and with a S30V blade this time. I did use my Mnandi SS Damascus extensively on the dog bones I posted about and it still shaved hair easily, so the SS Damascus is pretty tough and I highly recommend it. The knife is smaller than a sebbie, but is completely different. I PRAY Chris Reeve someday will come out with a larger Mnandi. I believe that would be the ONLY knife to rival a Sebenza.
Now would also be a good time to pick up a one-piece knife since they will be discontinued in the next few years.
The Professional Soldier looks interesting. Its a basically a fixed blade sebenza.
But in the end, A Mnandi ALL The WAY !!!
 
They beat me to it.

The Mnandi is an excellent dress or gentleman's knife, but it is also capable of serious work. I can attest it makes a perfect steak knife in a restaurant that fails to provide a blade worthy of their cuisine. :)
 
The Mnandi is starting to sound interesting. I LOVE steak and I do enjoy bringing my own cutlery to glide through a juicy piece of prime rib :)

At this point I might even spring for both an Mnandi and an Umnumzaan. What poor economy?


The breakdown issue on the Umnum bothers me a little though.
 
One of the design imperatives for the Umnumzaan was a lesser need for takedowin for cleaning and lubrication. Personally, I would like a tool as well, but I won't let it stop me when I am ready for the knife.
 
Another encouragement for the Mnandi. Given it's ultra light weight, amazing tight-tolerance execution (where else can you get true inlays with this kind of precision, for under $400 -- not even the Sebenza!), and elegance, it's the toughest knife around. I know an avid hunter here at work that uses his Mnandi exclusively as his hunting knife. Amazing. He loves the control that he gets from the precision Mnandi blade, and it washes up quickly like a Sebenza. He puts his Mnandi through it's paces hard, and it still cleans up great. I've tried to talk him into a small Sebenza, and he won't have it. His next knife is another Mnandi.
 
Fooj, I believe it. I began carrying my Mnandi much more when I was heading out one day with a Spyderco Native in my pocket, stopped and got the Mnandi, and found the blades were the same length.

The Mnandi rides lightly in a shirt pocket like a pen and the slim blade gets into anything easily. The only problem I have with it is, it's bumped my Umfaan into storage. :)
 
bearcut said:
Mnandi: No thumbstud = no sale

If it had them I would have bought one by now.
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All the Sebenzas and Mnandi I have bought, I decided on just pictures and reviews alone and have not been able to handle any prior to purchase. Believe it or not, for me and I have larger hands. The Mnandi opens up just as easy or even easier than a small sebenza with thumbstuds. Thumbstuds are nice and they fit the sebenza perfectly, but dont the lack of a thumbstud stop you from looking at the Mnandi. Its an awsome knife and opens much easier than you think !!! :thumbup::thumbup:
 
You guys must be saying all the right things cos Im about halfway sold on an Mnandi now.

I'm starting to get that uncontrollable CRK itch.

Mmmmm umnum mnandi umnum mnandi
 
BOK said:
I'm starting to get that uncontrollable CRK itch.
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At least the itch is treatable, the medicine may not be cheap, but CRK does sale it. Also remember the medicine is only a temporary reprieve as the CRK itch almost incurable and will return. :)

STICF
 
Hum, they are all great. As nyefmaker mentioned, if you at all like the one piece knives, I'd get one before they are discontinued.
 
I have both sizes of Sebenza. Have had a Mnandi.

I sometimes think my Umnumzaan is the best knife Chris has made. :)
 
I'm sure it is the best designed nick ever made. however, it is still a nick.
I have never had a nick that didn’t work fine! I’ve had thumstuds that didn’t work very well….

I do wish CRK would offer a stud option.
Believe me, I have longingly gazed at the Mnandi for years now.
To me, Mnandi's are the only viable, (affordable), option to W. Henry knives when it comes to a quality gents folder. WH offers thumbstuds and they seem to sell very well.

I agree with C Ben, the ‘zaan is the best CRK yet. I expect CRK to offer a smaller folder, incorporating many of the ‘zaan’s design features, in the future. Maybe this will be what I’m looking for.
 
Another vote for the Mnandi; all this talk of them lately has really caused me to miss mine :( and a replacement is at the top of my list.
 
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bearcut said:
I'm sure it is the best designed nick ever made. however, it is still a nick.
I have never had a nick that didn’t work fine! I’ve had thumstuds that didn’t work very well….
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Speaking of the nail nick -- yes, another feature of the Mnandi that is indeed innovative. Before I owned an Mnandi, I had always viewed thumbstuds and spyderholes as essential functions, in spite of their aestetics. No matter how nice the execution, both interrupt the flow of the knife, IMHO. The Mnandi's nail nick flows extremely well w/ the rest of the knife, reminiscent of the classic slipjoint. With the combination of the low-mass blade, low-friction pivot, overall geometries, and more aggressive nick upper ridge, it is the only nail nick I know of that works well for one hand opening. Flawless functional and aestetic execution . . .
 
bearcut said:
I'm sure it is the best designed nick ever made. however, it is still a nick.
I have never had a nick that didn’t work fine! I’ve had thumstuds that didn’t work very well….

I do wish CRK would offer a stud option.
Believe me, I have longingly gazed at the Mnandi for years now.
To me, Mnandi's are the only viable, (affordable), option to W. Henry knives when it comes to a quality gents folder. WH offers thumbstuds and they seem to sell very well.

I agree with C Ben, the ‘zaan is the best CRK yet. I expect CRK to offer a smaller folder, incorporating many of the ‘zaan’s design features, in the future. Maybe this will be what I’m looking for.
Click to expand...

Just to clarify, what I'm saying is that the nick works fine as a stud would - for one-hand deployment.
 
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