Wishing for a Larger Mnandi

Johnny11758

Johnny11758

Joined
Aug 17, 2004
Messages
465
:) If I had one wish it would be for an additional Mnandi with four-inch handle and three-inch blade. Not that there is anything wrong with the present size. Just a bigger option for people with oversize hands like mine. After all, there are two sizes of Sebenzas.
 
Johnny11758 said:
:) If I had one wish it would be for a Mnandi with four-inch handle and three-inch blade. Not that there is anything wrong with ther present size.
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Then it wouldn't be a Mnandi and if you want bigger get a Large Sebenza.
 
I have to agree with KVC. The Mnandi is a perfect Gent's knife and any modification/variation would pervert it's purity. I think you should look into a Sebbie (small or large) with a nice wood inlay. Although the wood inlays on the Sebbie are not symmetrical, as on the Mnandi, they still create a very nice look and feel.
 
Johnny11758 said:
If two sizes of Sebenza, why not two sizes of Mnandi?
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Because the Mnandi was designed as a small gentleman's knife. It fills the need of a dressier knife and it fills it nicley. To make it larger would kind of defeat the purpose. I don't see a larger Mnandi doing anything a large Sebenza can't handle. The Mnandi is perfect as is.
 
Johnny11758 said:
Two sizes of Mnandi would not be heresy. :)
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But it wouldn't be practical. As a said before, the Mnandi is a gent's knife. Making it larger would ruin it's appeal as such a knife.

On a side note.....Why is it that every time CRK comes out with a perfect knife some people feel the need to pervert it by "wishin or hoping" for a larger or smaller version? I understand that we all have our dream knife but c'mon! There are tons of other knives out there to chose from, both custom and factory.
 
K.V. Collucci said:
On a side note.....Why is it that every time CRK comes out with a perfect knife some people feel the need to pervert it by "wishin or hoping" for a larger or smaller version? I understand that we all have our dream knife but c'mon! There are tons of other knives out there to chose from, both custom and factory.
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If CRK knives were perfect, there wouldn't be so many people wanting to Mayo-naise them. Or, is Mnandi perfect but Sebenza not?
 
Johnny11758 said:
If CRK knives were perfect, there wouldn't be so many people wanting to Mayo-naise them. Or, is Mnandi perfect but Sebenza not?
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Both knives are fine as is. If people want to punch holes in their Sebenzas that's fine by me but don't expect CRK to do it anytime soon. All you wishers need to realize that CRK is up to their eyeballs in orders and they probably don't have the time to sit there and punch a hole in your Seb. Maybe they'll entertain it, who knows? They can do graphics for you, add a swedge, add double lugs, anodize parts...what more do you want? There are plenty of people out there who do custom work on Sebs. Some of it is outstanding, some of it sucks, but either way you can have your Seb the way you want. CRK is giving you the canvas, you need to supply the paint.


PS: I personally think Mayo-naissed Sebenzas are ridiculous. Fizzed and melted Sebs however, ala Pontiaker, are works of art.
 
K.V. Collucci said:
Both knives are fine as is. If people want to punch holes in their Sebenzas that's fine by me but don't expect CRK to do it anytime soon. All you wishers need to realize that CRK is up to their eyeballs in orders and they probably don't have the time to sit there and punch a hole in your Seb. Maybe they'll entertain it, who knows? They can do graphics for you, add a swedge, add double lugs, anodize parts...what more do you want? There are plenty of people out there who do custom work on Sebs. Some of it is outstanding, some of it sucks, but either way you can have your Seb the way you want. CRK is giving you the canvas, you need to supply the paint.


PS: I personally think Mayo-naissed Sebenzas are ridiculous. Fizzed and melted Sebs however, ala Pontiaker, are works of art.
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Ken,

Spot on! Chris started out as a custom maker and developed his own design styles. As he broadened his operation into manufacturing he has continued to add options that reflect his philosophy and artistic sense, but not tread on others (eg Tom Mayo's skeletonized handles, etc). So those that seek something other than what he offers are free to do whatever they please with what they bought. And there are folks out there who offer such services.

Personally I totally agree with your PS above too. That is definately NOT to say I don't like what Tom Mayo does with his knives at all. I just don't feel they compliment Sebbies as they aren't tactical folders and feature flat handle slabs. So from my knothole drilled handles don't belong (obviously others feel very strongly otherwise and I have no objection, like you said, to their doing whatever floats their boat). But they DO look and function great on Tom's rounded contour handles.

You also mentioned "Pontiaker" who is also known as Matt Cuccharia. I had a well worn c.1998 large regular that had acquired some wabi with it's fine matrix of scratches. Nothing wrong with that at all but I had the itch to bring it back into "new" condition. But instead of sending it back to CRK for refinishing I opted for having Matt tweak it instead. We discussed a design he hadn't done before (spiral galaxy) and collaborated on it through e-mail and photos of the work-in-progress. I also had him do a meltdown which is quite subtle...very nice... unlike a meltdown I have on a 1911A1 firearm which is quite radical :). He also heat blued the slabs as well which again is rather subtle. The results speak for themselves (pictured along side a 1999 small Box Elder woodie) which gives an elegant look befitting the basic large Sebbie:

sebbiex2a.JPG


Back on topic (thread), I too feel that the nitch the original poster wants a larger Mnandi for is in fact already filled by the CRK product line.

-=[Bob]=-

Not to be forgotten: James Mattis, Walt "Doc" Welch, Rob Simonich
 
K.V. Collucci said:
Then it wouldn't be a Mnandi and if you want bigger get a Large Sebenza.
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Ken:

Actually, I'm having difficulty in deciding on a wood-inlay Sebbie or a pheasant tail (I'd like to have both but my budget won't allow it). I've already decided to get a Mnandi, which to me is the finest-looking dress knife there is. I would bring it to the office every day, knowing it wouldn't upset anyone. Can wood-inlays and pheasant tails be refurbished from time to time by Chris like the standard Sebbies can? Thanks in advance. :)

Johnny
 
Johnny11758 said:
Can wood-inlays and pheasant tails be refurbished from time to time by Chris like the standard Sebbies can? Thanks in advance. :)

Johnny
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Yes, they most certainly can. Any knife the make can be refurbed. :D Both are good choices, btw!
 
Johnny,

My understanding is that the wood inlays can be replaced as needed and the computer generated graphics "cleaned up" if the handle slab gets severely scratched up. That said if you carry them in a pouch away from pocket change, etc., you'll probably never need the service. That small box elder woodie pictured above has always been in a pouch (pocket or belt) and looks darned near as good as a new one. I learned my lesson with the big one although again Sebenza = worker so one does expect to add some provenance or wabi through use. It actually still looked presentable but I simply wanted to recondition it.

Which ever you choose, you'll be pleased :)!

--Bob

Retired Navy
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Argh! Ken posted at the same time. LOL
 
Bob:

Thanks for the reply. I always carry my Sebbies in a pouch or sheath--so now that I think of it, reconditioning will probably not be needed. I would proudly clip a Mnandi to my shirt breast pocket and not abuse the knife. By the way, I decided on the pheasant tail--I'm too much of a fisherman not to have one, and I'm in love with the design.
 
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