Chris Reeve Knives Mnandi

There are a lot of knives that are advertised as a gentleman's pocket knife, but this Mnandi by Chris Reeve has accomplished that end.  This knife is the true embodiment of a gentleman's knife, with a sleek sophisticated look.   The name Mnandi actually means "very nice" in Zulu, and the naming is accurate, if not understated.

The knife has been well crafted with a S30V blade that has thumbnail recesses machined in both sides blade. The S30V gives this blade a respectable hardness of 58-59RC.  The locking mechanism is the Integral Lock which has been made popular on the previous Sebenza knives.  The handle materials are actually inlaid on the front and back inside the 6AI4V titanium, not scaled like most blades, and is complete with a titanium pocket clip that is removable and can be attached to either side for left of right handed carriers.  The knife itself is offered in either a left or right handed version.

The Mnandi is available in a wide variety of handle materials depending on availability including Snakewood, Mammoth Ivory Bark, Box Elder, Walnut, Ebony, Camel, Bloodwood, Bocote, Coco Bolo, Desert Ironwood, Tamboti, Lignum Vitae, Macassar Ebony, and African Blackwood, which is the handle material on the knife pictured above.  The handles can be inset with a 3mm diamond and a 1.5" decorative 18 karat gold wire decoratively winding from the diamond to the knife's mechanism. 

Additonally the knives can be purchased with a damascus blade.  Chris Reeve has a variety of damascus blades available from a select group of noted damascus makers including Devin Thomas Damascus, Gary House, and Bertie Rietveld, who made the Snake Skin Mosaic Damascus blade found on this stunning Snakewood inlayed Mnandi.

The overall length of the blade is 2.75" and the overall knife length is 6.375".  Despite the ample length of the blade, the weight of this knife is unbelievably only 1.5 ounces; perfect for a gentleman's pocket.  These knives range in price from $350 to $680 dollars depending on the handle and blade options chosen, plus $350 for the diamond and gold inlay option.