Boker?

N

n8swag

Joined
Feb 4, 2012
Messages
687
Hey, so I was looking and I like the design of the Mantis Encore/midnight and all those... but I also found the boker clb karambit. it's cheaper, but is the design okay? I mean, I know it's boker's cheaper line, but which one should I get? I don't really want to spend $50 on a mantis:/
 
My wife and I both have one of the Taiwan made Bokers (I have the Action 2, she has the 'Cruel Girl'). Boker does a good heat treat on the AUS 8. Both knives are solid and well made.
 
I highly suggest you avoid mantis knives. They are a joke and have HORRID ethics and HORRID knives. They claim to have superior quality even though I can CRACK THE BLADE of any one of their models. Ignore what they call the steel also. They are all 440c. They were caught in a scandal recently where they were marketing all their products as high end steels but were really using 440c. Now they claim its a "proprietary" steel even though its still 440c. Do not be deceived. Also their design and material will create hot spots(it means itll tear up your hand and be uncomfortable) when using. I would advise against buying any other their knives if you intend to actually use them or carry them
 
I would be surprised if they used 440C. More like 440A.

440C is a good cutlery alloy, not to be taken overly lightly.
 
knarfeng said:
I would be surprised if they used 440C. More like 440A.

440C is a good cutlery alloy, not to be taken overly lightly.
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ya probably, they had some people test their steels and from the test they assumed they were 440s

Also their heat treatment is.......well lets just say mantis makes China look like Austria

And yes, it is good. But it can't hold up to its claims of being 154cm or s30v and bg 42. By saying that its like saying a Ford pinto is a car but its not in the same league as a Bugatti
 
Chipped Karambit said:
I highly suggest you avoid mantis knives. They are a joke and have HORRID ethics and HORRID knives. They claim to have superior quality even though I can CRACK THE BLADE of any one of their models. Ignore what they call the steel also. They are all 440c. They were caught in a scandal recently where they were marketing all their products as high end steels but were really using 440c. Now they claim its a "proprietary" steel even though its still 440c. Do not be deceived. Also their design and material will create hot spots(it means itll tear up your hand and be uncomfortable) when using. I would advise against buying any other their knives if you intend to actually use them or carry them
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Thanks for the tips! I didn't get one,I ended up buying a Boker Plus CLB Karambit for $26:) I read some reviews on it,and it seems like a decent knife even though it's manufactured in China. I'm not into Chinese junk knives at all. ALl mine I try to get American made or Japanese. . .but for $25 it seems like it'll do well as my first karambit. And I'll prob use it more as an EDC than for fighting.
 
n8swag said:
Thanks for the tips! I didn't get one,I ended up buying a Boker Plus CLB Karambit for $26:) I read some reviews on it,and it seems like a decent knife even though it's manufactured in China. I'm not into Chinese junk knives at all. ALl mine I try to get American made or Japanese. . .but for $25 it seems like it'll do well as my first karambit. And I'll prob use it more as an EDC than for fighting.
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japanese isnt all its cracked up to be. They are good don't get me wrong, but Italy and Austria have stuff that will blow your mind. A GOOD american karambit will be by derespina or other custom makers, a good italian is Fox Knives (they have a chapter in the us which is called Fox Knives USA)
 
Chipped Karambit said:
japanese isnt all its cracked up to be. They are good don't get me wrong, but Italy and Austria have stuff that will blow your mind. A GOOD american karambit will be by derespina or other custom makers, a good italian is Fox Knives (they have a chapter in the us which is called Fox Knives USA)
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Ahh I gotcha... for what I use a knife for I usually buy Kershaws, bucks, schrades, or SOG's for multitools:) It's kinda sad so many companies are going cheap to China. I just can't afford too many karambits right now... I wouldd really like a fox or emerson but alas...100-200$$ is alot. I'm only in Highschool so it's hard even though I have a job.
 
n8swag said:
Ahh I gotcha... for what I use a knife for I usually buy Kershaws, bucks, schrades, or SOG's for multitools:) It's kinda sad so many companies are going cheap to China. I just can't afford too many karambits right now... I wouldd really like a fox or emerson but alas...100-200$$ is alot. I'm only in Highschool so it's hard even though I have a job.
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I understand. but think of it this way, chinese toys break. when you start to pay above the 70$ mark your paying for quality. So they last with you a lot longer. A Kabar I bought in highschool is still with me. Quality last. and sometimes that extra 20 bucks will make 100% difference. Some people buy 1 knife (like the paramilitary 2 by spyderco for example) and never NEED another one because they last and are strong,sturdy,versatile,reliable, sharp, well made, and good quality. When I was in highschool I bought a bunch of junk knives and tried to hard use them (each of them did not survive.) When I moved up to some Smith and wessons then up to Fox/lone wolf (before benchmade bought them out/ and spyderco. No regrets since then. Haven't shattered a single handle, bent a single blade, chipped or cracked a blade, etc
It makes sense if you think about it. I know in haywood mall there is a store that sells knives. 18+ to enter. They have a case of benchmades, good steels and are reliable. Those will work a lot better than the ones under 40$. 40$ can get the job done but not to the same degree and lifespan of a higher end knife. I ended up justifying my bump to higher stuff as "Would I rather buy 3 of these over time or just one of these and have it last"
 
Chipped Karambit said:
And yes, it is good. But it can't hold up to its claims of being 154cm or s30v and bg 42. By saying that its like saying a Ford pinto is a car but its not in the same league as a Bugatti
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If you optimize the HT on 440c it can do just as well as all the other big name steels
 
Chipped Karambit said:
I understand. but think of it this way, chinese toys break. when you start to pay above the 70$ mark your paying for quality. So they last with you a lot longer. A Kabar I bought in highschool is still with me. Quality last. and sometimes that extra 20 bucks will make 100% difference. Some people buy 1 knife (like the paramilitary 2 by spyderco for example) and never NEED another one because they last and are strong,sturdy,versatile,reliable, sharp, well made, and good quality. When I was in highschool I bought a bunch of junk knives and tried to hard use them (each of them did not survive.) When I moved up to some Smith and wessons then up to Fox/lone wolf (before benchmade bought them out/ and spyderco. No regrets since then. Haven't shattered a single handle, bent a single blade, chipped or cracked a blade, etc

Haha I like that justification:) ... maybe someday I'll be able to afford them. To tell you the truth, I use a razor blade more than any knife. I do shipping at a company so that's definitely my staple! I've gone through 3 in the past year!
It makes sense if you think about it. I know in haywood mall there is a store that sells knives. 18+ to enter. They have a case of benchmades, good steels and are reliable. Those will work a lot better than the ones under 40$. 40$ can get the job done but not to the same degree and lifespan of a higher end knife. I ended up justifying my bump to higher stuff as "Would I rather buy 3 of these over time or just one of these and have it last"
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Haha I like that justification:) ... maybe someday I'll be able to afford them. To tell you the truth, I use a razor blade more than any knife. I do shipping at a company so that's definitely my staple! I've gone through 3 in the past year!
 
n8swag said:
Haha I like that justification:) ... maybe someday I'll be able to afford them. To tell you the truth, I use a razor blade more than any knife. I do shipping at a company so that's definitely my staple! I've gone through 3 in the past year!
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you may want to try a benchmade griptillian for that use. 85 dollars but great steel and durable.
 
brets-ftw said:
If you optimize the HT on 440c it can do just as well as all the other big name steels
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ya thats true. William henry and Fox (their civilian) are fantastic examples of that. But Mantis does not. They treat it the same way a chinese mass producer does it, the bare minium

440c is a good steel rust resistant but often times it is treated wrong. The heat treatment sometimes makes or breaks the blade (no pun intended)
 
Chipped Karambit said:
ya thats true. William henry and Fox (their civilian) are fantastic examples of that. But Mantis does not. They treat it the same way a chinese mass producer does it, the bare minium

440c is a good steel rust resistant but often times it is treated wrong. The heat treatment sometimes makes or breaks the blade (no pun intended)
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ahh I see, what's the difference between 420 hc and 440c? I'm not super familiar with the blade hardness'.
 
Chipped Karambit said:
you may want to try a benchmade griptillian for that use. 85 dollars but great steel and durable.
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Yeah, right now I get free blades at work, and I got a Kobalt knife that has lasted for 5 months so far:) I cut other materials like rubber, foam, and plastic at work also. So the only option there is a razor blade:(
 
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