Mantis knives

Status
Not open for further replies.
I have a few of them now.

I currently have an Isosceles. Can't say I care for it. It looks great in the pics but its small. This may be why it seems to open kind of, well don't get me wrong its smooth feeling. But it seems to be an uncomfortable stop and go kind of opening of the blade to me. Almost as if the thumb stud is just in the wrong place. The knife does have a choil and some features that drew me to check it out though. Its like all I've owned so far in the Mantis folders in that it has an off center blade when closed. Performance of the blade seems to be on par with 420J steel to me, which is what I feel the Karambit blades are also. Both RockWell tested at 56 RC.

On the one folder I do like from them its the one called the T5 he calls the "Monacoe" now. I don't recall it being that name when I got this one sent to me from the owner. It does get sharp and certainly sharper than the others I've had. I feel the steel is for sure better in this one than the other two and the other three I have seen and given away. Two of the Karambits have been given to my son. He likes the Tanto one and says its more capable of being used for normal stuff any knife can do but its always dull.

The T5?? No pocket clip. Does not seem to me to be BG42 blade steel at all. It certainly doesn't perform on par with other BG42 this user has tested or used. It like the others Rockwell tested at 56 RC. And yes its a calibrated accurate machine and I sent it to two sources unlike the other two just to be sure. Again though it does cut and keep an edge better than the others and more importantly it does get sharp. I don't feel its BG42 and if it is it wasn't heat treated correctly. It should be 62 Rockwell hardness on it if so. The price kind of indicates to me that it is impossible for it to be the USA version of BG42 blade steel. I got this knife for like $30 I think it was.

Perhaps its a Chinese or Taiwanese version of it or something of that nature. If I had to make a guess it seems to me in cutting to be more on par with a Spyderco Byrd knife in 8CR14 steel. Just my opinion. I am not saying the owner is deceptive. Just that it seems this way to me personally.

STR
 
STR,
I'm sorry, but I got confused reading your post. You wrote..
On the one folder I do like from them its the one called the T5 he calls the "Monacoe" now. I don't recall it being that name when I got this one sent to me from the owner. It does get sharp and certainly sharper than the others I've had. I feel the steel is for sure better in this one than the other two and the other three I have seen and given away.
Click to expand...

but then later you also wrote this....

The T5?? No pocket clip. Does not seem to me to be BG42 blade steel at all. It certainly doesn't perform on par with other BG42 this user has tested or used.
Click to expand...

The one I quoted above your post is supposedly the T5-C a newer, BG-42 edition for 2008 with T-6061 aluminum handles and a pocket clip, rather than the 420J and no clip that they usually list.

How does one know if you're getting the steel as advertised?

Is this guy giving it away to build his business, and if so thank you very much, or did I just pay $50 for BG-42 and get 420HC? and.... who can test this to see? I'm really curious to know......
 
Last edited:
diamdave said:
STR,
I'm sorry, but I got confused reading your post. You wrote..


but then later you also wrote this....



The one I quoted above your post is supposedly the T5-c, a newer, BG-42 edition for 2008 with T-6061 aluminum handles and a pocket clip, rather than the 420J and no clip that they usually list.

How does one know if you're getting the steel as advertised?

Is this guy giving it away to build his business, thank you, or did I just pay $50 for BG-42 and get 420HC? and.... who can test this to see? I'm really curious to know......
Click to expand...

I got this one I had directly from the owner when it first came out and the company just started. I had it a while before I could get around to using it. I do like it. I did keep it. The locks are great on these knives and I do beat the crap out of the ones I kept. One is a small fixed blade he calls the "Seymore" and I like that thing fine. In fact its taken a pretty good pounding from me.

Back to your questions. Heck man I don't know what to tell you about the model. I haven't kept up with his company that much. The guy seems honest to me though. I have spoken with him on the phone a long time ago when I did my first review of the knives. He may not even remember me I don't know. I figured he was the one being decieved about the blade steels to be honest. I just have trouble after using it believing that its anything like BG42 blade steel. Its sure soft if so. He knows about this by the way. I told him. He agreed its soft for the steel and I have the email. Didn't offer to make it right though.

I don't follow your confusion. Its performing better easily than the others I have. I don't feel its BG42 though but perhaps something else. Again this is just my own feelings on it personally. I'm not paying to have the blade broken and spectrographed to find out what it is.

Mantis may not make the same model as the one I have. Mine is heavy and a magnet sticks to it. As I said I do like it fine. Its a bit odd but carries ok. Its heavy is all. It fits the hand with ample handle for my big hands, which is probably why the Isosceles is so uncomfortable for me since it smallish.

The company makes some neat stuff. Its appealing to the eyes and especially to the younger generation. As I said the locks have proven to me to be strong. Some seem to need a break in and don't come out as well as I'd like but they move in on par with any stainless lock. I don't see how they made a lock out of aluminum if that is what you are saying unless its lined with steel underneath. Not that it matters to me.

For general purpose beaters hey, they are not bad for the money. I've certainly seen and tested worse. I just am not convinced that who is building the knives for him is using the steels they tell him they are using but again, I have not tested one recently. I may feel a complete 180 if I did.

BG42 blade steel is the most expensive alloy to use by the way. Sal has spoken about this steel at length a few times and mentioned how much more expensive it was to both buy and heat treat compared to other steel. Its also harder to find. There for a while some folks were looking pretty hard to even snag any.

Please whatever you guys do don't think I'm trying to say things I'm not. I don't want this misunderstood as anything other than my opinion about the knife I have and not necessarily about the ones you have or that you buy. I have owned two of the T5s and both seemed on par and both came from the owner and both were bought by me.

STR
 
I just want to add that generally speaking the average user would not know the diff between AUS6 and 440C and some would not even know ATS34 from either of those. Most average users knives based on the pretty well rounded numbers I see in my shop from the non forum knife nut crowd seem to have knives that I'm sure come with a decent edge new and after that they carry and use it all the time with what any of us would define as the 'vague semblance of an edge' because I feel for a lot of these folks that 420J is just fine for them. All it has to do it keep a relative resemblence of an edge to please them. They'll sooner crap all over you about a spot on the blade than any edge issues. At least that is my feelings.

If its 420HC its not a bad steel at all. I have no problem with that steel and its sure worked well in my Buck knives with it. In many ways I like it better than the so called super steels.

Even with all the testing I've done I'd have trouble in a blind test telling some of the steels apart that are close to one and other. 440A from 440C to the AUS steels have some variance but overall they run pretty close I think. Without knowing you'd be guessing. Now with the better steels, like BG42 and S30V, D2 and some others you see a sudden jump in performance that would stand out to you in that crowd. With SG 2 and ZDP189 it seems to me you see another jump up that could be noted. I didn't see that and this is all I'm saying.

STR
 
Thanks STR, I understand you what you are saying.

Seperately, maybe I'm being paranoid.

But the ebayer "westwayz" lists an email contact as "jared@-----"
which leads me to believe that the ebay seller is Jared of Mantis Knives.

SO.....
1. the Mantis Knives website lists the t5 handle as 420J.
2. the ebay seller Westwayz,(presumably Jared) lists the handle as T-6061 aluminum.

3. Here is a link http://www.outdoorpros.com/Prod/Man...k-420HC-Handle-Black-BG-42-Blade/15385/Cat/20 that says the handle is 420HC!

My question is: Is the handle material changed for the clip model, t5-C, or, if not, which of the three sources is incorrect?

And IF the ebay seller IS Jared, wouldn't you think he, the president of the company, would know what the precise handle material is? Is this that difficult to impart to a buyer accurately?

And, frankly, why do I have to work so hard just to uncover what it is I am paying for? When I buy a Delica 4, (excluding Pakistani knock-offs) it's the same handle, blade, everywhere.

And if all of this is confusing for just the handle material, do we just take it on pure faith that a great locking folder can be delivered for $50 using BG-42 steel, when others in the industry suggest that is doubtful?

Like I say, I don't mean to be paranoid. But, Jared, Mantis, somebody... convince me please.

:confused:
 
Last edited:
diamdave said:
Speaking of BG-42....eBay, 6/17/2008

"This auction is for the very NEWEST T-5c knife from the Mantis Knife Company out of Anaheim, CALIFORNIA. This knife is the T-5c which is constructed of some of the finest materials available to the knife industry today. This knife comes complete with:

T-6061 Aircraft Aluminum Handle

BG-42 Stainless Steel blade that is Black Oxide coated

Anodize Aluminum pivot and karabiner loop

This knife has a 3.000" blade and is 7.500" overall.

This knife is Designed in California and has a lifetime warranty.

Be THE FIRST TO OWN this 2008 model knife, take a close look at the other T-5c series knives on this site, NO ONE has this one up for auction. IT HAS JUST BECOME AVAILABLE. Theirs don't have a clip, MINE DOES, be the first to own it!

The MSRP on this knife has been set at $50.00 and nobody can even get them yet! Be the first to own this masterpiece...at 10% 0ff MSRP!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I hope they buyer gets the BG-42 he paid for :)
Click to expand...

LOL masterpiece.
 
Let’s see if we can find the right forum …
attachment.php
 
There seems to be a lot of negative energy going towards Mantis. This August the company will officially turn two years old. I have been in contact with Jared and the company during that time. Hell He outfitted my whole police department with knives when his company didnt have much more of a Budget than my police department. I was laid off due to budget cuts, and Mantis is still around. Perhaps his designs are different. I happen to like the red disk. I dont care if the cat fish do or not. To the people who had "Lock" problems..Did you think of sending it back for warranty repair or replacement? I have sent a knife back because the sheath was destroyed by an officer, and replaced. Jared and Mantis have an unconditional warranty. His people are very pleasant to talk to (as is Jared himself.) Most of the company are Loyola graduates. they are an all American company. In a day when everything seems to be outsourced and sent over seas, we have a company here in America trying to Make it. Why not Give them a chance? I support Mantis knives!!!
 
I consider myself patriotic, but buying from an "all American Company" doesn't cut it for me IF the head of the company has no respect for his customers, if his product information is, to be polite, misleading, and if there are strong doubts about materials truly being what they are represented to be.

(No offense to you or any other LEO's, but being one doesn't necessarily put you at the top of the food chain when it comes to understanding knives, materials, and function. I"m glad Jared outfitted you guys, that was a nice thing to do. Smith and Wesson probably donates some knives to police or whomever. Want to put their knives up against most Spydercos and Keshaws for the same or near-same price point and see which ones perform better?)

I think some people are really, really good at marketing, but smooooooooth marketing doesn't make up for questionable business practices.

Like 3Guardsmen said, go look at that link he posted. It's mine.
 
Diamdave, and 3g. I am not trying to start a war here. I happen to collect Spydercos, and Love my Kershaws as well. I also have Striders, and Cooglers, and Others. Mantis knives entry level knives are Just that though. They are Targeted at the consumer who wouldnt spend much more than $50 on a knife. I truly believe they are a great value for the buck. I am truly sorry that you have had a bad experience with the company. Not everybody likes the same things. If we did, then all knives would look the same and then there could only be one maker. How boring would that be??? Sounds like the Making of a George Orwell novel.
Mantis also makes some very cool higher end knives like the MT-4 folding Chaos in 154cm, and the MT-2ti classiest act in S30V and anodized titanium liners. Mantis also owns GT knives and without going into in much I have a GT that happens to be the best auto I have ever owned.
Like I said I am sorry that some folks have had a negative experience, But it hasnt been my experience. Mantis is a company owned and operated by humans, mistakes can and will happen especially in a young and growing company. They will also make those mistakes right if only you contact them. Their warranty is phenomenal. Their turn around is quick(these are my personal experiences.)
In August of this year, Mantis will officially turn two years old. For a company so young they have gotten a lot of exposure, and grown pretty rapidly.

I still stand by my original statement. "Why not give Mantis a chance?"
 
Well, as an LEO, what do you think of these 'lifestyle' habits?

http://rhoc.blogspot.com/2008/01/jared-west-quinns-boy-toy.html


From RealityBites

Jared R. West - Well according to the Orange County Court records, Mr. West has had quite a few traffic citations - including requisite (at least for this show) driving under a suspended license that he got in conjunction with a DUI - where he also refused to take the drug test. Also Mr. West does not seem to like to pay his bills has he has had two court verdicts against him from Discover Bank and Chase bank for not paying his bills. Quinn really knows how to pick them - and gee he's only 27.
 
Last edited:
Diamondave, it is obvious that nothing will make you like Mantis. I respect that. I am not going to get involved with that real Housewives thing, because I havent actually seen the records. We can agree to disagree!
 
Personally I don't feel comfortable with dragging the guy's personal life into this discussion. I realize it was found somewhere else but really?:confused:

Lets stick to the knives shall we? ;) Thats the professional thing to do.

STR
 
It seems to me much more relevant that the response to a complaint about Mantis is to flood Bladeforums with spam. The moderators have been busy moving it all to this forum, and I think we have it all covered as of this moment -- but of course more spam may have been posted while I was writing this. 'Scuse me, gotta go look for more Mantis spam....
 
STR:
I, of course, respect and defer to your good advice.

My post was meant as a direct response to the gentleman from Montana who was impressed by our subject's outfitting of his department with Mantis equipment.

I consider that paragraph above regarding Mr. West as a window into his character, along with his good deeds of supplying cutlery to a police department. I liked some of Bill Clinton's deeds, too, but his 'blue dress' episode diminished him in my eyes.

I think it is difficult to seperate the public and the personal... I suppose we can try. But ultimately, they are, IMO, at least reflections into someone's character. No more, no less. I thought that example might shed a better light on why Mr. West responded the way he did, as well as remove a bit of that halo around him. That was why I posted what I did.
 
This was never an attempt at spam. I shared in another thread my experience as a Police officer in a small town, who got taken care of by a relatively New knife company, and when I was searching threads, I found this one as well. I am a respected member in the forum communities, and am a member in at least another half dozen or so forums as well. I know my thread count here may seem Low, But I lurk here a lot. There was never any disrespect intended, I dont mess in my own house. Unfortunately, there seems to be a huge simultaneous influx of threads. I know that Jared was at the Blade show, and made an impression on a lot of people.
 
diamdave said:
STR:
I, of course, respect and defer to your good advice.

My post was meant as a direct response to the gentleman from Montana who was impressed by our subject's outfitting of his department with Mantis equipment.

I consider that paragraph above regarding Mr. West as a window into his character, along with his good deeds of supplying cutlery to a police department. I liked some of Bill Clinton's deeds, too, but his 'blue dress' episode diminished him in my eyes.

I think it is difficult to seperate the public and the personal... I suppose we can try. But ultimately, they are, IMO, at least reflections into someone's character. No more, no less. I thought that example might shed a better light on why Mr. West responded the way he did, as well as remove a bit of that halo around him. That was why I posted what I did.
Click to expand...

Thats fine. I have no issues with it other than my own feelings which I've vented more than enough here and elsewhere. I knew when I posted my review way back that it was just a matter of time before someone noticed or brought this up again. Now I believe its just a matter of time before someone does pay to have a metallugical lab do a spectrograph on a blade to test for the metal's atomic emission spectrum ID which could open a pandoras box so to speak because this may be the case in many steels even sold as something the makers or manufacturers thought it was only to be sold something that will heat treat the same or with the steel they thought they bought.

If we give the benefit of the doubt here to the company that its BG42 and that Jared just took a huge loss on one model to put his company on the map we can try to come up with other reasons or explanations for some things. Ok I can do that. Lets suggest then to Jared that he Rockwell test a blade for hardness before baking that black finish on it and then test the same blade after baking on the finish. Perhaps the oven is too hot when putting that finish on the blades and they are being annealed a great deal ruining the heat treat????

Of course that is just my own imagination shooting in the dark hoping to come up with some other explanation but what do I know besides my own experience?

Good night guys. I'm done with this topic.

STR
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top