Mantis Knives

Mantis knives have not been well received here since Mantis promoted spamming the site.

A couple of folks have tried them and said that for the price they are OK, though they are made in China and some of the alloys are not what has been advertised.
 
knarfeng said:
Mantis knives have not been well received here since Mantis promoted spamming the site.

A couple of folks have tried them and said that for the price they are OK, though they are made in China and some of the alloys are not what has been advertised.
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This is the kicker for me, unacceptable.

For their price, you could do better.
 
i like their karambits. i have one of their folding karambits and a mrs smith, i like them both.
 
Combine the above factors with the fact that Jared West is like a skinny Lynn Thompson in terms of his inflated sense of self-worth and you have all of my reasons wrapped up in one. I don't like the man, and don't like the product.
 
If you like what you see, get one. Aside from the "I don't like them because of the mass troll-hype they tried" I've heard good things about their knives. The question is whether you go with them or with a trusted company, Benchmade, Spyderco, etc., that earned a positive rep all-around.
 
Splat said:
If you like what you see, get one. Aside from the "I don't like them because of the mass troll-hype they tried" I've heard good things about their knives. The question is whether you go with them or with a trusted company, Benchmade, Spyderco, etc., that earned a positive rep all-around.
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Mantis quality is not on a par with Spyderco or Benchmade, but of course, neither is the price.
 
I have three left of the five Mantis knives I had here. My initial thoughts when they first came out were that they were some neat designs. I still like some of them although I do question the heat treat the company uses at the least and perhaps even what the blades are actually made out of at worst. I sent off a Karambit MK-1 420HC blade and what they call the T-5 Monacoe BG42 model folders and had them Rockwell tested when I found they did not pan out testing as I thought they should/would based on past experiences with those same steels. Interestingly both came back Rockwell 56 as I recall. Pretty sure thats what it was. I still have them. My wife rather liked the K-bit thinking it was cute. I don't think she actually uses it for anything though. Maybe cutting open mail or something.

The T-5 was tested also by a major company for me and yes their machine is trustworthy and accurate. While the T-5 cut ok compared to the others, quite frankly if it is BG42 its the worst I've ever tested in that steel. I also have the Isoseles which correct me if I'm wrong was sold as AUS8. I can look after this post but I believe thats what it was labeled as. Anyway, I can't get an edge on it to save me. Its just crap steel IMO whatever it is at least for edge taking or keeping of any kind. Looks cool though. Haven't had it Rockwell tested but I'd bet its around 56RC. ;)

Oh, I do have one Mantis product I rather like believe it or not. The Seymour fixed. For all I know its whatever steel the others are and 56 Rockwell also but it works, is a great beater, comfortable in the hand; as I rather like the rubber tire tread grips and I find it to be a great tool box beater upper for my SUV. I have no problem with this one, however, I really can't say for what I got it for that I expected much more than exactly what I received after the experience with the folders.

Mantis seems to have hit it off with the magazines quite well at least. To read the articles you would think they keep up with all the big boys. Some of their prices currently certainly do stand on par with Spyderco and other companies but I would not begin to put them in the same league as Spyderco, BenchMade, or Kershaw by any stretch of the imagination. I'd be more inclined to compare them to what they are. Taylor Cutlery maybe something like that.

STR
 
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