Mantis MK-3vXb

DrOpPoInT1110

DrOpPoInT1110

Joined
Jan 28, 2009
Messages
2,687
I got an email today from Mantis knives with a promo code for a black friday sale. I was looking around their site to see if there was anything worth buying. I always thought their karambit folders were interesting so I looked at those. I noticed that they had a limited run of only 44 knives of the MK-3 folding karambit in M-VX tool steel. I thought it was a nice design and with the discount and the fact that only 44 will be released, "why not?" My question is, has anyone had any experience with this steel? is it anything like D2? This will be my first Mantis knife but i've been following them from the beginning. If you have any comments on their quality, value, fit and finish etc. i'd appreciate that as well.
 
Do not get a Mantis. The one I own (not for much longer) caused a good half inch of the tip of my finger to be almost severed off, because of a faulty lock. The lock up is not just faulty though, it is very weak compared to my Emerson A-100. Get an Emerson or Benchmade, don't waste your time with poorly engineered crap from Mantis.

Kaleb
 
The company has an extremely bad reputation here. Buy one if you wish but don't be surprised if the responses you get are less than positive.


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I would not be surprised if it was M4. Jared said somewhere he wants to publicly showcase or test mvx against m4. And there are very few steels that can. One of which would be m4 named mvx...

:) Just joking...sort of.
 
I'd be extremely surprised if it was M4, or CPM M4. It might be something like D2. In fact, he told me it was like D2 performance wise. I explained that D2 wasn't a HS steel. I felt like that went over his head.

He then gave me the line about if I joined the "militia" I could special order knives in steels. For instance I could order one of their other knives ( I don't know any so I can't make an example) that was listed as being 420HC steel, and have it made in mvx ( which doesn't exist as such, it's proprietary).

It all sounded strange. He asked me several times to join despite me continually stating no, and that I wasn't a joiner, or "militia" type person.

I will never trust the company unless they really make some changes. I still recall the so called BG42 knives that were under $30.00 and tested out to something like RC 55-56. If it was real BG42, which I doubted then and still do, it was wasted by running it at such a low hardness.

Bottom line is I still don't own any of this companies knives. That in itself is unusual as I usually buy test knives from new companies to try them out, and give them support where deserved.

From Mantis: See if this is believeable.

What is M-VX Stainless Steel?

The Mantis Knives design team doesn't feel that they should ever be governed or limited by "industry norms", as a result, a team of metallurgists, who have been working closely with the Research and Development team at Mantis Knives, have come up with what we consider to be an alloy that will set new standards in excellence for our industry.

Tough as a coffin nail, M-VX is a martensitic high speed steel that is specifically formulated to offer the best combination of edge retention, resistance to corrosion, and ease of re-sharpening. Vanadium has been found to be far more effective than chromium in providing wear-resistance, so M-VX's chemistry has been specially engineered to enhance this effect. M-VX attains a previously unknown toughness. To put it into simple terms, M-VX stainless steel "slices circles" around other high hardness steels such as D2 and 440C.
Click to expand...
 
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OOOHH! Now we're talking, now that I read that the new alloy will "slice circles" around 440C and D2, I am ready to join the Mantits militia. Where can I get the hat with the grommet in the bill?
 
One of these ? :confused:

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Beth Ann might be able to hook you up ! :D

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Doug
 
Don't buy one, i know a guy who had a karambit by them, no lock up, crappy steel, they're just not a company to deal with.
 
The Mastiff said:
I'd be extremely surprised if it was M4, or CPM M4. It might be something like D2. In fact, he told me it was like D2 performance wise. I explained that D2 wasn't a HS steel. I felt like that went over his head.

He then gave me the line about if I joined the "militia" I could special order knives in steels. For instance I could order one of their other knives ( I don't know any so I can't make an example) that was listed as being 420HC steel, and have it made in mvx ( which doesn't exist as such, it's proprietary).

It all sounded strange. He asked me several times to join despite me continually stating no, and that I wasn't a joiner, or "militia" type person.

I will never trust the company unless they really make some changes. I still recall the so called BG42 knives that were under $30.00 and tested out to something like RC 55-56. If it was real BG42, which I doubted then and still do, it was wasted by running it at such a low hardness.

Bottom line is I still don't own any of this companies knives. That in itself is unusual as I usually buy test knives from new companies to try them out, and give them support where deserved.

From Mantis: See if this is believeable.
Click to expand...


I know. The idea of Mantis using M4 is an odd one but the fact that the owner says he wants to put his steel against M4 should mean that his steel can put up a fight against it. Whats the point if his steel would fail in epic fashion. Secondly he describes something about the steel's elements saying his steel uses vanadium not chrome to achieve desired performance or something along those lines. D2 I think doesn't rely on Vanadium but M4 certainly does. And he does say in a roundabout way that his MVX steel is higher performance than D2 or 440C.

Not saying it's M4 but it could in all it's weirdness of the thought :p
 
thanks for the input guys. im glad that i can get honest feedback here. i figured i might as well give it a try even if turns out to be crap. at the very least, i could just have it in the collection to sell later if they ever appreciate in value. after hearing the stories of poor lockup, i don't think i'm going to use it anyway. i personally think mantis' knives are eye candy for new collectors. some of their designs are good/interesting but the materials and workmanship apparently just aren't there. i'll be sure to let you guys know what i think about the steel after i test it...it'll probably be the only use the knife gets if the lock isn't too great.
 
The Mastiff said:
From Mantis: See if this is believable.
What is M-VX Stainless Steel?

The Mantis Knives design team doesn't feel that they should ever be governed or limited by "industry norms", as a result, a team of metallurgists, who have been working closely with the Research and Development team at Mantis Knives, have come up with what we consider to be an alloy that will set new standards in excellence for our industry.

Tough as a coffin nail, M-VX is a martensitic high speed steel that is specifically formulated to offer the best combination of edge retention, resistance to corrosion, and ease of re-sharpening. Vanadium has been found to be far more effective than chromium in providing wear-resistance, so M-VX's chemistry has been specially engineered to enhance this effect. M-VX attains a previously unknown toughness. To put it into simple terms, M-VX stainless steel "slices circles" around other high hardness steels such as D2 and 440C.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

HAHAHAHAHHAHA! That is priceless. Funniest BS I've read in days.
 
DrOpPoInT1110 said:
to sell later if they ever appreciate in value.
Click to expand...

I doubt this will ever happen...ever. Even some notable designs don't appreciate in value. If you ever browsed the exchange forums here, you'd notice that even top end custom knives de-preciate in value. People simply don't like paying more for a "used knife." I put used in quotes because many times these knives have not even been used to cut paper let alone carried in the pocket (or sheath).

The ones that I have seen appreciate in value are usually limited runs, whether production pieces like the BM 806 in the flavor steel of the month or some custom piece of which a limited number were made.

There are exceptions, like Busse Combat knives which tend to appreciate, or certain out of production pieces.
 
"Tough as a coffin nail". Are not coffin nails made of mild steel:confused: And also, isn't a steel only as hard as you heat treat it - "high hardness steels such as D2 and 440C"? I bought mine purely because I love how it looked, and the specs looked OK to somebody new in the knife world. I am not by any means an expert, but I have bought his most expensive production knife and it does not hold a thread to my $130 Emerson A-100.

Kaleb
 
harkamus said:
I doubt this will ever happen...ever. Even some notable designs don't appreciate in value. If you ever browsed the exchange forums here, you'd notice that even top end custom knives de-preciate in value. People simply don't like paying more for a "used knife." I put used in quotes because many times these knives have not even been used to cut paper let alone carried in the pocket (or sheath).

The ones that I have seen appreciate in value are usually limited runs, whether production pieces like the BM 806 in the flavor steel of the month or some custom piece of which a limited number were made.

There are exceptions, like Busse Combat knives which tend to appreciate, or certain out of production pieces.
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according to the mantis website, the MK-3vXb is being made in a 44 piece run. thats the only reason i could ever imagine it appreciating in value as you said. who knows, maybe because the brand isn't so popular they won't be very common later on...could be worth some money:rolleyes::D
 
DrOpPoInT1110 said:
according to the mantis website, the MK-3vXb is being made in a 44 piece run. thats the only reason i could ever imagine it appreciating in value as you said. who knows, maybe because the brand isn't so popular they won't be very common later on...could be worth some money:rolleyes::D
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Yea, but a 44 piece run of "garbage" is not going to appreciate in value.

Garbage was a bit harsh, but yea.
 
To be fair, if the design catches your eye, no one should dissuade you from buying said knife. Just don't be surprised if the knife does not appreciate. Keep it because you think it's cool.
 
I know. The idea of Mantis using M4 is an odd one but the fact that the owner says he wants to put his steel against M4 should mean that his steel can put up a fight against it. Whats the point if his steel would fail in epic fashion. Secondly he describes something about the steel's elements saying his steel uses vanadium not chrome to achieve desired performance or something along those lines. D2 I think doesn't rely on Vanadium but M4 certainly does. And he does say in a roundabout way that his MVX steel is higher performance than D2 or 440C.

Not saying it's M4 but it could in all it's weirdness of the thought
Click to expand...

Dan, if he was using M4, or even M2 he would likely need to charge higher prices as that stuff isn't cheap. Nor is working it.

In addition it's a recognized name and it's quality is well known. Would you pay the extra for one of the market's hottest steels with name recognition, and then not use that name which in itself would mean sales?

In any event he calls it a stainless steel, stating" M-VX stainless steel "slices circles..." "

BG42 is in fact a stainless, high speed steel, and a bearing steel as well. It's the stainless version of M50 in fact.

Lots of steels have vanadium. D2 has vanadium. It's used in small amounts as a grain refiner and steels such as Aus 6, 8 and 10 are just some of the many stainless steels that have vanadium in it as a grain refiner, but not at levels sufficient to cause the large type, wear resistant vanadium carbides to form.

IMO, just more BS from Mantis. They also list ZDP as a steel used. Like BG42, I have my doubts.
 
harkamus said:
Yea, but a 44 piece run of "garbage" is not going to appreciate in value.

Garbage was a bit harsh, but yea.
Click to expand...

haha this is true. like i said, i bought it already and got it for $42 so i figured if it is crap, at least its not a huge loss. and like you said in your later comments, if it turns out to just look cool in person, i might just keep it for that (wouldn't be the first time:D). i don't take any offense to people's opinion's on knives...you can be as harsh as you want to be. if i was the maker, then maybe i'd be slightly offended.
 
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