The Spyderco Mariner Salt is a good medium-small folder (Military = baseline medium, not too big and not too small. Perfect for my hand).
It's not quite hand filling enough for me to consider a hard use knife, though the all steel, nay, all H-1 construction means this knife all around is probably one of the most durable knives Spyderco has ever built.
While the handle is not as filling as I prefer, just holding it feels extremely natural. The SS Police gives a feeling of insecurity, I don't use that knife too much for fear of slipping and cutting myself while handling it. Operating the Mariner Salt seems like a cross between the Para 2 and Endura, both slim and confident. Everything seems to be placed just right.
The knife cut through the tape covered double layer shipping box it came in with ease. Not nearly as effortless as the distal taper flat ground Military, but it cut smoothly and was very controlled. I can see the clip becoming irritating with extended use, but otherwise the handle has no hot spots.
At 4.85 ounces, it is a probably a little heavy for its size. Compared to many other brutish folders that's not much, but when you look at the Mariner's FRN cousin the Atlantic Salt at 2.75 ounces (almost the same as the Delica or Centofante3
), 4.85 ounces looks like a lot more.
If you want the classic feel of one of Spyderco's oldest models in a rust proof package I highly recommend seeking this one out before they disappear forever. If they are unavailable I'm sure the modern update, the Atlantic Salt, would fill the same role very nicely, if not better with the little tweaks Sal always gives his knives.
It's not quite hand filling enough for me to consider a hard use knife, though the all steel, nay, all H-1 construction means this knife all around is probably one of the most durable knives Spyderco has ever built.
While the handle is not as filling as I prefer, just holding it feels extremely natural. The SS Police gives a feeling of insecurity, I don't use that knife too much for fear of slipping and cutting myself while handling it. Operating the Mariner Salt seems like a cross between the Para 2 and Endura, both slim and confident. Everything seems to be placed just right.
The knife cut through the tape covered double layer shipping box it came in with ease. Not nearly as effortless as the distal taper flat ground Military, but it cut smoothly and was very controlled. I can see the clip becoming irritating with extended use, but otherwise the handle has no hot spots.
At 4.85 ounces, it is a probably a little heavy for its size. Compared to many other brutish folders that's not much, but when you look at the Mariner's FRN cousin the Atlantic Salt at 2.75 ounces (almost the same as the Delica or Centofante3
), 4.85 ounces looks like a lot more.If you want the classic feel of one of Spyderco's oldest models in a rust proof package I highly recommend seeking this one out before they disappear forever. If they are unavailable I'm sure the modern update, the Atlantic Salt, would fill the same role very nicely, if not better with the little tweaks Sal always gives his knives.
