Mariner Salt...who has?

J

James Y

Joined
Feb 18, 1999
Messages
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I've never owned a Mariner, but recently received the 2009 catalog and was pleased to see the Mariner available again as a Salt offering. How is this one? Is the handle also H1 or is it a specially-coated SS? The clip is titanium.

Being esp. picky nowadays about my purchases, this one has really caught my fancy. I love the shape of it, and am hoping it remains a popular model in the Salt lineup while I save up for one. :)
Jim
 
James Y said:
I've never owned a Mariner, but recently received the 2009 catalog and was pleased to see the Mariner available again as a Salt offering. How is this one? Is the handle also H1 or is it a specially-coated SS? The clip is titanium.

Being esp. picky nowadays about my purchases, this one has really caught my fancy. I love the shape of it, and am hoping it remains a popular model in the Salt lineup while I save up for one. :)
Jim
Click to expand...

+1 on wanting to hear what H1 Mariner owners think of the knife - and post some pics too! ;-)
 
All you want and I can deliver is found here:

http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34807

http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34872

and the most recent one:

http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35499

By now, the 2009 spyderco catalog refers to the handle material as "stainless steel", not H1 anymore like in the 2008 catalog. The magnet test shows a significant difference between the blade and the handle, so I guess it is really some different steel than H1. Not a problem though, I haven't encountered any rust issues on the handle yet.

Dennis
 
I'm guessing that the handle is stainless steel, but there are steels that are stainless, just not suitable for holding an edge, like 420JS or similar. H1 is the first steel that cannot rust while still being able hold an edge suitable for a knife.
 
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I always wondered whether or not the handle was H1 as well.

Thanks for the helpful and insightful posts, gentlemen. :)
 
I recently got a Mariner Salt. The handle is H1 as per some discussions over on the spyderco.com forums which sited it being listed as such in the 2008 catalog but the 2009 says "100% rust free blade, handle and clip." I might call Spyderco and ask just to find out for sure. Either way it has not rusted on me yet, and I have intentionally been leaving it wet and uncleaned to test it a bit. So far so good.

Here the initial review I posted over there a few weeks back:

I have been looking at the H1 Salt series for a while mainly because I need something that does not rust easily (or in the case of H1 rust not at all). I work as a wildland firefighter up in Alaska, which is pretty hot and sweaty work at times to say the least. I usually sweat all over my other Spyderco (Manix) clipped in my pocket, which usually leads to rust spots by the end of the day. About the only way to prevent this was to put a light coat of oil on the blade every morning or else be ready to rub rust spots off at night.

I have to say, I was a bit suspicious of a blade steel that would never rust but after researching a lot on the internet on on these forums, to include user corrosion tests, I was convinced. I wanted a sheepfoot style CE blade so that narrowed it down to the Saver Salt, Atlantic Salt, and the Mariner Salt. I decided on the Mariner Salt as it had a few features I wanted that the other two did not have even though it cost a bit more. One, I like blades that have a little heft to them, so the H1 Steel handles give it a bit more weight than the others. Also, if you look at the blade of the Mariner Salt it is different that the the Saver and Atlantic Salts. It has a little area at the tip of the blade which is PE that the other models do not have in a sheepfoot blade. That was a selling big point for me.

Overall, the Mariner Salt is probably the most solid feeling folder I have ever owned - even the Manix which has a tiny bit of play. This thing clicks open like a vault. Zero play in the blade in any direction. The action is nice and smooth, but a little snug out of the box. I am sure it will loosen up a bit after it gets opened and closed a number of times. The titanium clip is nice and snug but not overly so like I have experienced on other blades. It clips on and off easily but still retains great retention. Fit and finish is very good. Nice clean lines and smooth edges all around and razor sharp out of the box. No scratches or marks on the handles or blade, at least not yet. This one is going to get worked hard so it will look the part soon enough. I prepared dinner with it tonight and it zipped right through everything with ease and was actually pretty good at food prep.

I will probably EDC the Mariner along with the little Northfield slipjoint I carry on a daily basis if I am not in the woods. I have been EDCing the Manix, but it can be a little cumbersome at times. It carries very well in pocket. The Mariner Salt is rather long knife closed (about 4 3/4") but it has a slender profile and is relatively thin with the H1 steel handles so you really do not notice it in the pocket.

I look forward to using in the woods this summer and I am also looking forward to not having to worry about daily blade maintenance.

Take a look at the Mariner Salt if you are looking for a H1 steel blade. It does not get the attention it probably deserves (mainly due to the price compared to the others in the Salt series) but it is definitely a fine piece of cutlery...
 
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Thanks a lot for the replies, everyone!!

It looks like the Mariner Salt is on my short list. I'll be looking forward to getting one soon!
Jim
 
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