I see these brands being put down a lot in older threads and usually anytime one has been brought up. I'm just wondering as to who actually buys these knives and keeps these companies in business? We have so many in this forum community and very,very few purchase or at least admit to purchasing from these brands.I know a lot might say that it's mall ninjas and the like but are mall ninjas willing to put up that kinda cash when they can get something from a more respected brand for the same money like kabar,ontario,benchmade,coldsteel? Those all sell combat knives. I understand that companies like United and the like sell a lot of cheap fantasy blades but both these brands are both in completely different price zones.
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Who actually buys mantis knives or dark ops?
- Thread starter Nntrance
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Can mean a few things but mostly over accessorized
Eg: For a person, one who walks around with 2 guns and half a dozen knives like a wannabe navy seal
For an knife, something with too many unnecessary bells and whistles usually made from rubbish materials.
Often carried by a poor soul thinking it makes him more "tactically" ready
Eg: For a person, one who walks around with 2 guns and half a dozen knives like a wannabe navy seal
For an knife, something with too many unnecessary bells and whistles usually made from rubbish materials.
Often carried by a poor soul thinking it makes him more "tactically" ready
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I suppose people who buy them are just like the people who buy medieval long swords, and Klingon daggers, and other fantasy stuff like that....that stuff makes them happy, even if they aren't knights in armor or Klingons. More power to them, I guess. :thumbup:
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This is where the term 'Mall Ninja' comes from.
http://lonelymachines.org/mall-ninjas/
It's funny as hell - definitely a good read.
'Mall Ninja' generally refers to people who buy into over-the-top 'tactical' styling in their products (ex: people who feel the need to buy 'tactical' pens instead of regular Bic pens, or who wear nothing but 5.11 / Blackhawk clothing instead of jeans or slacks like the rest of us). Usually this refers to people who don't actually have any connection to law enforcement or a branch of the armed forces - i.e. people who work desk jobs and don't have any need for 'tactical' gear, but buy it anyway.
When folks refer to knives as 'mall ninja', they generally refer to black-coated, serrated, tanto-pointed knives that are advertised as being intended for 'tactical' or 'military' applications.
But yeah, as to the OP's question, people just buy what they like, regardless of the price. There are folks who are willing to shell out fat wads of cash for their own plate carriers, rifle plates, tactical clothing, and holsters, etc. but don't even use the stuff - you better believe there are folks willing to shell out for knives that they think will fit their 'tactical' self-image, too.
...or "medieval swordsman" or "backwoodsman" or "survival guru" or "MacGuyver" etc etc etc self-images too. Tacti-junkies are the only one to get a "tag" ("mall-ninja") that I'm aware of, but it's all the same. Even if people don't get to use their stuff...they like to have it.
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Are Tanto point knives even good for sticking people? If I wanted a knife for sticking, I'd go for a clip point or a symmetrical double edged spear point.
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Yes, very true - people love to have their stuff, regardless of what that stuff is, what hobby they bought it for, or whether they use it or not.
I think it's interesting to not, however, that the tactical junkies seem to be one of the only groups (aside from, say, trekkies buying klingon knives or whatnot) that get such a negative image. I would suggest it's probably because the 'tactical' fantasy is something that the overwhelming majority of them don't actually ever get to experience in real life - and I think 'fantasy' is a word that's more applicable to the mall ninja fascination than, say, some of the other self-images folks like to cling to.
I mean, for people who really like medieval weapons, they can go to their local ARMA meetings and spar; people who are in love with asian martial arts can find a dojo or gym in every city to practice; people who really like 'bushcraft' and camping, can just go off in the woods or whatnot; handy-men or whoever can fix crap around the house. Mall ninjas...can go to the range, dressed in their plate carriers and gas masks? But that's as close as most of them will get to combat and/or fulfilling their extreme tactical sheepdog fantasies.
I guess that's where I draw the distinction between military personnel / shooting enthusiasts on one hand and Mall Ninjas on the other - Mall Ninjas always embody the very silliest end of the spectrum, to me, and I think that might be why they get more flak about their hobbies on these forums than other 'groups'.
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That link is funny!
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That link needs to be stickied...every 3-5 months someone asks a question...and that link gets posted. I still read it every time...and still p*** my pants reading it/laughing at it...that thread is worth every bit of reading...just for the shear entertainment value.
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Agreed! Many of the "self images" are very similar in their fantasy component..."paintball shooting tactical fantacists," "weekend gassed up car with a trunk filled with beer survivors," "medieval sparrers," .... just only one of them got a derogatory name like "mall ninja."
Interesting stuff. Maybe silly names for all the groups would equal the playing field of people's attitudes/understanding! "Basement knights" or something like that.
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Ahh, the origin of the Mall Ninja. We should just make a tradition of reading it to the children every holiday season as they sit Indian style on the floor sipping on their hot cocoa.
But popular amongst whom ? That is my question. We have thousands of posters on here and no one admits to buying them.
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Mall Ninja(noun)- Any person who has convinced themselves(wrongly) that they are Edwood7.
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You assume the only people that buy knives frequent knife forums.
Not necessarily, I would just think that of the thousands that do there would be someone admitting to w purchase. I see so many other brands being spoken of that are much more obscure.