Who actually buys mantis knives or dark ops?

True, I'm sure that some have purchased and don't want the ridicule, but the knife enthusiast is but a small fraction of most manufacturers business. Core buyers, but still just a small percentage.
 
I bought a mantis karambit, and after extensively abusing it, it developed blade play and the locked slipped on one occasion. I sent it in and they sent me a brand new upgraded model with no charge to me. Although they aren't the best knives out there, and emerson waves completely trump them for smoothness and deployment, the customer service was great to me and I have nothing bad to say about the company. They aren't the best knives for the money, but they've got some pretty radical designs. If given the option, I'd spend the 200 and get an emerson, but back when I was starting out with knives and 50 dollars was my max budget, mantis was the company for me and I don't regret it.
 
Easy on the "Medevil Swordsmen", fellas. I'm a newly minted member of ARMA, and a Mick, who happens to like the idea of something different from Asian Martial Arts.

I try not to be mistaken for a mall ninja, eg, I do not walk around with a sword or sword-like object on my person. For me it's about cultural heritage, and an alternative method of practicing self-defense, mental focus, and physical fitness.

Mantis, Dark Ops, United, Mtech, and the like, have their places in the world: as gateways to a larger, more expensive, knife collecting hobby!
 
mantis knives are just plain ugly,my opinion,and as for dark ops knives,i like their large stiletto folder..dont know much about their knives,nor anyone who owns them..
 
Shorttime said:
Easy on the "Medevil Swordsmen", fellas. I'm a newly minted member of ARMA, and a Mick, who happens to like the idea of something different from Asian Martial Arts.

I try not to be mistaken for a mall ninja, eg, I do not walk around with a sword or sword-like object on my person. For me it's about cultural heritage, and an alternative method of practicing self-defense, mental focus, and physical fitness.
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Yes....but our ninja friends might say the same thing. Or they might be snickering about ARMA types, cracking "Medieval Times" or "Renaissance Faire" jokes. :D

Of course, nothing I am into can be ridiculed. I'm super awesome. It's been proven by science.
 
Mantis pulled a very bad PR stunt here a little over 4 years ago. It wasn't well received, and the more Jared (West, the owner) tried to make things better, the more they smelled.

A search of GB&U for Jared West will give you the whole story.

As for who buys them, I have no idea.
 
HAHAHA That was a funny thread about that "Mall Ninja", that guy is nuts. I have seen many of these guys, usualy hovering around the gun magazines at the grocery store or the 7-11.. Mantis Knive what a joke, I see them at the parking lot swap meet, 3 for $10 maybe there not realy mantis, but might as well be
 
HAHAHA That was a funny thread about that "Mall Ninja", that guy is nuts. I have seen many of these guys, usualy hovering around the gun magazines at the grocery store or the 7-11.. Mantis Knive what a joke, I see them at the parking lot swap meet, 3 for $10 maybe there not realy mantis, but might as well be

If you go to the mantis web site some modles are sold out Gecko45 must have outfitted his "team"
 
I wanted to check out a Mantis knife and received their MT7.2. The F&F was better than my Emerson and rivaled my Spyderco Para.
S30V and a Besh Wedge for $90. Good deal for me.
 
The other thing about Dark Ops knives is that there was this falling out with the US distributor/rep for Extrema Ratio, so the same knives got a bunch of sawteeth ground on there and was turned into "Dark Ops" knives with a really horrible marketing idea (and descriptions) and just horrible ideas all to boot as well.
 
Dorito Monk said:
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.
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Nearly peed myself reading this link, Mall ninja's! so funny. we call them Sidewalk Commando's down here,...
 
Dorito Monk said:
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.
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This..this is just too much lol, half way through and I'm close to the point of throwing up vomits of joy from laughing.

Back on topic tho, I have seen shops carry mantis knives so there must be some poor sob that does fancies them.
 
I've mentioned several times over the years that I purchased one when they first came out. I also mentioned that it was a very well made knife. Still is.

You won't find many folks on this forum who will say a good thing about them. The reason has more to do with the clique-yness of forum dynamics than anything else, and the hurt feelings involved from Jared West's publicity stunt. I have no reason to believe Mantis knives do not sell. They may not sell to many forum members. But it must be recognized that forum members are likely a fairly small subset of knife consumers.

As for mall ninjas... as far as the world is concerned, any grown man who fiddles with knives... is a mall ninja. So if you want to know what a mall ninja looks like to the rest of the world, look in the mirror. The only reason we rag of mall ninjas is because there's gotta be someone we can kick, too.
 
I have to admit, I'm looking into buying one of these. The Mantis Kunitza looks pretty cool to me.

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I think if we're honest with ourselves, there's a little Mall Ninja in all of us. I see some of the knife collections here and wish I had that kind of money! I'm man enough to admit there is a fine line between being prepared and over-doing it (really, how many guns and knives does one NEED?) and I've stepped over that line occassionally. I think it's a phase we all go through and then look back on later - much like mullets, PBR and Camaros...what were they thinking? :)
 
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