Who actually buys mantis knives or dark ops?

Dan57 said:
I've come close to buying that Warren Thomas designed friction folder more than a few times. The QC issues are the only reason I don't have one already.
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I know they have QC issues, but there's not much they can f'k up with a friction folder, which is why I got it. For a cheap production, the blade is "ok". It's not a fancy design, and it's chisel ground, so you don't have to worry about evenness or symmetry. I have the CF scales version, which are two symmetric flat CNC-cut pieces of CF, hard to mess that up. Two brass washers, a blade stop pin, a spring steel clip, two bike chainring bolts and a chainring spacer, hard to mess those up too.

Blade centering is fine. No lockup to worry about. A cheap way to get into a WT design.
 
I'll admit it. I own a mantis knife. Ironically, one of their least tactical options, the CF handled "gent's folder". For what I paid (maybe 30$) it's not a bad little knife, but the fit and finish made me realize that for the same money, I'd rather have a kershaw.

As for mall ninja's... it's not just the purchase of tactical this and molle that. It's a midset, the same way most of us are probably a little more aware of our surroundings than usual. A true mall ninja is living in the magical land of action movies, where the bad guys spray from the hip and flip backwards when hit with their thrown karambit/throwing star/taser combo.
 
The "mall ninja" sites are hilarious! That's why I enjoy gun and knife shows. Not only for the knives (not as much gun interest as I had years ago) but for the interesting cultural experience. The guys who show up wearing, say, DCU shirt and MARPAT pants, and some other camo boonie hat. Even guys in mismatched camo wearing LBE. The ones talking about their black ops in Bad Guy Land.

Back to the OP...I have one Mantis product, the MF-1 Pry Bar. Not impressed but I didn't spend a lot on it. The sheath is crap, there's a strap on the front with a side squeeze buckle that does absolutely nothing. The blade had a poor edge on it and I did eventually get an edge on it but I haven't used it since I have better medium and large knives. I want to do handles for it, just haven't done it yet.
 
Dorito Monk said:
Here's another classic:

[youtube]wAkCLpMtjlM[/youtube]

(couldn't resist :D)
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Holy moses!

What is his weird accent? sounds odd and the way he says burglar???


Edited to add -

From a buuurglaaa perspective a good stategy for robbing this sword weilding weirdos house - Keep him talking until he runs out of breath, then push him over and proceed to rob house.
 
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When they first came out my Dad ordered a DO, Stratofighter and it was a decently made folder. Very heavy, 1/4" thick blade had some sort of coarse sand embedded in the handle inserts that made the knife way too hard to use the pocket clip, plus the clip was very strong and that made it almost impossible to get it over anything. I didn't feel any blade-play or other defects, but we never used it and after my Dad found out all about them he sold it on ebay.

A member here bought it and took it apart, said the lock-up on it's massive lock-bar wasn't seating fully. I think he worked with it got it seated better.

So, they appear at first glance to be made pretty well, but I'd never buy one, too much hype and who knows if all of them lock-up less than perfectly.
 
Jaytaylor said:
Holy moses!

What is his weird accent? sounds odd and the way he says burglar???


Edited to add -

From a buuurglaaa perspective a good stategy for robbing this sword weilding weirdos house - Keep him talking until he runs out of breath, then push him over and proceed to rob house.
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My wife and cat do not appreciate the snort of laughter that resulted from reading you post :D
 
I did! I admit it!! I bought a TA-2 "Principal"! It is a nice little fixed blade. 154 CM steel. It's one of their "normal" knives. I know I don't recieve any cool points--let the beatings begin!! :o
 
I like how some of the mantis knives look. I don't own any of them, but I enjoy sharp angles.
It's asthetically pleasing. Like the pit boss or the mt9-d.
I also like Quartermaster knives. Not because I'm some tactical bimbo but because they're different than the average knife. Plus, the quartermaster knives use CPM154. Again, not a mall ninja, just think they look cool.
 
I used to be a Mantis hater. I still don't like a lot of their designs, but I've had the opportunity to play with some of their higher end models and have been quite impressed. I do appreciate that they're trying to do something different. Once QC catches up (if it hasn't already) and their ugly models are well past them (and a distant memory), I think they definitely have potential. They're going to be distributing a small run of Warren Thomas mid-tech folders that I've had the pleasure of playing with, and was very impressed. If they continue to reach for the higher-end and forget their mall-ninja past, I have a feeling that more people will proudly show off their Mantis blades in the future.
 
while i think these " mall ninjas" are hilarious and Terrifying, i am pretty sure that gecko45 guy is the one laughing, that post has to be a troll right? As an avid troll myself ( Though not ever on this site ) I think the fact that he illicited such passionate responses makes him a trolling legend. just saying
 
rhosk said:
I think the fact that he illicited such passionate responses makes him a trolling legend. just saying
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Indeed. I'm convinced he was a guy with a great sense of humor who did it for just that reason, and he definitely succeeded. :D:thumbup:
 
rhosk said:
while i think these " mall ninjas" are hilarious and Terrifying, i am pretty sure that gecko45 guy is the one laughing, that post has to be a troll right? As an avid troll myself ( Though not ever on this site ) I think the fact that he illicited such passionate responses makes him a trolling legend. just saying
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That's always been my take on it.

I'm pretty sure Gecko45 is just trolling, which is what makes it so gut-bustingly funny, to me.

Then again, I used to think Phil Elmore (The Martialist) was just trolling, but it's become clear to me that he really does take himself seriously - If he can deliver that level of silliness with a straight face, completely seriously, it makes me wonder...
 
weinerd said:
I know they have QC issues, but there's not much they can f'k up with a friction folder, which is why I got it. For a cheap production, the blade is "ok". It's not a fancy design, and it's chisel ground, so you don't have to worry about evenness or symmetry. I have the CF scales version, which are two symmetric flat CNC-cut pieces of CF, hard to mess that up. Two brass washers, a blade stop pin, a spring steel clip, two bike chainring bolts and a chainring spacer, hard to mess those up too.

Blade centering is fine. No lockup to worry about. A cheap way to get into a WT design.
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I saw that one at A.G. Russell's site. Almost picked one up. The only thing that bothers me is if you want to tweak the pivot for more/less friction, the hex key slots in chainring bolts are often really shallow and easy to strip out (plenty of experience back in my bicycling days:D). How was the friction out of the box, and have you tried adjusting it at all?
 
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