Chapter 1:
When it arrived, I looked it over as I always do, stuck it back in the box and put it away. About a month passed and I started thinking about it again. I went home, took it out and started messing with it. It was alright, the handle would have been perfect, had it not been for the flipper tab being a bit in the ideal grip area. Close enough, I'll give it a whirl!
I started carrying it occasionally, light use, nothing crazy, just letters and packages. In this time, I discovered a few secrets of the knife. One of my biggest problems with liner and frame lock knives is that you have to put your finger in the path of the blade, in order to close it. Not ideal for me. When combined, the flipper tab acts as a large ricasso and shields the finger. Thus, negating the issue.
The next thing I discovered, was that I could pop the blade closed using the detent ball. I unlock the knife to the detent ball, pull my thumb back, push the top of the hump with my index finger and the blade pops shut once it breaks over the detent ball. It is probably not an efficient method for most, but I've got it down to a crazy balancing act that I do not advise anyone to attempt(it is like a reflex to me).
This information was gathered about the first 2-3 months of light carry. It had proven itself to be better than the average.
Chapter 2:
The Mantra had now entered my personal rotation, a place not many knives make it. It was now going to see some actual use, I still take care of them, but they get used like they won't be sold.
I paid special attention to the M4, as I did not want it to corrode as some other tool steels had. It worked, with not so much as a spec of corrosion occurring. Gradually, I became more comfortable with the knife, as well as more fond of it. The titanium handles have an excellent heft to them, which makes the knife feel very stout. Couple that, with the performance that M4 was giving me and this knife was knocking others off left and right.
This lasted for about 6 months or so. By then, it was getting more carry time than anything but the Carribean. It had proven itself to be a great tool and found itself in my "Top Three".
All bets are off and may God have mercy on its soul!
Chapter 3:
It has now entered a realm in which only a few grizzled veterans reside. There is no turning back from here, you are mine. You will be mine until you lie before me in a broken heap. I love you, but I do not care about you. You are now a tool, welcome to the top.
At this point, I started testing the limits. How much abuse can the Mantra take before it falters? Step one, I halted blade maintenance and increased usage to daily. I gave the Carribean a break and this moved into the daily carry spot. I have used it for everything from cutting wires, to stabbing nail heads(unintentionally). It hasn't skipped a beat. When I stabbed it into the nail head while taking a picture of it in the snow, aside from actually sticking into the nailhead and standing, it came away with almost no damage. It had a slight chip just below the tip that was sharpened out within 10 minutes on the Sharpmaker browns. The tip is still intact, as far as I can tell.
There's a nailhead under there, somewhere!
During this time I had also stopped oiling the blade in an attempt to develop a patina. After 3-4 months it finally started to get a little bit of character, but it's still remarkably clear. I'll keep at it.
Now we are at the present day and it is still going strong, sitting comfortably in third.
Disassembly:
I disassembled this knife today for the second time and on both occasions, it has been a painless task. Super simple, not a lot of parts.
I couldn't get one of the standoffs removed, but other than that it was flawless. I cleaned it up, put it back together and it was perfect on the first try(both times). The only thing you need to take note of is the cupped washers. Mine have been cupped since day one and it hasn't affected it at all. I have put them back on in the same way, both reassemblies, with no issues.
(Couldn't get that one standoff!)
Final Thoughts:
After a little more than one year of using this knife, It has been a complete shock. With everything it had working against it, for it to make it to where it is, is simply astonishing.
M4 has shown more than enough corrosion resistance to survive in the mountains of N. Georgia, with only a little bit of care. This steel is also plenty tough, I can't fault it there either.
Overall, the Mantra has proven itself to be a reliable member of my team and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone.
's in 10 different steels
