Mantra or Mantra 2?

[Skywalker]

Anyone have a pic of the Mantra 1 with a Domino? Thanks.

[Liquid Cobra]

[Skywalker]

Excellent; thank you!

[RamZar]

Mantra is distinctly narrower and shorter than Domino and although blade lengths are about the same Mantra gives you quite a bit more cutting edge.

[RamZar]

FYI: You can change your vote at any time.

Curious to know if anyone has changed their vote and why.

[abbazaba]

Yep, M4 is what caught my attention too. Then I realized how similar the 2 is to a Southard, and that was enough to get me excited. Still need to handle one first and I'm waiting for someone to bite the bullet and take one apart so I can see how the stop pin is.

Here ya go...

[Evil D]

Yep, M4 is what caught my attention too. Then I realized how similar the 2 is to a Southard, and that was enough to get me excited. Still need to handle one first and I'm waiting for someone to bite the bullet and take one apart so I can see how the stop pin is.

Here ya go...

Gah. That's Southard style. Not the end of the world I suppose, since my Southard hasn't exploded on me yet, but I would definitely prefer if it were Nilakka style but I guess that's not possible with a frame lock.

[farnorthdan]

Considering the mantra is more if a lite duty knife I'm not too concerned about its similarly to the southard. It will be interesting to see how these perform over time with different users.

[hoimin]

Gah. That's Southard style. Not the end of the world I suppose, since my Southard hasn't exploded on me yet, but I would definitely prefer if it were Nilakka style but I guess that's not possible with a frame lock.

External stop pin flipper framelocks are definitely possible, mechanically speaking. For example, the ZT0450 has an external pin.

The Mantras' design might more a matter of leveraging existing manufacturing engineering to lower costs.

In any case, I don't mind the design; better to know you have a compromised heat treat obviously, than to have it hidden by thicker stock at a fracture point. The 'weak' part is on the closing side of the blade anyway, where it is not expected to endure much force.

[Brock O Lee]

I'm with EvilD on this one... I feel that bearings and a huge internal stop pin cutout add unnecessary complexity and potential points of failure to a folder that I prefer not to have.

[bearfacedkiller]

I don't get it. What does it add to the design functionally? What is the expense? Seems like hogging out that blade tang would cost more money and possibly weaken the tang. Maybe I am missing the benefit. It is clever, it is an impressive feat in a production knife and it is aesthetically pleasing. Those are all things I can appreciate but not things that I look for in a knife. With the Southard I have just accepted it as a result of being a collaboration. You would have to expect some deviation from pure Spyderco design philosophy in a collaboration. However, I am disappointed to see this style of stop pin moving into some of Spyderco's in house designs. To me that deviates from the "no more than necessary, no less than perfect" philosophy.

I pretty much feel the exact same way about bearings. They seem to require a machined out recess to rest in which adds cost and washers don't need that. I have a Southard and I have fondled the Dice and Domino as well a a few more Southards and none of them are smoother than some of my knives with washers. My smoothest knives have washers and not bearings. My Sage3 is like glass as are a few others. The Mantra is remarkably like my Sage2 which is super smooth and doesn't need an internal stop pin or bearings. If the Mantra had washers and an external stop pin I would have one by now.

It is a beautiful knife and I am sure it will serve many people well and hope everybody likes it. Luckily Spyderco continues to pump out more knives than I need or can afford so it really doesn't matter. There is an M4 Para2 coming my way at some point this year. I am gonna continue to be one very satisfied Spydie buyer. No worries there.

[timlara]

I'm with EvilD on this one... I feel that bearings and a huge internal stop pin cutout add unnecessary complexity and potential points of failure to a folder that I prefer not to have.

+1

(Although I like the overall Mantra 2 design well enough that I bought one anyway, even though I already knew I wasn't crazy about the ball bearing pivot.)

At this point, I'm convinced that the ball bearing system has more to do with marketing than performance. The idea "sounds" good but in practice, it just doesn't pay off on any of the models I've handled that have the feature.

This is not to say that Spyderco doesn't honestly believe the technology has merit, or that it doesn't work well sometimes...just that it doesn't seem like the statistical evidence (at least from comments on the forums) has proven that it is the best, or even a "better" design than a more traditional phosphor bronze pivot.

[Tdog]

I'm with EvilD on this one... I feel that bearings and a huge internal stop pin cutout add unnecessary complexity and potential points of failure to a folder that I prefer not to have.

+1

(Although I like the overall Mantra 2 design well enough that I bought one anyway, even though I already knew I wasn't crazy about the ball bearing pivot.)

At this point, I'm convinced that the ball bearing system has more to do with marketing than performance. The idea "sounds" good but in practice, it just doesn't pay off on any of the models I've handled that have the feature.

This is not to say that Spyderco doesn't honestly believe the technology has merit, or that it doesn't work well sometimes...just that it doesn't seem like the statistical evidence (at least from comments on the forums) has proven that it is the best, or even a "better" design than a more traditional phosphor bronze pivot.

I would agree, not sure how much the bearing adds to the knife.....simplicity has it's merits. The bearing also gives an area prone to rusting and collecting dust/dirt and moisture. Still, I too like the Mantra designs.

[Brock O Lee]

Now that you speak of rust Tdog, I read someone else mentioned that the cut-out on the blade could potentially be an area prone to corrosion. I have to agree, especially for M4. Same with the area between the blade and the plastic bearing cage.

I usually dry the pivot area of my M4 knives after a quick wash by blowing out any moisture from the pivot (lung power). With this hidden cut-out, there isn't an easy way to get into that area, apart from disassembly. If I leave M4 after a rinse to air dry on its own, I often see spots of corrosion develop.

EDIT: You could maybe blow and heat the pivot with a hair dryer, which would cause the moisture to evaporate

[abbazaba]

Now that you speak of rust Tdog, I read someone else mentioned that the cut-out on the blade could potentially be an area prone to corrosion. I have to agree, especially for M4. Same with the area between the blade and the plastic bearing cage.

I usually dry the pivot area of my M4 knives after a quick wash by blowing out any moisture from the pivot (lung power). With this hidden cut-out, there isn't an easy way to get into that area, apart from disassembly. If I leave M4 after a rinse to air dry on its own, I often see spots of corrosion develop.

EDIT: You could maybe blow and heat the pivot with a hair dryer, which would cause the moisture to evaporate

When the knife is fully closed, there is a very small portion of the stop pin cutout exposed through the frame lock:

[JerryIsAlive]

Got my mantra in yesterday. I love it! So lightweight but feels nice in hand. Mine flips open fine most of the time. Flips easier when holding the knife downwards (gravity?). Knife flips open 100% of time when using push button method and facing down. Love the thumbhole

I didn't recall any issues with the flipping smoothness but some posts have me anxious to go hole and check mine out again for bumpiness

[swigert]

My 2 has a little hitch in the giddy up about half way through opening if it's done slow and steady.

I'll try some tug glide and see how it goes, I usually do the tufglise on non stainless anyways. In hoping we get some clarity in the wearing of those washers above.

[abbazaba]

My 2 has a little hitch in the giddy up about half way through opening if it's done slow and steady.

I'll try some tug glide and see how it goes, I usually do the tufglise on non stainless anyways. In hoping we get some clarity in the wearing of those washers above.

I took that pic for this thread about the wear/deformation of the washers: //forum.spyderco.com/viewto ... =2&t=69758" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[spyderg]

As far as the whole internal stop pin and bearings debate goes, I have a Brous Bionic 2.0 with the same system, it makes for a fantastic flipping action and has been very durable for me. Shortly after I first got it, it seemed to develop a touch of up and down play, (lock rock). It was minor and I really didn't feel like shipping it back so i just used the crap out of it and it settled in to perfection and has been that way since. I really like the knife but aesthetically just doesn't quite do it for me, (too much going on) and the clip seems like an afterthought. Enter Mantra... So far, (not even a day yet mind you) I LOVE it! I posted a few quick thoughts and some comparisons in a new thread. My knife feels smooth if a bit "chalky" but no bumpiness. I'm hoping the washers wear well and don't need replacing.

[Art_vandeley]

Man I am longing for the Mantra 2. I can`t wait until a reputable dealer here in Europe gets it for a reasonable price. One of my must haves for 2016.