A lot of weird decisions and side stepping from the original design that I don’t understand.
Anyway , s30v is still an excellent steel for everyday use , that’s just the steel snobs talking. I can’t wait until companies start using it on their budget knives like they did with D2..
It has 1 important design flaw IMHO: the compression lock tab position. They could have placed it half an inch away from the current location, distancing it from the pivot (just the finger tab). It would solve 2 problems: the flipper tab wouldn’t hit the finger when closing and the blade wouldn’t need the recurve.
IT WAS ME! I’m the steel snob. I got into the knife hobby from the science hobby, the interesting new steels is half the reason I’m here. Do you need it? No. But you need more than one or two knives? Also, no. Let me like what I like.
Sal and eric themselves must personally dislike strong detents. Spyderco is for sure my favorite knife makers, so I’m not bashing for the sake of it, but at this point it seems intentional. Time after time they release these knives with weak detents in a market that has a very clear preference for stronger detents, especially in flipper knives, a part of the market they’re only recently trying to enter. I’d really love to see them just go out and fix this across the board. It just seems like nothing is stopping them but their own resistance to it. It’s a small detail, but an important one I think they need to listen to the consumer about.
This knife is everything I expected the Para 3 to be (and it isn’t). Flipper. S30V. Bearings. Carbon fiber. Deep carry. Compression lock. Thin and light. BIG THUMBS UP! My favorite spyderco ever.
Lack of a finger choil where it totally should have one makes it a no-buy for me. Besides, Spyderco already made the Chaparral. A great EDC option from them, IMO.
I love mine, but did 2 mods to make it better. (1) Enlarge the detent hole on the blade with a diamont drill bit, just enough to make the detent ball sit a little deeper on the blade (only about 10% not sitting inside), causing it to flip much better 100% of the time using a light switch motion on the flipper tab. (2) Round edges on the compression lock to make it a little easier on the fingers, when holding it on the corner.
I can’t agree that a compression lock is lefty-friendly. Even a liner lock is easier to close with the left hand, while the compression lock is nigh impossible to close one-handed. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t have particularly big or weird hands.
This knife really feels like a step backwards to me in steel handle material construction everything and then to have the ugly blade and poor detent on top of that it’s just not for me. I feel all of Spydercos knew releases accept the techno 2 are just kind of yawners. Like they went kinda too far with the whole compression lock thing and the cf/g10 thing is just getting old.
I wish they kept the M4 and titanium. Those, along with the aggressive grind, were what made the original Mantra stand out from knives like the Sage 5 and Para 3. Maybe the Mantra 3 could’ve had the new ball bearings, some internal handle milling, and a finer blade finish. Instead, this seems less like Constant Quality Improvement and more like making this cheaper.
IMO the carbon fiber/g10 scales the taichung plant does just feel too hollow and plastic. the texture really isnt that great, would really prefer straight up ti or slab cf like what zt does. or if they’re gonna do g10 then just make the whole thing g10
My complaint about buying a mantra or at least having a spyderco flipper since I love my delica 4 so much and just got into the knife hobby is that, it’s like another delica… After buying my ruike p801 I love flippers since they’re really fun to fidget and satisfying to deploy. But sadly because of the resemblance of the delica I opted to get another brand that’s different for my really small collection and ended up getting a ZT 0450cf but thanks to your review, for a more affordable mantra line, the mantra 3 for 150 sounds reasonable for me down the line!
I’m waiting to see your review of the Brouwer! I don’t have any reason to get a knife like that in that price range, but something about it speaks to me. Your video will have a lot of weight in whether or not I buy it!
Great review. While I haven’t handled this particular one yet, it seems like another spyderco that just doesn’t fit my hand, they are always so thin that when I have to do anything like cutting cardboard or wood regularly they give big hot spots vs like a wider minigrip or griptilian. I love spyderco blade shapes but can’t do the thinness.
I hate and love my mantra because the pivot stripped itself out and spiderco wont send me a new one…. so now my action is horrible and the bearings are useless. Of course i cant send it to spiderco for repair because I opened the knife to friggin clean it and add oil!!!
A lot of weird decisions and side stepping from the original design that I don’t understand.
Anyway , s30v is still an excellent steel for everyday use , that’s just the steel snobs talking. I can’t wait until companies start using it on their budget knives like they did with D2..
Unnecessary recurve is unnecessary
Sorry but compared to the amalgam this is so blah
It has 1 important design flaw IMHO: the compression lock tab position. They could have placed it half an inch away from the current location, distancing it from the pivot (just the finger tab). It would solve 2 problems: the flipper tab wouldn’t hit the finger when closing and the blade wouldn’t need the recurve.
I agree not a fan of the red curve guess it was nessacary as you described, I wouldn’t pay 150$ for that particular knife.
IT WAS ME! I’m the steel snob. I got into the knife hobby from the science hobby, the interesting new steels is half the reason I’m here. Do you need it? No. But you need more than one or two knives? Also, no. Let me like what I like.
Spyderco Flababble rofl!
Nice review.. thanks for sharing
I agree, don’t get the hate on s30v. I prefer it over s35vn. I’m glad it’s became the std steel over 154cm.
Slipstones with a rounded edge will take care of the recurve
Sal and eric themselves must personally dislike strong detents. Spyderco is for sure my favorite knife makers, so I’m not bashing for the sake of it, but at this point it seems intentional. Time after time they release these knives with weak detents in a market that has a very clear preference for stronger detents, especially in flipper knives, a part of the market they’re only recently trying to enter. I’d really love to see them just go out and fix this across the board. It just seems like nothing is stopping them but their own resistance to it. It’s a small detail, but an important one I think they need to listen to the consumer about.
Cessna 208 review??
Wait..
I thought we were playing this game.
Kizer vangard mini sheepdog
not a fan of the blade shape
Greetings, Nicholas.
From the States
I actually do really like the look of this! Great review as always!
Nick now that you’ve had some time and have seen it’s younger brother, have your thoughts on the Mantra 1 changed at all?
If you push button it, it’s hard to mess up. After you carry it for a couple weeks it grows on ya.
Hey, don’t forget to have an absolutely wonderful rest of *your* day too
Love my Mantra 3. My hope is they do sprint runs in different steels with it.
This knife is everything I expected the Para 3 to be (and it isn’t). Flipper. S30V. Bearings. Carbon fiber. Deep carry. Compression lock. Thin and light. BIG THUMBS UP! My favorite spyderco ever.
Lack of a finger choil where it totally should have one makes it a no-buy for me. Besides, Spyderco already made the Chaparral. A great EDC option from them, IMO.
Not my favorite Spydie I’ve seen, but I wouldn’t kick it out of bed for eating crackers.
The recurve kills it for me. I was really looking forward to this knife, but that blade is a dealbreaker.
That is one pretty knife
Now I want a Spyderco Ferblabble.
It weighs 2.89 inches?
I love mine, but did 2 mods to make it better. (1) Enlarge the detent hole on the blade with a diamont drill bit, just enough to make the detent ball sit a little deeper on the blade (only about 10% not sitting inside), causing it to flip much better 100% of the time using a light switch motion on the flipper tab. (2) Round edges on the compression lock to make it a little easier on the fingers, when holding it on the corner.
Rather than make silly knives like this, wouldn’t it be better to just make a halfted, deeper-carry PM 2?
I can’t agree that a compression lock is lefty-friendly. Even a liner lock is easier to close with the left hand, while the compression lock is nigh impossible to close one-handed. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t have particularly big or weird hands.
I want a PM2 or PARA 3 with that clip! We all do! Just do it Eric!!
Oops meant to say recurve
In my opinion the mantra 3 is nothing but steps back from the original. Really disappointed in this one, Spyderco.
This knife really feels like a step backwards to me in steel handle material construction everything and then to have the ugly blade and poor detent on top of that it’s just not for me. I feel all of Spydercos knew releases accept the techno 2 are just kind of yawners. Like they went kinda too far with the whole compression lock thing and the cf/g10 thing is just getting old.
I wish they kept the M4 and titanium. Those, along with the aggressive grind, were what made the original Mantra stand out from knives like the Sage 5 and Para 3. Maybe the Mantra 3 could’ve had the new ball bearings, some internal handle milling, and a finer blade finish. Instead, this seems less like Constant Quality Improvement and more like making this cheaper.
Nice. Can you review the Off Grid OG-950- Cleaver?
So if I am looking for syderco flipper, I should wait for the Spyderco Kevin Smock? Like stright edge, choi, nd the flipper tab is out of the way?
IMO the carbon fiber/g10 scales the taichung plant does just feel too hollow and plastic. the texture really isnt that great, would really prefer straight up ti or slab cf like what zt does. or if they’re gonna do g10 then just make the whole thing g10
I watched your entire review video with my head tilted so that the grid on your mat is straight.
My complaint about buying a mantra or at least having a spyderco flipper since I love my delica 4 so much and just got into the knife hobby is that, it’s like another delica… After buying my ruike p801 I love flippers since they’re really fun to fidget and satisfying to deploy. But sadly because of the resemblance of the delica I opted to get another brand that’s different for my really small collection and ended up getting a ZT 0450cf but thanks to your review, for a more affordable mantra line, the mantra 3 for 150 sounds reasonable for me down the line!
I’m waiting to see your review of the Brouwer! I don’t have any reason to get a knife like that in that price range, but something about it speaks to me. Your video will have a lot of weight in whether or not I buy it!
Great review. While I haven’t handled this particular one yet, it seems like another spyderco that just doesn’t fit my hand, they are always so thin that when I have to do anything like cutting cardboard or wood regularly they give big hot spots vs like a wider minigrip or griptilian. I love spyderco blade shapes but can’t do the thinness.
I hate and love my mantra because the pivot stripped itself out and spiderco wont send me a new one…. so now my action is horrible and the bearings are useless. Of course i cant send it to spiderco for repair because I opened the knife to friggin clean it and add oil!!!
You and that damn delica lol