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Pros: Blade Sharpness, Ease of Opening, Handle Feel, Handle Material, Lock Ease of Use, Lock Type, Overall Quality, Pocket Clip, Weight
Cons: None
Brilliant Budget EDC!
While it's certainly possible to find more knife for the money these days (either in terms of size or improved blade steel), what you're not going to find anywhere else is a design like the Mantra 4. This is 100% Spyderco, and if you're a fan of theirs, you already know what I mean. Excellent ergonomics, smack in the Goldilocks zone for EDC for the majority of people (~3.3" blade, 7.5" OAL), lightweight, economic construction methods, flawless execution of the design. Well done once again, Spyderco! Comes out of the box as sharp as 8Cr13MoV can possibly become. Its ~1.8 ounce weight is immediately noticeable. They accomplish this by using reasonably thin blade stock (2.2mm) and allowing the G10 scale on the left side to perform structural duty, leaving out the liner entirely on that side. Spacers between the scales are thoughtfully spaced to prevent any flexing. The G10 used is the visually attractive peel-ply style. Extremely comfortable in the hand. Jimped thumb ramp. The unusually small flipper works better than one would expect given the design, with the very end of the flipper performing double duty as the liner lock interface. This leaves a somewhat sharp spot for your finger to deal with (not a huge deal), and it does leave the blade's lock interface exposed to potential drop damage, but I think the odds of such a thing are fairly slim. Take care of your knives and they will take care of you! The iconic Spyderco reverse flick is easier to perform with the left hand on the Mantra 4, as there is a cutout on the left side of the frame to allow access to the liner lock, which also allows the left middle finger more purchase for deployment. Though it is far from impossible to flick from the right hand, using the right thumb is easier. Reversible wire pocket clip, lanyard hole with bushing. Overall, a very lithe, lightweight, and well thought-out EDC, very close to perfect for the job, in my opinion. The only thing I would like to see in the future is a model of the Mantra 4 in a blade steel with improved edge retention. While 8Cr13MoV is an excellent economical choice for most people, S30V, S90V, or S110V would work PERFECTLY on this design. That said, I am seldom happier with a knife purchase.