Cold Steel 4 Max or Spyderco Manix 2 XL ?

JOHNQPUBLIC1957

JOHNQPUBLIC1957

Joined
Jan 26, 2015
Messages
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Looking for a big back up folder knife bilt like a tank for if all else fails. (run out of bullets) Which would you Choose , and why ?
 
I think that is taking the preppers approach a little far...lol

But, out of thos 2, the 4max wins hands down, like was said earlier, be aware of how big it is....its Yuuuge!
 
And to actually answer the question, if you plan to pound the knife through an MRAP, go with the 4Max.

If you plan to actually carry the knife and use it in real life cutting scenarios, get the Spyderco.
 
I own both, two very different knives, plus people that havent owned or handled one don't understand how slicey the 4max actually is. It cuts better than any ZT and can easily be used to cut cardboard and food etc. It just looks like it wouldn't because of it's looks. The Manix is a good knife, big in pocket also, but very prone to side to side play and just nowhere near the same strength league as the 4max, they are worlds apart. The 4max is like a custom AD-10 from Demko but a production version. For a tough backup knife the Cold Steel Recon 1 will beat just about anything out there and is much more comparable to the manix in footprint. I'd carry the Recon over the Manix easily.
 
The manix xl is a different beast vs the regular manix 2. It's so big I rarely carry it. I have kept it just in case I want a tank of a knife and a brick in the pocket.
 
I do not have a Cold Steel 4Max or SR1, and I think I'll be getting the SR1 for sure. The 4Max is nice though too...that big hunk of 20CV. I'm holding out on the 4Max for the Hinderer Fulltrack, which I think may be in 20CV.
 
Mick_1KRR said:
I own both, two very different knives, plus people that havent owned or handled one don't understand how slicey the 4max actually is. It cuts better than any ZT and can easily be used to cut cardboard and food etc. It just looks like it wouldn't because of it's looks. The Manix is a good knife, big in pocket also, but very prone to side to side play and just nowhere near the same strength league as the 4max, they are worlds apart. The 4max is like a custom AD-10 from Demko but a production version. For a tough backup knife the Cold Steel Recon 1 will beat just about anything out there and is much more comparable to the manix in footprint. I'd carry the Recon over the Manix easily.
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I don't own nor have handled the 4 Max , so it'd good to know that it is indeed "slicey" because many of the tank knives ain't . :cool::thumbsup:
 
I own both and carried both and for me the 4Max is a "keeper" only as a curiousity. The exemplar of a certain knife design philosophy taken to its illogical extreme.

It's too big and heavy to pocket, imho, and if you're not going to pocket it then carry a fixed blade.

The Manix XL is a reasonable pocket knife, if still plenty big.
 
I've tried a few bigger folders to fit a niche need. I wear a battle belt under my body armor and a fixed blade just doesn't work; a large folder would. As already mentioned, they are vastly different folders. That said the Manix XL is still a very stout and capable folder; very normal-sized for what I consider a "pocket folder". The blade profile is more EDC-oriented for me; a very good slicer and good tip. The 4Max will carry in my pocket (I even added a deep pocket clip), but it's a bulky folder. As pointed out, it is actually a very good slicer and excellent edge-profile...surprisingly so. It's massive compared to the Manix XL which many people already think is too big for pocket carry. While I typically don't get rid of knives, of the two, the 4Max wouldn't be going anywhere...it fits my niche-role perfectly.





ROCK6
 
19-3ben said:
And to actually answer the question, if you plan to pound the knife through an MRAP, go with the 4Max.

If you plan to actually carry the knife and use it in real life cutting scenarios, get the Spyderco.
Click to expand...

Agree with this.
A nice compromise between theses two might be the Recon 1. Stonger than the Manix xl (which is a nice knife), but much lighter and more easily carried than the 4 Max.
 
Mick_1KRR said:
I own both, two very different knives, plus people that havent owned or handled one don't understand how slicey the 4max actually is. It cuts better than any ZT and can easily be used to cut cardboard and food etc. It just looks like it wouldn't because of it's looks. The Manix is a good knife, big in pocket also, but very prone to side to side play and just nowhere near the same strength league as the 4max, they are worlds apart. The 4max is like a custom AD-10 from Demko but a production version. For a tough backup knife the Cold Steel Recon 1 will beat just about anything out there and is much more comparable to the manix in footprint. I'd carry the Recon over the Manix easily.
Click to expand...
Totally agree.
Didn't t read this before I posted above.
I ve never handled the 4 Max, as my local knive store quit carrying Cold Steel for some reason. My need for a folder that size and strength doen t justify the price I d pay. But I bet it s a great tank of a knife.
 
Mick_1KRR said:
I own both, two very different knives, plus people that havent owned or handled one don't understand how slicey the 4max actually is. It cuts better than any ZT
Click to expand...

Lolwut? I'm a big Cold Steel fan, but I have to call BS.

I regularly carry a ZT 0770, a great knife that has a 3mm thick blade that is also very thin behind the edge, at least for a ZT. Fact-checking your statement above that the 4max with it's 50% thicker blade will out-cut any ZT, we find your claim to be:

FALSE. Untrue. Like true, except the opposite.
 
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