D'allera Drop Point, poor man's Manix?

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kgriggs8

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The D'allera seems like such a well built and beefy knife, can it compeat against the superb Manix? I know the Manix is flat ground so it is going to have an edge in slicing but for hard use, can the D'allera make a less expensive alternative?

I have owned a Manix and I am getting another one soon. I own a D'allera Rescue and I am so impressed with the build quality that I think the drop point would be almost as stong as the Manix.

Just wondering if anyone owns both and can give a side by comparison.
 
It's definitely built....and about half-off. Now, whatever grind they use on the d`allara is vicious...at least mine was...my d`allara was significantly sharper than my very sharp para and dodo...
 
The D'Allara has been the 'Manix killer' in my collection. When I've been working around the house or helping the fire team do community clean up/build fences etc - anywhere I've anticipated some heavy duty work, I've packed the D'Allara and a multi tool.

It's advantages over the Manix IMHO are:

1) Easier carry - lighter and thinner

2) Less scary looking to NKP's (Non Knife People) helped by it's tool like appearance

3) Convex ground VG-10 is easier to put a wicked sharp edge on for me. The S30V manix takes a lot of work and time that I don't always have.
 
I was drawn to the D'Allara Drop Point until I got a good look at a picture of one and saw what looks to me like a weak, chintzy amount of metal joining the blade to the pivot. Am I being too picky?

I also am not crazy about the very pointy area that the thumb ramp becomes when the knife is closed. Perhaps it's designed as an impact-weapon point (like the Gunting has) but I don't know if it has metal reinforcing it, as I have not handled the knife in person.

I love the use of the Ball Bearing Lock, and I like the blade shape, but I don't like those two features I mentioned. I have a lot of fun waiting for the day when ALL the features and peculiarities I do like come together and coalesce into one fine, all-purpose Spyderco knife, though. :D

-Jeffrey
 
Well, don't get me wrong, it's a terrible knife when closed, at least, for EDC stuff...I traded mine because there was just no way I could make it feasable on my college campus. However, there are a ton of people that do EDC manixes, and if they can do that, they can certainly EDC the d`allara...I'm just not one of those huge folder guys.

Of course, atlernatively, there are some designers that can make a pretty large knife very carryable, (and some that make small knives really big when closed--spyderco dodo comes to mind), such as my Blue Bump.

Spydercos seem to be designed just for the open position...this may be why they're so comfortable across the board.
 
Yeah, how ridiculously huge and ugly it is closed is what has kept me away from it. I just bought one for my cousin for his birthday, though. I can't wait to handle it.
 
There are certainly some spydercos that are better closed than others. The new delica and endura, for example, have a significant amount of exposed sharp metal when closed. Other knives like the calypso, rescue, and native are as nice open as they are closed.

- Chris
 
I've also been put off by its looks, but once I get to handle one I'll probably be converted. And I so want to be converted... ;)
 
Really? I rather find it to be one of the most attractive FRN knives...the scales look somehow higher quality than other FRN stuff, but that might just be in my head. The VG10 Native had the same pattern on its scales, and I thought it looked a bit cheap, but on the d`allara....it looks pretty good. I think the FRN also appears better than normal because of the mass and solidarity of the knive. When you hold it, you're holding a ballsy knife, plastic or not, and you don't doubt it.
 
I find my D'allara really sturdy, and incredibly easy to flip open. The only downsides are the bulk in the pocket (better have wide pockets) and the jagged metal edge when closed. I've caught that a few times. The ball bearing isn't nearly as easy to close as the axis (though nothing i've handled is), but it's fairly easy to close one handed. For the money i think it's a great heavy duty knife that fits my hand really well.
R
 
If you've got the pocket space, the d`allara should be the easy choice. The delica/endura is a great knife, but in my mind was specifically designed for thinness needs. When you handle the d`allara, you'll know there were no compromises made on it for anything but actual cutting.
 
Strangly ever since it arrived the DP D'Allara has seen more EDC then any other Spyderco i own. I don't know why but i just love it.
 
I second what Artfully Martial said. The edge geometry on the DDP is much better than on the endura. That said, I carry the endura but largely because of the ease of carry and the fact that I think the DDP is consitered a switchblade in new mexico.

- Chris
 
I got last week my D'Allara DP. It's a great folder, razor-sharp VG-10 blade, BB lock, smooth opening, a real worker. But I feel it's more a Native-beater than a (Mini) Manix-rival.
Quality/value: Native III < D'Allara DP < (Mini) Manix. (This is only my opinion.)
 
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