Does Spyderco's ball bearing lock break in?

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irona

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May 24, 2016
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Edit - not compression lock, ball bearing lock.
This is my first experience with Spyderco and with the ball bearing lock. I just got a Manix 2 LW from Manatnoit on the pay it forward thread, and I love it. I was expecting the lock to function like an axis lock, which it does, but the one on mine is a whole lot stiffer and harder to unlock than on my minigrip (which, to be fair, I've had for a few years and has broken in by now). It still works fine and actually feels more secure than an axis lock but sometimes I can't get it to close on the first or second try. Does the ball bearing lock get easier to unlock as it gets broken in?
 
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The Manix uses a caged ball bearing lock, not a compression lock. It will break in but even then it probably wont be quite as easy to manipulate as the axis. They're very similar but still different animals.
 
The BBL is NOT an A is lock and will never be as easy to manipulate.....but it will break in and smooth up a bit.
It is a great lock, just don't expect it to be an Axis lock.
I have 5 Manix 2s. All of them were pretty tight out of the box. Every one of them is now a free dropper and easy to open and close one handed!
Just keep flicking away!!!
Joe
 
My LW takes considerable force on both sides. I don't think it will ever lighten up. It really needs just a tiny bit of spring snipped off (or a slightly smaller gauge spring), but the scales are riveted, so that's not an option. I really purchased it with a buttery smooth Axis in mind. Still a good knife. I just decided that the blade for me in that size range is the PM2. Talk about buttery smooth. [emoji41]. My blue Manix 2 LW got carried for about 2 days, then got put on the shelf. It may still get used sometime, but for now, there are just too many other blades that ring all my bells.







•••••••••••••••

Sent from my mind....using Tap-a-Thought. (tm)
 
I've had my Manix 2 Sprint (CTS-XHP) for two and a half years. It is not an axis lock, but much easier than new to open.

It is a much stronger than the axis. It's a thick coiled spring, vs the thin omega springs of the axis.

Sent via pony express
 
About two weeks ago, I got a translucent blue Manix 2 lightweight CTS BD1. It's my first Manix 2. The lock was indeed a tad stiff for the first couple of days, but I loved it so much that I just kept playing with it. It has broken in considerably already. Btw, I think this knife is pretty awesome and so very light. I don't even notice it in my pocket. It was between this and the Native for me. I like the steel on the Native, and I liked the price and size on this Manix 2. I'll probably get the Native eventually, but I'm really digging this Manix 2. [emoji4] Have fun playing with it and working the lock!


Alex
 
Yep, what everyone else has basically said the CBBL lock on the Manix is similar to an axis lock but also very different. Aside from differences in the lock itself, the CBBL has a stronger spring and requires use of your thumb on one side and a finger on the other side. I have both and like both but I tend to carry the Manix more than my mini grip or sequel
 
Pretty much what was said previously. The axis lock and ball bearing lock are two completely different systems, with the axis lock using round omega springs to push a bar into the blade tang and holding it there with mild pressure, while the ball bearing lock uses a single strong spring that jams a ball bearing into the blade tang with much more force. There are other differences to both lock types, but that's the gist of it. Just by design and the major differences in spring tension, the axis lock will always be smoother and easier to disengage than the ball bearing lock.
 
grownstar said:
As long as you understand this key difference, you'll be good to go.
Click to expand...

That was the first thing I noticed when I inspected the lock. It feels like it will last forever without breaking, which is nice - even though I never had any problems with the spring breaking or feeling like it'll break on my minigrip.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
i have had two manix 2's over the last two years of witch i still own one,the spring seems to brake in in time,along with its blade-tang where the ball barring rides,making it easy to operate then when new out of the box,and i have never had a problem with its lock system.
 
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