Does the Manix have blade play?

Mitchell Knives

Mitchell Knives

Knifemaker
Moderator
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
May 21, 2000
Messages
6,250
I'm thinking about picking up a Manix this weekend at the gun show. I had the chance to handle one, and it seems like a great blade. For those of you who already own one, does your knife exhibit any blade play? The Chinook II in my collection has a tiny bit of vertical play that you can feel but not see. Is this the norm for the Manix also?
 
ElectricZombie said:
I'm thinking about picking up a Manix this weekend at the gun show. I had the chance to handle one, and it seems like a great blade. For those of you who already own one, does your knife exhibit any blade play? The Chinook II in my collection has a tiny bit of vertical play that you can feel but not see. Is this the norm for the Manix also?
Click to expand...

I believe it is. I have handled a few and all had the blade play. You couldn't see it, just feel it.
 
PB washers version. they're thicker than the previous washers so it puts some space between the tang of the blade and the handle but no blade play at all.
the Manix is a great knife, worth trying! :)
 
Senate said:
PB washers version. they're thicker than the previous washers so it puts some space between the tang of the blade and the handle but no blade play at all.
the Manix is a great knife, worth trying! :)
Click to expand...

I wonder if the updated manix w/ PB washers helps with the play?

Don't get me wrong, every Manix I have seen locks up like a vault. You could just feel some play, which I thought was inherent to the lock.

Anyway, sounds like time to take a second look.
 
If I push down with the tip of mine on a hard surface I can feel a little vertical blade play. It only bothers me because I am OCD about such things.
 
Mine doesn't have any blade play at all either. I picked mine up almost as soon as they came out. Does that mean that mine doesn't have PB washers?
 
I think I remember Sal Glesser saying that a tiny blade play is inherent in every front lock...
 
Senate said:
I think I remember Sal Glesser saying that a tiny blade play is inherent in every front lock...
Click to expand...
I think I remember hearing that.

The odd thing is that I have 2 Enduras, a Merlin and a Delica that have ZERO blade play. It seems like these cheaper models would certainly have blade play, but they don't. It must be possible to have a secure lockback with zero blade play, just not the norm.
 
it really depends on how you test a knife for blade play, I consider that a knife is ok when you feel no blade play holding the blade by the hole (or whatever opening system) while shaking the handle. but if you hold the blade by the tip, you increase the force on the pivot and you can definitely detect a tiny blade play, same thing if you stuck the tip in a hard surface...
 
Senate said:
it really depends on how you test a knife for blade play, I consider that a knife is ok when you feel no blade play holding the blade by the hole (or whatever opening system) while shaking the handle. but if you hold the blade by the tip, you increase the force on the pivot and you can definitely detect a tiny blade play, same thing if you stuck the tip in a hard surface...
Click to expand...

I agree. If I take my new Manix w/PB washers, and firmly hold the tip of tghe blade, and yank it up and down pretty hard, then yes, there's an almost undetectable amount of movement. Is that play? Maybe, but it's certainly not excessive play, and it doesn't affect the function or integrity of the lock.
 
KeithAM said:
I agree. If I take my new Manix w/PB washers, and firmly hold the tip of tghe blade, and yank it up and down pretty hard, then yes, there's an almost undetectable amount of movement. Is that play? Maybe, but it's certainly not excessive play, and it doesn't affect the function or integrity of the lock.
Click to expand...
I agree. It seems as though some Manix users are reporting ZERO movement though.
 
Every Spyderco lockback I have ever owned has had just a bit of blade play where the blade and lock lifted up slightly when pushed down to cut with it. I've just come to expect it in the lock backs from Spyderco.

Seems like I remember Sal writing somewhere that in their own tests the locks that had just a very slight bit of play like this actually proved to be stronger but I do not remember where I read this or exactly why it is the case. Perhaps he'll see this and refresh my memory.

Both my Chinook and my Manix had this type of play. On one occassion I thought it was too much on an old Delica and sent it back and it was replaced.

My Endura, Delicas, CJ, Native, and Scorpious all had a slight bit of play also.
 
I went ahead and ordered a Manix from New Graham. (Also picked up another Military; my 3rd.) They examined my Manix, and said that it did not have any play. We will see. I know that the slight wiggle is nothing to worry about, but my OCD won't let me completely forget about it. Maybe I have OKD; obsessive knife disorder.
 
ElectricZombie said:
I went ahead and ordered a Manix from New Graham. (Also picked up another Military; my 3rd.) They examined my Manix, and said that it did not have any play. We will see. I know that the slight wiggle is nothing to worry about, but my OCD won't let me completely forget about it. Maybe I have OKD; obsessive knife disorder.
Click to expand...

we'll wait for your review then... ;)
 
What greases my gopher is my Byrd Flight and Meadowlark are perfect. They have zero blade play. They are perfect for $20!!! :confused: How is it that a Manix that cost 5 times as much has blade play?
 
My Manix seems to have develeoped less blade play over time. It started with vertical play that I could feel if I pulled the blade hard up and down, now it's almost undetectable. I wonder if it is possible for a lock to 'wear in' like that?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top