Educate a Benchmade fan on the Spyderco Manix?

H

heekma

Joined
Jul 2, 2010
Messages
226
Howdy folks,

Although I still like Benchmades, I'm branching out, itching to try something new.

I like beefy folders, and the Manix looks the business for me--thing is, it seems like there's been some evolutions and changes over time. Can anybody enlighten me on the nuances?

Are older versions sturdier in some way? Do newer versions have something the older ones lack? Have all Manixes been made in Golden?

Thanks for any and all info folks, looking forward to adding a spider to my little collection of butterflies.;)

Best,

Heekma
 
hey heekma,
i'm no expert, but what i do know is that the older versions had the backlock and ffg blades. there may have been different steels used, but i'm not sure.
the mini was more like the manix 2 in size, but also a backlock with a ffg.
the manix 2 has the ball bearing lock, kinda like the axis lock.
the regular production m2 has a saber grind blade of 154cm.
the sprint runs have different steels and are ffg.
there are others here who can be more specific about the details.

hope this helps!
later,
don
 
heekma said:
Howdy folks,

Although I still like Benchmades, I'm branching out, itching to try something new.

I like beefy folders, and the Manix looks the business for me--thing is, it seems like there's been some evolutions and changes over time. Can anybody enlighten me on the nuances?

Are older versions sturdier in some way? Do newer versions have something the older ones lack? Have all Manixes been made in Golden?

Thanks for any and all info folks, looking forward to adding a spider to my little collection of butterflies.;)

Best,

Heekma
Click to expand...

I'll do my best to answer your questions. The older Manix knives were all lockbacks, the current Manix 2 is a caged ball lock, similar to an axis lock. The old manixes came in a couple different sizes. The Manix 2 is about as big as the old mini-manix. The biggest difference between the Manix and Manix 2 is the lock. I don't own an original Manix so i can't say for any other functional differences.

They are all made in Golden CO, USA Earth.

The Manix 2 has been out for a year or so and it has had some subtle changes. The back spacer material has changed and some subtle changes to the lock are coming in future runs.

I own 2 Manix 2s, both are limited edition sprint runs. One in blue g-10 with full flat ground S30v steel and the other in foliage green g-10 with full flat ground CTS-XHP steel. The standard production Manix 2 has 154CM steel with a saber grind and black g-10. The original Manix were all full flat ground i believe.

I think you might get better responses if you post in the spyderco sub forum. I'm by no means an expert on the Manix but i sure do love it.
 
I believe that Spyderco has released another run of the Manix2 with foliage green G-10 and CTS-XHP steel in FFG. I think that's the one to get. It's a solid knife and a great EDC choice.
If you are looking to expand your horizons within the Spyderco line, take a serious look at the Paramilitary 2. Black G-10, nested, skeletonized liners and FFG S30V. It's my primary EDC and a great, great knife. It features the compression lock which is also a very strong design.
 
I love my Manix. Back lock and FFG S30v. It's a bad ass knife. Good ergonomics also. Mine is set for tip up.:thumbup:
 
If you're a fan of the axis lock, I think you'll enjoy the cage ball lock on the Manix-2. I prefer it to the axis lock by a long shot - the axis lock on my Presidio got gummed up like crazy with pocket lint, the omega springs kept breaking, and it was a real bugger to operate if any sand or fouling got into the mechanism. I haven't had any of those problems with the cage ball lock - that thing's like the friggin' energizer bunny - and it seems to function very similarly to the axis lock, practically speaking.
 
Thanks so much for the info folks, it's much appreciated. Doing a search for "Manix" is like doing a search for any popular model from any manufacturer--tons of posts to wade through--enjoyable and educational--but not always strictly productive.

So it seems other than switching from lock back to compression lock as well as various steels, the basic size, shape, thickness of the blade, liners, etc. have been unchanged? What about the Manix, Mini Manix and Manix 2 business? Was the original Manix larger than the later versions?

Has there been a liner lock version made or just the lock back and ball lock?

How about those dual choils--one at the base of the blade, the other at the head of the scales? Looks like a person could really choke up on their grip for a little extra oomph and control when needed.

I have to admit--I see all that gimping...and I like it. Is it rough in actual use?

Thanks again folks,

Heekma
 
Hiya Heekma,

The Manix series are great knives. I've owned a Manix 2 in S90V with CF scales and thought it was a keeper...until the original owner wanted it back and gave ME a good deal for it...now THAT was a first. With the high flat grind and the dual jimping, mixed with a very strong locking mechanism I'd give it your consideration.

Cheers,
Joe
 
This is why Spyderco done us dirt by stealing the name of the one and only true Manix. The Manix 2 is no more a Manix than the Mustang II is a Mustang.

The real Manix is a big, powerful lockback with a full flat grind that is a pure cutting machine. If that's not what you want, look elsewhere. When the real Manix first came out, people on the forum went nuts because it was so good. But it is big. And it is wide, so it fills the pocket.

For whatever reason, it didn't sell well enough to the general public for Spyderco, and it came up with the not-really-a-Manix Manix 2, which is a different knife. It should have a different name.
 
Hmm, you might want to look for a bigger knife if you're into "beefy". It might just be because I have big hands, but the Manix 2 felt more like a mid-sized EDC to me. And Ankerson's hard use test didn't exactly inspire confidence if one were to contemplate whittling a large tree branch with it.

The ZT 0350CB also left me the impression of "not quite there yet". The handle felt too short, the liner lock left my thumb sore if I kept opening and closing it, and the blade had the common problem of finding that "sweet spot" which would leave minimal blade play while still allowing for smooth opening with the flipper.

The ZT 0301 met all of my unreasonable needs with a handle that filled my hands completely, a blade that opens with smoothness you wouldn't believe(yet still had zero blade play), and a titanium framelock that's easy to unlock(and would leave no doubt as to how solid it is).

If the keywords are "beefy" and "sturdy", Zero Tolerance fits the bill nicely.

That is not to say that the Manix 2 is bad, just that it's more of a medium use EDC rather than hard use.
 
Manix2 feels solid, and is probably solid enough to handle anything you put your BM through on a regular basis. May want to wait a couple of months before picking one up, as they're modifying the lock slightly for more strength.

Try out the knife before you buy. I personally liked it but did not buy one (Waiting for XHP sprint, which then ran out on me ><) Ergos are really the biggest part of any knife, especially a Spyderco. Once you get it in hand you'll know for sure whether you want it or not.

Check pivot bushing as well. Pro-super smooth, con-if not properly put together (or ground down) there can be side-to-side play.
 
The dual choils are nice. The one in the back is for keeping your knife on the blade in really hard use -- the one in the front will keep you comfortable during fine detail work. I like the gimping -- it's aggressive enough for retaining your grip but not too rough to be user friendly.

As others have mentioned -- the ball bearing lock is fairly similar to the axis lock. Overall I would say that the caged ball bearing lock is a superior design; it's an extremely strong lock -- you can't apply enough force to break the lock without first destroying the knife (and remember that the knife is made from g10 slabs and full thickness stainless liners, heavy backspacers, etc.) -- and the lock is also self adjusting along the vertical axis. If you develop some left right wobble over time you can always adjust the pivot and correct it -- but, additionally -- the design of the lock is such that the ball bearing will just wear into the blade rather than develop vertical play (which is otherwise a big pain in the ass to correct). I never used my bencmades to the point where they developed uncorrectable vertical play -- but I know it was a problem that some people encountered on roughly used Cold Steel knives with the same lock.

In my experience the caged ball bearing locks on the Manix 2 is a little stiffer than the axis lock, or the caged ball bearing lock on the p'kal; it isn't as butter-smooth to operate, or as fun to flick open inertially while feathering the spring. It has no problem deploying with any standard thumb-hole opening though, so I don't hold it against the knife in any practical sense.

As a 'user' blade for someone who wants a premium factory made sub four inch folder I think the Manix 2 is on the top of my short list. For a knife afficinado I also think it's attractive -- especially since Spyderco keeps coming out with affordable sprint run versions in exotic high end steels.
 
Twindog said:
This is why Spyderco done us dirt by stealing the name of the one and only true Manix. The Manix 2 is no more a Manix than the Mustang II is a Mustang.

The real Manix is a big, powerful lockback with a full flat grind that is a pure cutting machine. If that's not what you want, look elsewhere. When the real Manix first came out, people on the forum went nuts because it was so good. But it is big. And it is wide, so it fills the pocket.

For whatever reason, it didn't sell well enough to the general public for Spyderco, and it came up with the not-really-a-Manix Manix 2, which is a different knife. It should have a different name.
Click to expand...

+1:thumbup:
 
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