Has Manix 2 Been Improved By Spyderco (proof please) Since Hard Use Video?

D

digital9ja

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Feb 4, 2007
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Wow, I have weeded through more jack-assed opinions and worthless posts tonight than I ever care to see again for the rest of my life.

Basically, I was going to buy a plain-jane Manix 2. Then I saw this video:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xdJUhgwrWQ

Now it seems like the Manix 2 completely sucks and is not anything that I would want to waste my hard-earned money on nor be embarrassed to carry and have fail on me at some point.

The only damn thing I want to know, and BE SURE OF, is did Spyderco actually improve the locking mechanism since that video was posted? I find the original poster of that video to have done a great job in testing the knife, but a terrible job in updating his video comments if indeed Spyderco fixed the problems that are revealed in that test.

Please don't be confused. I don't want your _opinion_ of the Manix 2. I have read more useless opinions tonight that I ever wanted to. I just want a simple answer. In fact, I wrote Spyderco directly to try and get a straight answer about this, but I wonder if they'll actually give me one.

As it stands I'm just ready to throw my hands up and buy a Cold Steel Mini Recon1 when they finally come out. If I get impatient I'll just buy a CS Mini American Lawman. I'm trying to give Spyderco a chance. It seems impossible to find a straight answer about whether Spyderco improved the cbbl since that video/hard use test was performed. I would be MOST appreciative if anyone could help me cut through the fat and get right to something concrete here, either from the original hard use tester, this guy jankerson, or something officially released by Spyderco themselves.

I hope you all can understand my frustration, I've been weeding through pages and pages of comments at both youtube.com and here on bf.com under the "Spyderco Manix 2 and Benchmade Griptillian - Next 2 test knives" thread. I think I'm about 2/3 of the way through the 600 replies and I can't stand to read anymore senseless bickering and nonsense. It's crazy!

Anyway, just hoping for some simple help. I really hope the trolls don't chime in and ruin this post or I guess I'll just close it. Hopefully I can just get a straight, simple "yes or no" answer...did Spyderco improve this thing since the video? Where's the proof?

Thanks,

Steve
 
I would stay away clearly flawed as shown in one YouTube vid.
 
Yes, they did. Below are two relevant posts Sal Glesser made on the Spyderco forum. The first is from 2010 (in the main thread discussing the YouTube video), the second is from 2011 (in a later thread inquiring about whether any changes were made):

Sal Glesser said:
It [the overstrike test] is not a test that we have used or for which we have engineered as we've not encountered the question. Now that we have studied the situation, we decided that we will make the necessary changes to the design to withstand that type of abuse. We have come up with 4 somewhat small changes that we feel will provide the protection needed. We won't know for a couple of days the results of those mods.

sal
Click to expand...

Sal Glesser said:
I don't think that you will be able to see the changes. They are adjustments to the length of travel that the ball can make. These adjustments will be made as a rolling change.

sal
Click to expand...
 
Wow, I have weeded through more jack-assed opinions and worthless posts tonight than I ever care to see again for the rest of my life.

Basically, I was going to buy a plain-jane Manix 2. Then I saw this video:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xdJUhgwrWQ

Now it seems like the Manix 2 completely sucks and is not anything that I would want to waste my hard-earned money on nor be embarrassed to carry and have fail on me at some point.
Click to expand...

1. So since none of us work for Spyderco, I guess you'll have to settle with jackassed opinions and worthless posts.
2. If you think the Manix 2 sucks, do yourself a favor and don't buy it. You seem the type to have preconceived notions based on one video.
3. The video you're basing your jackassed opinion on has been discussed many many many times. I'd trust Sal who has repeatedly discussed it.

I hope you all can understand my frustration,
Click to expand...

Dude, it's a knife. Not a very expensive one either vs. others. Relax, you'll enjoy collecting more.
 
It seems as if you've already made your decision from the comments in your original post. As stated above unless Sal posts in here it'll all be opinions.
 
The way I see it you have three options.
1. You can take Sal's word that it's been corrected, buy one and use it like you stole it! ;)
2. You can buy one and test it yourself and see if it breaks.
3. You can just buy a Tri-Ad lock since its proven its self to be arguably the strongest lock on a folder to date.
 
78LilRed said:
It seems as if you've already made your decision from the comments in your original post. As stated above unless Sal posts in here it'll all be opinions.
Click to expand...

I think he already has...see the quotes in Neuron's post above.

If "proof" is required, those should do.
 
You forgot #4: You can stop buying knives. :rolleyes: :D

vwb563 said:
The way I see it you have three options.
1. You can take Sal's word that it's been corrected, buy one and use it like you stole it! ;)
2. You can buy one and test it yourself and see if it breaks.
3. You can just buy a Tri-Ad lock since its proven its self to be arguably the strongest lock on a folder to date.
Click to expand...
 
I'm sorry guys, in reading my original post it sounds pretty bad. I was just having a bad night. I really do like Spyderco, I had an Endura back when the clips were plastic (and loose, lost it as a result) and I currently have a spyderedge Endura.

Some might say it's "just a knife" but I don't get too many opportunities to buy a new knife so I really try to put as much thought and research into it as possible. Plus, I just love knives and want one that I'lll be really happy with. I've always gone with lockbacks since they seem so much better than the newer style locks on the market. But that CBBL lock seems really neat and that knife looks like it would just feel great in the hand. I just had a bad taste in my mouth about it after seeing that video.

I just want a knife that I'll carry a lot and use very little. Something that I keep sharp and accessible at all times for a potential self-defense tool, but more likely will get pressed into action for camp chores while backpacking or bumming around the woods. I usually have my Leatherman Wave and try to use that for most things. However, at any time I could find myself in a jam and need to know that my knife isn't going to break easily. I certainly don't abuse my knives on a regular basis, I will always grab a hatchet or machete for heavy chopping when I can.

I was recently carrying a Cold Steel Ultimate Hunter which I really like (both because of and despite the thick handle slabs) but the clip on it broke. The threads in the liner body somehow stripped on one of the screws that holds the clip on. It seems like their 3 screw pattern is upside down, there's only 1 screw where most of the stress on the clip goes and 2 backing it up. With Spyderco and Benchmade (maybe others too) the pattern is reversed and 2 screws secure the clip with the 3rd one backing it up. Anyway, I wasn't able to tighten the clip because of that and I took it off and tried to bend it a little to tighten it up and it snapped really easily. I was pretty surprised. I wrote Cold Steel about it to see if there's anything they can do. I might just have to try and buy a replacement clip from them and somehow make a repair myself with some JB Weld and my Dremel.

I'm pretty happy with the Ultimate Hunter, I think that heavy lock would stand up pretty good to Ankerson's hard use test. Not sure about the tip though, the blade is VG-1 but pretty thin. I like the idea of retiring the Ultimate Hunter in place of something a little thinner and easier to carry. The Mini Lawman or Mini Recon 1 will probably work fine, but that Manix 2 looks like a sweet knife and it would be nice to try a different lock on a folder, I just wanted some official assurance that some reaction by the company was taken in response to that pretty embarrassing failure (whether or not you think that test is legit, the other knives passed it so in my own jack-assed opinion it seems like a Spyderco should be able to pass it too).

Thanks to you guys for helping me out I now have my answer. Those posts by Sal were exactly what I was looking for. I might get an official response from Spyderco as well and if I do I'll share it here. Otherwise, I'm happy to know that they did make an effort to improve the CBBL and I might go ahead and pull the trigger on that purchase later today or tomorrow. It would be nice if Ankerson would put something near the top of his video advising that Spyderco did make some changes to improve the lock since that failure. That video makes the knife look really bad and all I saw posted at the top by him was something like Spyderco admitted that they don't stand behind the knife under that kind of testing. I started going though the 8 or 10 pages of comments but got tired of the random posters there pretty quickly. I wish there was a way to filter just the uploaders comments out at youtube.

Thanks again for the help, have a great weekend!

Steve
 
But what if you get one made before the "fix"?
 
You shouldn't buy the knife if your opinion is so soured by watching a video. Your lack of purchase won't hurt anybody's feelings.
 
I would suggest that if your Endura has not let you down, the Manix ought to serve you well with regards to lock strength.

OTOH, that is just an opinion, and no one can know for sure without testing the actual knives you have and hope to buy (not the models...the EXACT specimens) because variations tend to exist. (by "testing" I mean something of a controlled test that is reproducible and defensible)

I better stop there...I fear I have already started to sample the bait.
 
Manix 2 is my favorite Spydie. The one I bought last year still failed abuse-heavy spine whack testing, but it did fine on a year of use, and it did quite a bit that's probably outside the warranty without budging. I can't imagine any circumstance where it really would fail, and it's a fine knife that is very well thought out. Fantastic knife, certain youtube videos not withstanding.
 
rycen said:
But what if you get one made before the "fix"?
Click to expand...

I was just thinking about that today on my way home. I was thinking about buying one off of ebay, but I might have better luck going through a knife store that does a lot of Spyderco business and can maybe accommodate my request for a more recent production model. I guess there's really no way to be sure. I can write Spyderco and see if they can make any suggestions. I'd actually like to go with the XL model, but that might be too big for concealed carry here in the people's republic of Michigan.
 
If I may make a recommendation...

I generally worry more about transactions on eBay than lock up issues. I suggest finding a good dealer you trust and explain your needs to them. Perhaps you will pay a few dollars more, but you will likely get what you seek.

I have bought a fair number of Spydercos over the last few years. The dealers I use have never let me down...and the few transactions I have attempted on eBay have consistently taught me the value of dealing with people I know and trust (perhaps you know and trust some of the venders on eBay...if so, disregard my post).

As an example. Are you dealing with people that will answer your questions about date codes? Do they even know what you are asking about?
 
If you like the knife, buy one, open it up, see if theres any blade play, use it like a knife :\ Its a very comfortable knife to use, and carry, and you wont get a better factory edge then what will come on it considering its new.
 
I have to say, I'm very impressed with Spyderco's customer service. I wrote them a msg really late last night. They already responded this morning and answered my question succinctly:

"On 03/03/2012 11:11 AM, Spyderco Factory Outlet wrote:
Steven,
Although the video uses the knife in a very heavy duty application, overstriking can cause ANY knife to fail. We have made changes to improve the durability of the lock and to ensure lock safety. The Manix2 is one of our best selling models and there are rare cases of issues."

I then replied asking if they could give me any suggestions as to how I might find a newer production model with the improvements or if they could suggest any dealers that might do a lot of Spyderco business and have a higher inventory refresh rate. They replied very quickly, within 20 mins:

"Steve,
Any knives that we considered to be affected by the overstriking issue were brought back to Spyderco for adjustments. All of the Manix2 models that are available through our dealers will work exceptionally for you and you can have the confidence that they are safe."

So that is great news and I'm very impressed with that. I find it comforting that they made the improvements even though that video test was pretty abusive and the knife/lock was probably fine for normal use as it was. It's also a pleasure to find their customer service to be so responsive and give such concise answers.

Thanks Spyderco! I'll be buying one today. Anyone got any favorite online dealers or are there any I can kick my business to through BladeForums? I'll check around myself, but suggestions are welcome.

Thanks again to all of you.

Steve
 
An excellent point - buy from a dealer who's likely to have high volume, such as (to throw out a few names) KC, GPK, NG, BHQ. That would provide a relatively high degree of comfort.

unit said:
If I may make a recommendation...

I generally worry more about transactions on eBay than lock up issues. I suggest finding a good dealer you trust and explain your needs to them. Perhaps you will pay a few dollars more, but you will likely get what you seek.

I have bought a fair number of Spydercos over the last few years. The dealers I use have never let me down...and the few transactions I have attempted on eBay have consistently taught me the value of dealing with people I know and trust (perhaps you know and trust some of the venders on eBay...if so, disregard my post).

As an example. Are you dealing with people that will answer your questions about date codes? Do they even know what you are asking about?
Click to expand...
 
Most Spydie fans will just take Sal's word for it. However, there is a significant number of people who saw these videos that arent hardcore fans. The only way to definitively prove the changes worked is to send an improved Manix 2 to Ankerson for his special hard use testing.

But I'm not volunteering. ;)
 
The BB lock is as strong as you will ever need a lock on a folder to be. Im not currently EDCing one, but Ive had lots of manix 2's and EDC one for about 6 months and you have nothing to worry about with the lock.

In most cases I believe that the blade would break before the lock would fail. I can't imagine doing anything rational that would cause a non defective Ball bearing lock to fail.

Get one and use it :thumbup: Its a fantastic knife that slices well and is really comfy to use.
 
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