Recommendation? Help me choose: Delica vs. Manix 2 LW vs. Native

Which one should I get?

  • Delica 4 Lightweight

    Votes: 10 50.0%

  • Native 5 Lightweight

    Votes: 1 5.0%

  • Manix 2 Lightweight

    Votes: 8 40.0%

  • Other

    Votes: 1 5.0%
  • Total voters
    20
  • Poll closed .
Smaug

Smaug

Joined
Jun 30, 2003
Messages
1,797
This is tough for me to write, as I've had them all before. It has been a couple years though.

Native 5 Lightweight: - I had one before, but found myself not carrying it as much as the Delica; I really liked how the Delica curves away from the right hand in the hip pocket. However, grip ergos are better on the Native. For using, it was perfect, but it didn't do much for my soul.
+ Great ergos when using the 50/50 choil
+ A good blade size for my office EDC
+ Available in really good steels (I had it in Maxamet before)
+ US-made
- Not as comfortable in the pocket as the Delica
- Not as much sharp blade as the Delica or Manix 2 LW
- Cheap construction for the price (no liners, no bushings) Lot of friction in the action, compared to Delica...
- Choil takes up a big chunk of blade
- Worst action of the three; kind of frictiony
- Small for typical food prep, like slicing fruit at lunch

Manix 2 Lightweight - I had one before in translucent blue w/BD1. Perfect ergos in the hand, two holding options. Wide in the pocket though and just big enough to raise eyebrows at the office. The translucent blue is just outstanding. This knife just made me smile every time I held it or looked at it.
+ Perfect ergos in the hand
+ I like the ball bearing lock, even though it's not as flippy as Axis
+ Blade is big enough for food prep
+ US-made
+ Most fidgety of the three
- Choil takes up a big chunk of blade
- Wide in the pocket
- Just a smidge on the big side for office carry, though I can manage it.
- Action's not great, but the heavier blade helps it, compared to Native

Delica 4 Lightweight - I had two before, a 2 and a 4. Loved them both; can't fathom why I sold them now.
+ Perfect ergos in the pocket (where it will spend most of its time)
+ More usable blade for its size, compared to Manix & Native
+ Great, smooth action
- Less-than-perfect ergos in the hand. (but still good)
- Not available in really good blade steels, except the M4, but I don't like mint green


Others I have -

I have a Polestar, (like the Tenacious, but with G10/laminated CF scales + BD1 blade instead of FRN + 8cr. It kind of splits the difference between the Delica and Manix, both in action and size. The BD1 doesn't hold an edge very well for me. Breaking down cardboard boxes, it was catching after only doing one box. I like a good liner lock, but the liner spring is too firm on this one and dampens the action too much. Somehow, the BD1 on my old Manix 2 did better in this regard. (US-made w/ better heat treat vs. Chinese-made with lower QC?)

I have a Kapara, which is currently up for sale. Its blade is on the big side and I don't like the compression lock; too bad, as it's beautiful.

I have an old Walker Lightweight; this was my EDC for years. Wonderful action, but it's retired now, as the plastic clip is loose-ish and it's collectible. Wonderful liner lock action.

I have a recent orange Dragonfly, which I love, but it's a bit too small, sometimes.

I have a UKPK, which I also really like, but it's just not the same as a locker, is it? The closing action just ruins the experience for me.

I have a Benchmade Mini Grip with the sheepsfoot blade & spydiehole. I love this knife, but it's not as nice in the pocket as a Delica.

I had an Endura 2 years ago; it was great, but too big. Felt like a pocket sword even more than the Manix 2 LW. (OMG, it was DECADES ago now, since I've had this...)


What would be perfect would be the Native LW, but not the cheap construction they use now. Don't get me wrong, it's still a quality knife, but the lack of bushings really shows in the action. Maybe I should be looking at a Native w/G10?

Thanks for bearing with me, guys.
 
It sounds to me like deep down inside you want the Delica but are looking for someone to tell you that’s it’s okay - it’s cool to drive a Toyota Corolla. :)

Joking aside, if your biggest cons for the Delica are the combination of steel and scale color, buy two, take them apart and make the combo you want. Then you have a backup for the car, backpack, etc. That’s what I did to get the saber grind Delica blade in something other than black. And next, I’ll be looking for Micarta scales for it.

Bottom line, I vote Delica.
 
Culprit99 said:
It sounds to me like deep down inside you want the Delica but are looking for someone to tell you that’s it’s okay - it’s cool to drive a Toyota Corolla. :)

Joking aside, if your biggest cons for the Delica are the combination of steel and scale color, buy two, take them apart and make the combo you want. Then you have a backup for the car, backpack, etc. That’s what I did to get the saber grind Delica blade in something other than black. And next, I’ll be looking for Micarta scales for it.

Bottom line, I vote Delica.
Click to expand...
I think you're right. After I typed that all out, I realized that my gut is telling me: "Delica" Native & Manix are great, but they just don't have the same staying power with me.
I just ordered the sky blue one in VG-10. Maybe I'll get the mint green one in M4 later and swap its blade into the blue handle and resell the resulting mint one...
 
Delica in M4 plus RIT dye of your choosing. Case closed.

Edit: sorry, I meant to say a Delica in K390. But i hear M4 is good too, so follow your heart.
 
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Looks like Bento Box still has Delicas in M390. I can testify that this version is tops. The steel is a huge upgrade and the blue scales are good lookin.

I have Flytanium scales, titanium and carbon fiber, on a couple of Delicas and these are a nice upgrade as well.

I feel like we'll see a magnacut Delica sometime soon.
 
Kiteman72 said:
Looks like Bento Box still has Delicas in M390. I can testify that this version is tops. The steel is a huge upgrade and the blue scales are good lookin.

I have Flytanium scales, titanium and carbon fiber, on a couple of Delicas and these are a nice upgrade as well.

I feel like we'll see a magnacut Delica sometime soon.
Click to expand...
Oooh, good call. It costs double what the VG-10 one does though, so I guess I don't feel too bad that I already ordered the more common sky blue one.
 
Delica...
Less pocket space taken up in the pocket than a Manix
Just right for a majority of EDC task.
More steel varieties
More cutting edge than the Native's

Get a K390 and add a Lynch Long Low pro Clip for the win
Or a SuperBlue from the factory..
 
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Smaug said:
Oooh, good call. It costs double what the VG-10 one does though, so I guess I don't feel too bad that I already ordered the more common sky blue one.
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I've never had VG-10 "let me down" in any way. Sharp is sharp. My M390 cuts longer on a sharpening, however.

Now I'm eyeballing a serrated edge Delica that I certainly don't need, haha. The saber ground varieties seem a good bit stouter than the flat ground versions.

I know you already ordered one, but did you check out the murdered out Delica in CE? I love that version so much I'm gonna hafta dig mine out right now.
 

SPYDERCO C11FPNB20CV DELICA KNIFEJOY EXCLUSIVE KJ STEEL BLUE FRN CPM20CV KNIFE​

these are still in stock for a lot less that the BentoBox M390
I would buy another if I didn't already have two of them

they also have them in a wharncliff blade in 20CV
 
pcguy23 said:

SPYDERCO C11FPNB20CV DELICA KNIFEJOY EXCLUSIVE KJ STEEL BLUE FRN CPM20CV KNIFE​

these are still in stock for a lot less that the BentoBox M390
I would buy another if I didn't already have two of them

they also have them in a wharncliff blade in 20CV
Click to expand...
Wow that is good a $110
 
All 3 models are popular so you probably can't go wrong with any of them. My preference is for anything other than a lockback so I go for the Manix 2. I also like its slightly larger size, larger blade hole, and larger handle.
 
My only FRN spidi is a Maxamet manix 2. I dig it a lot! Screw what the officemates think, once my Subvert gets here, I'll be carrying that!
 
The M2 LW is available in Spy-27.
That’s where I’d go id I could only have one.

A close second would be the N5 Salt Magnacut.
 
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