Is it worth it? Manix 2 CF over Manix 2 cts-xhp?

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30In1

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Apr 23, 2010
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What are the advantages in weight, steel, and grip, etc? Of the spring Manix 2 CF sv90 over the Manix 2 cts-xhp?

Is it worth over double the money?

Comparisons on blade steel?

I have the Manix 2 in 154cm and it is heavy for EDC. Like the design, but need to shed weight. Also, it is a spyderedge and I am looking for a plain edge that I can sharpen myself ( all my other spydies are serrated for duty use).

Thnx
 
If you can find one, I would say go for the CF Manix 2. S90V is an outstanding performing blade and the CF is very grippy. Combined with the Caged Ball Bearing Lock, it makes for one hell of a hard use knife. Besides, if you don't like it, you will have an easier time selling it than the XHP version. I'd buy it if I could.
 
al3xd4gr34t said:
If you can find one, I would say go for the CF Manix 2. S90V is an outstanding performing blade and the CF is very grippy. Combined with the Caged Ball Bearing Lock, it makes for one hell of a hard use knife. Besides, if you don't like it, you will have an easier time selling it than the XHP version. I'd buy it if I could.
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Alex is right on the money.
 
the texturing on the scales is the same, and i would imagine the weights are identical as well (or differences are negligible).

as far as steel, s90v is pretty great stuff. if you plan to push it.

otherwise i would say you probably wouldn't notice any difference. the carpenter steel is also very good.

unless you are a huge s90v fan, and must have the cf scales, i would say get either the carpenter or blue/s30v model. save a bunch of money and never notice the difference in cutting performance.
 
I have all three sprints and a regular and I'd vote with Tom. However, on pricing, I've been seeing the blue S30V at around $200 and the S90V at $225ish. Pricing on the Carpenter sprint is somewhat variable right now because in theory there are more in the pipeline.

Other than the materials and future collectability, they are the same. There was a thread discussing aftermarket demand recently and the blue S30V was the winner, but based mostly on the relatively small production run compared to the S90V and the XHP.
 
The CF S90V model is definitely lighter then that stock 154CM model. Probably because of the FFG and skeletonized liners.
 
Josh K said:
The CF S90V model is definitely lighter then that stock 154CM model. Probably because of the FFG and skeletonized liners.
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True, but all three sprints have had FFG blades and skeletonized liners.

The real answer is: you need one of each of the sprints. :thumbup:
 
JNewell said:
I have all three sprints and a regular and I'd vote with Tom. However, on pricing, I've been seeing the blue S30V at around $200 and the S90V at $225ish. Pricing on the Carpenter sprint is somewhat variable right now because in theory there are more in the pipeline.

Other than the materials and future collectability, they are the same. There was a thread discussing aftermarket demand recently and the blue S30V was the winner, but based mostly on the relatively small production run compared to the S90V and the XHP.
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I thought that the S90V run was limited to 400 to 500 pieces, which would make it on par with the blue S30V Manix.
 
JNewell said:
I have all three sprints and a regular and I'd vote with Tom. However, on pricing, I've been seeing the blue S30V at around $200 and the S90V at $225ish. Pricing on the Carpenter sprint is somewhat variable right now because in theory there are more in the pipeline.

Other than the materials and future collectability, they are the same. There was a thread discussing aftermarket demand recently and the blue S30V was the winner, but based mostly on the relatively small production run compared to the S90V and the XHP.
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whoa, i hadn't seen the prices on the blue that high.

in that case, i say get a 154cm and have tom krein give it a full height flat grind. you will spend under $100 total (iirc) for the knife and his services. he may even skeletonize the liners for you.
 
if you need a user knife and not collectible item go for green manix CTS-XHP great steel . and it cost a lot less .
 
berserk87 said:
I thought that the S90V run was limited to 400 to 500 pieces, which would make it on par with the blue S30V Manix.
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I think what I stored from that thread was 500 blue, 600 CF and 1k FG. There is always the possibility of faulty memory... :o

Edit to add: trying to research this. Might have been only 400 S90V/CF, which would push the price above either of the other two sprints, probably...
 
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In terms of a purely functional blade, I think the CTS-XHP Manix might be my best overall knife. I can find little to fault with it. The CF knife will likely appreciate more, but if you're buying now you'll already be paying some of that premium. As a pure safe queen I might go for the CF knife, but as a user I'd go for the Carpenter blade.
 
In a practical perspective, it's just all about the steel. Nothing else. If you want more edge retention without more frequent touch ups for a hefty price tag then grab an S90V model if you can get one. But if you don't mind S30V to CPM D2 performance then save the money. Unless of course, people are gouging on the CTS-XHP's models already.

Oh, and scale color is part of the choice too :D

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Great knives all, hopefully we will see more Manix sprints in the future. I'm hoping for a CPM-D2 myself!
 
Buffalohump said:
Great knives all, hopefully we will see more Manix sprints in the future. I'm hoping for a CPM-D2 myself!
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I'm not sure CPM-D2 is currently available? I could be wrong. There was an interchange between Sal and someone from NSM on that a few months ago.

Going back to the OP's question, I think the real question is whether any of the sprints are "worth" the premium over the 154CM version. I have all three and they are amazing knives, worth their price to me. However, for less than $80 street price, the 154CM version is a huge value and it's still a great cutter that's easy to sharpen.

Here's another data point on the sprints. (It looks like I was underestimating the market prices for the S90V Manix 2, by the way.) The S90V sprint was only 400, so a small production run than either the S30V or the XHP. A quick look at completed eBay auctions shows two recent sales, one @ $299 and the other at $256. Those prices actually amaze me, but those are actual completed sales, not "asking" prices.

Based on that pricing, I'd say that in my opinion the S90V sprint is definitely not worth the current market price, but each of us is entitled to make up our own minds on that.
 
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We're making more of the XHP version than the earlier sprints for; 1) we got so much heat over not making enough of the first sprints and 2) the new Carpenter CTS-XHP is being introduced with the model. It's the first production knife made with the new Carpenter steels.

All are excellent pieces with excellent materials.

sal
 
if you want a user and don't care about flat grind buy the 154cm.

If you want flatground the carpenter is still for sale.
I received mine this week and think its a great knife.
The blue and cf are harder to find and much more expensive.
 
Just go with the XHP steel. I'm loving my CTS-XHP Manix-2. It pushed my Military out of my EDC rotation, and the Millie was there for over 4 years... :eek:
 
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