Is this normal for MANIX?

vvk

vvk

Joined
Feb 16, 2005
Messages
210
Hello everybody,

Just got my new Manix and while playing with it I noticed that there is a slight blade play after the lock is engaged. :mad: The blade does not go down but moves a little bit up when I apply some pressure.

I have Paramilitary (compression lock) and it is rock stable when open. My question is, is such blade play normal for the Manix (lockback) or did I get a "lemon"?

Any comments would be much appreciated.
 
I have it on mine, and had it on my Delica and a Native. Apparently Spyderco considers this normal.
 
Joe-Dirt said:
Here.

I just did a search on "Blade play" in the Spyderco forum.

Enjoy...
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/search.php?searchid=1024049
Click to expand...

OMG - at least I am not alone ): I still have the option to return the knife...

Do you guys think that this is a lock specific (lockback) or is it a general quality issue? In other words should I try exchanging for the same model or should I try my luck with the other Spydie tanks, i.e. Military or ATR?
 
How bad is it? I doubt that it's anything to worry about. Is it a tiny tiny amount or a quite big amount?

Return it to where you bought it and ask for one with no play or send it back to Spyderco.

No big deal either way.

The compression lock and the lock back (or front lock) are different locks entirely. I've heard that it's the nature of the beast to sometimes have a small small amount of play in a lock back. I have a Delica 4 that has no play at all though.

The compression lock is an awesome lock too however. I prefer the compression lock over anything else Spyderco has.
 
Every single spyderco lockback I have ever owned has had some movement upward when a good amount of pressure is applied to a cut, and I've owned at least 20 Spyderco lockbacks. In my opinion, it's completely normal and shouldn't be worried about. I've seen the inside of several of my lockbacks, and the spyderco lockup is second to none. I'd bet my fingers on them any day. I'm pretty sure it's just the pressure bending the spring and causing the lock bar to move a little. In fact, I'm almost sure that's what it is.
 
J85909266 said:
Every single spyderco lockback I have ever owned has had some movement upward when a good amount of pressure is applied to a cut, and I've owned at least 20 Spyderco lockbacks. In my opinion, it's completely normal and shouldn't be worried about. I've seen the inside of several of my lockbacks, and the spyderco lockup is second to none. I'd bet my fingers on them any day. I'm pretty sure it's just the pressure bending the spring and causing the lock bar to move a little. In fact, I'm almost sure that's what it is.
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OK I am convincened. I just wanted to make sure that it is OK as you do NOT want that HUGE SHARP BLADE closing on your fingers! ):
 
Of course you don't. But why would you worry at all that pressure in the direction of opening would result in the blade closing on your fingers, anyway? :confused:


-Jeffrey
 
Just a thought, but on all my lockbacks that I have noted verticle play in, the lockbar moves right along with the blade.The two pieces are locked solidly together, and I believe it is the clearances between the pins and the holes (blade pivot and lockbar pivot) that allow the movement. But since I never cut anything with the spine of my blades, I really don't worry about the lock failing. After all, I used slip joints for twenty years, and eventually learned how to use a folding knife without hurting myself (at least most of the time).
 
peacefuljeffrey said:
Of course you don't. But why would you worry at all that pressure in the direction of opening would result in the blade closing on your fingers, anyway? :confused:

-Jeffrey
Click to expand...

OK, OK I might have exaggerated a little bit, but:
1) why the heck after using a Spyderco paramilitary with zero blade play for 2 years, should I go "backwards" with the Manix?

2) I was able to disengage the Manix back lock easily using a reverse ice pick grip (fingers on the spine of the knife). I can use reverse ice pick grip on my para all day long and the lock will not disengage.

That is why I am seriously thinking about exchanging the knife for another monster of a knife that does not suffer from such limitations. The problem is that I have no idea if such beast really exist.:grumpy:

Are there any knives similar to Manix but with a better lock? (preferebly less than $200)
 
The Manix has one of the strongest locks on the market. Do you honestly Have an application where you will be holding your Manix like Jason Voorhees on a killing spree and squeezing it very hard while swinging it at something?

I think you are being way to finnicky, however, fair is fair.

Check out the Ontario Retribution folders. The are bigger and beefier than the Manix, and have a thick titanium liner lock that won't suffer from your gripes. Know that they are big, heavy, and have to be carried in belt sheaths.

http://newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=5714
 
I just don't see the reverse icepick grip as being such a necessity that I would eschew an otherwise really good knife.

I don't like blade play in a folding knife either, and if the Manix is plagued with it (I have read plenty of posts that seem to indicate it's a fact of life with the Manix, although for the price I think it ought not to be) then I probably don't want a Manix either.

I do want a Para Military to have as a backup, but I figure I don't want to spend all that much ($100+ :eek: ) and then have the new improved (hopefully) one come out just afterward... I guess I'll wait for a bit.


Even my Para Military has a small blade-play issue. What's strange to me (and I don't yet understand it) is that if I turn the pivot screw about a quarter turn, the knife goes from having no noticeable blade play to having just a bit. Another quarter turn or so and it's gone, etc. Note, I am talking about turning one screw while the screw on the other side moves with it -- not a tightening action but a spinning action...

All the more reason to go with a Ball Bearing lock. I just don't see how a knife with a BBL can have vertical blade play, unless it's simply related to the fit tolerance between the pivot hole in the tang, and the pivot pin itself.


-Jeffrey
 
peacefuljeffrey said:
Even my Para Military has a small blade-play issue. I do want a Para Military to have as a backup, but I figure I don't want to spend all that much ($100+ ) and then have the new improved (hopefully) one come out just afterward... I guess I'll wait for a bit.
-Jeffrey
Click to expand...

The lock of my original Para military was failing the Spine Whack Test. I was getting despare, after all the pain that I went to until I have decided that this is the best knive for my nees... I fortunately read on the forum that the black version has improved lock. I exchanged the plain for the coated one and voila the magic happened no blade play, rock solid and smooth action.

The knive is so good that I was unable to convince myself that I need another one for around 2 years, that is until last week when I saw the big, bad Manix :)


J85909266 said:
I think you are being way to finnicky, however, fair is fair.

Check out the Ontario Retribution folders. The are bigger and beefier than the Manix, and have a thick titanium liner lock that won't suffer from your gripes. Know that they are big, heavy, and have to be carried in belt sheaths.

http://newgraham.com/detail.aspx?ID=5714
Click to expand...

WOW what a monster! Do you think that the Retribution can be opened one handed as easy as Manix?

As about being finnicky, yes you are write, guess I got spoiled by my Para military :)
 
Well, most high quailty liner/framelocks are very smooth to operate. I would guess it would be even easier to open than the Manix, but I'm only guessing.
 
This has been gone over so many times. I would suggest reading over those threads (without bringing old threads back up). If that doesn't satisfy you just send it back to Spyderco or the dealer. No need to just keep on dragging it out here.

It's always better to do research and read first before creating a thread that has been gone over like 40 times already.

Personally I don't think anything is wrong with your Manix. If it bothers you send it in. Posting is not helping fix your Manix if you are dissatisfied with it. ;)
 
Joe-Dirt said:
This has been gone over so many times.

Personally I don't think anything is wrong with your Manix. If it bothers you send it in. Posting is not helping fix your Manix if you are dissatisfied with it. ;)
Click to expand...

Joe,
there is a new chicken born everyday ): Maybe there is a reason for the existence of those 40 threads? My intention was to find if the slight vertical play is a design feature (read common problem ) or whether I simply got a "lemon".

I read several reviews before purchasing the knife and nowhere it was mentioned that the lock has such particularities :confused:

I have a very high opinion about Sal and his charisma was the main reason why I choose Manix over the competition, in the first place.

EDIT: Thanks everybody for providing useful comments. I really enjoy the bladeforums ambience. Stay sharp!

Ves
 
yablanowitz said:
Just a thought, but on all my lockbacks that I have noted verticle play in, the lockbar moves right along with the blade.The two pieces are locked solidly together, and I believe it is the clearances between the pins and the holes (blade pivot and lockbar pivot) that allow the movement. But since I never cut anything with the spine of my blades, I really don't worry about the lock failing. After all, I used slip joints for twenty years, and eventually learned how to use a folding knife without hurting myself (at least most of the time).
Click to expand...


Good points. Thank you.

I also think that a lot of the motion is the result of those pin-to-hole tolerances. It almost has to be.

And yes, I can't think of applications to which I put knives that would stress them in the direction of closing -- the blade's sharpened edge is on the front side, not the back. If I were stabbing with great force, I guess there would be some potential for inadvertent closure, but even then, I think I can trust the locks on the knives I have. And yes, anyone who has been able to use non-locking folders for years and years should not have much trouble with locking folders... unless he goes looking for it.


-Jeffrey
 
My Manix has some slight blade play, both way's. For me, it's not that big of a deal, but I can see where you're coming from. My main gripe is, I can dissengage it with different grips. Especially when "white knuckling." I don't consider my Manix as an SD knife, though.

It's still, IMO, one of the best, strongest production knives for the $$$, on the market!
 
Exactly, if you need to regularly use a knife in a reverse inverted death swoop position, then get a fixed blade (or some more meds)
 
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