Manix 2 Lock Disengagement... How hard is yours?

Cypress

Cypress

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Jun 22, 2009
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I was on vacation last week and happened upon a Spyderco dealer who had a Manix 2 trans blue in stock. I asked to handle the knife and was impressed with how light it was, and how easily it flung open.

BUT, when I tried to close it, there was NO WAY my one thumb could overcome the spring tension in the lock. I had to use my thumb and pointer finger as well as something to pressure the blade enough to stabilize my hand just to close the dang thing.

Is that a normal thing that eventually breaks in, or does it stay like that for the life of the knife? Maybe this Manix was rotten?
 
My G10 and blue ltw manix are just as you described the one you tried. I need two hands for closing.
 
I consider that a safety feature, it means less chance of accidentally closing the knife if you use the button as a thumb rest while cutting. One handed closing is just a matter of finding/mastering a technique that works for you. As for opening, mine can only be "flung open" easily if I pull back on the lock, and doing that requires two fingers as well.
 
My Manix 2 XL is as you describe, though I never really thought about it, it just feels like the right way to flip it shut or open with a firm grip on each side of the lock.
 
The lock was designed for two fingers - one on each side - to keep fingers away from the cutting edge.
 
I've had mine for two years. I can disengage with just my thumb now. Probably half my technique got better and half it breaking in.
 
Both my lightweight ones I can close pretty easily with one hand but my 2 G10 ones are very hard to close like you described.
 
Bummer. I'll pass on this knife, as I am not a huge fan of "force" when it comes to opening/closing knives.

Thanks, Spyderbros!
 
The one I had was super stiff to operate, I wound up selling it cause the locks on my PM2 and Benchmades were so much easier.
 
Cypress said:
Bummer. I'll pass on this knife, as I am not a huge fan of "force" when it comes to opening/closing knives.
Click to expand...

I bought a used Manix 2 and it sounds like your experience. I have a couple of axis lock knives that I can disengage with one thumb but I can't do that with the Manix 2. I did discover that I can put the knife in my palm, thumb on one side of the lock and first finger on the other side, turn my hand so the blade is horizontal with the edge pointing down, squeeze the lock with the thumb/finger and the blade will swing down partially, then I close it with my thumb normally. It is quick and easy to do and safe as long as the blade isn't pointing straight up when you do this.
 
I think of the ball lock as an inferior axis lock because of the two handed lock disengagement. I still like the Manix2 but I haven't bought the Manix XL because I think the lock would be hard for me to disengage with my medium/small hands. With the Manix2 I brace the butt of the handle against my palm when disengaging the lock. I think the Manix2 XL would be too big for me to use that technique.
 
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