Manix 2 locking mechanism

K

Kennykid

Joined
Jul 19, 2011
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I own a few BM griptilians and fell in love with the Axis lock. I just got my hands on a Manix 2 and played with the similar locking mechanism set up, not bad. Are there other models Spyderco has used this mechanism on? Thanks.
 
The P'Kal has the caged ball lock. You ought to give a close look at the Sage 3, which uses the 'bolt action' lock designed by Blackie Collins, which locks up differently but has very similar outward ergos. There are quite a few knives with the regular ball lock, but you probably wouldn't feel that was very similar to the Manix 2.
 
Other than the Manix 2, there is the Spyderco P'kal and the Manix 2 XL. Those are the only ones I can think of with the caged ball bearing lock like on the Manix 2. Then there is the regular, bare ball bearing lock, which I think is even cooler, which can be found on the new sprint run orange Dodo and on the discontinued Polywog, D'Allara and Phoenix. You might be able to find one of the discontinued ones on various auction sites and so on and so forth..
 
I was really looking at the Manix 2 XL but then I read of people breaking the plastic (polymer) bearing cage. I ordered a Para2 instead.
 
Scurvy092 said:
I was really looking at the Manix 2 XL but then I read of people breaking the plastic (polymer) bearing cage. I ordered a Para2 instead.
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I wouldn't have let that stop me. I think there have been two or three reports, and IMHO at least one of the ones I saw was likely caused by incorrect reassembly after the owner had disassembled the knife. Anything can break, but Spyderco did a lot of testing before they started shipping these, and there are huge numbers of them being used every day by owners with no problems. IMHO these are like the brouhaha over Axis springs. Can they/it break? Yeah. Are they likely to? Extremely unlikely.
 
I'd be willing to make a small wager that there have been more broken omega springs on axis locks than broken carriers on caged ball locks.
 
I would, too, but they've been kicking around for about a decade longer. :D I'd also be willing to wager that there are a lot fewer broken omega springs than is claimed oon internet forums. :(

yablanowitz said:
I'd be willing to make a small wager that there have been more broken omega springs on axis locks than broken carriers on caged ball locks.
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What put me off (at least temporarily) was that in the thread about broken bearing cage, a few people immediately chimed in about theirs breaking.

When you see threads about broken omega springs, there are usually a few people who chime in and a hoard of people who defend how reliable their omega springs and axis lock in general is.

I'm still not sure how I feel about Spyderco's warranty having issues with disassembly/reassembly.
 
In my opinion, when you disassemble the knife and reassemble it, you have accepted all responsibility for the assembly being done correctly. You have, in effect, replaced the manufacturer's workmanship with your own, leaving only the materials themselves for the warranty to cover. The fact that you were able to break something does not mean it had a defect in the material. I realize that it is very old-fashioned to accept resposibility for anything, but that's how I was raised. I'm not factory trained by Spyderco to properly assemble their knives, so I don't expect the warranty to cover a knife that I've had apart unless I find an already-broken part when I disassemble it. Quite frankly, I don't see any way for those ball carriers to break like that without the owner taking them apart. Some people really shouldn't be allowed to own tools.
 
yablanowitz said:
In my opinion, when you disassemble the knife and reassemble it, you have accepted all responsibility for the assembly being done correctly. You have, in effect, replaced the manufacturer's workmanship with your own, leaving only the materials themselves for the warranty to cover. The fact that you were able to break something does not mean it had a defect in the material. I realize that it is very old-fashioned to accept resposibility for anything, but that's how I was raised. I'm not factory trained by Spyderco to properly assemble their knives, so I don't expect the warranty to cover a knife that I've had apart unless I find an already-broken part when I disassemble it. Quite frankly, I don't see any way for those ball carriers to break like that without the owner taking them apart. Some people really shouldn't be allowed to own tools.
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Okay, I think that's a little uncalled for. It's got nothing to do with personal responsibility. I like to take my knives apart. I don't want disassemble and reassemble my knife PROPERLY and then down the road have an issue with something unrelated to that and worry about spyderco warrantying their issue because I took it apart once or twice. If I take it apart and break something then yes that's my fault, but voiding the whole warranty for simple disassembly/reassembly without breaking anything is a little extreme.

That is fine if Spyderco wants to do that, but part of the 'value' of any knife is the warranty that backs it up. Cold Steel knives are cheap because they have a crappy warranty. If I'm going to spend $100+ on a knife, one of the things I'm going to consider is how comprehensive their warranty is.

Maybe once I get my Para2 in I'll realize that my fears were unfounded, the knife is perfect and I can't figure any reason why I would want to or need to diassemble/clean/lube/reassemble it. Maybe I'll get it in and realize that it is so well manufactured that I wouldn't be comfortable taking it apart because I'm not sure if I can put it back together right (even though other makers ask that if you take it apart and don't feel comfortable putting it back together to just send it to them and they'll do it for you without voiding the warranty). Maybe I'll get it, realize it's nothing special, and take it do whatever I want with it like it has no warranty.
 
RE Spyderco's warranty: The language is pretty clear (on the website, at least) that disassembly only voids the warranty IF the disassembly is what CAUSED the damage/warranty issue. That's a pretty big "if," although it does leave Spyderco a large window to potentially abuse their coversge policy.

What I can't figure out is how Spyderco would even know you took your knife apart... I once had a folder that was not close to centered and had noticeable bladeplay. Just unscrewed the pivot and scales, oiled it up, reassembled, and now it's factory perfect. How would Spyderco know I'd taken it apart of I needed to send it in several years from now?
 
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