Manix 2 LW screw conversion

[IowaGeologist]

I took the plunge and did my SPY 27 LW. Not going to lie, I love tinkering, but this was a pain in the ass. Not sure how people can do it without a drill press. Started with a Dremmel and took out a chunk of scale doing the rivet near the pivot before a switched to the drill press. Went much better but still wasn't an easy process. Happy it's all done now, well, this knife at least. I have a Maxamet on deck that hopefully will go smoother.

As you can see in one of the disassembled pictures, the action was a mess on the inside. Very happy they're switching to screwed construction for the Lightweight. Should have been that way from the start in my opinion.

 

[stillshot2]

Should have been that way from the start in my opinion.

Agreed. I would have never bought one had they not switched. To me the screws are the difference between having a nice lightweight folder vs an unserviceable, unmodifiable, and basically disposable item if not owning a drill press and the skills to go with it.

 

[Knives&Lint]

Just bumping this thread for '25 with some questions, as I plan on attempting it in the near future to make a "Mystic Green" Magnacut Manix LW (my perfect knife for hiking up to Alpine lakes with mineral rich waters the same color as the scales).

Is there a known best current source for the hardware?

Perhaps a stupid question, but any chance the hardware from the new screwed versions just drops in, in place of the rivets?

And a side question likely better asked elsewhere, but does anyone know if the screws on the Salt Manix are Ti like on some of the other salt knives? I seriously doubt the wire clip would be, but I know the clip and screws on my Salt 2 were because I removed the black coating and ano'd them purple.

 

[uxo2]

If you are going to be converting the Rivet to screw because you simply want to.

This video might help.

I gave up doing anymore screw conversions as soon as they became Factory norms

If you want to reblade the MG Manix.
AW scales
Go to Etsy and by a Compensated Lock Backspacer.
You will end up destroying the Mystic Green Scales.

Other option.
Buy a Factory Screw build and leave the MG Manix as is.

 

[Knives&Lint]

Thanks for the info. Food for thought for sure, I'm not sure exactly what I'll end up doing. I have the screwed Magnacut version in hand, but I have so many (non-knife) projects in front of me right now that major knife mods are on the back burner anyway.

The Mystic Green scales are my favorite LW colorway so I'm hesitant to risk damaging them. I really wish they'd do another run of them with screwed construction. I'd jump on another in a heartbeat just for this swap.

I'm fine with the 20CV and leaving mine as is, I just like to tinker with things and make them perfect for me. Perhaps the juice isn't worth the squeeze in this case however.