I have had the native and Manix light weights. Here is my comparison:
weight/carry: in hand there is a bit of a difference, the native feels lighter. the shorter blade and choked up grip probably do most of this. the Manix however seems lighter than is possible for the size, so it's still amazingly lightweight. in pocket you can't tell the difference by weight. you can't tell either is there. however, the Manix takes up noticeably more space because of the wider blade and opening hole. also, the clip of the Manix rides deeper, but is definitely less sturdy. a wire clip will bend easier (for example I found mine flexing when I gripped the handle to unlock the blade), but that's a trade off for deeper more discreet carry. the natives clip is extremely sturdy, but the paint will wear off with use. the barrel bolt is actually extremely useful in that it holds the clip in place without needed three small screws (it fits down into the frn), it can't be stripped, and it incorporates a big lanyard hole. both are l/r but only tip up.
lock/strength: I thought a bout the cbbl on the Manix LW a lot. with the extremely thin and lightweight handle scales, I'm not sure it provides much more strength than a back lock. then again, there is the lock stop metal bar and a small metal "liner" where the pivot and top pin are, so I very well could be wrong. I think that the back lock is easier to use, it's definitely easier to close. I haven't used the Manix hard, but I know for a fact the native can take a beating. my native has been out through things a lot of guys on here wouldn't do to a "hard use" folder. I suspect the Manix could as well, I just don't have experience with it.
blade: there is most definitely a big difference in blade steel. yes, bd1 is great. I mean I am a huge fan of well done aus8, and bd1 is even better than it. it seems to lose a true razor edge quickly but stay real sharp for a good amount of time, and sharpen easily. if you are familiar with aus8, like it but with I guess a sturdier edge (less rolling) and better corrosion resistence. s30v is a great steel. you can do serious carving, food prep for a party, gut and clean a bunch of fish, and general use s30v for a month(s) and still be able to shave a bit of hair (I give these examples because it's what I've done with my native since sharpening). as with blade shape, the full flat grind is definitely a better slicer. it also would be less strong (would you notice/it matter? I don't know). I think the natives grind looks cool as well. as for blade shape, the native provides a bit less belly but is considerably less tall. the native is a spear and the Manix is a leaf. they are similar and I think there are trade offs. the extra blade length of the Manix can be useful in food prep, but also requires much more handle space.
handle/ergos: first off, these knives are both extremely ergonomic. ergonomics are important; if you don't like holding your knife you won't ant to use it. spyderco got it right with these two, as they often do. when choked up the native has the most natural grip I've felt. when choked down its more of a three finger and thumb grip (I have fat fingers) but still very comfortable and good for heavy cutting. the Manix feels best when not using the choil, for me it was the perfect length and a great shape. choked up the choil area is wider than on the native and therefore a bit less easy to get a grip. however, it still works. also the Manix has bidirectional whereas the native has some variant, and the Manix therefore is a bit gripper.
conclusion: for edc, I think the native has enough blade. the flat grind of the Manix is preferable, but the hollow grind on the native makes for easy slicing as well with a bit more behind the blade. s30v is a noticeably better steel than bd1. the Manix gives more handle options, but the native still feels great and packs the blade into a smaller package when closed. the cbbl is probably stronger, but the back lock is definitely capable. the adjustable pivot of the Manix is preferable, but spyderco does a great job with pinned knives. also, I actually prefer the washer less design of the native (especially when the Manix also can't be taken apart).
with the Manix at around $70 and the native at around $60, I would buy the native. to tell the truth, I don't have the Manix anymore because it wasn't giving me any extra utility over the native.
sorry I ignored the regular Manix, I don't have one. also, I think it is kind of in a different category since the other two focus on weight reduction.
