Manix 2 lwt., Native 5 lwt., Endura 4 ffg.

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vanslem6

Joined
Oct 4, 2014
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Hey all, I'm looking for the next knife to buy my little brother. Background - he does a little warehouse stuff, fundraising, retail, etc.. He unloads lots of trucks/pallets, opens lots of boxes, opens packages, and on and on. I bought him a Kershaw Skyline about a year ago, then a Rat II. Since he uses the crap out of his knives, I wanted to up his game a bit. I want to keep the budget aroun $80 or so. I missed the sale at knife works - they sold out of the regular Manix 2 already (G10 version), so that's off the table. The Manix 2 lightweight looks alright, but being pinned makes me hesitant. I like the Native, but I like the idea of the ball-bearing lock for him a little better. The Endura is a contender, but I feel as though the blade might be a tad too long for the types of environments he's in. He spends a lot of time in hospitals around other, regular-ass folks. I did the same job he has for about 8 years, and I know that people can be a bit uneasy when you snap out a knife, lol. So I'm looking at the blue Manix 2 lwt, pink Native 5 and purple Endura 4. He likes funky colors, and I think it'll help in making them more people-friendly. Anyhow, I guess I'm just looking for suggestions, opinions, input, etc.. Again, the Manix 2 in G10 would be the most ideal, but it's a bit out of budget. I'm hesitant about the lightweight version being that it's pinned. I'm not sure if the Native would have the 'fun factor' of the Manix, and the Endura might have too much blade. Lol.

TL;DR

Want to get my brother a Spyderco - Manix 2 lightweight, Native 5 lightweight or Endura 4. Why?


Thanks!!
 
You've got a tough situation there.

Given your explanation, I understand your dilemma. I guess you have to figure out whether or not the pins on the Manix are deal breakers. 'Cause the Manix 2 LW is probably one of the best heavy-users in its size.

The Native5 is an excellent EDC, slices like a dream, and is tough as nails. But the pink Native doesn't come with the FFG, which is a huge drawback in my opinion. The S35VN steel keeps a good working edge for a long time, which'd be nice if your bro doesn't do his own sharpening.

I have no experience with the Endura, but if the size of the blade isn't a deal breaker, it'll do well, too.

Other guys with more experience may be able to offer you a better idea.
 
I would recommend the Endura or native as vg-10 and s35vn are both a good step up compared to bd1. Next it's just comes down to what blade length you think is gonna be most useful for him. Endura is a pretty good size knife, but the extra blade length can come in handy in some situations.
Hope that helps
 
It does, thank you both. Rethinking the Native 5, I think black with the FFG would be more ideal than the pink one with the saber grind. That could go either way, but I think I'm mostly hung up on pinned Manix. Haha. I would just get him a Delica, because I think it's the perfect EDC, however, I've seen him do things with his knives that make me cringe... He requires something that can handle some abuse, lol. He needs a Gayle Bradley, though my wallet doesn't necessarily agree. :)
 
Ever considered a Benchmade mini Grip? The axis lock functions similarly to the ball lock. You can get it in all kinds of colors. 154CM is no slouch, and the price can be under $80.

Sorry, didn't check that I was in the Spyderco forum.
Of the three you're trying to decide, I'd go with the Manix LW. I own two, and I can't imagine being able to bust one from normal use.
 
Of the knives u mentioned I would go with the Native. More discreet size than the endura and S35 is a good couple of steps above bd1 in edge retention. Have you considered a serrated edge? The salt knives are tough as nails and serrated h1 is a helluva performer. Great edge retention and very tough steel. Check out the salt 1 which is Delica sized.
 
I myself would like a serrated salt of sort, but I'm not sure if he'd be into it. I think I will probably narrow it down to the Native and Manix lightweight.

Jasonsdman said:
Ever considered a Benchmade mini Grip? The axis lock functions similarly to the ball lock. You can get it in all kinds of colors. 154CM is no slouch, and the price can be under $80.

Sorry, didn't check that I was in the Spyderco forum.
Of the three you're trying to decide, I'd go with the Manix LW. I own two, and I can't imagine being able to bust one from normal use.
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I have a Mini-Grip, but I think it would be too small for him. The regular size would be ideal for him, but again, it's a little more than I'd like to spend.

Thanks everyone, you've been very helpful.
 
vanslem6 said:
I've seen him do things with his knives that make me cringe... He requires something that can handle some abuse, lol.
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If this is true I'd go Manix 2. I have the full liner heavy model and it's built like a tank. I've done some terrible things to knives and know I'll do it again. I know that the linerless Spyderco Knives are tuff, that being said if they're bound to be abused then why not spend the extra $10-$30 and get the heartiest knife you can? Did you look at National Knives, they are usually in the $80-$90 range and are a forum sponsor. If you can't get the Manix 2 then I'd vote Endura, people abuse these knives and they seem to take a beating quite well from what I've seen and heard.

Here is the Manix 2 at National Knives, it's going for $88.99:http://www.nationalknives.com/spyderco-manix-2-c101gp2-folding-knife-3-3-8-plain-edge-blade-g-10/
 
Endura is way to big for the kind of stuff hes guna be doing with it, in my opinion. I would say the native 5 lw. That is currently one of my favorites. I use my native 5 lw for the same type of stuff, opening packages/mail, breaking down boxes etc and it works good for those types of things with the blade being about 3 inches and you get the jimping and finger choil. Its alot slimmer then the manix 2 lightweight. Feels alot better in the hand and in the pocket in my opinion. And you get the s35vn steel which is better then the cts-bd1 you get with the manix. Good luck.
 
Of the three you listed, I like the Endura4 more. Granted, my experience with the lightweight Native was the original one, not the Native5. I do like the G10 Native5, but that'll run you a bit over $80. If you are concerned that the Endura might be too big for his work environment, the Delica may be a good alternative (and also available in all the same colors as the Endura). The Stretch, which was mentioned earlier, is somewhere in-between the Delica and Endura size-wise, and may be worth a look as well.
 
I was just at Knifeworks site and they have a regular g10 manix in combo edge that might be in your price range.
 
I carry a pinned Native off and on for warehouse work. It's still rock solid. Though it is usually paired with something a bit larger for the extra reach. Cutting wrap on tall pallets can be challenging with the Native.

Fwiw, I think the newer Manix LW's have a torx pivot. If you're worried about adjusting potential blade play.

As far as sheeple friendly goes, in my experience the Endura gets the most dirty looks. Even more so than the Manix and Manix XL even. Maybe it's the sheen of the VG-10. Who knows.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of your options or others suggestions here but, I'd put the G10 Manix above all for withstanding "abuse". It is a very formidable platform and the one I would hold out for given the application. I picked mine up under your budget from the exchange and it has remained one of my most carried work knives.
 
mastiffhound said:
Here is the Manix 2 at National Knives, it's going for $88.99:http://www.nationalknives.com/spyderco-manix-2-c101gp2-folding-knife-3-3-8-plain-edge-blade-g-10/
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I was just about to buy it, until I had something happen that's never happened before! They added sales tax. Dammit, that company is in Michigan! :rolleyes:

Surfingringo said:
I was just at Knifeworks site and they have a regular g10 manix in combo edge that might be in your price range.
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I saw that an almost pulled the trigger. I just couldn't do it with partial serration. :p
All or nothing, IMO. My first decent folder was partially serrated - meh. (Gerber Mini-Covert FAST)


You've all been really helpful! I have until mid-April to find something, so I think I'll keep an eye out for another Manix 2 G10 in the range I want. I must admit that the Stretch is also a great suggestion, too. I would just bite the bullet, but my siblings and I try to keep gifts in the $50 range - I always break that, but I'm trying not to double it. :D

With that being said, my sister's birthday is 3 days before my brother's. She handed me her 'bedazzled' Shrade this morning, because the thumb stud came off. It's not threaded, it was pressed-on… Looks like she may now be getting a purple Dragonfly. I just gave her fiancé a Persistence for Xmas, too. :lol:
 
vanslem6 said:
I was just about to buy it, until I had something happen that's never happened before! They added sales tax. Dammit, that company is in Michigan! :rolleyes:
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Get ready for that to happen with all Internet sales...


Just wondering, how did he treat his Skyline and how has it held up for him? I edc one fairly often and love how it rides in a back pocket and how well it slices, but never saw it as a rugged user, like a warehouse job may see...

Too bad you can't swing it for the S110V Manix LW, but that's way over budget.
If he's cutting a lot of strapping he may actually like the combo edges as well.
 
His Skyline has chips in the blade and could really use a regrind. Unfortunately, I'm not the guy to fix that quite yet! It's held up far better than I expected it to, especially when I see him prying/cutting zip ties and things. :D He likes knives because he really uses them, though he doesn't know much about them. He loves my Axis-lock knives, as well as my digicam PM2 (he loves the lock), so that's what drew me towards the Manix. Both the Skyline and Rat II he has are liner-locks, So I definitely want to get him something different. While back-locks are solid, they don't have the fun-factor. He definitely likes to play with them, too!


Like I said, you've all been incredibly helpful. Much appreciated.
 
vanslem6 said:
His Skyline has chips in the blade and could really use a regrind. Unfortunately, I'm not the guy to fix that quite yet! It's held up far better than I expected it to, especially when I see him prying/cutting zip ties and things. :D He likes knives because he really uses them, though he doesn't know much about them. He loves my Axis-lock knives, as well as my digicam PM2 (he loves the lock), so that's what drew me towards the Manix. Both the Skyline and Rat II he has are liner-locks, So I definitely want to get him something different. While back-locks are solid, they don't have the fun-factor. He definitely likes to play with them, too!


Like I said, you've all been incredibly helpful. Much appreciated.
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Should've gotten an S30V Skyline then!
Sounds like he's at that point where it's possible if you get him a Native he may be completely underwhelmed with it and not give it a fair chance due to it being a midlock then?
It's too bad Spyderco doesn't have a budget flipper lightweight FRN/VG-10. Would love to see something like that to compete with the Skyline.




Oh, and if you don't mind me asking, where you at approximately in MI? I'm in northern Oakland county, just up the road from the Palace...
 
vanslem6 said:
While back-locks are solid, they don't have the fun-factor. He definitely likes to play with them, too!
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Actually, I find the back locks on my Spydercos pretty therapeutic to play with too. :)

They can be operated one handed with a little practice. And Spyderco makes the best handling back locks of all the knives I've handled. This isn't mine, but here's a video that shows a one-handed closing technique. There are several others as well, but this is the one that I like and use.
 
flarp said:
Actually, I find the back locks on my Spydercos pretty therapeutic to play with too. :)

They can be operated one handed with a little practice. And Spyderco makes the best handling back locks of all the knives I've handled. This isn't mine, but here's a video that shows a one-handed closing technique. There are several others as well, but this is the one that I like and use.
Click to expand...


I'll agree with that, definitely not hard to operate a back or mid lock one handed, and several ways to handle it, but rarely do they have that free flicking smooth open pivot feel of some other designs that can give a tactile satisfaction that some are looking for.
 
Certainly native5. Great blade, great ergos. I EDC N5 for probably three years and the knife was able handle any task I asked him to perform. I love it.
 
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