Manix 2 or Gayle Bradley? Help!

I just got mine in the mail today from the spydieguys. I am a lefty, and it is no problem to open and close from the left side. Even though the knife looks kind of fancy due to the carbon fiber scales and shiny liners, etc., it feels like a tank in your hand. This thing is no light-weight by any means. (sorry I don't have a camera right now).

The liner lock inspires confidence because it seems very thick. As far as the liner locks go, IMO Spyderco does them better than any other company I have owned, and I have tried quite a few. I have a couple of Manix 2's and that's a fine knife as well. But for some reason, I feel the Gayle Bradley will be what I will carry more frequently.
 
I posted a quick & dirty "first impressions" video here. If you have a little patience and a good connection, you can click on YouTube's "HD" option.
 
If I could get it at the same price as the GB, then yeah :D

Okay I have DECIDED! If that deal on the foliage green Manix falls through...Gayle Bradley it is!

Thanks a MILLION guys! You're the best!

(That foliage green Manix was listed at 135 btw.)
 
JNewell said:
I posted a quick & dirty "first impressions" video here. If you have a little patience and a good connection, you can click on YouTube's "HD" option.
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Damn JNewell, you know I have dropped a bit of cash lately on some Benchmade knives. After seeing your video I retract every word about being a "gentleman's" folder. What a brick. BTW, your quick and dirty was almost 10 minutes. Excellent video. Hope someone gives me some cash for Christmas because I have a new knife in view. :)
 
Liveitloud said:
I really like the looks of the GB folder but I'm not so sure that it might be marketed wrong. It just doesn't strike me as a workhorse. I have not held it or even seen it up close so I could be wrong but it just doesn't scream tank to me. On the other hand neither does the Caly III but it's a tough little knife.

I would think that the Manix would take a beating and ask for more. It also is an open frame construction which would make for easy clean up.
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Meh. The whole "workhorse" knife, when speaking of modern knives, is vastly overdone these days.

A workhorse knife in my grandpa's day was a little, two bladed slipjoint. Thin blade, pointy tip, no lock.... They lasted forever, got worked harder than 99% of the people who think they need "tough" knives nowadays, and didn't break...

I don't see how this knife can't handle just about any cutting chore you could throw at it. Hell, I'd imagine I could beat the hell out of my Centofante 4 and it'd be just fine, with it's thin little blade, lightweight frn handle, etc...

The biggest thing I'd look at for modern workhorses is blade steel. I find my s30v to be just a bit brittle, so if I had to strip copper wiring and other tasks that involve occasional metal on metal, I'd choose a tougher steel that won't have its edge destroyed. And from what I hear, m4 certainly fits that bill.

I'd snatch up one of these now, but I'm on the waiting list for the Ti m4 Military, and will be content with that :P
 
JNewell said:
I posted a quick & dirty "first impressions" video here. If you have a little patience and a good connection, you can click on YouTube's "HD" option.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the video and impressions - this knife is way more aesthetically-pleasing than the stock pre-production photo lets on.

I have too many knives as it is, but I'm always in the market for a beefy mid-sized folder with carbon fiber/tip down/liner lock. Not to mention high speed carbon steel. :eek:

Sold! :thumbup:
 
I'm adding my comments for other lefties that read this later on... I am primarily right-handed (i.e., not quite ambidextrous), but I can still manipulate the GB's liner lock with my left hand to open and close it one-handed. I find little problem with manipulating the lock to close the knife despite there not being an enlarged opening or cut-out to access the liner; the recess on the opposing liner is sufficient in my handling of this model.

wongKI--
Good luck with the FG Manix deal. Do keep the GB model in mind for a future purchase though. ;)
 
Yes, I actually find some LLs and FLs easier to unlock with my left hand than with my right. (I am what I sometimes call "confused-bidextrous - either 3/8 or 4/8 of my great grandparents were lefties, depending on who in my family you're talking to.)

I have just uploaded a second video with additional notes and comments on this knife. The little details are truly outstanding on this, as I mention in the video. The only possible drawbacks are weight (but then it wouldn't be built like a tank) and being tough if you need to use it with gloves on (buy a C36, I guess!). The only thing I would have liked to be different, and this is a nit so small you'll need a magnifying glass to find it, would have been using the Caly3/Sage/P'kal-type wire clips, which offer the additional benefit of coming in "high ride" and "low ride" versions. Truly a nit. This thing is outstanding. Buy one now! :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRPFtiCRakY
 
Firebat said:
That, as far as I'm concerned, is a very good thing. A great description that I hope I agree with. Anxious to receive mine.
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Aha!! Got mine today, and you're 100% correct. Your description was a great one, thanks fishface!
 
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