Manix 2 out-of-the-box issues

[samuraiprose]

Newbie here to Spyderco blades. I just got my Manix 2 today, and was excited to find it in the mail. It feels splendid in hand and is representative of the kind of engineering I hear Spyderco praised for.

However, I was dismayed to find that the edge did not have the paper shaving, surgical sharpness I've heard mentioned so often. Making matters worse, the blade is offset to the left. I called, and they're closed; what to do? Just send it in?

 

[Tdhurl1103]

It would seem you have the entire weekend to field answers to your question, but, I'm going to recommend you wait and call them on Monday.

 

[samuraiprose]

I must confess, I have had an extremely bad turn of luck buying knives lately. I bought a Kershaw Rake some months ago and experienced the same issues with it, which took three send-ins before they finally fixed it. I bought a Kershaw Piston recently and experienced dullness, a rattling when open, and an offset blade when closed; I'm currently experiencing send-in number three on that one, too. Needless to say, I was really hoping not to have another faulty knife come in with my conversation to Spyderco after the other debacles, but now I'm just looking for a way to proceed and walk away happy. The high faith and esteem in their warranty department makes me optimistic.

 

[DREW78]

Any more these days it seems factory sharp is a crap shoot. While you hash out your issues with spyderco, I'd suggest you take one of your lower end knives and begin to learn how to sharpen yourself.

It is extremely liberating to be able to put a RAZOR sharp edge on your own knives. It also has the potential to open up a whole new "worm hole" in this hobby. You can get just as crazy with sharpening as you can with buying high end knives. Best of luck

Drew

 

[tvenuto]

The knife you describe does not sound faulty, unless the blade is actually contacting the liners. Perhaps attempting to adjust the pivot might change the way the blade sits if it bothers you. I know other people might have some other methods for fixing this. Factory edges will come in a variety of initial sharpnesses, and I guess you could send it in to be sharpened, but you didn't actually say it was dull. Obviously, your standards are what they are, and you may want to exchange it or send it in, but this hardly sounds like a "debacle."

 

[Fred Sanford]

Seems to me that the Golden Colorado quality control is slacking. Too many of these issues lately.

 

[samuraiprose]

The knife you describe does not sound faulty, unless the blade is actually contacting the liners. Perhaps attempting to adjust the pivot might change the way the blade sits if it bothers you. I know other people might have some other methods for fixing this. Factory edges will come in a variety of initial sharpnesses, and I guess you could send it in to be sharpened, but you didn't actually say it was dull. Obviously, your standards are what they are, and you may want to exchange it or send it in, but this hardly sounds like a "debacle."

I have no torx keys as of yet (nor sharpening supplies at the moment) and hope to get my hands on some soon, but I'll be putting my blade in the mail first and taking advantage of the warranty provided. Otherwise, I'd rectify these issues myself, as rightly recommended. It's worth noting that I used the word "debacle" to describe my ongoing troubles with Kershaw, not a first-time issue with Spyderco. Having to send each of my two knives to Kershaw to fix out-of-the-box issues three separate times is frustrating. That's all I was saying with that: that having to deal with seven different customer service experiences in less than a year might be a little trying on one's patience. I'm not implying that I assume I will have the same experience with Spyderco as I did with Kershaw; far from it, if all of the outstanding testimonies I've read about their customer service are accurate.

And as far as your insinuation that the knife is not actually dull, it could not shave hanging receipt paper. So I took it a step up and tried it on printer paper held in the hand. When it couldn't do that, I took it another step up and tried it on a thicker business card, which it tore through. So by my standard, which is what it is as you put it, yes, it is dull, and could use a touch-up.

Seems to me that the Golden Colorado quality control is slacking. Too many of these issues lately.

I bought a NIB Zulu which arrived sooner than the Manix. I have to say, the fit and finish to it was superb and probably better than any folder I'd had up to that point. The Manix is also quite nice, save for the issues I listed. Will be hard to say which is better when it's fixed.

 

[vwb563]

First let me say that my statement is only my opinion as yours may be different. First a slightly off center blade isn't a big deal, especially if the knife is a user. We all want perfectly centered blades on all our knives 100% of the time but that just isn't always what we get. And correct me if I'm wrong but seems like I read that Spydercos policy is if the blade isn't rubbing a liner then it's within spec so they probably aren't gonna do anything for your off center blade issue. Now onto the next issue. Why not just sharpen it? I mean if a blade isn't sharp then I sharpen it. It's simple self resolved issue. If you dont know how then you need to learn. If you are gonna use knives then sharpening them is a must know tallent. It's kinda like driving a car. If you are drive a car then you have to learn how to gas them up. Sending a knife back to the manufacturer just to be sharpened is just plain silly to me. Learn how to sharpen. There are all kinds of sharpening systems on the market. The Spydetco Sharpmaker is prolly one of the simplest ones out there. Then there are all kinds of more expensive ones that will do a perfect sharpening job for you. Just read the instructions, clamp the sharpener to the blade and go to town on it. That's just my way of seeing it.

 

[tvenuto]

It's worth noting that I used the word "debacle" to describe my ongoing troubles with Kershaw, not a first-time issue with Spyderco. Having to send each of my two knives to Kershaw to fix out-of-the-box issues three separate times is frustrating. That's all I was saying with that: that having to deal with seven different customer service experiences in less than a year might be a little trying on one's patience. I'm not implying that I assume I will have the same experience with Spyderco as I did with Kershaw; far from it, if all of the outstanding testimonies I've read about their customer service are accurate.

And as far as your insinuation that the knife is not actually dull, it could not shave hanging receipt paper. So I took it a step up and tried it on printer paper held in the hand. When it couldn't do that, I took it another step up and tried it on a thicker business card, which it tore through. So by my standard, which is what it is as you put it, yes, it is dull, and could use a touch-up.

Noted, I'm sure Spyderco will take care of you as well. However, I didn't insinuate anything, I merely pointed out that you did not say it was dull. You just said it "did not have the paper shaving, surgical sharpness I've heard mentioned so often" so I was unsure if you were holding it to some sort of preconceived standard. As you describe it now, yes, I too would say that knife is dull beyond being very useful.

Out of curiosity, was this an Amazon purchase?

 

[samuraiprose]

First let me say that my statement is only my opinion as yours may be different. First a slightly off center blade isn't a big deal, especially if the knife is a user. We all want perfectly centered blades on all our knives 100% of the time but that just isn't always what we get. And correct me if I'm wrong but seems like I read that Spydercos policy is if the blade isn't rubbing a liner then it's within spec so they probably aren't gonna do anything for your off center blade issue. Now onto the next issue. Why not just sharpen it? I mean if a blade isn't sharp then I sharpen it. It's simple self resolved issue. If you dont know how then you need to learn. If you are gonna use knives then sharpening them is a must know tallent. It's kinda like driving a car. If you are drive a car then you have to learn how to gas them up. Sending a knife back to the manufacturer just to be sharpened is just plain silly to me. Learn how to sharpen. There are all kinds of sharpening systems on the market. The Spydetco Sharpmaker is prolly one of the simplest ones out there. Then there are all kinds of more expensive ones that will do a perfect sharpening job for you. Just read the instructions, clamp the sharpener to the blade and go to town on it. That's just my way of seeing it.

In my own defense, I have to ask, am I really so pedantic for wanting the high standard I heard so much about before I got into Spyderco? Before all this, I heard no end of praise for their QC (from BF more than anywhere else), and now I hear from two people that should I encounter issues, I should just fix these issues myself and be satisfied. I find this troubling, not to mention inconsistent. That is, of course, my opinion.

I also made mention before that I do not have my sharpening supplies on hand at the moment; they got lost in a recent move. Otherwise, yes, I would put my own edge on the knife and call it good.

 

[vwb563]

In my own defense, I have to ask, am I really so pedantic for wanting the high standard I heard so much about before I got into Spyderco? Before all this, I heard no end of praise for their QC (from BF more than anywhere else), and now I hear from two people that should I encounter issues, I should just fix these issues myself and be satisfied. I find this troubling, not to mention inconsistent. That is, of course, my opinion.

I also made mention before that I do not have my sharpening supplies on hand at the moment; they got lost in a recent move. Otherwise, yes, I would put my own edge on the knife and call it good.

I've been using knives since I was about 8 or 9 years old which means I've got around 40 years of experience with various brands. Every brand there that I've delt with will let an occasional one "slip through." I'm not saying what you got was a defective knife but maybe it's just not 100% perfect. To expect perfection every time with every purchase is not going to happen. From what I've seen Spyderco has around a 99% or higher perfection rate. I've prolly owned around 50 or so Spydercos in my time and only one had a real issue. Sure a few have had had slightly off centered blades and maybe weren't as sharp out of the box as I would have liked but that's just life. You learn to fix the issue and forget it.

 

[Monofletch]

One thing I had issues with. I purchased a couple different brands "on line" and did not know I was buying a blem or second knife. Kershaw will mark their knives with the XXXX- I'm not sure if any other brands note a blem or second other than marking the box. That could be the issue....or not.

 

[samuraiprose]

I've been using knives since I was about 8 or 9 years old which means I've got around 40 years of experience with various brands. Every brand there that I've delt with will let an occasional one "slip through." I'm not saying what you got was a defective knife but maybe it's just not 100% perfect. To expect perfection every time with every purchase is not going to happen. From what I've seen Spyderco has around a 99% or higher perfection rate. I've prolly owned around 50 or so Spydercos in my time and only one had a real issue. Sure a few have had had slightly off centered blades and maybe weren't as sharp out of the box as I would have liked but that's just life. You learn to fix the issue and forget it.

Noted. I think I'm gonna go ahead and give them a call anyway.

One thing I had issues with. I purchased a couple different brands "on line" and did not know I was buying a blem or second knife. Kershaw will mark their knives with the XXXX- I'm not sure if any other brands note a blem or second other than marking the box. That could be the issue....or not.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that this is a second; Spyderco (unless they've changed their methods) marks their blades with a notch if it's a blem. I got mine off of a retailer on Amazon, and these issues aside, I see no major flaws, nor a notch.

 

[samuraiprose]

Noted, I'm sure Spyderco will take care of you as well. However, I didn't insinuate anything, I merely pointed out that you did not say it was dull. You just said it "did not have the paper shaving, surgical sharpness I've heard mentioned so often" so I was unsure if you were holding it to some sort of preconceived standard. As you describe it now, yes, I too would say that knife is dull beyond being very useful.

Out of curiosity, was this an Amazon purchase?

Sorry, I missed your post! Yeah, it was.

 

[Monofletch]

Noted. I think I'm gonna go ahead and give them a call anyway.



I wouldn't go so far as to say that this is a second; Spyderco (unless they've changed their methods) marks their blades with a notch if it's a blem. I got mine off of a retailer on Amazon, and these issues aside, I see no major flaws, nor a notch.

Just a thought. Most blems I have you can not find any cosmetic flaws.

 

[tvenuto]

I got mine off of a retailer on Amazon

I am Jack's complete lack of surprise. Almost every time someone posts issues like these, they have bought off of Amazon.

 

[vwb563]

Noted. I think I'm gonna go ahead and give them a call anyway.

Understandable. And I'm sure they'll try their best to help. Spyderco is an upstanding company. I'm just saying I've learned not to expect perfection from any brand that way I get disappointed less often unless it's a true issue like lock slippage or something.

I am Jack's complete lack of surprise. Almost every time someone posts issues like these, they have bought off of Amazon.

That's interesting. Hummmm.

 

[samuraiprose]

I am Jack's complete lack of surprise. Almost every time someone posts issues like these, they have bought off of Amazon.

I support this idea, considering the two Kershaws I mentioned were also Amazon purchases.

 

[samuraiprose]

Understandable. And I'm sure they'll try their best to help. Spyderco is an upstanding company. I'm just saying I've learned not to expect perfection from any brand that way I get disappointed less often unless it's a true issue like lock slippage or something.

Right, these are secondary. Inconveniences. If Spyderco can patch me up and send me on my way, excellent. If not, I'll make do and fix it in time.

 

[rycen]

The bottom line is if you're not happy just send it back. It's not the only job of a dealer just to sell knives they have to deal with the problems too.