Manix lockup problem?

G

guyfalks

Joined
Dec 22, 2005
Messages
230
I just got a brand new Manix on Friday. I found it to be well finished with comfortable handles, a well centered and nicely ground and sharpened blade, and I really like the shape of the blade.

What I do not like is that I can pinch the blade near the tip and move it up and down fairly easily when the knife is locked up. I can feel the locking bar move as I do this. (My Endura and Tasman Salt lock up solid with no play.)

Is this normal or did I get a lemon? If some play is allowable, how much? Can the play be adjusted out or does the knife have to be returned?
 
I, personally, would find that very annoying and send it in. I'll allow a bit of play in my linerless FRN knives, but play in a Manix is unacceptable.
 
If it's any consolation every spyderco lockback that I have ever had that I can remember (15+) has had up and down lock play. I have had 3 Manix and they all have had up and down lock play. None of them fail a whack test and I cannot manually cause them to close so I think it's normal.

Now that I think about it, I don't think that I have had any other brand of lockblade that didn't have play. Benchmade, Buck, Gerber etc.

It's annoying but to be expected and I still love Spydies.

edited to add: I had a Manix that closed lazily so I sent it back (it also had up and down play but that's not why I sent it back). It was replaced and the replacement has a little up and down play. I would hope that their customer service would have inspected my replacement and not send it if it wasn't safe. Hence, I think that it's safe and normal.
Adam
 
My Ocelot lock back has zero blade movement as does my Dragonfly. I would think there must be some Manix examples that are the same, I hate the movement on a fairly expensive knife.
 
My Manix has vertical blade play too. It gives before it starts to cut when I bear down on a forceful cut. It really bugs me but it is a nice knife other than that so I bear with it.
 
Is the pivot tight? My R2 had a little bit of vertical blade play when I would bear down on a cut as well, but I tightened the pivot and I can't feel anymore vertical blade play. Still smooth to open, but it takes a little bit more force to open now.
 
Thanks but that would replace one problem with another. I just deal with it. I figure Spyderco will tweak out the play in the future models.
 
I have checked (personally or through friends and acquaintances) several Spyderco lockback knives since I began this post and most of them do have vertical play. I also found the following earlier discussion:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...oo k+vertical

This leads to the conclusion that some vertical play is normal. This still leaves the question of how much vertical play is safe. And I still would prefer a lockup with no play at all.
 
My Manix has as up and down play as well , but very very little that I dont notice it and it dosent effect any cutting I do.....It just seems thats common with lockbacks....If it bothers you then I think you should send it back..The Manix is a great knife overall and you should feel comfortable with it just as you should feel with any knife you carry and use if not you should have syderco replace it...Im sure it wont be a problem they are great people with great products..Good Luck
 
My Manix has the same problem with up and down blade play when locked and the lock bar moving. I talked with Eric Glesser at NYCKS and he said he could feel the play, but wasn't sure if it was within their tolerances, Sal passed by and Eric asked him, and Sal said to send it in. Both great guys BTW :) With the holiday coming close and not wanting to part with it, I didn't sent it in. Should send it in so Spyderco can make it right like I trust they will :thumbup:

I suggest calling customer service and talking about it with them.

It looks like the cutout for the lock face is too big on the blade tang so it doesn't sit square.

Edit: Forgot to add that I noticed when you tighten down on the screws holding the lockbar in place that the amount of play reduces, but makes the knife harder to open. A new lockbar should fix the problem.
 
I have my fingers crossed the new Caly 3 will not have the blade play problem. I am really looking forward to that knife. It looks to be a perfect EDC.
 
From what Sal has said in the past, a little play is normal to these Very Heavy Duty frontlocks - a part of the engineering problem/solution of a frontlock that can hold 200#/inch.
 
My Endura 4 and my para have zeo blade play. I've got a Manix on order and you guys have me worried. Will let you know.
 
...and here I thought it was only the Para that had the bad blade play rap.
 
My Manix has slight vertical blade play but seems to be holding up very well. I wouldnt be to worried cause I hear about that alot as long as its not a significant amount.
 
I returned mine. I think the amount of play in it was significant (though I have no way of knowing for sure.) Spyderco customer service said they would check it out; but with a 4 to 6 week turn around time + shipping I figured it was time to move on.
 
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