Manix, Para or Military

A

ajdddyoung

Joined
Jan 5, 2007
Messages
169
I am fairly new to the forums and am looking at buying a new folder 125 and under. Have been a long fan of Spyderco but where I live now I hve no gun or knife shops around so the internet and your help is all I have. I am considerint the Para, Manix or the Military. Manix seems like the best option because I like tip up carry, but I am still sellable. Any input would help. I want G-10 handles and s30v steel, but other than that I am open to suggestions. Thanks
 
ajdddyoung,
Welcome to Bladeforums!!!
I would say the Manix. I have had all 3 at one time or another, and all 3 are excellent knives, but if I had to pick one, the Manix would be my first pick(then Para, and Military). Let us know what you decide.



Blades
 
Manix VS Military is probably the most even bout you will ever see. Para is more than a few steps below those. It's a great design that needs a lot of refinement, still.
 
That is like deciding whether a Ferrari or Humvee is better: it mostly depends on what you want to do with it.

The Military has more cutting edge, a slimmer blade, a narrower profile in the pocket and is much lighter. It is an extraordinary slicer, and is capable of taking on a wide range of tasks, from kitchen to campfire. Plus it is light enough to forget you have it in your pocket.

The Manix is more robust, has a wider blade, takes up more pocket space, has a stronger and more lefty friendly lock and is quite a bit heavier. It is also a confidence inspiring knife that feels in the hand like it can take whatever you can dish out. In side by side cutting tests, it has out-perfomed knives costing twice as much.

The ParaMilitary is also lightweight but very strong, with a different lock (between the Manix mid-lock and Military liner lock in strength). The inch shorter blade makes it less threatening to use around NKP, and a bit handier to use for fine work since the finger choil and shorter blade get your fingers closer to the tip.

Of couse, there is also the Mini-Manix to consider. Some people prefer the ergonomics of the 83mm Mini to its big brother. It has the same kind of heft and tank-like feel as the Manix, with the shorter and somewhat friendlier leaf-shaped blade, and the four-way clip option as well.

Now that I have thoroughly clouded the issue, welcome to the forum :D
 
erm, yeah, what Yablano said :D

plus, the Para carries comfier in the pocket (smaller, and light too).

denn
 
The Manix is very large and heavy. For me it is way into fixed blade territory.
The Millie is my favorite larger Spyderco and I'd take it over a Manix any day of the week. The Millie can take anything I'll use a folder for and probably a lot more....

So my rating would be: 1. Military 2. Para-Military 3. Manix.

If I felt I needed something like a Manix I'd use a Temperance:D
 
I vote the para, because I like the short blade. It does everything I would ask of the full size military, but more people friendly. I have grown to really like the lock on the para also. Great all around knife.




Best of luck,
John
 
compromise between all three and buy the mini manix , much more EDC friendly IMO
 
johnwaynesandw said:
I vote the para, because I like the short blade. It does everything I would ask of the full size military, but more people friendly. I have grown to really like the lock on the para also. Great all around knife.
Best of luck,
John
Click to expand...

Well said. Ditto!
 
Well now I am confused as to which one I want. :confused:
That is the thing about Spyderco's, they are all great knives that each person can enjoy. You might have to try a few, see what you like best. You can always try to trade them on the forums here. That is how I tried them, or sometimes you can sign up for a pass-a-around.
Once again, good luck with your decision!
:)



Blades
 
Para-Military is out because it doesn't have the blade-length of the other too.
Less blade-length means more frequent sharpening sessions.

This leave the Military or the Manix...

Honestly, you can't go wrong with either one.

I prefer the Manix because I like lock-backs over liner-locks.
 
If we're talking about the G-10 versions,then I'd go with the Manix. If we're considering the CF BG-42 Mili, then I'd go with that overall. I likes the big knives. It really depends on what you're most comfortable with. If you like smaller knives, then you should probably be comparing the Para, the Mini Manix & the Caly 3.
 
ajdddyoung said:
I am fairly new to the forums and am looking at buying a new folder 125 and under. Have been a long fan of Spyderco but where I live now I hve no gun or knife shops around so the internet and your help is all I have. I am considerint the Para, Manix or the Military. Manix seems like the best option because I like tip up carry, but I am still sellable. Any input would help. I want G-10 handles and s30v steel, but other than that I am open to suggestions. Thanks
Click to expand...


The Para is nice, I like the smaller knives, not so bulky in the pocket and the G10 S30V is lightweight but the handle is large and the grip is very solid. It is a tip down carry though and also rides a little high in the pocket on the clip.
 
I am proud to say I went with the mini manix and the millie. Looking foward to getting them just hate to wait. Should see something Tuesday or so. Thanks for all the help, you guys are great.
 
The way I see it, there are two knives that you should buy before the Para. The Mini-Manix if you need a more robust knife or the Military. The Military and the Para carry about the same in the pocket but the Military has more blade. The Mini-Manix and the Para are about the same size in blade and handle but the Mini-Manix is more ergonomic and has a better lock. I am not even close to being sold on the compression lock idea.

The Para is a big knife that delivers a small blade. In some ways it is nice since you have plenty of grip on a medium sized blade so you feel like you have more leverage. I have to admit, I have never wished for more blade on my Paras. The Para blade seems fine for whatever I have had to do. It is just that, with the Military, you get more blade. It sounds dumb but after getting the CF Military, I can't look at the Para the same. I love liner locks, I love tip down carry, I love full flat ground blades, I love light weight. The CF Military and to a lesser extant, the G-10 Military, is still one of the best large folders you can get.

So my choice would be:
1. Carbon Fiber Military (G-10 if you can't find a CF version)
2. Manix (in the large Manix the combo edge is a great choice)
3. Mini-Manix (stick with plain edge on the Mini-Manix)
4. Para-Military

Just a word of caution, the Manix and Mini-Manix will probably feel great to everyone but the Para has weird humps and grooves in the handle that you may not like. The Military has them as well but they are spaced different and feel much better than the Para. If you are considering the Para, you really need to handle it before you buy. The Manix or Mini-Manix is a safe bet since it has great ergos.
 
I've handled all 3 and I own a carbon fiber military. The military is a very light knife for it's size, however it's tip down carry and a little uncomfortable to carry in your front pocket. I normally carry it in my back pocket with no problems. The manix is quite a bit heavier and wider than the military. The other big difference between the 2 knives is the tip. The military has an ultra-thin tip which I love because it is rediculously sharp. However, It's very weak so you can't use it to pry (which you shouldn't use any knife to pry but especially not this one).
 
Maybe a comparison picture will help:

from left to right - DK-Penknife/UK-Penknife/Para-Military/Manix 83mm/Manix/Military

img9349mediumss9.jpg
 
I just bought a mini-Manix and love it.

I also have a Wallyworld Native and am becoming a Spyderco fan very quickly.

WJR
 
The Manix is a knife you can take to a few major wars, and bring it back looking and functioning like new. I like it more than the Military for hard usage because of the robust tip, steel liners, strong lock, and better ergos. The Manix is one of those knives that when I carry and show to other people, they usually end up buying one.

For slightly more refined usage, the Para is also exceptionally strong.
 
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