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- Dec 9, 2005
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For my birthday my wife was nice enough to buy me a PE Spyderco Manix, and even asked New Graham to pick out the one with the least blade play (they told her all had just a hint of play, and sent the tightest one)! What a wife!
For a description from the Spyderco website: http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=165
Initial Impressions, Fit & Finish, Ergonomics
This is a massive knife, with a 3.75" S30V blade, Steel lined G-10 Handles, and a very strong backlock. It weighs just over 6 oz. and has an OAL just under 9". My initial impressions of the fit and finish were that it has very good fit and finish. Not quite the level of the Benchmade Rukus (http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=610) I used in the passaround, but damned close. The Benchmade is around $50 more expensive, and a little larger than the Manix, but in the same class of knife. The blade is centered when closed, has only the faintist hint of vertical play when open, the G-10 bevels are ground evenly, and it is very smooth for a lockback. The Spyderhole is great for opening the blade, even with a gloved hand. The jimping is different than the passaround Manix I used was, as it is closely spaced lines on the thumb ramp, like the mini manix I used in the passaround. It passes the spine whack test with no issues. This test involved some quick, light hits of the spine on a table and a couple heavier hits, but nothing excessive. The G-10 is very grippy, and the knife feels great in the hand and large in the pocket. The ergonomics are great for multiple grips, and I really like the choil for choking up for precise cuts. It balances with your front two fingers on the grip, and feels great for me in my standard "thrusting" type grip, where my thumb is on the thumb ramp and hand on the handle in the standard position. It comes right hand tip down, which I plan on changing to right hand tip up. I wish the extra clip holes had screws in them, and I wish the clip was more rounded, or better yet a low carry, HD wire clip. After using the factory clip on the passaround Manix it cuts into your hands on heavy cuts if you don't use gloves. It gives the impression of a high quality, extremely stout folder.
Sharpness and Edge Qualities
Now, to the famous "Spyderco Sharp" part. It is extremely sharp, able to shave hair above the arm, and shows a toothy edge, similar to the one my Native had from the factory, under magnification. The top of the edge bevel is .020"-.021" thick, ground around 12.5 degrees per side based on my trig (between just under 12 degrees and just over 13 degrees along the length). It is full flat ground, leaf shaped, with a full distal taper. The tip is very thin and pointy, just how I like them.
For pushcutting newsprint (The San Francisco Chronicle), it averaged 3.14" away from the point of hold, with all cuts between 3" and 3.25".
For pushcutting the SBC Yellow Pages, it averaged 1.34", with all results between 1.25" and 1.375", extremely consistent, as every cut but one was right around 1 3/8".
As a high end reference, I tested a razor blade of unknown origin in my tool box, and it manages to pushcut newsprint at an average 4.78" from the point of hold, with all cuts between 4.5" and 5.19". It push cut the yellow pages at an average of 2.91" from the point of hold, with all results between 2.75" and 3". I plan on getting new utility blades to retest as a high end number, as this blade is several years old, though it didn't have any corrosion at the edge.
Those are very impressive pushcutting numbers for a factory knife, especially considering the blade also has great slicing aggression.
Things I Would Change
As for things I would change, first would be to a low profile, heavy duty wire clip. It may not look as nice as the clip on it now, but functionally would be much more comfortable, espescially on tough cuts. After handling a D'allara in the store the wire clip's ergos just blow me away, enough to say screw the looks, that just feels good in the hand. I wish the extra clip holes were filled, also as stated earlier. I like the jimping on the thumb ramp, and would like to see some jimping on the choil. It would be nice if it was thinner in the pocket, but I am willing to sacrafice that for the handle and blade shape, as they are great when open. I also would have liked to see the edge a little thinner and around 10 degrees per side, but I'm sure that will happen when I have tested out the factory edge and want to spend some quality time with the knife and my DMT benchstones. I will then go with Spyderco stones for the 15 degree microbevel, and that should leave good geometry for a heavy duty cutting tool.
Personal Note About S30V and Chipping
As a side note, if I do initially see problems with chipping, I will give it several tries with a 15 degree microbevel on the factory edge, and if it doesn't go away I will send it in to Spyderco before I do any reprofiling. My Native initially had chipping (on light cardboard and plastic), but it went away after several sharpenings. I know Sal Glesser has said all of Spyderco's steels should be able to handle 15 degrees with no problem, so if it does chip and several 15 degree sharpenings don't make it go away I think Spyderco should take a good look at it, and hopefully remedy the situation. Most likely chipping won't even be an issue, but having my first knife in S30V chip some does tend to keep it at the front of your mind.
Summary
I am happy with the knife, as it is what I wanted for my heavy duty folder. The knife is very comfortable in the hand, and gives you an extreme sense of strength when you use it. Spyderco has very good blade geometry and very good sharpness, as is usual for them. This is a heavy duty cutting tool, not an overbuilt hunk of metal with a blade so thick it's no longer a good cutter, as is often seen in this class of knife. The main drawbacks that I see are that the weight and size in the pocket will turn some people off, and that the clip can cut into your hand on very heavy cuts. Otherwise it fits the bill as a very good, very heavy duty cutting tool, that is also capable of some detail work due to it's choil and fine tip. Now I just have to hope I didn't get a "chippy" one. I will have fun finding out, and maybe customer service, or better yet a Phil Wilson rehardening can help me if I do have any issues.
For a description from the Spyderco website: http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=165
Initial Impressions, Fit & Finish, Ergonomics
This is a massive knife, with a 3.75" S30V blade, Steel lined G-10 Handles, and a very strong backlock. It weighs just over 6 oz. and has an OAL just under 9". My initial impressions of the fit and finish were that it has very good fit and finish. Not quite the level of the Benchmade Rukus (http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=610) I used in the passaround, but damned close. The Benchmade is around $50 more expensive, and a little larger than the Manix, but in the same class of knife. The blade is centered when closed, has only the faintist hint of vertical play when open, the G-10 bevels are ground evenly, and it is very smooth for a lockback. The Spyderhole is great for opening the blade, even with a gloved hand. The jimping is different than the passaround Manix I used was, as it is closely spaced lines on the thumb ramp, like the mini manix I used in the passaround. It passes the spine whack test with no issues. This test involved some quick, light hits of the spine on a table and a couple heavier hits, but nothing excessive. The G-10 is very grippy, and the knife feels great in the hand and large in the pocket. The ergonomics are great for multiple grips, and I really like the choil for choking up for precise cuts. It balances with your front two fingers on the grip, and feels great for me in my standard "thrusting" type grip, where my thumb is on the thumb ramp and hand on the handle in the standard position. It comes right hand tip down, which I plan on changing to right hand tip up. I wish the extra clip holes had screws in them, and I wish the clip was more rounded, or better yet a low carry, HD wire clip. After using the factory clip on the passaround Manix it cuts into your hands on heavy cuts if you don't use gloves. It gives the impression of a high quality, extremely stout folder.
Sharpness and Edge Qualities
Now, to the famous "Spyderco Sharp" part. It is extremely sharp, able to shave hair above the arm, and shows a toothy edge, similar to the one my Native had from the factory, under magnification. The top of the edge bevel is .020"-.021" thick, ground around 12.5 degrees per side based on my trig (between just under 12 degrees and just over 13 degrees along the length). It is full flat ground, leaf shaped, with a full distal taper. The tip is very thin and pointy, just how I like them.
For pushcutting newsprint (The San Francisco Chronicle), it averaged 3.14" away from the point of hold, with all cuts between 3" and 3.25".
For pushcutting the SBC Yellow Pages, it averaged 1.34", with all results between 1.25" and 1.375", extremely consistent, as every cut but one was right around 1 3/8".
As a high end reference, I tested a razor blade of unknown origin in my tool box, and it manages to pushcut newsprint at an average 4.78" from the point of hold, with all cuts between 4.5" and 5.19". It push cut the yellow pages at an average of 2.91" from the point of hold, with all results between 2.75" and 3". I plan on getting new utility blades to retest as a high end number, as this blade is several years old, though it didn't have any corrosion at the edge.
Those are very impressive pushcutting numbers for a factory knife, especially considering the blade also has great slicing aggression.
Things I Would Change
As for things I would change, first would be to a low profile, heavy duty wire clip. It may not look as nice as the clip on it now, but functionally would be much more comfortable, espescially on tough cuts. After handling a D'allara in the store the wire clip's ergos just blow me away, enough to say screw the looks, that just feels good in the hand. I wish the extra clip holes were filled, also as stated earlier. I like the jimping on the thumb ramp, and would like to see some jimping on the choil. It would be nice if it was thinner in the pocket, but I am willing to sacrafice that for the handle and blade shape, as they are great when open. I also would have liked to see the edge a little thinner and around 10 degrees per side, but I'm sure that will happen when I have tested out the factory edge and want to spend some quality time with the knife and my DMT benchstones. I will then go with Spyderco stones for the 15 degree microbevel, and that should leave good geometry for a heavy duty cutting tool.
Personal Note About S30V and Chipping
As a side note, if I do initially see problems with chipping, I will give it several tries with a 15 degree microbevel on the factory edge, and if it doesn't go away I will send it in to Spyderco before I do any reprofiling. My Native initially had chipping (on light cardboard and plastic), but it went away after several sharpenings. I know Sal Glesser has said all of Spyderco's steels should be able to handle 15 degrees with no problem, so if it does chip and several 15 degree sharpenings don't make it go away I think Spyderco should take a good look at it, and hopefully remedy the situation. Most likely chipping won't even be an issue, but having my first knife in S30V chip some does tend to keep it at the front of your mind.
Summary
I am happy with the knife, as it is what I wanted for my heavy duty folder. The knife is very comfortable in the hand, and gives you an extreme sense of strength when you use it. Spyderco has very good blade geometry and very good sharpness, as is usual for them. This is a heavy duty cutting tool, not an overbuilt hunk of metal with a blade so thick it's no longer a good cutter, as is often seen in this class of knife. The main drawbacks that I see are that the weight and size in the pocket will turn some people off, and that the clip can cut into your hand on very heavy cuts. Otherwise it fits the bill as a very good, very heavy duty cutting tool, that is also capable of some detail work due to it's choil and fine tip. Now I just have to hope I didn't get a "chippy" one. I will have fun finding out, and maybe customer service, or better yet a Phil Wilson rehardening can help me if I do have any issues.
