Need help to decide.. Manix2 or Para2

J

johansson D

Joined
May 12, 2011
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162
So i'm about to order a couple knives after letting my interest in
blades laying dormant a long while. I will be buying a couple beckers and
a Dragonfly. But! Having trouble deciding what friend to buy for the dragonfly.
The two finalists are a Manix2 and a Para2. Love the looks of the Manix! However, the Para2
with digicamo pants are really growing on me.

So, enough with the rambling.. I've read alot in the forums and
they both seem well liked. Uses will be pretty general. Food prep, boxes,
flipping it open and closed, whittling the grips for my guns. Those kinda things..
 
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As you'll often hear stated at BFC, you can't really go wrong with either. Both are well finished, strong and ergonomic folders with blade profiles that are optimized for the types of cutting chores you've mentioned. I own examples of both and if I could only own one, I'd probably have to go with the PM2. It carries a little more easily than the Manix and I've become quite a fan of the compression lock. I have to be honest, I found the compression lock to be a bit awkward at first. But this was before I actually owned one. A few seconds here and there handling one in the store left me a bit underwhelmed. What I didn't realize at the time is that there's about a ten minute learning curve associated with figuring out how to manipulate the lock efficiently with one hand. After that, the compression lock is a dream. The Manix 2 on the other hand, really is tricky to close with one hand.
 
Bronco said:
As you'll often hear stated at BFC, you can't really go wrong with either. Both are well finished, strong and ergonomic folders with blade profiles that are optimized for the types of cutting chores you've mentioned. I own examples of both and if I could only own one, I'd probably have to go with the PM2. It carries a little more easily than the Manix and I've become quite a fan of the compression lock. I have to be honest, I found the compression lock to be a bit awkward at first. But this was before I actually owned one. A few seconds here and there handling one in the store left me a bit underwhelmed. What I didn't realize at the time is that there's about a ten
minute learning curve associated with figuring out how to manipulate the lock efficiently with one hand. After that, the compression lock is a dream. The Manix 2 on the other hand, really is tricky to close with one hand.
Click to expand...
I'd have to disagree about the lock manix2 is pretty simple with one hand
 
Don't have any manix...but I can tell ya the paramillitary2 are the sheet! I just got another one the other day...opening and closing are like glass. And my first one is the one that's growing on ya.:thumbup:
 
I'm pretty happy with my Para 2. Have owned a lot of folders and the Para 2 gets carried more often.

I haven't owned the Manix because of the lock. I haven't used it, but have read enough feedback that I don't want it, myself.

Now, if the Manix XL had a back lock or compression lock, I would get one of those, too.
 
I like the Para2 more than the manix for EDC because it is thinner and carries easier in pocket. The manix is great but it's a bit tall and can make it hard to get other things in your pocket.
 
Get the Translucent blue Manix 2. I think the blade shape on the Manix 2 is better for EDC than the para's up swept blade.

The translucent blue Manix also weighs less than the Para 2. You'll be surprised how the hell they got such a big blade to weight only 2.85 oz.

Oh also, it only costs around $70!

http://www.gpknives.com/spydercomanix2translucentblue.html

IMG_6874-1.jpg
 
My2 cents. If you are more interested in slicing, get the PM2 since it is a FFG. (Yes, or the Translucent Blue Manix2) If you are going to use it a bit less specialized get the Manix2, the blade is thicker. As for the lock, you'll have to get used to both. I really like them both and have no issue with one handing either. I guess you could look at the FFG Translucent Manix2 as the best of both, great slicer and slightly bigger blade.
 
I didn't care for my manix 2, hollow ground, it was almost a waste of steel for me.

FFG would be better imho.

I'm biased because I'm a lefty. It's hard to go wrong with either choice.
 
I've had both- sold off both, but re-bought and now edc a dlc para 2. Prefer the feel in hand of the para 2.
 
Having used both I would choose the new all black Manix 2..weight is 4.2 not much heavier or wider than the pm2..i prefer the 154 steel...the s30v took to long to get razor sharp on the sharpmaker...pm2 handle seems to long for the small blade plus the manix 2 barely stciks out of the pocket unlike the pm2..
 
You've settled on a good pair of choices. The Manix 2 was my favorite knife until the Para 2 replaced it. I like the compression lock a bit better and the PM 2 just carries a littl slimmer in the pocket.
I carry one of each on the farm: an M390 PM2 and a fully serrated Manix 2. If Sal would ever make a FS PM2 it would be the perfect knife.
 
I also prefer the looks of the Manix, and the leaf shaped blade has always appealed to me more than the upswept blade on the PM2. That being said, I have now owned and handled both, and IMO, the PM2 has better ergos, carries easier, and is a more graceful opening/closing knife than the Manix. I really wanted to like the Manix more than I did once I handled it, and of course YMMV, but I found myself trying to talk myself into the Manix. I ended up selling it, and replacing it with a SuperLeaf, which feels much better in my hand, has similar characteristics to the Manix, but with a compression lock. The SuperLeaf is a great heavy use knife, but the bottom line remains: The PM2 is one of my regular EDCs, and the SuperLeaf spends a lot of time in a cigar box.

It took me longer than most to appreciate the PM2 I think, but now it is one of my favorites.

~ Edge
 
I'd agree with most here that YMMV. I've owned both and currently EDC the Manix 2 all black on my off time and on duty. The Manix 2 opens very smoothly, has a more solid feel to it, and has a great blade shape. I weighed my all black Manix 2 and it actually came up as 5.1 oz, unless there was a recent change or a typo on the website. Each variation/sprint run of the Manix 2 will have a different weight/steel/blade type - hollow/full flat grind.

The Manix 2's finger choil seems to be more accommodating and useful as the spine doesn't rise as high from the handle as it does on the PM2. If you are planning on using the knife for whittling, as you mentioned the gun stocks, then the Manix 2 would seem to be a bit more helpful in that department.

Good luck shopping, J.
 
Thank you all for the input! But you know,
This isn't really making it easier! :)
Think I'll settle for the Para2 coupled with the Dragonfly
in this haul (though most certainly that will change
a couple times before I hit the buy-button).

Tough business this, drooling over sharpies!
 
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