New outdoors Folder

EmsRescueGuy

EmsRescueGuy

Joined
Oct 21, 2006
Messages
1,067
I Was about to click Buy it on a Spyderco Manix for an outdoor blade, I decided to wait and spend my surplus cash on a Salt and a Leatherman for a Corpsman friend who is shipping out soon. (I piscked up a salt for me too);)

Anyway this left me with a little while to think about my purchase. I got to looking at the Doug Ritter Griptillian ( www.equippedtosurvive.org ).Which Runs about the same price as the Manix. :)

:confused: :mad: AAARRGGGG I just cant decide which I like better, Both are really Nice designs, and have pros and Cons. Anyone have a preferance of the two.

I am generally a Spydie Man but I have never been dissapointed with Bench Made.

My last decision with either knife is partial serrations or plain edge. I have recently been using the serrations on my combo edge Endura during wilderness outings and have been impressed by its agressiveness for things like rope cutting, and whittling fuzz sticks, I know serrations are generally taboo in the wilderness but I figure a partial seration pretty much guarentees at least part of the knife will be sharp no matter what kind of abuse you put it through.

Anyway any thoughts would be appreciated.
 
Partial serrations on a big blade may still leave you enough plain edge. Personally, I liked serrations less, the better I got at maintaining a good plain edge. :)

The Manix might be better than an axis lock in the wild because it has a simpler, less easily gunked up mechanism.

Is there anything lacking about the Endura that leaves you thinking you need another outdoor knife. or is it just time to spend a little more knife money?
 
I agree with Esav Benyamin regarding serrations; however, I usually have a plain-edge as a primary folder and keep a second fully serrated (usually smaller, such as a Spyderco Native or Delica) for the tough cutting chores.

I have both the Manix and Ritter RSK1; both a excellent folders, but when going outdoors, I much prefer the Ritter folder. It has more belly which I prefer. It really depends on what you want to do. If you're looking at simple bushcraft and camp shores, the Manix would do just fine. If you plan to do any hunting/fishing where you need a skinning profile, the RSK1 would be my choice.

ROCK6
 
ROCK6 said:
It really depends on what you want to do. If you're looking at simple bushcraft and camp shores, the Manix would do just fine. If you plan to do any hunting/fishing where you need a skinning profile, the RSK1 would be my choice.

ROCK6
Click to expand...

In either case, I bet a Mora or other midsize fixed blade would serve even better.
 
Esav: you guessed it :) there is nothing wrong with my Endura, I just want something new, with perhaps a bit more heft.

Rock 6: I am planning to add my small Salt to my wilderness carry, especially when I am Kayaking, since it is serrated I suppose that would make the serrations on the larger knife overkill.
 
I received my RSK3 last friday and I love it. It's my 6th fixed blade of that mid size and none of the others have been "just right" but I think this one is going to become my favourite.

I liked it so much I almost ordered the RSK1 there and then but then I had to compare with my manix which currently fills that role.

I like the blade profile on the RSK, but I'm less sure about the plasticy handle compared with the G10 of the Manix, which is also shaped fore and aft to give great security. I'm sure the RSK's glass-filled Noryl grips perform great, I'm just personally not a fan of the look.

You can also shift the grip on the manix forward by a finger, with the forefinger in the choil choking it right up for carving which you can't do with the RSK.

Not tried an axis lock yet for comparison but the Manix has a silky smooth opening, best of all my spydies, and it's lockback is known to be super strong.

Then there's the spyder hole/thumb stud choice, and again I'd have to choose the manix because I know it will open quickly and easily, even in the cold with thick gloves on.

So fortunately I put my credit card away and will be mostly carrying a manix and an RSK3 from now on.

Re. serations I'd have to give another vote against. Whilst they are agressive they will eventually blunt and then they are a PITA to sharpen whereas it's a lot easier to maintain a plain edge and keep it razor sharp. I favour serrations only on a rescue knife which is not going to see a lot of use but when it does it has to cut quickly.
 
I recently purchased a Benchmade Griptilian folder (same handle as Ritter) and it felt too short to me (I have been an Endura man for years.) If you want something with more "heft" I think you said over the Endura I think the Ritter is going to be about equal in heft. Manix feels huge compared to Endura. I let a buddy talk me out of my Maniz and I will be getting another one. I also think the Benchmades lock will get gummed up with stuff but I think about things in terms of a hunter. Just MO.
 
I have no complaints about my Manix, I've processed fish, carved stuff, preped food and all kinds of other knifey stuff. Works great.

Never handled or used the Ritter but it looks like a pretty capable knife.
 
Manix is just an excellent knife. Great handling and feel to it. Had it fwo years now and still am very pleased about the knife :thumbup:
The G-10 is very grippy, the backlock engages like a bank fault or an abrams tank. The knife cuts like a laser and will do any chore you throw at it. I think it is maybe one of the best production folders produced ever, if not the best. Now, if I only could get it with a cpm S90V blade :p
 
I looked at folders and wanted to stick to sub-3.5" to comply with my local carry laws. The Ritter folders were high on my list, but I was put off by the premium price. I went with a Benchmade Griptilian which is the base design for the Ritter anyway. I got a bargain on Ebay and I am very satisfied with the knife. Fit and finish are great and it carries well-- and cuts like a laser. It opens smooth and easy too. Some don't like the liner design, but it is plenty strong for anything I would try to do with a folder.

Carry laws and cost aside, the Benchmade Ruckus would be my choice. Atsa beega knife!
 
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