Persian 2, Paramilitary 2, or Manix 2 for next purchase?

M

mastiffhound

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Dec 27, 2013
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I know I was looking at another Delica or Endura. After my short time with my Delica I'm thinking of going a little further up the scale on cost/quality. I'm looking at 3 different Spydies as mentioned in the title.

1. Persion 2: I haven't seen this one mentioned, I can't figure out why? It's very close to the Delica in size but has a very pronounced finger guard/hilt like the Manix 2. Anything to help me not cut myself is a plus in my book! Am I missing something? It looks to be a real winner for an EDC, is it just because the Delica is so close in size that the Persion doesn't make sense for the price?

2. Paramilitary 2: I need no advise on this one. It might be the most popular of all Spyderco folders, everyone loves it. Reading all the threads on the PM2 is what made me reconsider going with another Delica or Endura. It also has a very slight finger guard, probably the reason these three caught my eye.

3. Manix 2: This one is talked about often though it doesn't seem to get the love the PM2 gets. I got to handle one and it felt great. Again the finger guard is a nice feature to me. It's slightly smaller than the PM2 but bigger than the Persion 2. It also weighs the most at 5 oz which doesn't bother me. The lock seems to be very good but with the small thin spring seems like it would be the first to wear out. Is that the case? It also seems to be the one that would end up with the least blade play because the bearing will self adjust when it wears.

Well that's it, I'm just looking for experience from those that have owned these three. How have they held up? Would you buy them again now after owning them? Any info that I missed or am wrong about? I'll be ordering one soon but would like some input just in case I'm being an idiot. I just got into Spyderco knives and have no problem admitting that I'm somewhat ignorant. I did look at the DiAlex Junior but it was just too small in my hand so it didn't make the cut.

As always, thanks for your help!
 
I own and carry Para2's and Manix 2's. I like the Para2 best for EDC and the Manix 2 best for a working knife. The Persian is interesting even though the appearance is a bit unconventional. I would like to handle one but short of doing that it appears to me that the handle might be a little too small in diameter for my hands.
 
Right now, one of the best bangs for your buck steel wise is the s110v manix 2, about the same price as the pm2, if that matters to you.
 
What I really like about the PM2 is the jimping on the spine and in the finger choil that really gives you a rock solid hold when choking up. Great for complete control for precision cuts or applying max power.
 
I like my Manix 2, but not as much as the original Manix. The lock, though, is super-tough and I wouldn't worry about the spring -- it doesn't flex anywhere near enough to be a breakage risk in normal operation. It will last forever. The issue for me personally is the blade length to weight ratio, which kills off a bit of the appeal for regular pocket carry (personal preference).
 
Pardon the long winded incoherent bleethering. Been fighting the flu with no sleep and running on fumes.

I would ignore the persian. Sweet knife, but a bit less versatility than the others.

Ive owned the pm 2 and recently acquired the lightweight manix. Both are very rare examples of items ive owned that i instantly fell in love with with no looking back. Anyone that knows me knows that means a LOT.

Both are so awesome and so comparable in terms of performance and ergos, that it would boil down to aesthetic preference and hair splitting to choose which is better. And having held both in my hands to do so, i wouldnt be able to. Only picked the manix to try something new. Incidentally i prefer the looks as well. I have the BD1 manix, and prefer it over the s30v of the pm2. Ease of sharpening is more important to me than edge holding. Interestingly enough, BD1 scored higher than s30v in the CATRA card test, but thats a whole nother subject ...

For what its worth, the pm2 compression lock is also self adjusting. As to the manix, you can add another variable and consider the blade grind and weight differences between the reg manix 2 and the lightweight. I personally believe that the lightweight version is just as strong as the pm2 in any real world application, making the extra weight of the overbuilt standard manix kinda pointless. Prolly end up snapping a blade long before handle strength became relevant. Plus the blade is ffg on the lightweight, like the pm2. Regarding the finger guard, the effect is actually a little more pronounced in the manix. Something you can see, and something i felt when holding them side by side, so if this is important to you, there you go.

But to reiterate:

My vote would be between pm2 and manix 2 LW.

I believe you can be confident choosing either of them solely based on looks alone, and still be entirely satisfied with the performance from either.

In my opinion, everyone should at least try a pm2 in their lifetime. However, if you can eventually wind up with both, i would highly encourage it. LOVE my manix. If i had to settle for only one folder for the rest of my life, id be perfectly happy with tossing a coin for either.

Sorry if this blurs the line you were hoping for, but hopefully it gives you something to consider. The only thing i can guarantee is that no matter what you decide, you will end up with an incredibly awesome knife in the end. No worries.
 
Para 2 . Stretch 2 worth considering if can't find para 2 . Good luck , the fun begins. Faron
 
Para 2 for the win IMO.

I found that size Persian to have an odd handle shape I couldn't get comfortable with and the Manix jimping was too aggressive for me.

Ymmv...

Add: love the Stretch too...such a great design!
 
I think the Persians are long gone, aside from that there have been 2 sizes available, and 3 different configurations.
 
I would deffinately consider the manix 2 in s110v. Either that or the pm2. I wouldnt go for the g10 manix or any other version of the manix except for the s110v.
 
They are all pretty different, get which one looks the best to you, most practical for you to use, and lock type, etc... with knives like these, no matter what you get you cant go wrong, they are all great
 
KyleMS11 said:
I would deffinately consider the manix 2 in s110v. Either that or the pm2. I wouldnt go for the g10 manix or any other version of the manix except for the s110v.
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Why wouldnt you go for the g10? the g10 manix feels a lot more sturdy to me
 
stickymeat said:
Why wouldnt you go for the g10? the g10 manix feels a lot more sturdy to me
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i agree with kyleMS11 the S110V steel being the reason got mine about two weeks ago. First thing i did was put it on the EPA and put a good sharpening on it started at 120 grit raised a good burr on both sides went all the way to the 6000 grit tape then finished with a balsa strop.

this thing has been absolutely awesome i cut a good bit of cardboard at work and sometimes have to cut through thick power cables for servers. i haven't touched it since that initial sharpen and it just now got to the point where i cant shave hair off my hands.

the LW is plenty sturdy its not going to break or flex unless you are doing something way outside of what you should be doing with a pocket knife. if you are stuck on having G10 you can swap the blade, and as a matter of fact i have seen a G10 Manix 2 with S110v blade swap for sale on ebay.
 
Well you guys have convinced me to delete the Persian 2 from the equation even though I found a place to get them. So now it's down to the PM2 or the Manix 2. It looks like the PM2 has the thicker blade but I've read a couple posts that say the Manix 2 has the stronger tip. Anyone able to elaborate on what would make the tip stronger on a Manix 2? It says the PM2 has the thicker blade?
 
Just got my PM2....the tip comes to a very thin needle sharp point (already stabbed my fingers three times in 24 hours).

The Manix has a much "broader" tip, no where near needle sharp.
 
mastiffhound said:
Well you guys have convinced me to delete the Persian 2 from the equation even though I found a place to get them. So now it's down to the PM2 or the Manix 2. It looks like the PM2 has the thicker blade but I've read a couple posts that say the Manix 2 has the stronger tip. Anyone able to elaborate on what would make the tip stronger on a Manix 2? It says the PM2 has the thicker blade?
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The hollow-ground Manix 2 has a much thicker blade near the tip which makes most of the tip stronger. The PM2 blade tapers uniformly from tang to tip. The FFG Manix 2 is similar to this.
 
PM2 would be my first choice followed closely by the Manix 2 S110V. I am having a hard time warming up to the ball bearing lock on the Manix, but the ergos and blade shape more than make up up for it. I also like the G10 scales more on the PM2.
 
Instead of starting a new thread I just ask it here. How do the black coated (DLC) blades stand up to use like cutting electrical wire, cardboard, and plastic? Do the more expensive knives fair better, like a DLC coated Delica compared to the Manix 2 or PM2? As far as the PM2 how well does the pattern hold up on the G10 Camo? Should I just go with black if I go PM2? The blue Manix 2 looks good also, how well does it hold up?
 
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mastiffhound said:
Instead of starting a new thread I just ask it here. How do the black coated (DLC) blades stand up to use like cutting electrical wire, cardboard, and plastic? Do the more expensive knives fair better, like a DLC coated Delica compared to the Manix 2 or PM2? As far as the PM2 how well does the pattern hold up on the G10 Camo? Should I just go with black if I go PM2? The blue Manix 2 looks good also, how well does it hold up?
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For your first question I would recommend the pm2. The best overall edc knife in the lot. Manix 2 would be second. I prefer the pm2 because of the slimmer and more useful (to me) blade profile and it carries much smaller in the pocket.

As far as Spydercos DLC, it is pretty amazing. I have never been a fan of coatings but when I got my first pm2, the dlc version was all I could find. It actually made a fan of me. The coating is very very tough. Actually harder than the blade steel. It will eventually show some wear, but that is more the stuff that rubs off on it from what you are cutting, not scratches. It looks quite nice even as it wears too. All in all, I prefer non coated blades but if you want coated, Spydercos DLC is better than anything I've ever seen.

Edit: To your last question...yes, the pattern holds up just fine on the camo model. The pattern is laminated into the g10 and though it can removed if you sand it down deep enough, this isn't going to happen in normal use. Not in he next 50 years anyway.
 
I watched a few videos of both the Manix 2 and PM2 get beat on like red headed stepchildren. Even the DLC held up. The PM2 was really impressive but so was the liner-less Manix 2. I watched a guy cut down a small tree and baton the hell out of the PM2 and it just kept going. I also watched a guy beat the spine of the liner-less FFG Manix 2 trying to make the lock give out but it just took it. The only thing that I'm sure of now is that both will take more abuse than I'm likely to ever put them through.

I'm a little against having the same knife as everybody else. I like being the special snowflake that gets out of my Audi covered in transmission fluid and road grime with grease under my fingernails. The Manix 2 seems to be that kind of knife, it doesn't look like everything else. It's why the 2.9" bladed Persian 2 appealed to me. That being said, it would be ignorant on my part to ignore the beloved PM2. It doesn't have the rep that it does just because it has a nice locking system or just looks cool.

Adding all this together with the different steels, coated or uncoated blades, and all the different handle scales makes the choice very hard. Jamesh Bond said he could flip a coin and be happy either way, that's exactly what I'm thinking of doing.
 
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