Spyderco Manix 2 year report/praise

Macchina

Macchina

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2 years ago, I had some extra money and was looking for a bigger knife to replace my mini-grip. I bought a BM AFCK, which was discontiued the next month and I sold it on eBay for $300. With that money, I bought a Spyderco Manix (Full Size, Plain Edge) and a few other knives. I have EDCed this knife 75% of the time since then. I work in a machine shop, so not only does the knife get used a lot, it is also exposed to quite a few industrial chemicals. I use this knife to cut 2" pneumatic hose, zipties, airlines, cardboard, bondo, debur UHMW, copper wire, aluminum tape, etc. Wimpy knives do not hold up, the Manix has held up well. The lock has never failed, the S30V has never chipped, and nothing has broken. One place that did see some wear was the backlock. When the knife is open, the backlock is not flush with the spine of the knife anymore, it dips by about .010". This feels a bit wierd if I'm trying to feel it, but lockup is still as strong and tight as the day I bought it (all lockbacks have a bit of vertical play, but the Manix is better than most). The opening of this knife is now very smooth. I noticed a great improvement in it's smoothness after the first year of use. I use a dry TFTE spary on the pivot about once a week (Sharpening routine for all of my knives), but the Manix is fine when run dry. Grit does get into the lock, but I have never had a problem, just annoyance. I give the knife a WD40 bath every now and then then spray it out with compressed air. This cleans out the dirt, chemicals, and helps to lube it a bit. The WD40 also helps keep the G10 looking nice when it gets dry from exposure to laquer thinner. I am by no means a Spyderco freak, but this knife has impressed the heck out of me, and gets more pocket time than all of my Benchmades combined. If you are looking for a very tough knife that has incredible longevity and strength, look no further than the Spyderco Manix!

Features I have found very nice about the Manix:

>Finger choil allows one handed closing. I have come to use this method exclusively: holding in right hand, use your thumb to disengage the lock. Allow the blade to fall on your finger (this is where the finger choil comes in handy) now remove your finger and close the blade fully.
>Big comfy handle with ergos that fit my medium hands amazingly well.
>Blade shape is perfect for large cuts. The transition from the strait to the belly to the point is very smooth and keeps the blade from slipping out of a cut.
>Everything is stainless: SCREWS, blade, backlock, liners, clip, and even the spring I do believe.
>Rides very well in all of my jeans, and is easy to draw due to the decent amount of handle that is above the clip (not ideal if you are trying to conceal).
>The combonation of a wide full flat ground blade and a tight edge angle make for an awesome cutter with a lot of strength.
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Thanks for the report.

I bought a Mini-Manix not too long ago, and though I was happy with the purchase, this makes me feel even better about the knife.
 
Michael -

Real world reports - like yours - are much more interesting and valuable than from desk jockies like me. :thumbup:
 
When I first bought the Manix, I was impressed by the comfortable handle, nice big blade, and very sharp edge angle. I have been very happy to find that even though the Manix has a very fine edge, it still holds up to the harshest of cutting.
 
It does have a little vertical blade play, but that's the nature of the beast with lockbacks. If you keep the pivot screw tightened so that it is putting a little resistance on the blade, this really reduces blade play. If anything, the blade play has gotten better as the lockback has worn itself into the notch.
 
And just to reinforce michailmcgo's review of the Manix, mine has been opening mail and cutting string for the last two months and still going strong! :D

Seriously, as someone else stated it's really nice to get a review from someone who uses a knife hard on a daily basis, over an extended period of time. I already regarded my mini-Manix very highly, but this make me feel even better about it.

Thank for the review!
 
I used mine for about 6 months in a chocolate factory. The G-10 handle never slipped on me even when it's covered in all kinds of fat. The flat grind works well for cutting up water hose for the tempering machine etc. Ditto for boxes, palletizing wraps, and straps.

I also conside my manix a light weight hiking/outdoor knife when my bowie sits at home. Did a pretty good job limping out a couple of pines, cutting up food, and I use the spine to scale fish all the time. Have to watch out for scales getting stuck in the pivot area tho.

I would consider this a well around, no gimmick work knife.

Mine has a bit of side to side as well as vertical play tho.
 
I had a mini-manix for a week once, and they are pretty much the same knife. Spyderco was smart to know that you can't make a big knife too small in the mini version. I too use my Manix as well for hiking/outdoor. There is no replacement for a solid fixed bladed knife (like a mora:thumbup: ) in the outdoors, but a nice folder in your pocket will always be close by. The lockback may have slight blade play, but it's tough as heck and last for a lifetime!
 
I have had a Manix for about the same length of time. The are incrdible knives. My current one has very little blade play but I do not EDC it. This is a hell of a knife. I gave one to my younger brother before he deployed. I can tell you, if anyone is capable of breaking it he would be the man. I asked him about it last night he said he uses it several times a day and can't say enough good things about it.
 
I have had mine since they were introduced. It's been 3 mabye 4 years? It is still as tight as the day I bought it. No play at all and I have seriously opened and closed this knife thousands of times. It is the original version so it has the larger notches on the thumb ramp and no spyderco logo. I like the looks of the older ones a little more. It has been my on duty knife for a long time and I don't see an end in the near future. It is one of, if not the best designed and well thought out knives to hit the market in 10 years. IMO
 
Great long-term "user" perspective! I've only handled it but I'd imagine it would be a tough and reliable tool.

If there was anything I'd like to improve on it, it would be to make the tip beefier.
 
Surprisingly, I would not change the tip at all. I really liked how pointy it was for stabbing into tough materials like rubber and thick cardboard. I do not pry with my knives, but the Manix did cut some rather tough stuff with it's tip without any damage at all. I don't agree with the idea that every heavy duty knife needs a tip you can pry into helicopter cockpits with!
 
ive been using mine for Work and EDC for a while now and i too must say i like it a lot .Feels Right in my hand
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I've been contemplating an EDC companion to the waved Endura (which I am super happy with and still can't believe what a bargain it is), considering the ZDP Caly and the Manix primarily, having handled neither.

The Caly is very appealing, but in the end I opted for the Manix (at this time) just because dimensionally it is similar to the Endura which fits me well, yet heavier and I do like heft in a blade. Can't wait to sink this baby into some deserving bast.. I mean some cardboard. ;)
 
More update on my mini-man. I re-did the floor in my bedroom the past long weekend. My spydie was used to cut up the carpet into nice little rolls for the garbage. I also used it to shave the edges around the vent after sawing. After 2 days of flooring (plus one day of fishing), the edge still scraping hair. 20 mins later on the sharpmaker, hair popping. The bladeplay did not affect the performance of the knife.

When I was in university a few years ago, I did flooring and building deck in the summer and after school. My native in 440v also performed great, but the handle on the manix offered a much better grip than the native.
 
I think that the tiny amount of bladeplay that is evident in all lockbacks turns many people away from them. I was really bothered by the blade play at first, but one day I realized that if I stopped sitting there with the handle in one hand and the blade in the other, feeling the blade play, I wouldn't even know it was there! I don't ever notice it while using the knife. I have also noticed that this lock is amazingly strong, and there is just something about a lockback that makes me like the knife.
 
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