Spydie vs spydie

J

jonathan13

Joined
Oct 21, 2012
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Well, I need help on deciding what to get for my first higher end knife. I have narrowed it down to the spyderco paramilitary 2 or the manix 2 translucent blue lightweight( say that 5 times fast!). I am looking at every factor weight, price, steel etc.
 
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I'd say to go for the one you most like the appearance of. They are both good but YOU have to like it yourself.
 
I love the g10 camo on he para 2, but I also love the translucent blue on the manix. WHY ARE THEY BOTH SO SEXY???!!! Lol
 
I've owned multiple of both and the only advice I could give is to get both, seriously. They are both great designs and Spyderco executed both superbly.
Perhaps I should add that I personally wouldn't recommend the hollow ground Manix 2, because it's heavier and not as good looking as the full flat ground versions.

PJ
 
Well, lets break it down then :).

Paramilitary 2
Price: $100-$120 depending on where you shop
Weight: 3.75 OZ
Steel: S30V- A great steel, has good edge retention will have higher edge retention than BD-1

Manix 2 Lightweight
Price: $65-$75
Weight: 3 OZ
Steel: BD-1, have not had a lot of experience with this, but S30V will have higher edge retention, BD-1 will be easier to sharpen.

However if you really like the Manix 2 platform, you can get the G-10 version, which now uses S30V for no extra cost. The Manix platform is most excellent as well.
Manix 2
Price: Around $85
Weight: 5 oz.
Steel: S30V

I personally would choose the Para 2.
 
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Paramilitary 2. stronger, lighter, more comfortable. The problem is, you will want to get every iteration of it.
 
I've had one Manix2, and about twelve or more PM2's. You know my answer.
 
Both are excellent knives. The Blue on the Manix 2 Lightweight is about my only draw to it. However, I prefer the G-10 version although it's heavier. BD-1 steel though is a good steel with nice edge retention and takes maybe two minutes to touch up the edge. It doesn't roll or chip either which is a great plus.
s30v is better of course with better edge retention but is a little harder to sharpen and rolls easier than BD-1. But it's an excellent steel and is one of my favorites for EDC.

Both fill the hand great and are excellent knives. I had the Manix 2 first, and I wouldn't change that, because it's an excellent knife. Just as good as the Para 2 in my opinion.
 
I much prefer g10, it feels more substantial and higher quality, I also think the compression lock is easier to use. I'd also always choose a higher edge retention steel over a lesser one (s30v in this case).
 
If you are left handed, I would go with the Manix. The lock on the PM 2 is kind of clumsy for a lefty.
 
Given those two choices, I'd go for the Para 2 over the Manix 2 LW.

I commonly go back and forth between the regular Manix 2 and Para 2, however. They're both two of my very favorite knives.
 
I hate jimpimg or gimps whatever they're called and the Manix 2 has it all over the place. I've had a Para2 and G10 Manix 2, liked the Paramilitary better. The translucent Manix looks like a toy to me and I'm not a fan of wire clips.
 
I own a PM2 and I've handled both translucent and G10 manix, I prefer the PM2 much better and I'd buy a second one before a manix. Though you can get a manix in s30v now with g10. So really it comes down to your price limit and preference of aesthetics. If you can, handle them both before purchasing. If anything you get to fondle two very nice knives at the least. :D
 
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