The strength of the Spyderco Manix 2's caged ball bearing lock?

bowman78

bowman78

Joined
Oct 29, 2014
Messages
104
Hey there,
So I've got a Manix 2 XL on its way, and I'd just like know if anyone knows the strength of the locking mechanism inside the Manix 2's.
I'm here asking if anyone has done a test (or has seen one) on the lock similar to Knife HQ's Lock Strength Test?
I'd really like to know just how much a ball bearing wedged in a knife tang could hold, and if theirs any flaws with too much weight (i.e. locking up that happens to frame locks by bending to far into the locked position caused by to much weight on the lock. Exactly what happened to the Cryo 2 in the video)
Yes I know there will most likely never be a point where I should have to put 380 lbs of force down onto a folder. I'd just like to know how the CBBL compares to frame locks and liner locks, handling mass amounts of weight.
Thanks!
 
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I've used my XL for everything and it's never slipped or gave me a bit of doubt. The only "weakness" I can think of is if you hit the handle hard on a hard surface, (over strikes) and the spring pulls the ball back allowing it to slip out of lockup. To me that's not a factor, but I think on the hard use testing it did come into play. A lot of steel surrounds that steel ball.

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Don't spine wack your blades, and the XL is a beast. Any folding knife with a lock should be respected for what it is. Spyderco tests these so you can be sure it will work for what it was designed to do: cut.

Enjoy the XL, it is really big though.
 
This topic has been discussed ad nauseam. That said, I think their compression lock (found in the pm2) is their best/strongest/simplest lock. I tend to obsess over lock strength and wear, so I just stick to fixed blades now.
 
jill jackson said:
I've used my XL for everything and it's never slipped or gave me a bit of doubt. The only "weakness" I can think of is if you hit the handle hard on a hard surface, (over strikes) and the spring pulls the ball back allowing it to slip out of lockup. To me that's not a factor, but I think on the hard use testing it did come into play. A lot of steel surrounds that steel ball.

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From what I heard the spring is very strong. I'm really not worried at all about over strikes, I'm sure that spring will hold whatever I throw at it.
 
skyhorse said:
It's a very strong lock. I'm sure we will see some you tuber beat on it with a sludge hammer or tape it to some RR tracks and then complain. ;)
[URL=http://s1201.photobucket.com/user/blackhorse71/media/1CD3A2A6-5000-4EB7-9B60-50ACF0E30659_zpslpmbkkrk.jpg.html][/URL]
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There is a few people batoning the Manix 2 threw a 2 by 4 and checking blade play while going threw it. I've seen a guy doing spine whacks and overstrikes on the new(caged) and old ball bearing lock.
 
bowman78 said:
There is a few people batoning the Manix 2 threw a 2 by 4 and checking blade play while going threw it. I've seen a guy doing spine whacks and overstrikes on the new(caged) and old ball bearing lock.
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That kind of "use" is a not exactly applicable in a day to day environment where you will be using the knife, and putting it back in your pocket. Destruction testing is best left to the manufacturer (some do a better job of ensuring a quality product than others). If you need something that will require anything remotely close to that amount of "work" then a fixed blade is in order. Remember, regardless of whatever anyone tells you or you read, the primary function of any knife is to CUT stuff. It might seem exciting beating the crap out of a knife into a cinder block and whatnot, but there really is little if any applicable data that can be extracted from such practices by the everyday, casual user.
 
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RevDevil said:
That kind of "use" is a not exactly applicable in a day to day environment where you will be using the knife, and putting it back in your pocket. Destruction testing is best left to the manufacturer (some do a better job of ensuring a quality product than others). If you need something that will require anything remotely close to that amount of "work" then a fixed blade is in order. Remember, regardless of whatever anyone tells you or you read, the primary function of any knife is to CUT stuff. It might seem exciting beating the crap out of a knife into a cinder block and whatnot, but there really is little if any applicable data that can be extracted from such practices by the everyday, casual user.
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I'm just curious is the Manix 2 has a flaw similar to frame locks where it gets tighter and harder to unlock. I know the CBBL won't have this exact flaw. I'm just wondering if it has any because I haven't heard of a flaw that would render the knife useless, or a genuine pain in the ass to use.
 
As I indicated, if you are going to exert that much sustained or instant force (the equivalent of several hundred pounds) on a folder, then you night go the fixed blade route. All folders have an inherent problem in that they are all broken, sort of an inside joke amongst knife makers that only make fixed blades. So, as long as you use the knife for tasks for which is was designed (cutting) it should be fine and it will outlive most of us.
 
RevDevil said:
As I indicated, if you are going to exert that much sustained or instant force (the equivalent of several hundred pounds) on a folder, then you night go the fixed blade route. All folders have an inherent problem in that they are all broken, sort of an inside joke amongst knife makers that only make fixed blades. So, as long as you use the knife for tasks for which is was designed (cutting) it should be fine and it will outlive most of us.
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I'm asking if anyone knows of a video or article demonstrating an experiment testing the lock to its maximum strength. I don't expect to have to put more than 30 pounds of down force (might not even get up to there) I'm just interested in this locks strengths as its advertised as one of Spyderco strongest locks, which is a lot to say seeing as their liner lock is quite strong.
 
Strength of the Manix 2's lock? Well, it hasn't failed me yet, not that any lock really has. Treat it with respect and it will work perfect. I've had no blade play with it whatsoever, which I can't say the same with frame and liner locks.
 
K.O.D. said:
Strength of the Manix 2's lock? Well, it hasn't failed me yet, not that any lock really has. Treat it with respect and it will work perfect. I've had no blade play with it whatsoever, which I can't say the same with frame and liner locks.
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Okay awesome thanks!

I've heard blade play is usually horizontal on any Manix 2's which people said they fixed by tightening the screws, and then there was 0 blade play.
 
bowman78 said:
I'm asking if anyone knows of a video or article demonstrating an experiment testing the lock to its maximum strength. I don't expect to have to put more than 30 pounds of down force (might not even get up to there) I'm just interested in this locks strengths as its advertised as one of Spyderco strongest locks, which is a lot to say seeing as their liner lock is quite strong.
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The only evidence of strength is what Spyderco indicates. They do not publish the results of any testing in such matters to keep the "Monkey see-monkey do" aspect at a minimum (as well as potential injury to said monkeys). I would imagine that you can load a couple hundred pounds safely onto the knife and have it continue to perform safely. :)
I've put my XHP Manix2 through the ringer as far as cutting stuff and it's still pretty much as secure as it was when I bought it 4 years ago.
 
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RevDevil said:
The only evidence of strength is what Spyderco indicates. They do not publish the results of any testing in such matters to keep the "Monkey see-monkey do" aspect at a minimum (as well as potential injury to said monkeys). I would imagine that you can load a couple hundred pounds safely onto the knife and have it continue to perform safely.
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Okay thanks for your input. I'm still debating between a Military and Manix 2 as a 2nd Spyderco. The nested liners in the Military are interesting.
 
bowman78 said:
Okay thanks for your input. I'm still debating between a Military and Manix 2. The nested liners in the military are interesting.
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I like the Military WAY more.
The newer iteration of the Manix just doesn't do it for me...the old lock-back versions kicked total ass though.
 
spketch said:
I hope it's ok to link to the spyderco forum in this instance. If not, I'll remove it:
https://www.spyderco.com/forumII/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=65536

Over 200lbs per inch of blade length is the number given for that lock category. Not sure the accuracy of the information.

Here's an even better breakdown linked within that thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ongest-Spyderco-Lockback-versus-BM-Axis-Locks
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Seems about as accurate as I was looking for. I guess in a way I was looking for the simple physics involved. Thanks for find this for me!
 
RevDevil said:
I'd go Para2.
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The para 2 I was offered was a sprint edition with a brown handle and CPM S35V steel I think. If that changes anything.

Basically a store forgot to post their last online cause it fell off the behind the shelf and they found it after they changed the availability to out of stock.
 
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