I love the Axis Lock and had been wanting to try other locks that I had heard were also easy to use one handed. I finally broke down and purchased A Spyderco ParaMilitary 2 and a Manix 2 Lightweight. Before my order shipped I was also able to call and have them throw a mini-griptilian in the order.
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Comparing these knives isn't apples to apples but since I got them all at the same time it is hard for me not to make some comparisons. Since these are 3 popular knives that everyone knows about I want go into great detail but just give my impressions on these knives I have owned the last 3-4 days.
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I will start with the PM2. This was the key piece to my purchase. I know they are hard to find and I was looking at something else and saw the KC had some in stock so I jumped at it.
The ergonomics on this knife are great. It is not a small knife but it is still very lightweight for the good construction that it has. The digicam grips are kinda cool and different. I have seen reviews on this knife and I don't question it's durability, but holding this knife and as light weight as it is it boggles my mind that it can be such a well built knife. I guess that is a testament to Spyderco Engineering.
I am still in the middle of the road on the compression lock. It is nowhere near as slick and easy to use as the Axis Lock, or even the ball bearing lock for that matter. What I do like about it though is it's simplicity. It is the one lock out of the 3 that you look at and think why the heck didn't someone come up with this many years ago. For those that worry about Omega Springs or ball bearing cages breaking then the Compression Lock would be at the top of my list.
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Next is the Manix2. This is a unique knife to me. Unlike the PM2 I would not want to put this knife through a lot of stress. The lack of liners would seem to relegate it to light duty use, which is fine but this is still a pretty good size knife.
Now that may sound to some like I am knocking it but really I have a use for a knife like this. Most lightweight knives I have are on the smaller side. This knife keeps the positive of being lightweight but is large enough for people with large'ish hands to get a nice grip a feel comfortable using it. It is perfectly capable of handling most people's day to day chores for an edc. I first looked at the wire clip and thought it looked cheap. Then you use the wire clip and learn it is a great functioning piece of this knife. Everything on this knife is done to keep weight down and it is done well imo. I am not real familiar with the blade steel on this knife so I am anxious to see how it holds up. In all honesty though I think to be a great value that this knife needs to sell for atleast about $10 cheaper.
The ball bearing lock is really very similar to the Axis Lock as far as user manipulation. I don't find it to be as smooth as the axis lock. I would rate it ahead of the compression lock as far as ease of use but I think the compression lock is better in other ways.
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Now for my last minute throw in knife, the mini-grip. I really wasn't expecting to like this knife. I really only got it because it seems everyone likes it. I am the kind of guy that my favorite knives are usually ones that aren't the most popular. For example the 300SN Flipper. This knife doesn't get near the praise it deserves imo...but back on topic. This was the last knife that I spent much time with because as I said, I really wasn't looking that forward to it. Boy was I wrong in that. This could be my favorite of the 3. It is about as small as I would want a knife to be and still be comfortable to use for me. The Axis Lock is buttery smooth just like all my other knives with the axis lock. Of all the complaints I hear about the grips feeling cheap they just don't bother me. The knife feels good in the hand. My mini-grip blade is a little off center. It isn't rubbing or anything so I don't know yet if I will send it back. It doesn't really bother me and unless it starts rubbing the liner I will probably just keep it.
Here is a little test I did cutting up some food. I just wanted to compare how these knives sliced. I was fully expecting the Spyderco's to blow the mini-grip away. I have not sharpened any of the knives so they are as is from factory.
The PM2 was the clear winner here. I chuckled a few time at how thin I was able to slice with it. It cut through like butter. Second place surprisingly to me was the mini-grip. Even with the shorter blade it was almost able to keep up with the PM2 and out did the Manix 2 with ease. I was a little dissapointed with the Manix 2. It did fine but you could tell it was just in a way different class. It did not slice through as easily as the other 2 knives. Maybe after I sharpen it I will see an improvement.
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Comparing these knives isn't apples to apples but since I got them all at the same time it is hard for me not to make some comparisons. Since these are 3 popular knives that everyone knows about I want go into great detail but just give my impressions on these knives I have owned the last 3-4 days.
I will start with the PM2. This was the key piece to my purchase. I know they are hard to find and I was looking at something else and saw the KC had some in stock so I jumped at it.
The ergonomics on this knife are great. It is not a small knife but it is still very lightweight for the good construction that it has. The digicam grips are kinda cool and different. I have seen reviews on this knife and I don't question it's durability, but holding this knife and as light weight as it is it boggles my mind that it can be such a well built knife. I guess that is a testament to Spyderco Engineering.
I am still in the middle of the road on the compression lock. It is nowhere near as slick and easy to use as the Axis Lock, or even the ball bearing lock for that matter. What I do like about it though is it's simplicity. It is the one lock out of the 3 that you look at and think why the heck didn't someone come up with this many years ago. For those that worry about Omega Springs or ball bearing cages breaking then the Compression Lock would be at the top of my list.
Next is the Manix2. This is a unique knife to me. Unlike the PM2 I would not want to put this knife through a lot of stress. The lack of liners would seem to relegate it to light duty use, which is fine but this is still a pretty good size knife.
Now that may sound to some like I am knocking it but really I have a use for a knife like this. Most lightweight knives I have are on the smaller side. This knife keeps the positive of being lightweight but is large enough for people with large'ish hands to get a nice grip a feel comfortable using it. It is perfectly capable of handling most people's day to day chores for an edc. I first looked at the wire clip and thought it looked cheap. Then you use the wire clip and learn it is a great functioning piece of this knife. Everything on this knife is done to keep weight down and it is done well imo. I am not real familiar with the blade steel on this knife so I am anxious to see how it holds up. In all honesty though I think to be a great value that this knife needs to sell for atleast about $10 cheaper.
The ball bearing lock is really very similar to the Axis Lock as far as user manipulation. I don't find it to be as smooth as the axis lock. I would rate it ahead of the compression lock as far as ease of use but I think the compression lock is better in other ways.
Now for my last minute throw in knife, the mini-grip. I really wasn't expecting to like this knife. I really only got it because it seems everyone likes it. I am the kind of guy that my favorite knives are usually ones that aren't the most popular. For example the 300SN Flipper. This knife doesn't get near the praise it deserves imo...but back on topic. This was the last knife that I spent much time with because as I said, I really wasn't looking that forward to it. Boy was I wrong in that. This could be my favorite of the 3. It is about as small as I would want a knife to be and still be comfortable to use for me. The Axis Lock is buttery smooth just like all my other knives with the axis lock. Of all the complaints I hear about the grips feeling cheap they just don't bother me. The knife feels good in the hand. My mini-grip blade is a little off center. It isn't rubbing or anything so I don't know yet if I will send it back. It doesn't really bother me and unless it starts rubbing the liner I will probably just keep it.
Here is a little test I did cutting up some food. I just wanted to compare how these knives sliced. I was fully expecting the Spyderco's to blow the mini-grip away. I have not sharpened any of the knives so they are as is from factory.
The PM2 was the clear winner here. I chuckled a few time at how thin I was able to slice with it. It cut through like butter. Second place surprisingly to me was the mini-grip. Even with the shorter blade it was almost able to keep up with the PM2 and out did the Manix 2 with ease. I was a little dissapointed with the Manix 2. It did fine but you could tell it was just in a way different class. It did not slice through as easily as the other 2 knives. Maybe after I sharpen it I will see an improvement.
