Spyderco PM2, Manix 2, Gayle Bradley...I do want to like them - almost desperately so, in the cases of the PM2 and Manix 2 - but it doesn't happen. (I still think that can be fixed with the right scales; but I don't know that I'm willing to keep spending to find out.)
I almost like the Military...but the length is a bit much. I do like the Sage 2, but it's too small. When I've got an afternoon without any pressing responsibilities, I still plan to disassemble the Gayle Bradley and soften all the edges on the liners.
I tend to agree with you, with the exception of the PM2.
I really, really wanted to like the Gayle Bradley, and for about 2 seconds I did...then just so many things added up for me to dislike it. I know that M4 gives it great edge retention, but I did not like how much the blade loved to stain instantly when it touched anything even mildly wet, and the edge was great, but pretty easy to chip if you were'nt careful and didn't use it to cut only stable and consistent materials (which carbdoard is not), so I just couldn't like the blade.
The handle was okay, but not nearly as good as many other Spydercos I have handled, and, like hhmoore said, I could have fixed it with custom scales, but I don't want to spend more money on a knife that, to me, is supposed to be an cheaper user. So it went away...far far away.
The manix2 drove me insane. 4 of them, count with me -
1...2...3...4 of them had blades that had irreperable play side-to-side when I got them, blades that were not gorund evenly, resulting in permanently off-center blades, and wonky edges to try and sharpen anyway except freehand.
Oh, and none of them had good action. I gave up after I returned the 4th one and just went with something else. That was a while ago, both in terms of time and in my collection, but I will never buy one again. I was tempted with the S110V lightweight, but no. Never. And I loved the ergos and the knife itself, so it really pissed me off, and now I just can't bring myself to ever again.
Only decent one I ever handled of the Manix 2 was the XL version, which was too big, and I ended up selling anyway...yeah.
Oh, and for the record, I try to love the whole "overbuilt" custom trend right now, and I love some of the actual designs, but the damn weight, terrible cutting geometry, and wonky ergos that come out of these trends drive me insane!
Don't try to call a knife "hard-use" when you're making a titanium framelock with a super thin lockbar cutout, a narrow pivot with a simple caged bearing system, and a blade that is pretty much useless for cutting. STOP IT.
The truth of it is that is doesn't take nearly as much as people think it does to make a knife tough and strong. My Shirogorovs are made excellently, and will handle just about everything I can ever throw at them and then some, and you know what? They actually CUT too!!! They don't weigh a freiking pound either, and they have great ergos!
Do I want to spend a small fortune on knives that are soo hard to get a hold of, no not really, but if it's what I have to spend to get a functional and sensible design that is insanely well-built, and functions flawlessly, then be damned if I won't do it!
......Sorry, I got a little worked up. There are just sooooo many great designs and great looking knives that are ruined because they are made with .25" thick steel and titanium slabs, when there is absolutely no reason for it, and I want to love them...I really do, but there is just no way.
Honestly Direware is an excellent example of this. They have the ability to make a spectular knife, and they make that apparent. Then they make it weigh a ton, make the blade so thick it can't cut properly, and call it "hard-use" when it's really no stronger than my Sebenza. Really, from the examples I have handled, they are probably weaker in construction considering the thin lockbar cutouts, and the pivot diameter, but honestly I'm never going to test it.
I will never need a knife to do 99% of what they claim they can do, because I am a reasonable human being who has the good mind to be prepared, and I also don't put myself in situations in which I could endanger myself. I would hope that we all do the same here.
Again...sorry.
