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Which spyderco?
- Thread starter G3
- Start date
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 12,957
Both the Manix and the Stretch are heavy knives.
The Manix has a great blade and I just love the shape of it. It is no small knife though.
The Ocelot is my all time favorite Spyderco. In my opinion it blows the others out of the water even with its one draw back. Its sold as a hunting knife but it is much more capable than for just that. If anything field dressing with it is a challenge. Not because of its ability or inability to do the job. The ergonomics of the handle and blade are pefect for the task. Its just that the little paw prints, good looking as they are, are just traps for catching blood and other unmentionables during this kind of use.
These paw print areas can start to smell bad if you don't clean them out right away after using it for anything involving blood. Some smooth easy clean handles with no recesses to trap leftovers and bacteria would be much preferred in a hunting knife. I believe both Spyderco and Tim Wegner will hear about that sooner or later. It isn't hard to clean it really but it has to be done. I use a good but used toothbrush for cleaning mine after a dirty job like that. Other than this one thing that I found out the hard way it is a flawless knife. I really liked the paw prints when I first got it but now I'm thinking they really need to go and especially if you are a hunter using the knife a lot for game. I may be taking mine apart to put different handle scales on it here before too long just for this reason. And here I was saying just the other day how it is the only Spyderco I've ever owned that I haven't tweaked on in one form or another.
STR
The Manix has a great blade and I just love the shape of it. It is no small knife though.
The Ocelot is my all time favorite Spyderco. In my opinion it blows the others out of the water even with its one draw back. Its sold as a hunting knife but it is much more capable than for just that. If anything field dressing with it is a challenge. Not because of its ability or inability to do the job. The ergonomics of the handle and blade are pefect for the task. Its just that the little paw prints, good looking as they are, are just traps for catching blood and other unmentionables during this kind of use.
These paw print areas can start to smell bad if you don't clean them out right away after using it for anything involving blood. Some smooth easy clean handles with no recesses to trap leftovers and bacteria would be much preferred in a hunting knife. I believe both Spyderco and Tim Wegner will hear about that sooner or later. It isn't hard to clean it really but it has to be done. I use a good but used toothbrush for cleaning mine after a dirty job like that. Other than this one thing that I found out the hard way it is a flawless knife. I really liked the paw prints when I first got it but now I'm thinking they really need to go and especially if you are a hunter using the knife a lot for game. I may be taking mine apart to put different handle scales on it here before too long just for this reason. And here I was saying just the other day how it is the only Spyderco I've ever owned that I haven't tweaked on in one form or another.
STR
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2005
- Messages
- 3,531
I have an Ocelot, don't have a Manix, but I do have a Chinook II, which is very similar.
The stretch has an awesome blade and handle shape IMO, but I haven't bought one because it's mostly SS, which I don't like because it's cold, heavy, and scuffs very easily. I also don't care for the Kraton inlay. I'm hoping it comes out with a nicer inlay sooner or later.
The Manix, like the Chinook will be big, thick, heavy, and feel like a tank of a knife in your hand. While the Ocelot is slimmer and smaller, and much prettier with cleaner, flowing lines and the gold accents and paw prints.
The Ocelot will be more comfortable to carry around and play with, and generally EDC.
I like my Chinook more, but I'd recommend the Ocelot to you. It's a more broadly acceptable knife for casual carry and minor tasks.
The stretch has an awesome blade and handle shape IMO, but I haven't bought one because it's mostly SS, which I don't like because it's cold, heavy, and scuffs very easily. I also don't care for the Kraton inlay. I'm hoping it comes out with a nicer inlay sooner or later.
The Manix, like the Chinook will be big, thick, heavy, and feel like a tank of a knife in your hand. While the Ocelot is slimmer and smaller, and much prettier with cleaner, flowing lines and the gold accents and paw prints.
The Ocelot will be more comfortable to carry around and play with, and generally EDC.
I like my Chinook more, but I'd recommend the Ocelot to you. It's a more broadly acceptable knife for casual carry and minor tasks.
- Joined
- May 3, 2002
- Messages
- 6,192
Mini Manix (80MM)
I actually like mine better than my two large Mani. (And I like big knives.)
My hand fits in my pocket with it. Actually seems stronger than the full-sized Manix because it's the same thickness, only shorter.
.
I actually like mine better than my two large Mani. (And I like big knives.)
My hand fits in my pocket with it. Actually seems stronger than the full-sized Manix because it's the same thickness, only shorter.
.
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2005
- Messages
- 4,761
The mini manix is also much closer to the Ocelot, I believe. I have not been fortunate to play with one yet, but the mini manix is very attractive to me...I have to pick it or the Caly 3...
If you want a serious chopper get the Manix. Here is a review in British Blades website where it kicked the Sebbie and Strider's heinnies big time. Gez those "S" knives are expensive for what you get!
http://www.britishblades.com/home/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=46
I sent the guy an email asking him to go do a part two testing using the Benchmade Skirmish and Rukus models in the test. Weren't Skirmish and Rukus named after Irish war heroes? Their pub beat the neighboring town's pub in a game of darts!
A couple of good-sized knives that you might also look at are the Military model (the CF model is becoming a cult item) and the Goddard model (a humpless Spyderco see attachment). I prefer the Goddard because it is a limited editions (only 1200) and the $59.95 price seems almost so low as to be a mistake for such a great limited edition knife.
Military model:
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=sp36cfp
Goddard model:
http://www.bestknives.com/spc1golied.html
http://www.britishblades.com/home/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=46
I sent the guy an email asking him to go do a part two testing using the Benchmade Skirmish and Rukus models in the test. Weren't Skirmish and Rukus named after Irish war heroes? Their pub beat the neighboring town's pub in a game of darts!
A couple of good-sized knives that you might also look at are the Military model (the CF model is becoming a cult item) and the Goddard model (a humpless Spyderco see attachment). I prefer the Goddard because it is a limited editions (only 1200) and the $59.95 price seems almost so low as to be a mistake for such a great limited edition knife.
Military model:
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=sp36cfp
Goddard model:
http://www.bestknives.com/spc1golied.html
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2005
- Messages
- 52
FullerH,
Like the Poliwog - best gadget knife I have owned.
Love the DoDo - best utility slicer I have owned.
Translation:
At the office - carry the Poliwog.
In the garage - carry the Dodo.
Good choice on the Poliwog, get a Dodo before they're extinct.
Oh, forgot to add - I can get the Poliwog sharper than any other knife I own. Maybe it is blade geometry, but that sucker will bite after a good sharpening.
Like the Poliwog - best gadget knife I have owned.
Love the DoDo - best utility slicer I have owned.
Translation:
At the office - carry the Poliwog.
In the garage - carry the Dodo.
Good choice on the Poliwog, get a Dodo before they're extinct.
Oh, forgot to add - I can get the Poliwog sharper than any other knife I own. Maybe it is blade geometry, but that sucker will bite after a good sharpening.
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2005
- Messages
- 398
My vote goes for the Stretch, since I have been carrying it the past few weeks and, can vouch for its versatility and quality. Classy enough for church or a board room meeting, effortless blade deployment, thin and ergonomic, and a bigger blade than it has a right to be. The 4-way clip is the icing on the cake. My only complaint, and it is minor, is the kraton inlays. I would have rather they be leather or wood.
Regardless of which one of the three you decide on, I am sure it will provide 1/3 of what you need. Which means.....well, you know what that means.
Regardless of which one of the three you decide on, I am sure it will provide 1/3 of what you need. Which means.....well, you know what that means.
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2006
- Messages
- 739
I would go for the Manix if your going to get all three eventually anyway, some of my friends have them and there really great knives.
Can't go wrong with a Manix.
Can't go wrong with a Manix.
