manix v. paramilitary

[ladybug93]

i’ve noticed there seems to be kind of a cult following for these two knives and it seems most people like one or the other. i’m curious what the biggest differentiator is between the two. i suspect that it’s because one became popular with certain online reviewers first. at any rate, i’m curious to hear from both sides on this one, so vote and explain.

[Liquid Cobra]

i suspect that it’s because one became popular with certain online reviewers first.

I have a hard time thinking this to be true.

I prefer the para 2 over the Manix after I owned and carried both models for some time. In my mind the PM2 is simply the superior knife. It wins in all the categories you list in your poll (in my opinion). You missed that it is much lighter as well.

They’re both great knives, but the PM2 is clearly the winner here. Knife sales reflect that.

[abbazaba]

i suspect that it’s because one became popular with certain online reviewers first.

I have a hard time thinking this to be true.

I prefer the para 2 over the Manix after I owned and carried both models for some time. In my mind the PM2 is simply the superior knife. It wins in all the categories you list in your poll (in my opinion). You missed that it is much lighter as well.

They’re both great knives, but the PM2 is clearly the winner here. Knife sales reflect that.

+1

[ladybug93]

i carry a manix 2 lw, so my manix is lighter than a pm2, but then it’s not the same materials either, so it’s not a fair comparison.

anyway, there’s some subjectivity here because different people like different things. i don’t own a pm2, but i’ve handled them a few times. personally, i prefer the blade shape and handle ergonomics of the manix by far. also, the manix is wider in the pocket, but it’s more narrow at the pocket opening, which is a more meaningful difference in my experience.

it’s subjective. i’m just curious what people think. and i know it’s not solely because of reviewers. that’s why it wasn’t one of the choices and was just a thought i had that may have lead to its success and adoption by many in the community.

[steelcity16]

I like the Manix over the PM2. Both are too big for me for EDC comfortably, so I prefer the Native, Para 3, Salt 1, Chaparral, or Dragonfly for that. For a knife larger than my EDC blades, I go with the Manix, Military and Pacific Salt. For me it is more about choosing the Military over the PM2 when I want to grab something bigger than what I am EDC'ing on me. The Military wins out for the extra blade length and the liner lock being easier to open with gloves. I actually enjoy playing with the liner lock as well. The Manix feels better to me than the PM2 ergonomically in my hands, and I prefer the blade shape. I feel like it is a more solid and stout knife, which you know I like. Since I don't pocket carry either of these, I prefer the Manix. I have the Manix in DLC M4 and DLC 52100. I'd happily add any more peel ply G10 Manixes with blades in Rex45, Cruwear, 4V, V4E, 3V, or Elmax. I currently don't have any PM2s aside from 2 Cruwears in my sell pile. I'm debating on whether or not to keep one just so I have one PM2, but I always end up reaching for Manix or Military so I'm not sure I can justify keeping one around for the heck of it. Any knife I keep will see use.

[Sharp Guy]

I actually like both models. I will say that I do have a slight preference toward the PM2 over the G10 Manix 2. I think I carry a Manix 2 LW more than any of them.

[ugaarguy]

For me it's lock type and "other", but the other is a result of the lock type. If I was forced to choose between the model groups I'd take a PM2 / Para 3 over any Manix because the compression lock is flow through and the CBBL isn't. Also, the comp lock makes for pretty easy disassembly and reassembly. The BBL and CBBL makes for knives that I have no desire to disassemble, because I don't even want to try to put one of those locks back together.

[Evil D]

Lock, blade shape, ergonomics and other which I will call "modability". Nested liners cause problems when you're doing heavy mods like changing the shape of the grip, so the non nested Manix 2 can be modded quite a bit and be made to look factory done. Otherwise the grip is better for me behind the choil and I like the blade shape much more. Lock type is almost a toss up because I like both a lot but I do like the way the CBBL has so little friction during opening and it's ambidextrous.

[ladybug93]

ambidextrous.

there's one i forgot about.

[anycal]

True! Quite a few enjoy both, but there are few who are belligerently :D for one vs the other.

I like them both, but I am definitely in the PM2 camp.

[Rutger]

I don't have a preference yet. But i don't own a Manix 2 and i do own a PM2. The Manix model does interest me. I prefer the blade shape and looks over that of the paramilitary line. But what has held me back from buying the Manix 2 is the with/height in the pocket. But also it's construction. I don't like the plastic ball cage. It looks cheap and weak. Also considering the LW model i don't like the pinned construction. And i don't like the FRCP, i'd rather have FRN. So i am kinda waiting for an updated model. Maybe a future Manix with that new ceramic ball lock in FRN with screw construction. It's the perfectionist in me that holds me back.

I like the Manix over the PM2. Both are too big for me for EDC comfortably, so I prefer the Native, Para 3, Salt 1, Chaparral, or Dragonfly for that. For a knife larger than my EDC blades, I go with the Manix, Military and Pacific Salt. For me it is more about choosing the Military over the PM2 when I want to grab something bigger than what I am EDC'ing on me. The Military wins out for the extra blade length and the liner lock being easier to open with gloves.

I've been considering the same thing. I love my new Para 3 and Chaparral and it kinda makes the PM2 obsolete. When i need something bigger i might as well pick up a Military instead.

[ferider]

I like them both. The PM2 is definitely more fun to play with. The Manix is easier on my hand (web between thumb and index finger hurts with the PM2 compression lock and no gloves) when doing serious cutting; also, the Manix blade shape is most similar to the Swiss Army Knives I grew up with, wrt how I use it.

Roland.

[JonLeBlanc]

My votes went for the PM2, not that the Manix isn’t a great knife.

[Tucson Tom]

On odd numbered days I prefer the Manix. On even numbered days it is the PM2 every time.

These are my two favorite knives, so it doesn't make any sense for me to say that there is a reason I like one over the other.
For me, they both hit my sweet spot for blade size and EDC in my world. The Manix seems more "bombproof" and overbuilt, which
is always something I admire. The PM2 is just a pleasure to use. Like Rutger, I will agree that the plastic ball cage worries me, but
it has never given me any trouble, nor have I ever heard of any problems with it. But I like metal moving parts, so there is a slight nod
to the PM2.

I don't think reviewers have a thing to do with it. What I do recommend is getting each in hand and seeing what you think.
I was amazed how the Manix fit my hand once opened up and in use.

[ladybug93]

the pinned construction is my only beef with the lw manix. and i agree that the plastic feels cheap on the g10 version, but it doesn’t bother me on the lw.

i agree the manix and pm2 are both great knives.

[SF Native]

Like both. I’ve been doing some pretty hard construction work on the house and using the pm2 recently. I guess I’m in the pm2 camp. But will use the manix for the next few tasks just to give it a work out.

[Evil D]

I think ergonomics were the final push that got me into the Manix 2 camp, but modding was another major part of it. I've had a Para 2 since the first week they were released and I've never been without one. I also got a Manix 2 fairly early into their first production run but I only had it a short time before trading it off because I hated the low hollow grind. It wasn't until I got the first M4 Manix 2 sprint that was FFG that I really started liking the Manix 2.

With the Para 2, it just doens't feel good unless I grip on the choil. Behind the choil is too short and my pinky lands on the point on the butt of the handle. I have this same problem with the Manix 2 but not nearly as bad. On both of those knives I've ground off as much of that pinky point as I can, but I was able to grind a lot more off on the Manix because of the exposed liners. I guess I could do the same with the Para, but I would grind through the G10 and expose the liner and it would look like crap.

I think I've owned 4 Para 2's and 5 Manix 2's over the years but I only own one of each now. The Para is the 20CP version that I paid a fortune for, and the Manix is a S110V blade swap from before they offered that steel in a G10 handle (literally a month later the blurple Manix 2 came out).

So, I think I've got about $300 tied up into this knife when you consider it cost me the price of two knives to make it (the Lightweight was destroyed in the process) and then another $80 to get it reground. The handle work was done by me and that cost me God knows how many hours of my life. I guess I've invested so much into this knife I might be a little biased. If the same handle tweaking could be done on the Para 2 without jacking up the scales and exposing the liners, this might be a different conversation.

[bdblue]

I have both and I like both. My opinions on the comparison are that the PM2 is a bit lighter than the Manix 2 G10 version, and uses less space in my pocket, but I think the Manix 2 is a bit stronger. So for me the PM2 is my best EDC but on weekends I use the Manix 2 as a work knife. (I realize that the Manix 2 lightweight is lighter than the PM2 and I like it also but for my EDC I prefer G10.) By rough count I have 4 different versions of the PM2 in my EDC rotation and 4 different versions of the Manix 2 that I use for EDC or work. I also have 2 of the XL version of the Manix 2 that I have in my EDC rotation.

[kodai78]

Have both, like both. Leaf shaped blade and CBBL for the win. Prefer S35VN and S110V to BD1 though so I have been carrying the PM 2’s more lately. I do like that the Manix is a better one hand open and close for me.

[ladybug93]

Have both, like both. Leaf shaped blade and CBBL for the win. Prefer S35VN and S110V to BD1 though so I have been carrying the PM 2’s more lately. I do like that the Manix is a better one hand open and close for me.

i don’t understand why the bd1 version is so expensive. i wouldn’t own a manix 2 if it weren’t for the xhp kc exclusive that was only about $5 more than the standard bd1 version. i’d really like the blacked out lw manix, but it’s almost as much as the s30v/g10 version. i wish spyderco would use a better steel than bd1 for a $90 knife.