K390 Stretch 2: Manix 2 LW killer?

[ladybug93]

i'm glad you like your knife, doc, but the only thing that can kill the m2lw for me is a m2lw salt with screws.

[Doc Dan]

That looks like a nice knife but it would not be a good knife for me because I don't buy lockbacks.

No but I do have both the Rockjumper and the Manix 2. The Rockjumper is much more comfortable in my hand. Once I get around to smoothing up the inner scales on my Rockjumper, I think it'll be very comfortable.

Coincidentally, the Rockjumper has better action than most of the other lockbacks I've used. New from the box, it was fairly easy to thumb-flick with no wrist movement. That was a nice surprise.

Can you give me a picture of a good comparison shot of the handles together for size? You can go to postimage.org and upload it, then click on hotlink for forums and paste it in this thread.

[chronovore]

Can you give me a picture of a good comparison shot of the handles together for size? You can go to postimage.org and upload it, then click on hotlink for forums and paste it in this thread.

Sure. I'm away from home but I'll upload a picture when I can. It might be midweek at the latest.

[Wartstein]

I just got this Straight Spine Stretch light weight K390. It is everything I hoped it would be. The handle has ample room for my big hand. It actually has a little bit more room than the Manix and it does not have as pronounced of a hook on the end. ......

I am with you in that the Stretch (1 and 2) is even more comfortable in hand than the Manix 2 LW. This is especially true when doing "hard" cutting and really having to squeeze the handle (admittedly in a way that I very rarely do with folders). Then the Manix LW gets quite uncomfortable, since the rather sharp top corners of the handle dig into the palm, while the Stretch (1 and 2) remain really comfortable.

And: Though I love the wide leaf shape blade of the Manix, I even prefer the rather rare feature (for Spyderco, except in wharnies)) that the Stretch offers: A long, totally straight section in the edge before the belly

But:
The Stretch 2 can´t be a Manix 2 LW killer for me, since the Manix 2 LW is great for days when I want a really light carry with a full sized handle. The Stretch 2 is pretty much (or even exactly) "pm2-ish" in its weight, the Manix 2 LW noticeable lighter. Actually the Manix 2 LW is one of the best carries I know: The combo of relatively light weight, but rather wide (but still short) closed package make it very stable and "unfloppy" in the pocket.

The Stretch 1 is a different story: Offers the exact same grip area as the Manix (or a hair more, but not really more like the Stretch 2 does), but is a more compact package, is closer in light weight to the Manix 2 LW and offers 10 % more cutting edge...

[Wartstein]

No but I do have both the Rockjumper and the Manix 2. The Rockjumper is much more comfortable in my hand. Once I get around to smoothing up the inner scales on my Rockjumper, I think it'll be very comfortable.

Coincidentally, the Rockjumper has better action than most of the other lockbacks I've used. New from the box, it was fairly easy to thumb-flick with no wrist movement. That was a nice surprise.

Can you give me a picture of a good comparison shot of the handles together for size? You can go to postimage.org and upload it, then click on hotlink for forums and paste it in this thread.

Perhaps this helps at least a bit already. I don´t have a Stretch 2 (two) anymore, and there is no Manix in the pic, but at least I can offer a comparison of Endela, Stretch 1 (one), Endela and Rock Jumper. The Stretch 1 has pretty much the exact same grip area behind the choil as the Manix 2, if anything even a hair more. So you can see that the Rock Jumper has a really generous handle.

[Wartstein]

... Added to my pic and post above (and off topic :o ):
You can also see what I don´t like to much in the Rock Jumper: In the Reveal it was said that one goal with this knife was "to pack as much cutting edge as possible in the handle" - now the Rock Jumper has clearly LESS edge than the Stretch 1, despite ithe Rock Jumper even has a longer handle,plus, unlike to the Stretch 1, offers no finger choil (so the Stretch 1 has choil, shorter closed package, but STILL 10% more cutting edge)... a bit of a missed opportunity imho, though generally the Rock Jumper is a great folder.

[Wartstein]

Hmm, learned something new today. For some reason I always thought of the Stretch as having a longer handle than a Manix, and even a PM2. Guess I need to start paying attention to specs! Thanks for posting that photo though Doc.

It's not longer but it is fatter/wider. For that reason I selected the Endela instead. Better fit in my hand but very similar and yes, I love the K390. If the handle fits his hand better, I can see why the OP likes it so. I feel the same about my Endela. It makes you want to find thing just so you can cut them, lol.

The Stretch 2 handle is overall not fatter/wider than the Manix handle (perhaps even a tad slimmer?).
But both are of course fatter/wider than an Endela handle.

/ Anyway, I am with you on the Endela. Great ergos and great knife (especially in SE) in a rather slim package. And actually pretty light, I think closer to the Manix 2 LW in weight than to Stretch and of course G10 Manix.
Only thing I wished for in the Endela (yes, like in the Rock Jumper, see my post above ) a bit more cutting edge. The handle would offer plenty space for that.

[Agreycat]

For those who've been waiting, DLT and DP knives both have the Stretch 2 Straight spine K390 in stock. I got mine last week from the Knife Joker. I like my Manix 2 LWs. I love my Stretch 2s. It won't kill the Manix 2 LW for me. They're 2 different knives. The Stretch 2 SS is more like a PM2 LW with a back lock.

[Wartstein]

For those who've been waiting, DLT and DP knives both have the Stretch 2 Straight spine K390 in stock. I got mine last week from the Knife Joker. I like my Manix 2 LWs. I love my Stretch 2s. It won't kill the Manix 2 LW for me. They're 2 different knives. The Stretch 2 SS is more like a PM2 LW with a back lock.

What your pic shows nicely (and most people don't know, perhaps cause it really does not matter too much ):

The straight spine Stretch has a blade that is a bit longer than on the drop point version, and a choil that is a bit shorter overall and in the blade part, which results in more cutting edge for the SS Stretch.

[Wartstein]

Added to my post above:

I even started a thread once with pics about the longer edge of the SS Stretch compared to the "regular" Stretch viewtopic.php?t=85682

[mb1]

I’m with you Dan. Really digging it. But the Stretch was already one of my all time favorites.

Seki FRN is so much better in hand than the Manix LW FRCP, both in feel and contouring. For me, that difference alone would make the Manix a very different knife (if it was changed).

Also, I guess I learned something new too…John Wayne tp?! Lol. Scott 1-ply, or something rougher? Haha

[Doc Dan]

I’m with you Dan. Really digging it. But the Stretch was already one of my all time favorites.

Seki FRN is so much better in hand than the Manix LW FRCP, both in feel and contouring. For me, that difference alone would make the Manix a very different knife (if it was changed).

Also, I guess I learned something new too…John Wayne tp?! Lol. Scott 1-ply, or something rougher? Haha

John Wayne toilet paper: It is rough, tough, and won't take crap off of anybody.

[Doc Dan]

For those who've been waiting, DLT and DP knives both have the Stretch 2 Straight spine K390 in stock. I got mine last week from the Knife Joker. I like my Manix 2 LWs. I love my Stretch 2s. It won't kill the Manix 2 LW for me. They're 2 different knives. The Stretch 2 SS is more like a PM2 LW with a back lock.

One thing this picture shows graphically is how much more grip area the K390 Stretch has than the PM.

[elena86]

Backlock vs CBBL ….CBBL wins !

[chronovore]

Can you give me a picture of a good comparison shot of the handles together for size? ...

Here is the Rockjumper vs Manix 2 LW:

[Doc Dan]

Can you give me a picture of a good comparison shot of the handles together for size? ...

Here is the Rockjumper vs Manix 2 LW:

Thanks! The grip area is significantly large on the RJ, even though it has a shorter blade. That is a good thing in my opinion.

[chronovore]

Thanks! The grip area is significantly large on the RJ, even though it has a shorter blade. That is a good thing in my opinion.

The blade is longer on the Manix 2 but only if you aren't using the choil. I haven't measured but there isn't a big difference in the length of the cutting edges.

The Rockjumper has a good shape for my usual grip. I ended up rounding the inner scale edges right after I took that picture. Now it feels great! The Rockjumper has taken over as my tip-down EDC, for back-pocket carry when my right pants pocket is occupied. I've got a deep-carry clip from Lynch on the way. I'm going to see how that works out.

[Evil D]

The Rock Jumper really is a game changer IMO, it basically obsoleted every other back lock in similar sizes for me. I do agree with Wartstein in that I wish it squeezed more edge length into that handle, and I wish they'd do away with that last little bit of ricasso nub that sticks out from the handle because that still becomes a snag point when cutting deep materials, but the rest of the design is brilliant and I really hope it's a sign of things to come.

[Wartstein]

The Rock Jumper really is a game changer IMO, it basically obsoleted every other back lock in similar sizes for me. I do agree with Wartstein in that I wish it squeezed more edge length into that handle, and I wish they'd do away with that last little bit of ricasso nub that sticks out from the handle because that still becomes a snag point when cutting deep materials, but the rest of the design is brilliant and I really hope it's a sign of things to come.

Yes, the Rock Jumper is great, but it´s really a bit unfortunate that they did not do what the "Reveal" explicitly had announced: "Squeeze" as much cutting edge in the handle as possible. A bit weird, not only cause there´d be space for that in the handle, but the RockJumper blade is over 3" (3.08) anyway already and the next legal limit would be 3.5" in most cases, right? (And lengthening the blade/edge would make the blade still not 3,5").
I don´t mind this to much in the wharnie RJ, bur for the Leaf Jumper I´d hope for a longer blade (but I guess Sal has already confirmed that this will not be the case).

Said it before: My beloved Stretch 1 has the exact same handle lenth as the Rock Jumper, a choil, and still offers 11mm more of blade, and 9 mm more of edge (this is comparable to the jump from Para 3 to PM2)

[benben]

Haven’t bought a knife in a couple of months other than a couple of used exclusive PM2’s from a guys collection, waiting on the Ayoob!

But….I’m wanting to try some K390. So what ya think, an Endela or a SS Stretch? I’m sure I’d really like either one!