Maybe it's just a hand size thing. Reading others accounts of the cbbl has always been a head scratcher for me. I've never even understood why the lighter spring mod is a thing people do.
no issues operating with one finger or it not feeling natural. to me using two fingers on a cbbl would be like using two fingers for a liner lock - it just feels weird.
i don't have any issues with leverage / having to set the rear of the handle into my palm either.
You're basically pinching the whole handle between your palm and fingers. I'll give that a try.
As for being a head scratcher, c'mon man you obviously have big strong hands. Is it that hard to believe it's easy for you and not others? My hands are big and I can crush walnuts but even when I successfully use just my thumb it feels weird. But, I don't think I've tried while holding it the way you are so maybe that's the secret. I'll give it a try. I do kinda miss my modded Manix 2.
Maybe it's just a hand size thing. Reading others accounts of the cbbl has always been a head scratcher for me. I've never even understood why the lighter spring mod is a thing people do.
no issues operating with one finger or it not feeling natural. to me using two fingers on a cbbl would be like using two fingers for a liner lock - it just feels weird.
i don't have any issues with leverage / having to set the rear of the handle into my palm either.
You're basically pinching the whole handle between your palm and fingers. I'll give that a try.
As for being a head scratcher, c'mon man you obviously have big strong hands.
I guess which scales you're working with could play a role, but I get enough grip on my XL's that the rear end of the handle can be doing whatever
Still of the best deals out there. $129 for Rex45 Manix lightweight
It's hard to believe those are still available. That's got to be the best knife deal available today: excellent steel, excellent design, it can be any color you choose, and the price is smokin'.
I think everyone wanted the DLC coated one because it looked like a stormtrooper and did well on their instagram accounts
but I'd choose a Bodacious over a Manix 2 every time.
How is the detent on the bodacious?
Stronger than my Caribbean, stronger than my Manix 2, about the same as my Military 2, not as strong as a Southard but that knife almost has too many detent (different lock too but just comparing the strength of the detent action). I can inertia open it but I can also do my Military 2 and I'm pretty sure all my compression lock knives.
I have one issue with the lock, and that's how I need to position the butt end of the handle into the palm of my hand in order to get enough leverage to unlock it. I can unlock it with just my thumb but it doesn't feel natural to me. You could potentially replace the spring and make it much easier to operate, but that also potentially means a weaker lock.
It also seems like it's necessary to have a finger choil to clear the lock mechanism when closed, which isn't a bad thing if you like choils but I'd choose a Bodacious over a Manix 2 every time.
This made me search and see. If the P'kal is any indication, no choil needed.
Stronger than my Caribbean, stronger than my Manix 2, about the same as my Military 2, not as strong as a Southard but that knife almost has too many detent (different lock too but just comparing the strength of the detent action). I can inertia open it but I can also do my Military 2 and I'm pretty sure all my compression lock knives.
My example of Bodacious is the same, except for the Southard which I don't have.
Right now I have two G-10's, a CruCarta, and one lightweight, if I run across a Green Knifejoy 20CV exclusive like Dan here always post, I'll pick that one up also.
The lock is great, probably my favorite right behind the Native family Back Lock. I've never owned an XL before but the Manix 2 is one very solid knife!
I close the Manix using my back palm in hand operating lock with the thumb and index finger. The variants I have usually are spot on opening and closing with very little break in time .I don’t begrudge anyone doing mods on the lock I just don’t feel a need for my use of the knife . I usually go with area colors but seeing Appolo’s custom scales convinced me to add to my herd . MG2
MNOSD 0002 / Do more than is required of you . Patton
Nothing makes earth so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes.
Henry David Thoreau
Hasn't the opening/closing of the Manix been a thing around here just a few weeks ago? Also, weird thread in general SEF (no surprise there) but really...you've been around here for a long time, Manix has been around for a long time, there's a zillion threads on it, super popular model. Not understanding why he created this one. I can understand from a new member??
Great knife, amazing ergos, the lock is really nice, ambidextrous and solid. One of the best models IMO and a great bang for the buck, it has more materials to make it solid than the PM2 yet its cheaper somehow lol. Its a great user knife.
the G10 version feels like a tank, its like the Shaman and PM2 had a baby kinda, now the LW version I cant say the same for, people love it reading all the posts but to me it feels cheap and plastic and while it might be strong it doesnt feel like it at all, I have the St Nicks exclusive LW and am getting AWT scales to fix it and make it feel like it should. Id go for the G10 but thats just me
The Manix 2 LW is one of my favorite knives, alongside the PM2. I can pretty easily operate mine (unlock) using thumb and first finger. Someone with a smaller hand and/or less hand strength could have a problem.
I think after I tried the Sage 5, I liked the action on that a little more. The detent along with the pivot bushing made middle/ring-finger flicking it open really easily, and I kind of like doing that. Not really important I guess, but I can't really manage to do it on the Manix 2 without a lot of extra effort. The CBBL just doesn't really offer the same kind of "detent" to build up potential energy like a ball detent does. I also have to admit that I just started to feel that pressing the compression lock felt more natural than the pinch-and-pull of the CBBL. On the other hand, if the Sage 5 wasn't drop-shut slick, I didn't like having to try to flick it shut with the grip I have to use to close it. That's a little safer feeling on a Manix if it's a little stiff and needs a bit of a flick-shut motion.
I think it was Eric and not Sal that designed the Manix 2? Well, Eric must have hands very similar to my own, because the ergonomics are perfect on the Manix 2 for me. I can get a great full-fisted hammer-grip without having to choke up into the finger-choil area, and it feels pretty natural to choke up into that area if I do want to. Also, a lot of people complain about the jimping all over it, but I really like that. I especially like that the jimping on the thumb-ramp and choil is usually pretty crisp.
Also I'm going to reiterate what others have mentioned... That GP Knives Manix is a phenomenal knife. People are really sleeping on Rex45, but I think with the all the exclusives and models of it available recently it's easy to overlook. I was able to snatch one up for $108 and it's easily my favorite Manix, and I have a plain-jane S30V one, a Triple B 15V one, and a CruCarta one. That Rex45 creates a very stable apex that's not overly chippy, but doesn't dent/roll over easily either.
The LW platform has also really won me over. I think I prefer it now to full-slabbed scales and liners, but not necessarily because of the weight. Once I actually took it apart and saw the construction, it was the strength-to-weight ratio that was really impressive. Just from an engineering standpoint, it's impressive. Then the fact that you get it at a lower price than the full-sized models is nice.
I'm a little weird, but... I put a deep-carry clip on my LW, and now clip it to the collar of my shirt. It's so light that I forget it's there most of the time, but it is so handy, and there's not really a lot of times in my life I don't have a shirt on so it kind of turned an Everyday Carry into an All-day Carry.
After reading some of your posts and seeing pictures posted here my interest in the Manix line has increased. Tell me about the lock on it. How do you like it compared to other Spyderco models?
The Manix 2 is exceptional. The lock is easy to actuate and has a nice "detent" because the spring is strong & robust but simple to manipulate. The ergo's are second to none. You would not be disappointed buying one of these!
Someone made a good video a few months ago called "Spyderco's Best Folder". It is referencing the Manix 2. That video is a good one which goes into detail about the knife. I recommend checking it out.
I just got my first manix after purchasing 15 other spyderco knives. It is definitely top carry and top favourite.
I put a ceramic ball in and an aluminum ball cage and the thing is like butter.
Love it and can't stop flicking it open and closed.
So smooth in transition and so solid in open.
It is on my list of if I only had one this would be enough.
Operating the CBBL has been discussed a lot already indeed, but since I made short clips of alternative closing methods quite some time ago anyway, I may link the according post here. Maybe still of interest for some newer members viewtopic.php?p=1459252#p1459252 (vids included)
I personally really love the CBBL, it´s a close second after the backlock, and just for my taste on every comp.lock Spydie that technically would allow for that I´d clearly prefer a CBBL out of Spydercos own locks. Easy to operate, totally ambidextrous, stronger closing bias, no "hotspotty" cutout on the handle...
Funnily most times I close a CBBL like others do with a backlock: Activate the lock with one or two fingers, and let the choil drop on my forefinger (or middlefinger, if I use two fingers on the lock), while on the other hand I almost never close a BACKlock that way....
Top three going by pocket-time (update April 25):
- EDC: Endela SE (K390). Endura thin red line ffg combo edge (VG10), Chaparral SE (CTS XHP)
- Mountains/outdoors: Pac.Salt 2 SE (LC200N), Salt 2 SE (LC200N), Endela SE (K390)
I didn't pay much attention to the Manix until I held a G10 version. Great balance, fully ambi, and it felt robust, but I wasn't convinced it was for me. Then I held a LW model. That's when I "got it" and I've picked up several LW'. My favorite is the Knife Joker LW in translucent green. I converted one from pins to screws. Interesting project but not one that I'm rushing to do again. I was very happy when they converted to screwed together construction.
With use, the springs on my LW's have broken in and the locks are now just right for me. The only change that I will repeat is to swap the factory wire clip with the wire clip from a Milwaukee FastBack utility knife. I prefer the deep carry option.
Last edited by gtdiver on Sat Nov 02, 2024 10:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
