The obvious difference compared to the standard Manix 2 is the "tan" colour of the G10 and the full flat ground CPM M4 blade. Beyond this, I believe the liners are more extensively skeletonised (the M4 version has large, squarish cut outs) -I don't have a standard Manix 2 for comparison. This, plus the FFG blade brings the weight down from 143g (Standard) to 124g for the M4 version.
The knife allows left and right tip-up carry with pocket clip. The fit and finish are good: centered blade, countersunk torx bolts, no gaps, chamfered lanyard tube, solid lock up, no play. The lock is more effort to disengage than the Benchmade Axis lock with which it will inevitably be compared. I have to use a finger and thumb in tandem to pull the ball-bearing housing back. Not difficult but does necessitate a slight change of grip on the handle; still a one-handed operation.
The tan G10 is surprisingly pale and greyish, rather than the brownish/sandy colour I would have expected.
When I received the knife, I put a 30deg inclusive edge on it using a Sharpmaker (I might experiment with other edge geometries using benchstones but I was eager to get going) and then stropped on a loaded 50cm length of veg-tanned leather on wood backing. As expected, the knife was hair-popping sharp to the tip. I confess I did not check for a burr using my loupe at this stage -more of that later...
The knife became my companion for the next few weeks:
Out in the woods:
The ergonomics are typical spyderco (which I like)- deep choil for forward grip:
The knife saw frequent and varied use (pics not in chronological order):
I truncated and flattened a piece of hazel for use as a digging stick, harvesting ramsons (wild garlic) while out with the dog. Smell of bluebells and garlic delightful:
Made some feather sticks for a fire with my lad:
The corners of the handle did begin to create hot spots on my hand after a while- not really a criticism as a fixed blade would normally be my choice for this:
Whittled a pot hangar:
And got the grub on with a tripod:
Continued in part 2...
) The edge holding is impressive, given what it went through, and I cannot be sure I had fully removed the burr with my stropping so performance might have been even better if damage of the microbevel did occur due to burr tear.
