Manix2 = Impressed

jon1all · #1

I will be honest with you, I was never all that captivated by the Manix2. Had never seen one in person, much less held one, but from the pics and vids of the knife it was just never a knife that I felt drawn to (like I am the Para2). Looked too big and bulky for my tastes, specs showing it at 5+ oz made it seem heavy, wasn't so sure about the ball-bearing lock, etc.

Well... yesterday I stumbled across one at a local retailer (just the plain hollow ground run of the mill standard version) and got a chance to "fondle" it a bit. Let me just say... I get why the Manix2 has its fans! What an impressive knife. First off, despite it's weight specs it doesn't "feel" particularly heavy or bulky. Yes it is wider than a Para2 (had one of my Para2s with me so I got to do a bit of side-by-side comparing) and yes did weigh a bit more, but it didn't feel "too wide" or "too heavy". In fact, the whole knife looked and felt "smaller" than I thought it was from pics/vids I've seen. And I say "smaller" in a good way because from an EDC perspective I am not really into big knives (my beloved Para2s are at the upper end of my size preference). The uber-jimping all of the knife was also quite impressive (I've read some reports that it's over-jimped, but I would have to disagree... loved it). And the ball-bearing lock... what a blast. Really enjoyed playing with it. Very fun... rivals the compression lock in fondling fun factor.

All that said... I think I will have to put the Manix2 on my short list of Spydies to get/own. Really a sweet knife.

BAL · #2

We would probably all have a change of opinion in certain knives if we
had a chance to hold one before buying. Pictures and descriptions
just don't give a total package of the knife.

jon1all · #3

Well, I guess this was predictable! :)

Gentlemen (& ladies should there be any)...let me introduce you to my new Manix2!

Zenith · #4

Congrats on the fine knife.

For what its worth. Here is a review I did

http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthre ... DLC-Manix2

Fancier · #5

I thought they went to a black plastic for the lock button instead of the clear?
Perhaps that one is from older stock.

jon1all · #6

Zenith wrote:Congrats on the fine knife.

For what its worth. Here is a review I did

http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthre ... DLC-Manix2

Thanks...great review. Loved the diary approach. :)

jon1all · #7

Something I have noticed on my new Manix2 is that the blade looks more stonewashed than satin. The store had 2 Manixes (Manixi?) in stock. I gave them both a good once over before picking the one I wanted...and both definitely looked stonewashed. Not a real heavy stonewash like on some blades, but definitely different than the satin on my other Spydies. Is it truly supposed to be stonewashed? Haven't read anywhere that it is. (Btw, both knives are/were January 2013 date coded.)

Blerv · #8

Fancier wrote:I thought they went to a black plastic for the lock button instead of the clear?
Perhaps that one is from older stock.

I know they use the black polymer cage for the black lightweight and Manix2 XL.

This knife and a few I've seen in S30v are certainly new stock and have the clear one. As for future versions of this model, they might switch to the black one but it's anyone's guess.

Schneib · #9

The Manix 2 is definitely my favorite knife of all time! Actually, I sent in my Manix 2 XL into Spyderco for some warranty work, and I was so sad without it that I bought a regular Manix 2. My regular one is S30-V and has the clear polymer, while my XL has the black polymer. I do prefer the FFG on the XL overall though, and I would like to see Spyderco make a regular Manix 2 with FFG that isn't a sprint run or a lightweight, but either way I'm happy.

BAL · #10

jon1all wrote:Something I have noticed on my new Manix2 is that the blade looks more stonewashed than satin. The store had 2 Manixes (Manixi?) in stock. I gave them both a good once over before picking the one I wanted...and both definitely looked stonewashed. Not a real heavy stonewash like on some blades, but definitely different than the satin on my other Spydies. Is it truly supposed to be stonewashed? Haven't read anywhere that it is. (Btw, both knives are/were January 2013 date coded.)

I have a Manix from 2010 and it has the stonewash look. It has the 154CM blade.
I just assumed that this was the way that the 154 looked. I don't believe that I
have any other knives with that steel.
I like the look of it. Its a great stout knife with awesome ergos. Mine is home, now
I want to get it out and carry it more.
Congrats.

O,just,O · #11

Yeah, Ho hum, nice knife & all but it could do with a bit more jimping. :)
O.
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chuck_roxas45 · #12

The manix 2 is one of the knives I have that I recognize as great quality and great build but no matter how much I try to like it, it just doesn't click with me. Good thing I have a couple of paras. :D

jon1all · #13

Schneib wrote:The Manix 2 is definitely my favorite knife of all time! Actually, I sent in my Manix 2 XL into Spyderco for some warranty work, and I was so sad without it that I bought a regular Manix 2. My regular one is S30-V and has the clear polymer, while my XL has the black polymer. I do prefer the FFG on the XL overall though, and I would like to see Spyderco make a regular Manix 2 with FFG that isn't a sprint run or a lightweight, but either way I'm happy.

I tend to favor FFG as well... in fact, every other Spydie I own is FFG with the exception of my Ladybug Salt Hawkbill (and my Byrd Hawkbill). But I kinda like the HG/SG on the Manix2... it's definitely cool looking and it's nice to have a bit of variety I guess. But like you said... either way I'm happy.

jon1all · #14

Fancier wrote:I thought they went to a black plastic for the lock button instead of the clear?
Perhaps that one is from older stock.

I thought I'd read that somewhere too... but both my knife and the other one the store had were January 2013 date coded and both had the clear lock button... so go figure. Maybe on the DLC coated version they switched to a black one now (I know the DLC at one point did have the clear as well). Anyway, I rather like the clear... as such it allows light to pass through it and accentuates the cool locking mechanism that is the caged ball bearing lock. But frankly if it was black that'd be fine too... doesn't much matter to me. :D

Bladewacked · #15

I think I have 7 and love them all probably my favorite design right now ( and I do have 3 para2s)

Spyder-fan · #16

I still need to get my hands on one to see if I like it. The weight would be my only concern. I'm not that interested in the lightweight version.

Blerv · #17

I personally hope Spyderco never completely turns it's back on the hollow-grind (which I doubt they will). There are just as many advantages for it as disadvantages.

paisa777 · #18

I'm certainly not as seasoned in the knife world as some of you guys are, but I keep reading this whole thing about the weight of it so wanted to chime in on that. I personally have never had an issue with the weight of the Manix 2. I clip it on to my basketball shorts when at the playground with my daughter and it has never bothered me. Another time, I clipped it to my pajama pants all night, forgot about it, and slept with it still clipped on.

Holland · #19

very nice addition!

Bladewacked · #20

paisa777 wrote:I'm certainly not as seasoned in the knife world as some of you guys are, but I keep reading this whole thing about the weight of it so wanted to chime in on that. I personally have never had an issue with the weight of the Manix 2. I clip it on to my basketball shorts when at the playground with my daughter and it has never bothered me. Another time, I clipped it to my pajama pants all night, forgot about it, and slept with it still clipped on.

I'm with you on this one, never an issue here either.....or maybe I'd have stopped buying 'em by now.