Spyderco Forums

bearfacedkiller wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 17, 2023 8:30 am

I find the Manix2 to be a chunky pocket hog with mediocre ergos and superfluous jimping. I think the Para2 is over hyped but I definitely prefer it over the Manix2.

horzuff wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 17, 2023 2:51 am

Those are different enough models that I think it's impossible to state one is better/worse than the other.

However I would be very much interested in a hybrid (Para Milix? Para Manixtary? Not there yet maybe... :D). A Para 2 with an almost Manix blade just slightly narrower, but keep the leaf shape and 3mm spine. Keep the Para lock and handle as the Manix's handle is a bit too wide for me (due to the lock) and maybe squeeze a tiny bit more blade into the handles and I'm 100% sold.

So basically a para 2 with leaf blade and couple more mm edge length and less spine thickness

Edit: I guess I just want a compression lock Caly 3,5 / Calypso with a slightly beefed up handle...

Guts wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 17, 2023 10:28 am

I like them both, but objectively the standard G10 Manix is heavier by roughly 1.2oz, thicker in overall pocket profile, and it doesn't necessarily do anything better as a pocket knife than the PM2 does for me. Ergos I like both and don't have any issues with hotspots with either in heavy use, but I'm not particularly picky on that front compared to most I think. I do like the leaf shape blade aesthetically on the Manix over the modified clip point(?) on the PM2, and maybe the leaf shape may have a stronger tip. Though I've never personally broken a tip on either a PM2 or Manix since I don't pry with them lol. The lightweight Manix exists and I own a couple, amazing weight for the size but I do find the G10 version to be more comfortable in extended usage. I'd like to see a lightweight PM2 someday to compare. While both models work well for me, if I had to choose a Manix, it would be a G10 skeletonized liner version at least. Even in that config, the Manix definitely feels more like a tank though compared to the PM2, which isn't a bad thing, I just don't think it needs the full 5oz to do so when you can get the same robustness in 4.13oz or whatever the sprint run skeletonized version is. Having to resort to getting a sprint run to get that lighter weight G10 version I consider a downside though.

Manix has a self close bias like on back locks which could be a plus for some, and the PM2 doesn't. I grew up using liner locks so I didn't even know what a self close bias was until I started getting deeper into the hobby. That is to say, whether it has one or not doesn't matter to me either way, never had a knife open in my pocket in the tip up config with a deep carry clip. For locks I don't prefer one over the other really. I owned a Benchmade Axis lock knife long before I owned any Spydercos, so the Manix was easier to pick up right away, but I've grown to love the compression lock more.

At least in my own experiences, I've found the Manix isn't a knife I'd hand to non knife people or people that just don't have the finger strength. The lock is objectively known to be very stiff to operate out of the box and have seen first hand people I've handed the knife to struggle with the Manix lock. A whole secondary market popped up around the Manix just to address the lock stiffness or lack of grip on the polymer cage after all. While the compression lock may be confusing at first to a new user familiar with a more traditional liner lock, it doesn't require nearly as much strength to operate. So that's one of the additional considerations I have when choosing between the PM2 and Manix. I know I can use both fine, but if I had to hand it to someone, could they use it?

As far as the knife actions go, never been a huge action snob. Definitely have had some better than others for both models, but as long as I can open/close in one smooth motion that's all that matters to me. Both the Manix and PM2 are capable of that in the examples I own whether they need tuning or not.

Didn't figure this reply would end up being so long, but I've obviously thought about it a lot over the years. So taking into account all of the above, the Manix doesn't do anything objectively better for me as a pocket knife than the PM2 does, so I tend to gravitate towards the latter due to the above reasons, but honestly I still really love both. A smaller ~3" Manix has been on my wishlist for a long time. At the end of the day, as a fan of Spyderco and of both models, I don't have to choose just one

ladybug93 wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 17, 2023 5:37 pm

this week on how to see who reads posts before commenting, we have a bunch of people giving lessons on objective vs subjective after the post starts out by saying the claim is tongue in cheek. good grief...

JRinFL wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 17, 2023 8:45 am

. I think it might be due to the Para 2 having a look much closer to more traditional knife designs but still offering Spyderco's unique touches.

prndltech wrote: ↑

Fri Mar 17, 2023 5:49 am

One is not better than the other. Just different.