Manix Modifications. What have you done? What do you want to do?

[msum]

Thanks OP for starting the thread and thereby uncluttering the Manix 2 15V thread.

I do like my fancy trinkets, so I have been contemplating trying out linerless scales from AWR, Al ball cage from Flytanium and a replacement bearing.

Does anyone have experience with the Al ball cage? There seems to be a fair bit of experience with Ti and brass.

Regarding bearings, has anyone tried different types of ceramic bearing (e.g. Silicon Nitride vs Zirconia). It seems Si Nitride might have more wear resistance and might be smoother, but loses toughness/fracture resistance. Is that correct? Since it’s a generic 3/16” size, I also realise I could probably source Tungsten Carbide…

Any tips as to where to get AWT liner delete scales from, for the lowest price possible? For AWT, is Cerakote the way to go, or not?

[Brock O Lee]

Any tips as to where to get AWT liner delete scales from, for the lowest price possible? For AWT, is Cerakote the way to go, or not?

The Manix scales from AWT is quite new on the market. Best bet IMO is to buy them from their website.

The Cerakote coating is a lot less durable than the hard anodized version. I have the latter.

[ladybug93]

I modded an S110V LW as well, discarding the FCRP scales.

i'd like to hear more about this one, specifically.

[msum]

Any tips as to where to get AWT liner delete scales from, for the lowest price possible? For AWT, is Cerakote the way to go, or not?

The Manix scales from AWT is quite new on the market. Best bet IMO is to buy them from their website.

The Cerakote coating is a lot less durable than the hard anodized version. I have the latter.

Thanks.

Is the base material under the Cerakote not as hard as the hard anodised material?

[JSumm]

Any tips as to where to get AWT liner delete scales from, for the lowest price possible? For AWT, is Cerakote the way to go, or not?

The Manix scales from AWT is quite new on the market. Best bet IMO is to buy them from their website.

The Cerakote coating is a lot less durable than the hard anodized version. I have the latter.

Thanks.

Is the base material under the Cerakote not as hard as the hard anodised material?

Cerakote is a ceramic finish applied to the metal. It can more easily wear off. If you have ever had a blade finished in this you will notice over time it can look worn down. Which is why Spyderco's DLC blade finish is so great. It doesn't wear down or so it appears in the blades lifetime. It can be scratched by harder material.

Anodization changes the surface of the metal, so it holds up much better in the long run than Cerakote finishes in handle scales. Also better than powder coated finishes.

[Evil D]

I modded an S110V LW as well, discarding the FCRP scales.

i'd like to hear more about this one, specifically.

Mine came together from a S110V LW and a standard S30V model. I basically destroyed the FRCP taking it apart. If you have access to a drill press you can secure the knife and drill/grind off the pins much easier and not screw up the FRCP but I tried using a hand drill which was dumb and I eventually just ground the heads of the pins off and butchered the scales doing it. It's entirely possible to get one of the pinned models apart and source screws to put the remaining parts back together into a usable knife. Now with them moving to screw construction maybe this won't be necessary, and there's a G10 S110V version too which would have been less expensive from the start, I did my swap before that knife came out (about a month later of course). I have about $300 into my Manix which feels kinda stupid now that I've added it all up.

[JSumm]

You can't place value on the experience David.

[Evil D]

You can't place value on the experience David.

I really should double down and get some nice custom scales and grind them into that shape, get a nice titanium clip and screws and ball cage and see if I can't make a $500 Manix 2




Actually if the day ever comes that they make a SE MagnaCut Manix 2, there will either be another modded knife happening or another blade swap.

[Dominick Maone]

I got rid of the enormous bump. Now it is about as thick as a Native 5. [/img] https://i.imgur.com/PyQXNUV.jpg[/img]

[apollo]

These are a few of my modded Manixes.

I mod them because the Manix2 , XL platform can be made way more impressive then what spyderco makes them. Put on some new scales and the model transforms completely.
I also have 2 where i changed the cages but i do not find it such an amazing step forward , the basic cage works fine. Offcourse depending on the mod its nicer if the color of the cage is changed.

[SpyderForLyfe]

Scales seem to be hard to come by these days... Anyone know a place that is in stock and has a good selection?

[JSumm]

Scales seem to be hard to come by these days... Anyone know a place that is in stock and has a good selection?

Which model?

Manix 2
Rockscale has Titanium in stock. My personal favorite (NOT the skinny).
https://rockscaledesign.com/search?q=manix

Fireside has some TeroTuf options. My 2nd favorite.
https://firesideco.com/product-category ... o-manix-2/

AWT has some aluminum in stock
https://appliedweaponstech.com/products?keywords=manix

If you google Manix 2 custom scales you can also find some shops that have Flytanium scales in stock.


Manix 2 XL
May be a little tougher to find. Just google it. There are some shops that have G10 in stock, but I am having trouble finding any other materials.
g.10.it website is a guy from Ukraine that can make them. Easiest way to get ahold of him is to email.

[olywa]

Apollo - I ordered a set of the toxic green sculpted g10 scales from Cuscadi after seeing an earlier pic of yours. I had to do quite a bit of work on them during the installation though. Turns out they are thicker than the stock scales so I had to countersink all of the screw holes a bit deeper in order to get the stock screws to work. I also had to grind down the area where the clip mounts with my Dremel.

Just wondering if your experience was the same? They are attractive enough to make the effort worthwhile, so no regrets.

[ladybug93]

Scales seem to be hard to come by these days... Anyone know a place that is in stock and has a good selection?

you can also find quite a few on instagram. if you search your favorite model, it won't be long before you find some custom makers.

try karbadize and shepardcc for starters. i believe both are in america too.

[SpyderForLyfe]

Which model?

Just the regular Manix. I only have one XL and it has great scales (Allen Putnam green) so I'm not too worried about that. When they come out with a decent sprint/exclusive XL in the future I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Fireside has some TeroTuf options. My 2nd favorite.
https://firesideco.com/product-category ... o-manix-2/

This is perfect, thank you. I quite agree, the desert tan scales are beautiful.

Also, I found these scales on Amazon and ordered them. Only $50. I figured why not, it's Amazon and if they're junk, I can just return them, but they do look very nice!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09W19R1XB?re ... tails&th=1

manix2-scales.jpg

[apollo]

Apollo - I ordered a set of the toxic green sculpted g10 scales from Cuscadi after seeing an earlier pic of yours. I had to do quite a bit of work on them during the installation though. Turns out they are thicker than the stock scales so I had to countersink all of the screw holes a bit deeper in order to get the stock screws to work. I also had to gring down the area where the clip mounts with my Dremel.

Just wondering if your experience was the same? They are attractive enough to make the effort worthwhile, so no regrets.

Hi olywa sorry to hear about the screw holes. I have 6 pairs of scales from them at the moment waiting for the 7th of all those scales there was 1 set i also had to deepen the screw holes from. They did not need much in my case but its not fun if you ever would buy another pair from them please mention it they are good guys and will definitely help you out the next time. About the clip on the grooved scales that is indeed a technical issue with the grooving pattern. I use mine without a clip personally but i can imagine that isn’t for everyone. Hope you will enjoy them anyway. Once on the knife those scales really alter the design definitely the grooved scales give a nice grip.

[Dazen]

I wish someone made non-grooved micarta scales. Seems like there would be a market for that. Has there ever been a burgundy micarta Manix?!

On to the bearings, I’m interested to what type of bearings Spyderco puts in there knives. Some good info on this page:

https://www.bcprecision.com/pages/ball- ... -materials

I’m curious as well, with CPM 15V as hard as it is I would think it would benefit from a harder bearings with less friction.

[ladybug93]

I wish someone made non-grooved micarta scales. Seems like there would be a market for that. Has there ever been a burgundy micarta Manix?!

On to the bearings, I’m interested to what type of bearings Spyderco puts in there knives. Some good info on this page:

https://www.bcprecision.com/pages/ball- ... -materials

I’m curious as well, with CPM 15V as hard as it is I would think it would benefit from a harder bearings with less friction.

i've seen them out there. try rcbladeworks.

[Dazen]

I wish someone made non-grooved micarta scales. Seems like there would be a market for that. Has there ever been a burgundy micarta Manix?!

On to the bearings, I’m interested to what type of bearings Spyderco puts in there knives. Some good info on this page:

https://www.bcprecision.com/pages/ball- ... -materials

I’m curious as well, with CPM 15V as hard as it is I would think it would benefit from a harder bearings with less friction.

i've seen them out there. try rcbladeworks.

It doesn’t look like they do the Manix, but their stuff is amazing! Thanks

I’m not on social media so I don’t see that side of the world, and my wallet thanks me for that!

[JSumm]

I wish someone made non-grooved micarta scales. Seems like there would be a market for that. Has there ever been a burgundy micarta Manix?!

I would give these a look. I know they are a little more expensive, but the colors are great. I have some for my Shaman that I am really enjoying. I would describe the feel of these as an inbetween of third party canvas micarta and Spyderco's Micarata on the PM2 Crucarta model. If you have handled that one. A little softer than canvas typical canvas to the touch, but not as fuzzy or whatever that the PM2 seems to come with.

https://firesideco.com/product-category ... o-manix-2/

Also interesting to read their information on Terotuf vs. Micarta on their website. Obviously, it is biased because it is on their website, but interesting to read why they chose to work with the material.