Spyderco Forums

I don’t love everything about the Manix. Chiefly, I wish the handle was a bit more neutral.

I’ve been carrying mine recently, and there is simply no arguing: the blade shape makes for an absolutely stellar work knife.

I especially appreciate the immediate access to the tip, thanks to the generous negative blade angle. It’s almost like you can draw with it, like you would a pencil. That is just stellar.

By comparison, using the tip on a modified clip-point knife like my favored Military family knives requires a severe cocking of the wrist - delayed access, if you will. Drop points like the Native family are a little better in this regard, but still no Manix.

What other Spyderco knives give you this immediate tip access?

I imagine the Chapparal and Sage with their leaf-shaped blades would be close. Wharncliffes, like the YoJimbo are probably pretty good. I sure think that Hawkbill do too, though they definitely introduce some other cutting dynamics.

The Warncliffe Delicas are on a whole other level.

The Sliverax, Mantra 1 & 3, PM2 wharnie, Delica wharnie, Yojimbo 2, Canis, Rockjumper, Stovepipe, Swayback, P'Kal, Watu, Pingo, Techno 2, and Ronin 2 give good access to the tip with minimal adjustment of the wrist.

This is something I look for in everything I buy, I like the tip to be below the centerline of the handle, which usually happens with some amount of negative blade angle but not always. Generally knives tend to have more shallow belly curves but again, not always. You'll see this in most of Spyderco's in house designs, many of the leaf shaped blades tend to have lower tips and even the ones that are more neutral or almost spear point shaped will have some negative blade angle to achieve the same result.

You may also be seeing one of the often overlooked benefits to shorter blades, in that there is far more control when using the blade tip. You can fiddle around with your grip and compensate on longer blades but that requires deliberate grip changes, but on a shorter knife like a Manix 2 you get that feeling no matter how you grip it because the tip can only be so far from your hand. This is one detail that makes a Delica such an awesome EDC if you have a hand size that works well with the handle shape.

the yojumbo in my pocket is one of the best in regards to this.

on the other end of the size spectrum, the often overlooked Spin.

Pacific Salts and Endura do nicely for a regular blade shape. Not much belly to angle past.

Here's an old pic that illustrates the similarities of other knives you mention to the Manix2. The Endura should be in there as well because I think it would achieve the quality you are referring to, while being more similar in size to the Manix2.



Also, if you wish the Manix2 were more neutral, it's worth holding a Tenacious if you haven't. Although, it definitely has more belly.

Anything with a wharncliffe or sheepsfoot edge will give you good tip access. Wharncliffe blades may look a bit weird, but they're remarkably good on a small knife like a dragonfly.

Evil D wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 29, 2022 6:43 am

You may also be seeing one of the often overlooked benefits to shorter blades, in that there is far more control when using the blade tip.

This is one of the reasons that the Dragonfly is my favorite package opener - so very easy to manipulate that little blade!

abbazaba wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 29, 2022 11:01 am

Here's an old pic that illustrates the similarities of other knives you mention to the Manix2. The Endura should be in there as well because I think it would achieve the quality you are referring to, while being more similar in size to the Manix2.

Also, if you wish the Manix2 were more neutral, it's worth holding a Tenacious if you haven't. Although, it definitely has more belly.

Thank you all for your suggestions, but especially abbazabba for the specific photos. As it happens, I've always appreciated the Tenacious, and ordered two from Knife Center on Black Friday for a blade swap project.

I think I should like to try a Sage and a Chaparral at some point.

The Shaman is pretty good too. And speaking about the manix being used like a pencil, I've held it like that when stripping cable before. Works well honestly!

soc_monki wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 29, 2022 1:07 pm

The Shaman is pretty good too. And speaking about the manix being used like a pencil, I've held it like that when stripping cable before. Works well honestly!

I was actually wondering if anyone else really did this...hold it literally like a writing instrument. I've done quite a lot of art in the past and if I really need to cut something very detailed I'll hold the knife the same as I would a pencil or paint brush. Thumb ramps turn into index finger ramps and it works really well.

Evil D wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 29, 2022 1:46 pm

soc_monki wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 29, 2022 1:07 pm

The Shaman is pretty good too. And speaking about the manix being used like a pencil, I've held it like that when stripping cable before. Works well honestly!

I was actually wondering if anyone else really did this...hold it literally like a writing instrument. I've done quite a lot of art in the past and if I really need to cut something very detailed I'll hold the knife the same as I would a pencil or paint brush. Thumb ramps turn into index finger ramps and it works really well.

There's at least two of us!

The Straight Spine Stretch meets this criteria. Almost identical to the Manix.

Bemo wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 29, 2022 7:55 pm

The Straight Spine Stretch meets this criteria. Almost identical to the Manix.

I’m carrying a Stretch today, and I’ve got to say I disagree. While I love my Stretch to death, I’ve got to choke up on it considerably in order to achieve the same kind of tip control. I think this has to do with both the belly and the blade angle.

jwbnyc wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 29, 2022 1:05 am

The Warncliffe Delicas are on a whole other level.

Another vote for this.^^^
That Delica wharncliffe tip will do calligraphy.

The Manix is a genius design, especially the light weight (but this needs a backlock!). It gives a lot of control and a lot of cutting power.

Doc Dan wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 29, 2022 10:42 pm

The Manix is a genius design, especially the light weight (but this needs a backlock!). It gives a lot of control and a lot of cutting power.

The Manix is indeed a genius design.
No mather if its the g10 or the LW.
( Personally i find the g10 is far superior in build quality especially when also taking in account the prices )
For me personally the Manix family outclasses even the oh so prayed up on pm2 for day to day use.
Count in that the knife is far more amidextrous then the military family and you can only call it a master piece.

apollo wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 30, 2022 6:00 am

Doc Dan wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 29, 2022 10:42 pm

The Manix is a genius design, especially the light weight (but this needs a backlock!). It gives a lot of control and a lot of cutting power.

The Manix is indeed a genius design.
To mather if its the g10 or the LW.
( Personally i find the g10 is far superior in build quality especially when also taking in account the prices )
For me personally the Manix family outclasses even the oh so prayed up on pm2 for day to day use.
Count in that the knife is far more amidextrous then the military family and you can only call it a master piece.

100% agree with everything written here!

benben wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 30, 2022 6:26 am

apollo wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 30, 2022 6:00 am

Doc Dan wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 29, 2022 10:42 pm

The Manix is a genius design, especially the light weight (but this needs a backlock!). It gives a lot of control and a lot of cutting power.

The Manix is indeed a genius design.
To mather if its the g10 or the LW.
( Personally i find the g10 is far superior in build quality especially when also taking in account the prices )
For me personally the Manix family outclasses even the oh so prayed up on pm2 for day to day use.
Count in that the knife is far more amidextrous then the military family and you can only call it a master piece.

100% agree with everything written here!

Thx benben! You helped make my day.
Now let us hope that Eric doesnt keep al the 15V's under his own Christmas tree...

benben wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 30, 2022 6:26 am

apollo wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 30, 2022 6:00 am

Doc Dan wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 29, 2022 10:42 pm

The Manix is a genius design, especially the light weight (but this needs a backlock!). It gives a lot of control and a lot of cutting power.

The Manix is indeed a genius design.
To mather if its the g10 or the LW.
( Personally i find the g10 is far superior in build quality especially when also taking in account the prices )
For me personally the Manix family outclasses even the oh so prayed up on pm2 for day to day use.
Count in that the knife is far more amidextrous then the military family and you can only call it a master piece.

100% agree with everything written here!

I’ll triple that sentiment

apollo wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 30, 2022 6:37 am

benben wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 30, 2022 6:26 am

apollo wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 30, 2022 6:00 am

Doc Dan wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 29, 2022 10:42 pm

The Manix is a genius design, especially the light weight (but this needs a backlock!). It gives a lot of control and a lot of cutting power.

The Manix is indeed a genius design.
To mather if its the g10 or the LW.
( Personally i find the g10 is far superior in build quality especially when also taking in account the prices )
For me personally the Manix family outclasses even the oh so prayed up on pm2 for day to day use.
Count in that the knife is far more amidextrous then the military family and you can only call it a master piece.

100% agree with everything written here!

Thx benben! You helped make my day.
Now let us hope that Eric doesnt keep al the 15V's under his own Christmas tree...

You're welcome sir!
I'll throw a Christmas wish out there.....I'd love to see the Manix 2 (or the XL) in a fixed blade! Same blade shape, same size (maybe an inch longer) in a great workhorse tool steel. G-10 or Micarta, doesn't matter! I'd definitely buy one or two.