The Spyderco Manix 2 might be the most perfect edc ever...

Heartland_edc

Heartland_edc

Joined
May 4, 2015
Messages
947
I've had a LOT of "edc" folders in my pocket over the last 5 or 6 years. I don't care much about weight, but I've found that a 3-3.5 inch blade works best. Grippy g10 with stainless liners and a good lock are what i've come to love, along with some decent stainless steel in the shape of something that cuts easily. Gotta have gimping, good ergos, and if I could choose, I'd always go for a forward choil. The Manix 2 checks all of these boxes for me. Generally speaking, my edc folders see little use throughout the day. They may cut cardboard or some banner string, and they open the occasional letter, but that's about it. I don't often get an opportunity to really test my knives. I moved all day Sunday and yesterday, and I got an awesome opportunity to see just how well my Manix 2 would perform. We took about 15 loads of stuff from one house to the other, and we had TONS of rope that needed to be cut to specific lengths so that we could tie things down correctly. The Manix 2 sliced through 1/2 inch rope every single time with incredible precision and ease. I used it for a number of additional tasks during the day, including a lot of stuff that isn't recommended, like digging stuff up from the tiles in one of the bathrooms, cutting out old caulking, pulling up small nails from my wall, cutting out bad areas of carpet, pulling up bad flashing around the house, digging small rocks out of the back yard, etc. I was cautious at first, but it just kept tackling everything I threw at it, so I kept going. By the end of the move, I was extremely impressed. There were hardly any marks on the blade, and with a few strokes against a legal pad and some light cleaning, the blade was right back to perfect. The blade never developed wiggle in any direction. None of the screws came loose and after I cleaned it, the blade deployed with the same smoothness as before the move. The cpm s30v flat ground leaf blade is AWESOME for a number of things, and it's a lot tougher than I thought it would be. This isn't so much a review as it is a report on how well this thing is designed, and an attempt to start a discussion on how it seems to be somewhat out of the spotlight. I suppose it might be fun to really go out and use it for months and then do a review, but I'm sure that's been done a million times. Anyways, It's a straight-to-business knife. Easy to hang on to and ready to get the job done. I honestly don't know if I'll ever replace it. It just wants to be in my pocket and I've grown to really respect and love it. Here's a short list of every realistic edc option I have carried and used over the years:

Benchmade Barrage 581/583
Benchmade Griptillian (full size, and full size ritter grip w/g10/micarta)
Benchmade 940/943
Benchmade 710
ZT 0560
ZT 0562
ZT 0566 (bought at the same time as the Manix 2 because I couldn't decide)
ZT 0909
Spyderco Resilience
Spyderco Tenacious
Spyderco Paramility 2 (HATED it. I know, it's blasphemy.)
Spyderco Southard
Hinderer XM 18-3.5
Kershaw Blur s30v

I liked all of these with the exception of the Paramilitary 2. I really hated that lock. I know a lot of people like it, so maybe I'm just stupid, but it wasn't for me. In any case, none of them even came close to the Manix 2 in terms of a go-to cutting tool for me. It really is, for me, head and shoulders above anything I've experienced before. For $100, I really don't think there's a better option. Anyone else carrying one of these bad boys? I'd love to hear what you love (or hate) about the Manix 2. Honestly If I had to give an award to any of the most common edc folders out there, It'd definitely go to this little guy. Please feel free to share your thoughts! Even if you disagree :)

*Seriously, no BS, this is what the knife looks like now after 2 full days of fairly hard use, and some light cleaning. The lanyard wasn't on the knife while I was using it. (I thought it was too pretty to get dirty. You can make fun of me, I don't mind lol)

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I'm a Manix over PM2 guy as well. My favorite ideration is the LW in S110V. Rides well in a pair of gym shorts and I like the wire clip.

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Agreed. While I prefer the LW version myself, the Manix 2 is almost impossible to beat unless you value aesthetics over function. Otherwise, a strong argument can be made for it being the best knife on the market.
 
^^Agreed as well. I love the LW Manix 2's - got 4 of 'em (2 black, 2 blue, just in case they stop making the current configuration). It's a "go-to" knife, especially in the summertime when wearing less and lighter clothing.

 
Having both the Manix 2 G10 and the XL, I like the XL just a tiny bit more mostly because they are nearly the same weight (the XL using skeletonized liners) but with a 1/2" more blade.

But they're both outstanding knives
 
I really, really, really wanted to like the Manix 2. But, it takes up so much space in the pocket, that I didn't like carrying it. That, and it always bugged me that the lanyard tube was the only thing holding it together on the tail end. There was just the tiniest bit of movement when I squeezed the handle scales together.

I've been tempted to give it another chance a couple times now. I do enjoy playing with the ball bearing lock.
 
StuntDouble said:
I really, really, really wanted to like the Manix 2. But, it takes up so much space in the pocket, that I didn't like carrying it. That, and it always bugged me that the lanyard tube was the only thing holding it together on the tail end. There was just the tiniest bit of movement when I squeezed the handle scales together.

I've been tempted to give it another chance a couple times now. I do enjoy playing with the ball bearing lock.
Click to expand...

This, and for a delica length edge only for the bulk.
 
singularity35 said:
This, and for a delica length edge only for the bulk.
Click to expand...

Oddly enough, the length of the edge never really bothered me. It was right in the sweet spot of what I like. Plus, I kind of like the Spyderco's with the finger choil incorporated into the blade.

From the sounds of it, I'm in the minority when it comes to not liking the design. That tells me it might just be a problem with me, rather than an issue with the knife.

Looking at that top pic of the Manix open in the OP's hand, I'd kinda like to see a fixed blade version.
 
I just recently acquired the blurple Manix 2. I have broken it in, and man its one smooth knife. Fun to play with, at 4.2 ounces it light enough for edc. love the aesthetics and ergonomics of the blue g-10 with silver liners with jimping all-around
DbdTL5E

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Bought the XL on accident when I first started buying knives. Fit like a glove but was too big. I ended up selling it, but immediately copped the regular sized Manix 2 after. EDC'd it for months but haven't seen it in my pocket rotation too much since getting the Sage 3. Think the G10 is a little rough on my pants
 
StuntDouble said:
Oddly enough, the length of the edge never really bothered me. It was right in the sweet spot of what I like. Plus, I kind of like the Spyderco's with the finger choil incorporated into the blade.

From the sounds of it, I'm in the minority when it comes to not liking the design. That tells me it might just be a problem with me, rather than an issue with the knife.

Looking at that top pic of the Manix open in the OP's hand, I'd kinda like to see a fixed blade version.
Click to expand...

I dunno, I really tried to like the manix 2. I kept it in my pocket for over a month exclusively. I was quite relieved to take it out and replace it with a PM 2. The edge length by itself would be ok for me, it's the blade length to bulk ratio that I don't like.
 
It is rather wide. I carry in my back pocket though so it doesn't have to share the space.
 
No need for convincing here.The Manix 2 got me into Spyderco and while I have since obtained others that I love more for one reason or another, the manix remains my weekend beater/chores knife. There is something reassuring about the weight of the full g10 version to me and it has handles everything I've thrown at it. Love the damn thing.
 
I'd encourage anyone who thinks the handle on the LW might be a little weak because it flexes to go ahead and give it some hard use. The toughest materials in the world are resins.
 
I know the thumbhole is Spyderco's thing but I prefer a thumbstud or flipper much better. Nice looking nice though.
 
That is a way too exaggerated statement given that there are so many excellent folders available in the market. As much as the Manix 2 has some quite great features, it is too wide in pocket and the handle is not among the most ergo and comfortable.

I do understand it is a personal opinion and what I just said is mine as well.
 
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