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Spyderco Manix 2 CQI Lightweight
- Pros: very light, great cutting power and performance, nearly rust-proof, can now be disassembled
- Cons: pricey, fit and finish is lackluster, short cutting-edge-to-size ratio
Spyderco has likely the highest number of models of any modern knife manufacturer. They continue to collaborate with designers from all over the world, coming up with new styles, materials, and even blade steels to experiment with, and use for either a short period of time, or to implement as a new part of everyday production. Part of their CQI (constant quality improvement) standard is to frequently make updates to existing models, if the consumers present an issue, or Spyderco themselves deem the model to warrant an update. And now the Manix 2 has seen yet another CQI implementation.
So how does a massive knife company like Spyderco update a model that’s been in production for 19 years and continue to improve on its success? The standard G10 models have not seen much in the way of CQI for quite some time, but the Lightweight version has recently been facelifted to have appeal to those seeking a couple of specific aspects of the tried-and-true model: new blade steels, and a serviceable folder. These may not sound like anything worth writing home about, but we’ve given the Manix 2 Lightweight a chance to prove itself once again, and we’re here to give you the rundown on the refresh to a nearly 25-year-old knife design.
Key Specs: Spyderco Manix 2 CQI Lightweight
Blade
Using the same full flat grind found on the vast majority of Spyderco’s folders in 2024, the Manix 2 Lightweight’s blade is the same 3.37” blade, with 2.88” of cutting edge as previous generations of this knife. What is unique to today’s Lightweight models in terms of updates on the blades is the blade steel composition in different versions of the same model. Spyderco regularly produces a “sprint run” (limited run of a particular configuration, that may repeat in the future), as well as exclusives (a configuration of blade steel and handle scale color that is exclusive to one particular dealer). The Manix 2 Lightweight has gone through many of both types of limited releases. Some of these blade steels used are CPM 4V, CPM REX45, CPM M4, CPM SPY27, and our particular Salt line configuration, CPM MagnaCut. 4V, M4, Maxamet, REX45 and other steels available on the Manix 2 Lightweight have some similar properties of toughness and high-edge retention but low corrosion resistance. CPM SPY27 is Spyderco’s proprietary blend of steel made by Crucible; the SPY refers to Spyderco, and 27 is the atomic number of cobalt, which is found in the composition. But with so much emphasis on MagnaCut steel, our new Lightweight model only felt right to be tested and reviewed with the hyped-up steel invented by Mr. Larrin Thomas.
A steel nerd through and through, Larrin Thomas has had a huge impact on the knife world as we know it. He is the son of a damascus steel maker, and has had an interest in steel and heat treat so insatiable that he was serious enough to obtain a PhD in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. He also has an extremely comprehensive website and book about modern knife steels. And then there’s his pride and joy: CPM MagnaCut. This steel has gained tons of traction for its unique quality to have well-roundedness in all three main aspects of knife steel: toughness, corrosion resistance, and edge retention. Typically, a sliding scale is applied to a knife’s steel composition when trying to have an emphasis on one of these three aspects. But MagnaCut has all three of these aspects without much reduction in any of them. It's tough and stainless, and it can hold an edge for a respectable amount of time. It’s so stainless, in fact, that Spyderco’s “Salt” line of knives now has the option for either LC200n or MagnaCut steel, meaning it’s nearly rust-proof. Spyderco has made the Manix Magnacut blade with a satin finish that shows off the grind lines and leaves a very sleek-looking finish to the blade.
Deployment/Lockup
The Manix 2 Lightweight is a model that lends itself to a very easy deployment, with a large opening hole that is completely accessible from both sides of the knife. In comparison, many of Spyderco’s folders have this large opening hole, and some do have the full access to it for deployment, but many of them have an obstruction from the handle scales on one side of the knife, limiting the ability to claim ambidextrous status. The knife’s being held closed by the BBL (ball bearing lock) along with the ball cage assembly allows Spyderco to manufacture this model without a traditional detent. It works flawlessly and aids in the Manix’s smoothness of operation. The ball bearing rides along the tang of the blade during deployment, which smoothly segues us to another CQI aspect of the Salt Manix, the ceramic ball bearing. For years now, purchasing a ceramic ball for the Manix has been popular to aid in smoothness and corrosion resistance as an aftermarket part. But now, Spyderco has installed the ceramic ball bearing from the factory, only in the Salt MagnaCut Lightweight variant. This gives the knife yet another point in the smoothness department and puts it in the Salt class, as ceramic is extremely corrosion-resistant, especially when compared to the steel ball bearing found on other configurations of the model.
When the Manix 2 Lightweight is locked open, it’s just as rigid as the G10 models, with little to no side-to-side blade play, and absolutely no front-to-back movement, thanks to the BBL lock system. Continuing the ambidextrous theme of the knife, the BBL lock release is, although a two-fingered affair, able to be actuated with either hand. It requires the lock to be pulled down by the thumb and index finger of either hand, and so long as the other fingers are out of the way, the blade will reliably fall to its closed position once again. It’s an ingenious lock system with tons of strength, durability, longevity, and ease of use and allows the knife to be made without any cutouts for the lock on the front or back of the scales, aiding in great ergonomics.
Features, Fit and Finish
It has an 8” overall length and a blade length of 3.37”, and so one might imagine the Manix 2 to be a heavy knife. And they would be correct, when looking at the G10 model, what with its full-length skeletonized liners. But the lightweight model (obviously) cuts the weight from 5.0 ounces on the standard model to a mere 2.8 ounces on the lightweight. Using FRCP (Fiberglass Reinforced Co-Polymer), the handle scales are very light and do not have liners. The BBL lock does require a housing for the spring assembly and ball lock, but these are very small, light parts that do not add much weight to the knife overall. In previous years, the Manix 2 Lightweight was pinned together, meaning both sides of the scales were held in place by pressed together pins that did not allow the knife to be taken apart, unless you’re brave enough to drill them out and find replacement parts. But now, all Manix 2 LW models are screwed together from the factory, allowing knife aficionados and users to swap blades between models (at your own risk, and will likely void warranty), but more aptly allows servicing of the knife by the owner. If a washer has an issue, the knife gets overly dirty under the hood, or you’re looking to swap out parts, the Manix 2 LW is now able to be disassembled. There is a big aftermarket following for this model, and many people like to swap scales on their knives, but be warned that the LW models do have a slightly different set of parts than the G10 counterpart, meaning most swaps from a Lightweight model to aftermarket scales do not work unless parts are pulled from a G10 model as well.
The black coated screws, black coated wire pocket clip, FRCP scales, MagnaCut blade steel, ceramic ball lock interface, and phosphor bronze washers all play nicely together in the Salt line of the Manix for extreme corrosion resistance. Fit and finish of the FRCP scales is quite lackluster, though. Plastic injection molded scales aren’t known for having high-end feel, and the Manix is no exception. The back of the scales have a minor gap in some areas, the inner edges are not chamfered and are sharp to the touch, and the scales will flex inward at the opening for the blade with minimal effort. None of these attributes is a problem in any way, but they do add up to a feeling of cheapness in hand. The pattern on the scales has plenty of grip and looks like the rest of the knives made by Spyderco in their lightweight variants. This is just plain and simply not a knife that is made with a high-quality feel in the handle scale department, albeit with great ergonomics and high-end features otherwise.
Field Test
The words of the great Sal Glesser (founder and owner of Spyderco), “We design for the hand, not for the eye” could not more appropriately be applied to the Manix 2 Lightweight. It’s just not an aesthetically pleasing knife, by most people’s standards. But, although it may not be the belle of the ball, the Manix 2 is what we’d call an incredible “user” in the knife world. It fits in the hand like a glove, quite literally. Unless you’re gifted with bear paws for hands, or use extra small sized gloves, I don’t think the Manix could be more comfortable in use. Many times, ergonomics are discussed among “reviewers” who make videos behind a camera and hold the knife like this, or like that, and comment on how it feels in hand. But using the knife can be a whole different story, presenting possible hot spots on the hand, or forcing the user’s grip in an awkward manner. The Manix 2, although it has forced grip areas with large finger grooves, works incredibly well in-hand. The only area of contention in my opinion on this knife when pushing hard is the inner edges of the FRCP scales, which can easily be smoothed out with a file or bit of sandpaper, especially since the knife is able to be disassembled now.
The blade, which has both great cutting geometry and the powerhouse that is MagnaCut steel, is an absolute cutting demon of a knife. I have handled and used literally hundreds of folding knives, and very few can compete with the cutting power of the Manix. The full flat grind, impeccable factory edge (which was literally hair whittling out of the box), and great ergonomics allow this knife to cut like a hot knife through butter, for lack of a better analogy. There are many fixed blade knife makers who grind their bevels to an extremely thin edge, and although Spyderco doesn’t do this as aggressively, their knives still cut insanely well. Pushing through some sisal rope, breaking down 6’ sections of cardboard, cutting heavy plastic zip ties, and endless packaging, the Manix 2 LW in MagnaCut is about as good as it gets in a field test for a folder. Whether choked up, or choked back on the handle, the Manix is sure to please in use for just about any occasion. And, the Salt variant can literally be rinsed out in the sink, shaken to a partially dry state, and thrown in the pocket without worry of corrosion or rust. It’s a plain joy to use and carry, especially with its lightweight nature and wire pocket clip.
Alternatives
Spyderco’s Manix 2 Lightweight doesn’t quite compare “apples to apples” with many other knives, short of its G10 standard counterpart easily since it has some unique features and lock system.
Benchmade Bugout
But looking at a direct competitor in production folders, Benchmade’s Bugout model comes to mind as a viable alternative to the Manix LW. The Bugout is lighter than air, at 1.8 ounces, uses a somewhat similar lock with their Axis crossbar style lock, and is comparably priced at $162 vs the Manix Salt at $174. The Bugout comes in a variety of colors, finishes, and blade steels, but in its basic form, uses CPM S30V, partial scale liners, and an Omega spring vs the Manix’s coil spring for the lock mechanism. Both ride on phosphor bronze washers, are very light, and have a huge following for the EDC crowd looking for a great cutting tool from a major brand name with great warranty and history.
Spyderco Native 5 Lightweight
Another knife from Spyderco’s salt line (which is getting the Magnacut overhaul on many models) that competes closely with the Manix Lightweight is the Native 5 Lightweight. It's sporting the same bright yellow handle scales but has a 3” blade instead of the Manix’s 3.37” blade, uses a more traditional back lock, and has a fully serrated blade. The other components of the knife, like phosphor bronze washers, black coated hardware and clip, and FRN scales, all add up to allow the Salt line of Native 5 to compete directly with the Manix. It’s a bit smaller overall at 6.9”, lighter at 2.5 ounces, and uses a more standard Spyderco spoon-style pocket clip.
Conclusion
To summarize, in this Spyderco Manix 2 Lightweight review: Spyderco continues to improve their lineup of knives, not only with new models, but also with existing evergreen models, with new features, materials, build construction, and blade steels on a constant basis, implementing their CQI standards to keep their models relevant as time passes. The Manix 2 lightweight, and specifically the Salt version we tested, holds true to these standards and passes the test of time with Magnacut blade steel, screw-together construction, and a ceramic ball for lockup and smoothness. It cuts with authority, sharpens well, carries lightly, and fits in the hand like an old pair of jeans. Spyderco does continue to increase prices, and the Manix 2 lightweight will not escape a price hike in early 2024, but considering its updates and materials, the price is justified to the right user. This knife just works, no matter the conditions, even if it might look a little ugly by typical standards.
