Manix 2 Lightweight Black - wow!

I haven't really bought a new knife in over 2 years... I made a very positive post about the Spyderco Native 5 on this forum and that was about the last knife I bought. However I carry a fair amount of gear regularly for various other uses, and don't view folding knives as a defensive item generally; the shiny pocket clip, very hard to conceal and the fact it didn't offer that much over a Sodbuster Jr or a Ladybug at least in my day to day life meant I rarely carried it... so I recently sold it on Ebay.

But I found myself wanting a knife for the occasional camping trip, hike, work-project, or whatever, that might be appealing to carry just for the heck of it outside of those scenarios. Here were my criteria:

3-3.5" blade
Stealthy in pocket (width, clip, ride , thickness)
Ffg or at least great slicer
Leaf blade or drop point
Volcano Frn preferably... or g10
Excellent lock, and suitable for some hard use
No choil (I found the choil on the Native 5 to be very limiting - the knife didn't seem that great in the "extended" non-choil grip and using the choil effectively makes it a very short bladed knife)
Sub-$100

I should have listened to Jshirley earlier as he raved about the manix 2. However I didn't like the hollow saber grind of the regular version nor the blue transparent scales of the first "lightweight" release.

That changed with the recent advent of the lightweight version being released in black. It satisfies all of my criteria VERY well except for "no choil" but the choil is very well-designed and now, with it in hand, I can say for sure I don't mind it. The handle works equally well with or without the choil in use and is the most ergonomic I've used.

The fit and finish on this spyderco is exceptional for a $70-something knife. The grind and edge is one of the best I have seen on a spydie (or any knife) and that's saying something.

EVERY detail indicates multiple generations of refinement, from the enlarged opening-hole to the ridiculously ergonomic scales. I strongly prefer this to my Paramilitary 2 that I probably sold 3 years or so ago.

I will probably post some more thoughts as I use it more, but I'm really happy with it as of now and I don't see that changing...

The pic is just a quick one taken without flash... doesn't do either of my EDCs justice.

It's totally opaque, just like black Frn.
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I straight-up prefer Frn or frcp to g10 (except for example in my clinch pick with its egg handle) . In real world use I've never seen an advantage to g10 personally.

The Manix 2 has good edge retention so far. I attempted to exercise my bushcraft skills (pathetic) and make some fuzz sticks yesterday. It's still slicing post its very nicely. Unbelievable edge geometry as one would expect from spyderco.

Zhy that makes sense now. However have you personally tried the Volcano FRN pattern? I've never had issues with crud with daily use (no dirty job or anything) OR extended time spent outside using any Spydies with volcano FRN.

Unless you have a particular reason for concern with crud I can't see it being a problem.

I have to say I am a huge fan of this BD1 steel. As John stated it takes a ridiculously good edge that seems quite stable, in no time flat. It's definitely 30 degrees or so from the factory but I have been using the 40 degree inclusive angle on the sharpmaker to microbevel as this is faster and IMO wastes less steel. I do still hit the 30 a bit but not very much. In the future after a few resharpenings of the microbevel I'll smooth out the primary bevel but it doesn't need to be done every time.

I'm sure if I was slicing up 500 cardboard boxes with no chance to resharpen I'd prefer ZDP189. But for a guy who never lets his knives get below 80% sharp anyway this thing is actually less work than any super-steel because it seems to get to 80% at the same rate and comes back MUCH faster. I have always found super-steels require a lot of attention to detail to get a "perfect" edge while resharpening. Whereas my carbon steel Sodbuster just takes a perfect edge in no time for example.

Anyone who has handled a spydie from the factory knows the type of sharpness they come with. It takes almost no work to restore the factory edge, maybe 5-10 passes on the sharpmaker, after a couple of day's extensive use (but not abuse).

Very pleased with the steel choice...