FOG HORN
2017 Twobirds Flying Publication
Spyderco MANIXâ„¢ 2 GRAY MAXAMET
Copyright 2017, Towbirds Flying Publication. All Rights Reserved.
Spyderco MANIX™ 2 GRAY MAXAMET
2017
Spyderco MANIX™ 2 GRAY MAXAMET By: Sal Palma
The Manix 2 family of folding knives is a classic design with a form factor suitable to a number of applications. I’m a blade profile guy, but blade alone does not an excellent knife make. Handle, axis, locking mechanism and even pocket clips all integrate to deliver a truly magnificent tool. In my review, I’ll touch on all those, but the big news for this new 2017 design is the MAXAMET blade steel, which I’ll introduce below in some detail because you’ll undoubtedly see it used in an increasing number of high performance fixed blade and folding knives. It’s rare to encounter a folding knife that fills the role of a tactical folder and EDC equally well; however, since its introduction the Manix folder has done just that. In 2017, the Manix 2 MAXAMET raises the performance bar considerably. A little background follows.
through the use of alloying elements like tungsten, molybdenum, vanadium and chromium which are able to form carbides. To improve hot hardness, cobalt may also be added. Spyderco could have used any number of high speed steels but instead chose MAXAMET for their blade material. Here’s why. Tools manufactured from these alloys generally fail due to a lack of sufficient wear resistance, room temperature hardness or hot hardness. Cutting tools of current high speed steels cannot withstand the significantly increased temperatures and have lower room temperature HRC. To overcome these limitations, Carpenter developed Micro-Melt Maxamet alloy. Their goal was to create a tool steel that is better performing than the common high speed steels CarTech Micro-Melt Maxamet alloy has a room temperature hardness capability of up to HRC 71.0 when using typical high speed steel heat treating practice and equipment. All samples tested for heat treated hardness below were preheated at 843°C (1550°F), equalized, austenitized for 3 minutes at the indicated temperature and tempered at the temperatures shown.
High Speed Steels are high-performance special steels offering high hardness at temperatures up to 500°C. They achieve high wear resistance, Copyright 2017, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved
Spyderco MANIX™ 2 GRAY MAXAMET
2017
As you can see from the table, HRC values meet and in almost all cases exceed the harness of steels used in the finer fixed blades and folders on the market. In addition to an impressive HRC rating, the Manix 2 MAXAMET with its .125” thick blade is a real lightweight. The entire enchilada weighs in at a mere 3.0 oz. and buyers get a tool steel + strength, full flat ground leaf blade, that will stand up to anything you can throw at it in a featherweight folder. You can’t beat that with a stick! This impressive blade attaches to Spyderco’s fiberglass-reinforced co-polymer (FRCP) at a rock solid axis which Spyderco elected to lock with its patented Ball Bearing Lock.
The ball bearing lock is a simple concept that Spyderco details as consisting of a ball bearing nested within a durable textured polymer 'cage.' When the blade is opened, a springloaded steel plunger drives the ball bearing forward to wedge between a ramp on the blade and an 'anvil' in the handle's steel insert. Drawing the caged ball bearing to the rear releases the lock and allows the blade to close smoothly. The point to take home is just how smooth this locking mechanism operates and how securely it locks the knife’s blade. There’s absolutely no side to side or up and down blade movement.
In this rendition of the MANIX 2 Spyderco retained the FRCP handle with Spyderco's distinctive Bi-Directional Texturing® pattern. The handled is brilliantly sculpted allowing the knife to sit comfortably in the hand – even in the author’s chunky hands.
Another feature to highlight is Spyderco’s use of a steel insert to reinforce the handle along the locking mechanism accounting for the MANIX 2 rock solid lockup.
The MANIX 2 is fully ambidextrous and designed to be carried tip up so it also includes a
Copyright 2017, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved
Spyderco MANIX™ 2 GRAY MAXAMET
2017
reversible wire clip for right-side or left-side carry. In closing, the MANIX 2 MAXAMET folder is another magnificent creation from one of the world’s leading edged tool manufacturers; everything from the high tech MAXAMET blade steel to its thoughtfully designed wire clip that won’t rip your trousers’ pockets projects excellence. At an M.S.R.P. of $279.95 this is not a whimsical decision but it’s one that you will never regret. The Spyder strikes again!
-SP
Manufacturer Specifications
Overall Length: 8.03" (204 mm) Blade Length: 3.37" (86 mm) Steel: MAXAMET Closed Length: 4.66" (118 mm) Edge Length: 2.88" (73 mm) Weight: 3.0 oz. (85 g) Blade Thickness: 0.125" (3.2 mm) Handle: FRCP Clip Position: Ambi Tip Carry Position: Tip-Up Lock Type: Ball Bearing Grind: Full-Flat Sheath: None Origin: United States
Copyright 2017, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved