Spyderco Showdown: Manix 2 vs Para 3 vs PM2

Disclaimer: This post is just my opinion on these knives. If you disagree please share in the comments, hopefully nicely. I would love to hear others thoughts! The reason I’m choosing these models in specific is because it’s the only spydies I own. All three and some of my favorite knives, despite how harsh I may be on them. Also steel will not be a factor in the review, model only.

I suppose I’ll start with my least favorite, the Para 3. I own the lightweight version and out of the box there was some pretty glaring issues. This model only comes with one washer, leading to pretty significant off centering and bad action. This was remedied by putting on some awt scales, but it shouldn’t be necessary for the knife to perform well. The other major issue is the blade thickness. As the second photo really shows, it’s pretty thick for the size of the knife. This causes it to really drag and have a hard time cutting through anything substantial. That being said the size and hand feel is great, and its overall and amazing edc. The compression lock is probably my favorite lock, super fidgety and safe.

Next up is the Manix 2. I also got the lightweight but this one had near no issues. The slightest clip side lead on the blade, but otherwise perfect. It is a rather large knife and takes up quite a bit of pocket space. The stock ball cage can be a little harsh on the fingers. I decided to swap it out with a flytanium one which is much nicer. The blade shape is phenomenal and, in my opinion, one of the greatest. Low tip for easy utility cuts and a substantial enough curve to make is amazing at slicing. The lock also blows any crossbar lock out of the water. You will probably break your knife or handle in half before getting it fail. Super fidgety after you get those washers broken in. Amazing work or edc knife. Hands down one of the best knives I’ve ever owned. I loved it so much I even bought my brother one for Christmas!

Last but most certainly not least, the PM2!! Out of the box the action and everything was nearly perfect, just a slight presentation side lean on the blade (I’m starting to notice a pattern.) There was some lock stick that developed at one point from me trying to center the blade. Lock stick is a super simple fix, all you need to do is rotate the stop pin and it should go away. The one main issue I see with this knife is the very thing and fragile tip, which isn’t really a concern seeing as I use my knives for cutting and not prying. The stock clip on this is miles better than the wire clips that came with the lightweights. The positioning of the clip is also amazing and allows you to get a good grip on it in your pocket. It remains pretty low profile in the pocket, taking up much less space than the Manix, and only slightly more than the para 3. The blade excels at slicing and still remains decent at utility cuts. The size and ergonomics makes me believe it’s nearly the perfect edc. As stated before the compression lock is amazingly smooth and fidgety, especially compared to the one on my para 3.