Spyderco Manix 2 VS Benchmade Griptilian KNIFE BATTLE! | Which Classic EDC Folder Should You Buy??

An extremely thorough comparison of the Manix 2 and Benchmade Griptilian so you can decide which one is better for you.
Audio: Original “Hard On Gear” Theme
**Support the H.O.G. Channel via Patreon @: www.patreon.com/user?u=55782073
*Amazon.com affiliate links:
---Knives and Outdoor Tools:
Victorinox Pioneer: amzn.to/3HJueRV
Cold Steel SR1 Lite: amzn.to/3kfaknQ
Spyderco Pacific Salt 2: amzn.to/3Brffb2
Hogue EX-T01: amzn.to/3BKX2WM
Cold Steel Kiridashi: amzn.to/3jq3Y4L
Glock E-tool: amzn.to/3l49ISB
Glock OEM Field Knife: amzn.to/3a2keUj
CRKT CEO: amzn.to/2YhAlee
Bradford Guardian 3: amzn.to/2Yflxgn
Cold Steel Tuff Lite: amzn.to/3B7QKQt
Cold Steel SRK (SK-5): amzn.to/3AMjCxw
Spyderco Bow River: amzn.to/3hdb36t
OKC R.A.T. Model 1: amzn.to/3w4Hp9e
Cold Steel Canadian Belt Knife: amzn.to/3cD17le
Benchmade 940-2: amzn.to/3wmevCO
CKRT Minimalist: amzn.to/34QZ60K
Kershaw Blur: amzn.to/2RIyrQw
Cold Steel Recon 1: amzn.to/2ZYsvDJ
Esee Izula 2: amzn.to/2ZXlVx4
Spyderco Manix 2: amzn.to/3b2DBhp
Leatherman Squirt: amzn.to/3r5qOA7
KA-BAR USMC 1211: amzn.to/2NMCsBG
OKC R.A.T. Model 2: amzn.to/37Yk1Rv
Cold Steel Medium Luzon: amzn.to/3kIOMz7
Bibury Multitool: amzn.to/3qYeDVT
Smith & Wesson H.R.T. Boot Knife: amzn.to/3r6cwPP
Smith & Wesson Karambit: amzn.to/3b2prwJ
Smith & Wesson Spear: amzn.to/3kvt9BY
Morakniv Carbon Companion Knife: amzn.to/3uQyWXM
Cold Steel Bird and Game Knife: amzn.to/2PkW6oR
Fiskars X7 Hatchet: amzn.to/30cAai1
Grohmann #1 Design: amzn.to/3aYFVWC
CRKT M16-10ksf: amzn.to/3rqhwhv
---My Other EDC Gear:
Streamlight Stylus Flashlight: amzn.to/3ruq4US
Grip 6 Casual Belt: amzn.to/3suFGJj
Grip 6 Work Belt: amzn.to/2PF19QX
Timex Ironman Triathlon Watch: amzn.to/31tYIUd
Chums Wallet: amzn.to/3cuaUuz
*Amazon.ca affiliate links:
---Knives/Outdoor Tools:
Victorinox Pioneer: amzn.to/3qVItx6
Hogue EX-T01: amzn.to/3j5amhv
Glock E-tool: amzn.to/3ozJRV7
Glock OEM Field Knife: amzn.to/2ZUOnTK
Bradford Guardian 3: amzn.to/39P1S98
Cold Steel SRK: amzn.to/3iPprUP
Spyderco Bow River: amzn.to/3jgkTY9
CRKT Minimalist: amzn.to/3uWGuqM
ESEE Izula 2: amzn.to/2RFi46Y
Bibury Multitool: amzn.to/2OrKkIL
Morakniv Carbon Companion Knife: amzn.to/3v2SFmY
KA-BAR USMC 1211: ://amzn.to/3qm6KZd
Leatherman Squirt: amzn.to/3sV3q95
Grohmann Survival Knife: amzn.to/2NYY9yr
Smith & Wesson H.R.T. Boot Knife: amzn.to/3v041Z4
Smith & Wesson Karambit:
Smith & Wesson Spear: amzn.to/3c8sRgH
---My Other EDC Gear:
Streamlight Stylus Flashlight: amzn.to/2PcNYXL
Grip 6 Casual Belt: amzn.to/2PEWyOE
Timex Ironman Triathlon Watch: amzn.to/39o3g2J
Chums Wallet: amzn.to/3rtRzOh
**First knife giveaway at 1000 subscribers!** Help this channel grow by clicking SUBSCRIBE so I can acquire new knives and gear to use and abuse for new and increasingly awesome content! 👊
*Follow the Hard On Gear Instagram for more knife, gear. and field test pictures and videos!
*Submit your Hard On Gear pictures, videos and stories to [e-mail]
******************************
Disclaimer:
Any musings, recommendations, or "advice" given on this channel around the topics of self-defense, survival, or "apocalypse" scenarios are purely hypothetical and are meant to be interpreted as satire. These topics are being presented for entertainment's sake and for the purpose of theoretical discussion to help prepare the mind and body for the worst case scenario... however unlikely that may be. I do not recommend anyone carry any knife or tool as a weapon and/or for the purpose of self-defense. Become familiar with and obey all federal, state/provincial, and municipal laws/by-laws in your area regarding self-defense, what knives/gear can be legally owned/purchased, and what can be legally carried on one's person.

[@JOMO_EDC]

I pulled out my Manix 2 and Griptilian with a hole. The new Griptilian’s in s30vn have a flat grind. I have the 154cm version with that awesome hollow grind. I love them both but it’s the Manix 2 for me as well. It all comes down to the scales. Grip just feels cheap. This was fun being able to have both knives in hand while watching the video.

[@HardOnGearChannel]

Nice! Thanks for the tidbits and for following along with the review. Super cool 🤙

[@kdf357]

Great review. Love the review system.

[@HardOnGearChannel]

Awesome, thanks buddy!

[@mattconklin4026]

My 555 is one of my favorites and the most used folder, but my spyderco Rock jumper is a runner-up 🤷🏽

[@Damen0530]

Manix 2-all day every day

[@HardOnGearChannel]

🤘

[@HeavyMetalHiking]

Nice comparison, I think I agree on every single point! 😂

[@powerart1]

Benchmade will do blade replacements for a fee if your at fault and they are fine with disassembly and using aftermarket parts. Spyderco didn't support any of that but they may have loosened up a little recently.

[@HardOnGearChannel]

Ahh, good to know, thanks!

[@holdernewtshesrearin5471]

I love my Spyderco manix-2 S30V model and my original Benchmade 550 griptillian 154-CM. Excellent knives, both. The manix-2 is the heavy duty tactical EDC/work knife while the grip is the ultimate lightweight EDC. Can't go wrong with either.

[@HardOnGearChannel]

Two classics for a reason 👌

[@maxtm3000]

I own around 30 knives, my collection consists of expensive knives, customs, wacky designs, normal staples, budget options.... Out of every knife I own, the Manix 2 is easily my favorite, I dont think anyone will ever be ably to convince me that its not one of if not the greatest knives ever made. The ergonomics alone are unrivaled, the options and customization are through the roof, the durability and usability is all there, its pretty affordable all things considered... its just an easy winner when compared to anything tbh... I guess really the only downside to the manix is the disassembly but if you do it a few times its not that bad.

[@HardOnGearChannel]

Heck yeah, love to see my fellow Manix 2 fans chime in on here. When I find a folding knife design I like better I’ll definitely let you know know-but I’m not holding my breath. Thanks for the input 👊

[@mewithknives3481]

I love both of them! If I had to choose 1 it would be the griptillian just not the base model. also for a closer comparison manix2 light weight may have really made this interesting. Benchmade's customer service treated me great so no complaints and I'd expect the same from spyderco. At the risk of sounding like a benchmade fanboy what I notice about their prices is that benchmade does not have a Chinese made budget line to supplement their income lie spyderco, kershaw, and now buck so to me their prices are going to reflect that. Now, in defense of spyderco they haven't met a steel they didn't like and I'm guessing some of the steels are expensive to obtain, grind, etc. Bottom line they're both great knives.

[@HardOnGearChannel]

Fair enough! Thanks for chiming in ✌️

[@tgonzalez1983]

Have you had any issues with the tip on the manix 2? I find myself being far too cautious when using it & it ruins the experience for me. I’ve had s30v snap on me a couple times

[@TheBudgetguy_K.T]

Of these I'd actually go Manix cause why not lol!

[@HardOnGearChannel]

Good enough for me 🤷‍♂️👍

[@donjobi9400]

manix 2 the best

[@HardOnGearChannel]

I’m definitely on team Manix 2

[@jordy703]

Manix 2. Simple choice. No omega spring. More reliable. 👍

[@HardOnGearChannel]

100%. That’d be about the gist of the 5 second version of this video if I were to make one.

[@jordy703]

@@HardOnGearChannel true but still nice review man! Just my simple opinion for who cares 😉

[@troger63]

Spyderco all day long !

[@asherrose6594]

These are the best omega springs ever. I really wish Benchmade used these springs 👇

[@tmeadows4565]

52 minutes?

[@HardOnGearChannel]

I agree, it’s kind of ridiculous.

[@johnsanford3596]

I would venture that the Griptilian's grip is a lot better for Emergency/Fire/EMT type use. Why? Because the lack of finger "grooving" means that the fingers won't start crowding one another when wearing gloves. The smaller fingerhole doesn't matter to me, because with Axis lock knives, I deploy by pulling the lock and wrist flipping 95% of the time. For a folding Apocalpyse "only knife"? Neither would be on my shortlist, I'd call it a tie. One thing about comparing them from a value perspective is you're comparing the base model Grip versus the mid level Manix 2. A better comparo on that would be the base Grip vs the Manix 2 LW. Warranty: Benchmade voids their warranty if you modify the knife in ANY way. Spyderco doesn't do that.

[@HardOnGearChannel]

Heck yeah, thanks a lot for the detailed information 👌

[@sonofliberty78]

The PM2 beats em both for general EDC, (~3.75oz weight w/ G-10 scales, simpler locking mechanism, sleeker blade geometry), and for potential social work. 😉 Anyway, Spyderco >>>>> Benchmade, in my book. The hole in the Griptialian blade looks a LOT more like Spyderco’s Round Hole than the ball bearing lock resembles the Axis lock. Pretty clear which company would like to copy the other’s designs. 😒 ETA: the ball bearing lock is incredibly strong; significantly stronger than the compression lock. Testing proves that both can resist far more force before failure than the Axis lock.

[@HardOnGearChannel]

I almost appreciate a well-thought out comment backed up with details and context. Points duly noted 👌 Thanks for the input!

[@sonofliberty78]

@@HardOnGearChannel Heh, you’re welcome. I’m carrying a 15V Sprint Manix2 today. Opinions sometimes change, over time. 😬

[@waltv6385]

@@HardOnGearChannel Almost? Maybe always.

[@dalecarpenter8828]

you should buy the clone ! almost all production knives are made by Chinese cnc machines ,yes the even so called American made are made by Chinese cnc machine ( load the blank,unload the part ,assemble ,ship ) ! if you are a user and not an out of your mind collector with far far more money than brains get the clone they are reasonably priced ( you could get 2 and keep one nice ) I only collect clones and they are very good knives ( a reasonable price for a good product % over production cost customer loyal price ,you might say )! the money you pay goes to China get the good deal for the good knife ( free market ?) !

[@HardOnGearChannel]

Can’t say I’m on board with this. In reality, most of us are a long way from not owning items produced by foreign autocratic regimes with shitty human-rights practices and ill-intent for the western world… but I’m still going to make an active choice NOT to buy those things if I can help it. If I can afford it, I’m happy to “vote with my dollars” to support people/businesses more closely aligned and invested in seeing North America gain some market independence.

[@iBlindPanic]

if they are any good they can sell them under a Chinese brand, the fact that you talk about clones is already a hint they cant produce quality consistently. "free market"..... not in china, check your facts.

[@BrandonTClem]

Lol the clones are made out of pot steel and plain plastic 9 times out of 10. Buy the real thing if you have any idea what quality is. Also, try sending that clone into warranty. I've had them, and they aren't quality like you're claiming. You're just cheap and trying to justify that because you're mad at the price of quality.