Flaming Gorilla Fatcarbon Scales Turn a Spyderco Manix 2 MagnaMax Into an 'Ultimate' NSD Build
New Scale Day does not get much more dramatic than this. An r/knifeclub member shared the first look at a set of custom Fatcarbon scales built for his Spyderco Manix 2 in MagnaMax — and the story behind them is a masterclass in how the aftermarket custom scene works. Bruce at Flaming Gorilla worked with the owner through a couple of iterations to produce exactly the contoured scales he envisioned, and the finished result is, in the owner's humble opinion, the ultimate Manix 2.
The material is the star. Fatcarbon is the layered, multidirectional carbon fiber known for its deep three-dimensional patterns — unlike conventional woven carbon fiber, its internal structure creates shifting, almost liquid highlights that move as the knife tilts in the light. The owner notes the scales are so three-dimensional in person that photos barely do them justice, and the effect changes constantly as the CF catches different angles.
The build's foundation matters too. The Manix 2 in MagnaMax pairs Spyderco's leaf-shaped workhorse with CPM MagnaMax — the recently developed high-hardness steel that has become one of the most talked-about blade materials in the community since its release. Wrapping a knife with that kind of steel in custom Fatcarbon transforms a production model into something that photographs like a high-end custom, and the NSD post is exactly the kind of content that drives the aftermarket's popularity.
The collaboration angle is what makes the post resonate. The owner did not just buy scales off a shelf — he worked with Bruce through multiple iterations to nail the contour, which is how bespoke aftermarket work is supposed to function. Threads like this one show makers why partnering with enthusiasts pays off: the final post serves as free advertising, complete with documented quality and a satisfied customer's testimony.
For Manix 2 owners who have been eyeing the aftermarket, the post is both inspiration and warning: the scales exist, the maker delivers — and the only real problem is choosing which Fatcarbon pattern will look best in your own pocket.