Advice needed !

F

frc505

Joined
Jun 12, 2010
Messages
847
As you know christmas is coming soon and I want
A new knife ! Well maybe a new spyderco knife I
Had a delica in high school then lost it and haven't
Got a new spyderco since so I think its time but I
Cant decide which model I want I narrowed it down
To the military,paramilitary,manix 2 XL,native and
endura ! But I dont know which is best for me !
Currently I edc a ZT 0350 but I want more of a slicer
So can you tell me the pro's and con's of the knives
Ive listed ... I like the look of the military and para
Military ,i like how big the manix xl is ! And I like
The bladeshape of the native ! and I know the endura
Is a good entry into spyderco so what should I do ?
Thanks for your time !

Frank
 
What do you plan to do with the knife and how much are you interested in spending? I use a Military more often than not, but my Manix 2 and PM2 also serve me very well in everyday chores. Legal carry size may/will also affect your choices.
 
1SHOT1KILL said:
What do you plan to do with the knife and how much are you interested in spending? I use a Military more often than not, but my Manix 2 and PM2 also serve me very well in everyday chores. Legal carry size may/will also affect your choices.
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Well I seem to come across more chores where a thinner blade
Would be better suited to the task ! (alot of slicing) and more delicate
Cutting action where my ZT 0350 is overkill ! To thick and wide to
Do precision cuts imo well as for budget no more then $150.00 usd
I read that the blue handled military can be had for this price so
Id like to get one of those but need more opinions so that I can be
More educated before I buy !

Frank
 
The blue handles are on the Para military 2. They are a custom proposition on a military. The para, the millie and the Manix/Manix 2 would be your best bets. They all do the job real well, are priced in your range and can't be beat for slicing chores in their respective price brackets. They perform even better in cts-xhp. The pm2 and millie can also be had in M390 which is a fantastic steel. I have yet to sharpen or even strop my M390 Millie and Ive cut everything with it. I use it for food, carving wood and breaking down cardboard boxes.
 
Honestly, if a slicer is what you want, something along the lines if a caly 3.5 is going ti be your best bet. With that said, the paramilitary 2 is a forum favorite and for good reason. The military is great too, but bigger (overkill for me for edc). The Gayle Bradley is going to be easily the best value in your price range. As for the manix2 and XL, they're clearly very nice knives, but if you thought the 0350 was too cumbersome, the manix's probably will be as well.
 
mkjellgren said:
Honestly, if a slicer is what you want, something along the lines if a caly 3.5 is going ti be your best bet. With that said, the paramilitary 2 is a forum favorite and for good reason. The military is great too, but bigger (overkill for me for edc). The Gayle Bradley is going to be easily the best value in your price range. As for the manix2 and XL, they're clearly very nice knives, but if you thought the 0350 was too cumbersome, the manix's probably will be as well.
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The manix 2 is the same size as the pm2.:D I have had both the 0350 and still have my pm2 & manix 2, I feel they offer the same ability as the 0350 in a more compact package. Just my 2 cents.
 
1SHOT1KILL said:
The manix 2 is the same size as the pm2.:D I have had both the 0350 and still have my pm2 & manix 2, I feel they offer the same ability as the 0350 in a more compact package. Just my 2 cents.
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True, it is the same size, but the feel is totally different. The manix feels much more tank-like to me, wider profile, aggressive jimping, etc. The para2 on the other hand, feels much more nimble and precise in use for me, which I believe is what the op is looking for.
 
mkjellgren said:
True, it is the same size, but the feel is totally different. The manix feels much more tank-like to me, wider profile, aggressive jimping, etc. The para2 on the other hand, feels much more nimble and precise in use for me, which I believe is what the op is looking for.
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:thumbup: Gotcha
 
1SHOT1KILL said:
The blue handles are on the Para military 2. They are a custom proposition on a military. The para, the millie and the Manix/Manix 2 would be your best bets. They all do the job real well, are priced in your range and can't be beat for slicing chores in their respective price brackets. They perform even better in cts-xhp. The pm2 and millie can also be had in M390 which is a fantastic steel. I have yet to sharpen or even strop my M390 Millie and Ive cut everything with it. I use it for food, carving wood and breaking down cardboard boxes.
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So a M390 military or paramilitary is in my price range ?
Where can I find one ? Im leaning towards the military
But the para is also nice ! ...

Frank
 
frc505 said:
So a M390 military or paramilitary is in my price range ?
Where can I find one ? Im leaning towards the military
But the para is also nice ! ...

Frank
Click to expand...

Not quite...the second run of m390 para2s are available for preorder now, they run $189 and you probably won't find one for less than that. The m390 military has carbon fiber scales and is highly sought after since it is only available on the secondary market and as such, commands pretty high prices, usually ranging from $250-300 sometimes higher but very rarely lower.
 
The M390 para is $179, but I only know of one place online selling it. IMO the M390 is worth the extra $30. I have a benchmade in this steel and have used it extensively without any sharpening or stropping...great steel. Although Ive never handled a military, I LOVE my para. Ive used for everything from food prep to camping chores to breaking down boxes. The S30V holds a working edge for a while, but not as long as M390. Theres also a S35-VN para, with dark earth handles, on BladeHQ for $144. From what Ive heard, S35-VN is somewhere between S30V and M390. I suggest you get a para, no matter which model. Theyre very comfortable in any grip, durable, easy to clean, GREAT slicers and have a very fine tip. Amazing precision cutters.
 
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You can't go wrong with the para 2. If you don't have one, you need one. There is nothing more comfortable than the compression lock.

The military especially its handle is maybe a little bit big for edc.
 
mkjellgren said:
Not quite...the second run of m390 para2s are available for preorder now, they run $189 and you probably won't find one for less than that. The m390 military has carbon fiber scales and is highly sought after since it is only available on the secondary market and as such, commands pretty high prices, usually ranging from $250-300 sometimes higher but very rarely lower.
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Thats more then I wanted to go price wise ! What steel or steels do the standard military's and para's
Come in I saw a camo handled mili for $145 so I thought different handles were availible at the same
price with the size difference in the mili campared to the para is there any advantages ? are there
Any dealers on here that has them at a good price ? Thanks again

Frank
 
frc505 said:
Thats more then I wanted to go price wise ! What steel or steels do the standard military's and para's
Come in I saw a camo handled mili for $145 so I thought different handles were availible at the same
price with the size difference in the mili campared to the para is there any advantages ? are there
Any dealers on here that has them at a good price ? Thanks again

Frank
Click to expand...

The standard models are s30v which is more than adequate for all but the most discerning steel snob. Para2's are a little hard to find at the moment but they're out there if you look hard enough. You should be able to find a military at almost any of the popular knife dealers. The list of bladeforums sponsored dealers or the exchange forum here would be a good place to start.
 
Even the standard paramilitary are hard to find ?
Ill get that if i can find one ! Where can i find that
List of dealers ? or where can i pick one up ? Does
The compression lock do a better job then the
Military's ?
 
Right now, the para 2 is on Blade HQ for $119.95, and I think they do free shipping for orders over $100. BladeHQ is a great place to buy from, and have GREAT customer service. Its the standard model. I think the compression lock is stronger. At least its strong enough for semi hard use applications. You should get it, it wont let you down:thumbup:
 
Thanks for the list !

Polaris500 : can you tell me where to get the
M390 para for 179.00

Frank
 
frc505 said:
Thanks for the list !

Polaris500 : can you tell me where to get the
M390 para for 179.00

Frank
Click to expand...

Bento Box Shop has it, but its only available for pre order. Theres more details about it on their website.
They also have a few other rare/limited edition spydercos you might want to look into.
 
Yeah i found it but my wife wouldnt budge on the
$150.00 price limit so i picked up a paramilitary2
With black handle satin plain edge blade... But I
Still want the blue handle slabs but i cant justify
Sending $80 on replacement slabs as thats how
Much the only place i found that is selling them
Thanks guys for all your help ...

Frank
 
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