danseifert
Gold Member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2011
- Messages
- 150
This is a post about me screwing around and buying 3 knives that I didn't really want because I thought the Para 2 would be too big for me to carry comfortably. I guess I'm kind of an idiot.
So I decided that I wanted the Para 2 around November of last year. It had the blade shape, handle ergos, lock style, materials, the glowing reviews, all combined with a price point right at $100. Seemed perfectly logical to me that the Para2 would be my next Spyderco purchase.
Then I started to slowly talk myself out of it because I became afraid of the handle size. I had handled a Manix at a local knife shop and was surprised at how big and beefy the knife felt to me, especially since I had been carrying a Delica 4 for so long and generally carried sub 3" folders. After looking at far too many photos and videos of the Para 2 I decided it was going to be a little too big and moved on.
First non Para2 knife purchase: Lone Wolf Blackfoot with ebano wood handles. It had CPM S30V and I loved the size and shape of the knife. I didn't like the opening/closing action, the liner lock, or the finish on the blade. Ended up selling it on ebay for a small loss.
Second non Para2 knife purchase: Spyderco Sage 2. I know this is an awesome knife. The Sage 1 is my all time favorite knife and its not even close. When I got the Sage 2, the fit and finish was fine enough for a user but it wasn't perfect like my Sage 1. Taichung has raised the bar to the point where everyone can reasonably expect perfection and I didn't quite get it. I think I might be one of very few people that just does not like frame locks. Returned it. Took a small hit on return shipping.
Third non Para2 knife purchase: Doug Ritter Mini Grip. Felt pretty confident about this one since I've had a mini grip before and liked it pretty well. The size of the knife was exactly what I was looking for, and the upgraded S30V with the stonewashed finish seemed like a nice upgrade from my old Mini grip. I remembered liking the Axis lock, though I hadn't owned one for a couple years. Unfortunately when I got it there were issues. The blade was off center and there was about a 1 cm wide portion of the blade (picture a stripe) running from the top of the blade all the way to the edge that had not been stone washed at all. Not sure how that happens, but it looked terrible. To their credit, the Ritter actually came with an edge that sliced paper! Every benchmade I've had to this point came to me almost dull.
All that garbage to say this - I finally came to my senses and called up the online retailer I bought the Ritter from and asked if they would exchange it for a satin Para 2. They agreed. So when I got home the other day and found that they shipped me a Para 2 with the black DLC blade I was a little disappointed since that wasn't the look I was going for. Either way the black para 2 has grown on me and I've decided to keep it.
Note - It actually doesn't feel all that much bigger than the Sage in my pocket. I don't notice any difference in the way it carries. Figures.
So anyway, here's a crappy cell phone pic of my new Para 2 alongside its pocket competition. Not sure how much I ended up paying for the Para after the returns, taxes, etc. but I'm not sure I care all that much. I'd probably pay 150 for a para 2 anyway. I suppose I regret wasting so much time with the three other knives before I finally landed back at the P2, but isn't the hunt half the fun?
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So I decided that I wanted the Para 2 around November of last year. It had the blade shape, handle ergos, lock style, materials, the glowing reviews, all combined with a price point right at $100. Seemed perfectly logical to me that the Para2 would be my next Spyderco purchase.
Then I started to slowly talk myself out of it because I became afraid of the handle size. I had handled a Manix at a local knife shop and was surprised at how big and beefy the knife felt to me, especially since I had been carrying a Delica 4 for so long and generally carried sub 3" folders. After looking at far too many photos and videos of the Para 2 I decided it was going to be a little too big and moved on.
First non Para2 knife purchase: Lone Wolf Blackfoot with ebano wood handles. It had CPM S30V and I loved the size and shape of the knife. I didn't like the opening/closing action, the liner lock, or the finish on the blade. Ended up selling it on ebay for a small loss.
Second non Para2 knife purchase: Spyderco Sage 2. I know this is an awesome knife. The Sage 1 is my all time favorite knife and its not even close. When I got the Sage 2, the fit and finish was fine enough for a user but it wasn't perfect like my Sage 1. Taichung has raised the bar to the point where everyone can reasonably expect perfection and I didn't quite get it. I think I might be one of very few people that just does not like frame locks. Returned it. Took a small hit on return shipping.
Third non Para2 knife purchase: Doug Ritter Mini Grip. Felt pretty confident about this one since I've had a mini grip before and liked it pretty well. The size of the knife was exactly what I was looking for, and the upgraded S30V with the stonewashed finish seemed like a nice upgrade from my old Mini grip. I remembered liking the Axis lock, though I hadn't owned one for a couple years. Unfortunately when I got it there were issues. The blade was off center and there was about a 1 cm wide portion of the blade (picture a stripe) running from the top of the blade all the way to the edge that had not been stone washed at all. Not sure how that happens, but it looked terrible. To their credit, the Ritter actually came with an edge that sliced paper! Every benchmade I've had to this point came to me almost dull.
All that garbage to say this - I finally came to my senses and called up the online retailer I bought the Ritter from and asked if they would exchange it for a satin Para 2. They agreed. So when I got home the other day and found that they shipped me a Para 2 with the black DLC blade I was a little disappointed since that wasn't the look I was going for. Either way the black para 2 has grown on me and I've decided to keep it.
Note - It actually doesn't feel all that much bigger than the Sage in my pocket. I don't notice any difference in the way it carries. Figures.
So anyway, here's a crappy cell phone pic of my new Para 2 alongside its pocket competition. Not sure how much I ended up paying for the Para after the returns, taxes, etc. but I'm not sure I care all that much. I'd probably pay 150 for a para 2 anyway. I suppose I regret wasting so much time with the three other knives before I finally landed back at the P2, but isn't the hunt half the fun?
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
