Astor vs PM2

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ptm87

Joined
Jan 13, 2026
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what do you guys think between the PM2 vs getting the Spartan Astor. Spartan makes beautiful knives usually in the $500-$3000 range so the Astor isnt crazy expensive but the pm2 is a great knife all around. what do you all think? which would you go with….EDC…i will eventually get both but only 1 for now
 
The Astor is part of their "Field Grade Line", is made in Taiwan, and is therefore roughly half the price of the PM2.
The PM2 is made in USA.

Locks are differerent.
PM2 has a compression lock and a finger choil.
Astor has a liner lock and no choil.

I have an Astor. Don't have a paramilitary.
Build quality is very good. Lockup is absolute.
Came sharp, but the primary bevel angles did not match. (That's true with a lot of knives these days, so I don't necessarily downgrade the Astor on that.)
The handle is one of the most comfortable handles in hand of any knife that I own.

Personally, if you can afford it and don't mind the finger choil, I'd get the PM 2. It's one of Spyderco's most popular designs. I'll likely get around to it one day myself if I can manage to get past the finger choil.
 
I dont love the pm2. tried real hard to. finger choil and smallish blade just doesnt work for me. handle size is great and thickness of it is great.....just needs more blade in it for me to like it and carry one.
 
knarfeng said:
The Astor is part of their "Field Grade Line", is made in Taiwan, and is therefore roughly half the price of the PM2.
The PM2 is made in USA.

Locks are differerent.
PM2 has a compression lock and a finger choil.
Astor has a liner lock and no choil.

I have an Astor. Don't have a paramilitary.
Build quality is very good. Lockup is absolute.
Came sharp, but the primary bevel angles did not match. (That's true with a lot of knives these days, so I don't necessarily downgrade the Astor on that.)
The handle is one of the most comfortable handles in hand of any knife that I own.

Personally, if you can afford it and don't mind the finger choil, I'd get the PM 2. It's one of Spyderco's most popular designs. I'll likely get around to it one day myself if I can manage to get past the finger choil.
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Besides benchmade ( F benchmade, they are greedy crooks) I do love am good quality “Made in the US” knife but that’s never a make or break for me. I just purchased the hiest from lionsteel not to long ago and I absolutely love it. It’s beautiful. They also sent the Cold Steel Verdict which is also made in Taiwan and you know what’s super sad. it’s a $50 knife and Its in my opinion nicer than the bugout. It’s basically the same thing but has a better grip. That’s why I don’t like benchmade. They over charge for what you’re buying. Regardless if its USA made or not…getting off topic sorry. anyways, I know the Astor is bottom line Spartan but even their bottom line products looks beautiful and like a good quality product. I own 2 spydercos and they never disappoint. I am a fan (not huge fan) bc i do agree, the choil does bother me when I start to use it multiple times a day or for long periods. While I think $200 isn’t a terrible price for it, ive never held one so im hesitant on spending the $200. Im also a big sucker for a drop point blade, love em..but that pm2 looks like it’s a good edc. Like you said the handle is nice and long, i like the camo g10 scales, the blade is skinny but at least its long. I do love a big ol fat blade..its why i love that hiest. The only thing I dont like about the hiest is the flipper. its huge. If i carry in my right pocket i end up stabbing my thigh. I know this is long and all over the place but thank you for your opinion. i think your all right with going with the PM2. I can always get the Astor at a later date….What else do you guys recommend? How are the cold steel products? Im always looking to add to my collection. What do you think are “Must have” knives? Also, I am looking for a solid decent quality OTF knife. any suggestions on that too?
 
ptm87 said:
What else do you guys recommend?
How are the cold steel products? Im always looking to add to my collection. What do you think are “Must have” knives? Also, I am looking for a solid decent quality OTF knife. any suggestions on that too?
Click to expand...
I have never been dissatisfied with any Cold Steel Product I own.

"What else" depends on your budget.
I like Spyderco Enduras.
I'm also like Cold Steel's knives. I have an Air Lite that gets a lot of pocket time.
Hogue has some nice offerings.

Benchmade is not overpriced if you accept that part of what you are paying for is free parts for life and free sharpening for life. But I don't really want to pay for someone else's knife to be sharpened. I sharpen my own.
 
damn you dude! lol now you got me all over the place!!! I saw the Bodacious when I was looking at the spydercos and noticed it. Like i said in my other reply im a sucker for a drop point. I will read up on them both tomorrow and watch. Even though I use my knives every single day, i also collect them too and I just feel like the PM2 is one you “need” to have in your collection. But I will definitely take a look more into it. The more i look at it the more I like it tho and the more I dislike you! nah, thanks for that. really. its why I joined this forum tonight.
 
Start with an Astor is my opinion.
Taiwan makes good knives
Spartan blades makes good knives
Astor costs less than pm2
And even cheaper option than the Astor is an Ontario rat 1, a solid knife i have put through its paces multiple times
 
knarfeng said:
I have never been dissatisfied with any Cold Steel Product I own.

"What else" depends on your budget.
I like Spyderco Enduras.
I'm also like Cold Steel's knives. I have an Air Lite that gets a lot of pocket time.
Hogue has some nice offerings.

Benchmade is not overpriced if you accept that part of what you are paying for is free parts for life and free sharpening for life. But I don't really want to pay for someone else's knife to be sharpened. I sharpen my own.
Click to expand...
Budget depends. If i see something I love, Im buying it. I might have to save a few months to get it bc i have kids now but im getting it. That hiest wasn’t cheap but they did theow in a $50 cold steel so I jumped. If I see a good deal or Govx has it, ill buy it right away before they sell out. sometimes they don’t restock or it takes a while. I love my collection and i love collecting knives but guns are my main thing so it gets tough keeping up with all the great stuff out there.

I don’t hate benchmade, and I do like that about them (even tho im with you, nobody else is sharpening my knives) plus i wouldn’t like to mail them out. I just don’t agree with the materials they use. (this is my opinion i hope you don’t think im attacking yours) i just feel like im getting ripped off so they can make maximum profit on their products rather than make a great product for its consumers and make a little less. The bugout just left a bad taste in my mouth is all. $180 for that knife still pisses me off when I see it. Even the new Adira. The entire thing is plastic with stainless steel insides..it’s their “water series and the parts that hold it together, the lock the jumping all stainless steel. lol idk. If they used even just g10 it would give it a heavier more quality feel. I do like the 940 and I really enjoyed carrying mine. I still have it and use it. it’s a solid knife. they have a few that i would buy still so it’s not like i won’t buy from them.

I love the cold steel. Im starting to do a little more research on “Zero Tolerance”. but yeah, price doesn’t matter, I love quality made knives that my kids will own one day. Hit me with whatever you think is a must have and a few price killers!!!!

im going to check the ones you sent tomorrow for sure. I was so impressed with the verdict. $50 free knife and that sucker is sharp. I like it bc i can beat the crap out of it and not care in the slightest. Cold ateel mKes nice stuff
 
ShaiHulud said:
Start with an Astor is my opinion.
Taiwan makes good knives
Spartan blades makes good knives
Astor costs less than pm2
And even cheaper option than the Astor is an Ontario rat 1, a solid knife i have put through its paces multiple times
Click to expand...
i was tellin the moderator, I got a free cold steel verdict and its made it Taiwan. I have nothing but great things to say about it. I like it more than my bugout. It’s sharp as heck and takes a beating but hasn’t dulled a bit. The Astor looks like its a good quality knife all around. Its what im leaning towards but the pm2 just has that reputation and like insaid in another reply, evem tho use is more important for me, i still love collecting and the pm2 is one at least in my opinion that you need to have in the collection. It seems like a solid EDC. and the other spydercos I have are 15-20 years old and still in pretty good shape considering the use. It was actually the first knife I bought that wasn’t a CRKT or SOG. im not knocking those, I actually had a few CRKT’s that i absolutely abused and kept going for a long time.i just mean in price points and knives that dont come in a plastic container you get at lowes or HD.
 
I didnt talk about the astor, I got hung up on the pm2. the astor is a fantastic knife, Les design. ton of blade length in the handle. its really one of the better folder blade to handle ratio designs out there. xhp steel. its a lot of win for not a whole lot of money.
 
ptm87 said:
Budget depends. If i see something I love, Im buying it. I might have to save a few months to get it bc i have kids now but im getting it. That hiest wasn’t cheap but they did theow in a $50 cold steel so I jumped. If I see a good deal or Govx has it, ill buy it right away before they sell out. sometimes they don’t restock or it takes a while. I love my collection and i love collecting knives but guns are my main thing so it gets tough keeping up with all the great stuff out there.

I don’t hate benchmade, and I do like that about them (even tho im with you, nobody else is sharpening my knives) plus i wouldn’t like to mail them out. I just don’t agree with the materials they use. (this is my opinion i hope you don’t think im attacking yours) i just feel like im getting ripped off so they can make maximum profit on their products rather than make a great product for its consumers and make a little less. The bugout just left a bad taste in my mouth is all. $180 for that knife still pisses me off when I see it. Even the new Adira. The entire thing is plastic with stainless steel insides..it’s their “water series and the parts that hold it together, the lock the jumping all stainless steel. lol idk. If they used even just g10 it would give it a heavier more quality feel. I do like the 940 and I really enjoyed carrying mine. I still have it and use it. it’s a solid knife. they have a few that i would buy still so it’s not like i won’t buy from them.

I love the cold steel. Im starting to do a little more research on “Zero Tolerance”. but yeah, price doesn’t matter, I love quality made knives that my kids will own one day. Hit me with whatever you think is a must have and a few price killers!!!!

im going to check the ones you sent tomorrow for sure. I was so impressed with the verdict. $50 free knife and that sucker is sharp. I like it bc i can beat the crap out of it and not care in the slightest. Cold ateel mKes nice stuff
Click to expand...
and haha I forgot to mention I bought the Mini Adira. its a cool looking knife. GovX $160 agter taxes and shipping. I had a $10 off code from a previous purchase too it would have been $170. I like it much more than the bugout or tagout. it’s thicker, the magnacut steel is nice but idt i would have paid $250-$260…For all you state/gov workers out there…govx is pretty cool if you dk about it. Lots a good things for cheap. just wanted to add that in there.
 
I picked up an Astor not long ago from Dillon Percision. It was advertised as XHP but I received 154CM. It seems they moved to 154CM a year or so back. :-(
 
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