Astor vs PM2

ptm87 said:
Thank you everyone who has commented. I truly wasn’t expecting all of this. I love this forum. Ill be asking a ton of questions!!!
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If you will spring the few bucks for a basic membership, I'll DM you a great deal on a bodacious with RSD scales and backspacer and MSG clip. Just hit me up when you come to your senses 😉
 
hughd said:
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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154cm is a good all around stainless steel. that wouldn't even bother me at all. if ya paid the 59 bucks for it at dillion...as it was advertised before out of stock currently...I still wouldn't be upset. super great deal.....
 
One thing about the PM is that there are lots of mods available in the form of scales, hardware, etc... If your not into modding your knives I would say go for the Astor, I have been looking at one as well.
 
Got plenty of knives and PM2 is top. I love it...

PM2 is great for the money as long as you pay 150 or less. The expensive dressed up ones aren’t worth the premium price from a value perspective. The best for the money is a hard thing to answer simply. Most people will tell you that you often get more in a Chinese made knife, but it’s not hard to make an argument for spyderco.
 
The dealer price for a PM2 is $209. Maybe shop around and pay $160 plus sales tax, but that's from a reseller. The I can get a green Astor from a dealer for around $78 no tax. The PM2 is long skinny and unconventional looking with its very functional round hole in the blade. Some call the Astor a Rat 1 with better materials. The PM2 is light at 3.7 Oz as compared to the Astor at 5.1 Oz. Other than similar blade size they don't belong on the same page to me. The PM2 is a best seller, the Astor rare. I have my eye on the Astor, but find too many consumer complaints about a binding action and a poor factory edge. If you have a good one, lucky you. I have a PM2, but don't use it as I feel somewhat inhibited by its cost even though I don't sell my knives. My beater is a cheap Petrified Fish Beluga which is similar to the Astor in size and weight, but opens with a front flipper. If you don't mind spending more, the PM2 is really nice, otherwise skip the Astor and get a Beluga, Rat 1 in D2 (similar size and heft to the Astor) or whatever.
 
Since OP asked for wider recommendations, and you said you wanted something you could EDC and future generations could carry, save up some more money and get a Chris Reeve Sebenza. They can be had on the secondary for about the price of 2 PM2s, but one Sebenza will outlast both PM2s. Made in the U.S., best customer service in the business, and great materials.

Yes, I'm a fanboy.
 
WedgeAntilles said:
Since OP asked for wider recommendations, and you said you wanted something you could EDC and future generations could carry, save up some more money and get a Chris Reeve Sebenza. They can be had on the secondary for about the price of 2 PM2s, but one Sebenza will outlast both PM2s. Made in the U.S., best customer service in the business, and great materials.

Yes, I'm a fanboy.
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If we are jumping to sebenza level of financial commitment, I'll throw LGs hat in the ring 😁
 
WedgeAntilles said:
Since OP asked for wider recommendations, and you said you wanted something you could EDC and future generations could carry, save up some more money and get a Chris Reeve Sebenza. They can be had on the secondary for about the price of 2 PM2s, but one Sebenza will outlast both PM2s. Made in the U.S., best customer service in the business, and great materials.

Yes, I'm a fanboy.
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how do ya figure a sebenza will outlast 2 pm2 knives?
 
jbmonkey said:
how do ya figure a sebenza will outlast 2 pm2 knives?
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PM2s have very thin blade stock, and a big hole in the blade. Also thinner liners. I don't dislike PM2s ( I still personally own a couple), but I 100% believe they can't take anywhere near what a Sebenza can and keep going. And I think those elements of a Sebenza can carry it through double the life usage of a PM2.
 
WedgeAntilles said:
PM2s have very thin blade stock, and a big hole in the blade. Also thinner liners. I don't dislike PM2s ( I still personally own a couple), but I 100% believe they can't take anywhere near what a Sebenza can and keep going. And I think those elements of a Sebenza can carry it through double the life usage of a PM2.
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under normal folder use im not seeing that...but okay heavy folder use....ill let ya have that. I still think its over exaggerated though.

I own multiples of sebanzas and pm2s also. id prefer to have a sebenza myself over a pm2.....but that would be due to sizing of the blade to handle ratio and not durability. if I want durable heavy use folder neither of those is making my cut...im going to a Demko ad20.
 
jbmonkey said:
under normal folder use im not seeing that...but okay heavy folder use....ill let ya have that. I still think its over exaggerated though.

I own multiples of sebanzas and pm2s also. id prefer to have a sebenza myself over a pm2.....but that would be due to sizing of the blade to handle ratio and not durability. if I want durable heavy use folder neither of those is making my cut...im going to a Demko ad20.
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That's a respectable position. I would add to the blade/handle ratio consideration the pocket footprint ratio. A PM2 takes a lot more pocket space compared to cutting edge.
 
ptm87 said:
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
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I'd go PM2. The aftermarket for scales and clips is huge. Astor is a sleeper but you'll have more fun with the PM2 .
 
My on topic answer, as I own both the Astor and multiple PM2s is that if the price of a PM2 is bothering you, you'll be fine with an Astor. It's a good knife, and if you can find one in the earlier run CTS-XHP, so much the better.

But ultimately, I feel like the knives offer different things, so you will probably ultimately want to get both.
 
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