D2 Paramilitary: A para-Review

KarlMaldensNose

KarlMaldensNose

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Feb 3, 2009
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Just got home and... damn not too many more things better than your order sitting there just waiting for you!

So like the title suggests, this ain't really a review, more like some initial jumbled thoughts. Read 'em and weep:

--So small, so light!: Note that I just finished lugging around a large Sebenza today. And I didn't bother with the specs before I ordered because it looked so cool that I didn't really care about the particulars. I just assumed it was a heavy, robust folder based on its rep as a worker bee. So its feathery feel will take some getting used to, as I generally like heavier knives.

--Easy one-handed closing: I'd heard/read from so many people about it not being ideal for one hand and even impossible for some. Nope. Just a quick but firm pinch of the compression lock with my pointer and the blade falls gently and perfectly into closed.

--NO UP/DOWN (or any) PLAY:): Lotsa beefs out there re. the compression lock's inherent up/down blade play. That's hooey and this prooves those particular knives are faulty. Or does it?:confused:

--That handle!: Based on pics only, I always thought the blade-to-handle proportions were whacky. Who doesn't, right? But in person it's perfect and beautiful and functional and not at all lopsided.

--Prelude to a Millie:D: I actually settled on the Para because I really wanted the Military but simply thought it too beastly for practical use, not to mention too big to be comfortable for my medium-small hands. But as I previously mentioned, now that it's in hand, it seems fairly small. I've been drooling over those pics some of you have posted of the extended Military family hanging out together--BG 42, S90V, D2, S30V, camo, orange, black blade. I think I'll start with the BG 42 as I've been dying to try that steel.

--Still loving my Tenacious: To the uninitiated, if holding the Para in one hand and Tenacious in the other, I bet most would think the Tenacious is superior, with its full skeletonized and visible liners, heavier weight, slightly larger blade side-profile, deeper and more resounding *CLUCK* sound when its lock engages. And alot of knuts poo-poo the 8Cr13MoV (or at least its name;)), but I'd put some serious money down on a bet that very few of us will ever push a blade to the point where any appreciable differences are discerned. So, Tenacious, you just ignore those naysayers, hold yer adequate 8Cr13MoV head high and cut hard, you Chinese bargain queen!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go play with my new knife. Good night.
 
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nice para-review :D
if you want a BG-42 I think you have some serious searching ahead of you, I've been looking for some time for a second one with no success whatsoever
 
Makes me want a Para even more than I already did.

I love to hear good things about the stuff that I think is good too.

I also kind of have a problem with the Military's size. I have one, and have had one for almost a week, and I dont feel like the Mili is legal to carry. I usually carry a Benchmade Griptilian or a Spyderco Endura 4, and when I put a Delica 4 in my pocket it seems too small.

So finding something around the Endura's size would be great (which I think the Para probably compares to).

Like I said, I usually carry a Grip or Endura 4, and I thought those were huge knives.

Great Pre-Review!!!:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
Nice little review. I have medium-small hands and the full size Mili feels right at home in my hand. Give one a try; I think you'll like it just as well!
 
I used to think that Milli was a beast until I bought one. Now I carry it more than any other knife I rotate though. Those include a large and small Sebenza, Endura, and Benchmade 710. I do have a Para but the handle does not seem to fit my med-sized hand nearly as well as the Military.
 
I personally have never seen any new Spyderco have blade play.
I was reading on eBay the other day and a seller stated that his Spyderco offering had no blade play, which was unusual for a Spyderco as most have some! :rolleyes:
 
I just bought one of these and should get it next week. I love my CPM D2 Millie, and love the comp lock so I guess it was natural for me to end up getting a CPM D2 Para. I may end up having to shave some of the bump off the the back of the handle to fit my large hands on the knife without using the choil. I can't wait to get the knife so I can thin out the bevel a bit and have some fun with the CPM D2 goodness. That steel is excellent in my Millie and my Krein custom: very crisp sharpening on the stones, takes a very sharp edge, and holds the edge nicely.

Mike
 
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gunmike1 said:
I just bought one of these and should get it next week. I love my CPM D2 Millie, and love the comp lock so I guess it was natural for me to end up getting a CPM D2 Para. I may end up having to shave some of the bump off the the back of the handle to fit my large hands on the knife without using the choil.

Or, alternatively, you could shave/sand down the G-10 that forms the choil bump. If you look closely, it is not exactly flush with the tang, with enough there to take off about 2 mm, thus giving your index finger more space to spread out and up. But the back mod is probably a better option so that you get to keep the choil, which is one of this knife's pluses.

I can't wait Roget the knife so I can thin out the bevel a bit and have some fun with the CPM D2 goodness. That steel is excellent in my Millie and my Krein custom: very crisp sharpening on the stones, takes a very sharp edge, and holds the edge nicely.

Mike
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You betcha. I've never had such a sharp edge last so long. Though I can't imagine narrowing the bevel any as it already seems so thin. That is a tantalizing prospect, though. The resulting slicing improvement would be wild. Let us know how that goes, and what materials and methods you use to achieve it, as I'll probably want to try the same.
 
The D2 Para is one of my favorite EDC knives. The blade after a little work is the sharpest of all my knives. Well at least the second sharpest if not the first. Push cuts paper and shaves hair. Made a low rider SS clip and a few other mods. Here is a pic of the Para and the Tenacious hanging out.
P1010005-vi.jpg
 
jill jackson said:
I was reading on eBay the other day and a seller stated that his Spyderco offering had no blade play, which was unusual for a Spyderco as most have some! :rolleyes:
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I hate it when eBay sellers sacrifice a companies reputation to make a selling point. :mad:

I hope you enjoy the Para. :thumbup: It compares very well to the Tenacious... minus the $100 or so price jump. :D
 
Josh K said:
I hate it when eBay sellers sacrifice a companies reputation to make a selling point. :mad:
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When you know they don't know what they are talking about, it's really disgusting. How many decent knives of any brand these days come with blade slop? And, for him to try to act like a superior brand like Spyderco commonly ships their knives out with loose blades!
 
KarlMaldensNose said:
You betcha. I've never had such a sharp edge last so long. Though I can't imagine narrowing the bevel any as it already seems so thin. That is a tantalizing prospect, though. The resulting slicing improvement would be wild. Let us know how that goes, and what materials and methods you use to achieve it, as I'll probably want to try the same.
Click to expand...

I've already done the thinning, and reset the backbevel on my CPM D2 Millie the other night. I use my DMT XX Coarse to hog off steel to the 8 or so degrees I have it at now. I decided to polish my backbevel all the way out to 8000 grit at 8 degrees for a mirrored bevel that is insanely sharp. The steel won't hold an edge that thin too long if you use it for much besides easy tasks, so I microbeveled it at 15 per side at 8000 grit, then brought it out to .05 micron for that ultra polished sharpness that CPM D2 seems to take better than S30V or VG-10 for me. I really like the steel.

I will definately be looking at sanding down the bump at the rear of the handle to get a better fit for my hand, but I have to figure out what precautions I need to take so I don't inhale and spread G-10 dust everywhere, which I hear is pretty nasty stuff. I know Vivi did it, so I will be e mailing him for tips and tricks. My love of CPM D2 and comp locks forced me to buy this knife, and I know I'm going to enjoy it!

Mike
 
jill jackson said:
When you know they don't know what they are talking about, it's really disgusting. How many decent knives of any brand these days come with blade slop? And, for him to try to act like a superior brand like Spyderco commonly ships their knives out with loose blades!
Click to expand...

Really depends on what your standards are ;)

Almost every spyderco I have had, had a very very small amount of play. And every backlock will have a little when you put pressure on the cutting edge. It's just how they work. :cool:

Don't tell anybody but I have had the same play in ALL the Striders I have ever owned and even felt a little play in a couple sebenzas. ;)
 
So-Lo said:
Really depends on what your standards are ;)

Almost every spyderco I have had, had a very very small amount of play. And every backlock will have a little when you put pressure on the cutting edge. It's just how they work. :cool:

Don't tell anybody but I have had the same play in ALL the Striders I have ever owned and even felt a little play in a couple sebenzas. ;)
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If the blade feels tight when I barely flex against it when holding the handle, I consider it tight. I don't grab the end of the handle and the end of the blade and try to feel some play by applying all the force I can.
There's just a difference in a blade being loose and trying to feel some play by any means IMO.
 
jill jackson said:
If the blade feels tight when I barely flex against it when holding the handle, I consider it tight. I don't grab the end of the handle and the end of the blade and try to feel some play by applying all the force I can.
There's just a difference in a blade being loose and trying to feel some play by any means IMO.
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A most reasonable approach. :thumbup:
 
jill jackson said:
If the blade feels tight when I barely flex against it when holding the handle, I consider it tight. I don't grab the end of the handle and the end of the blade and try to feel some play by applying all the force I can.
There's just a difference in a blade being loose and trying to feel some play by any means IMO.
Click to expand...

Like I said it depends on your standards.

Because you don't really want to feel it does not mean it's not there.
 
So-Lo said:
Like I said it depends on your standards.

Because you don't really want to feel it does not mean it's not there.
Click to expand...

I understand, it is a mechanical device and given enough force they not only will have or develop blade play, but ultimately fail. :)
 
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