Got my first Paramilitary coming!

[dkb45]

As the end resolution for my warranty woes with my Leafstorm, I decided to use the 45% discount to order a new Paramilitary 2 Black/Camo. It isn't a Leafstorm, but I will get it at a decent amount under street price, and I will actually get one when the stock is limited (side note, since mine shipped today Spyderco might be able to get some PM orders out).

I guess what I am asking is what should a new PM2 owner know? I hear nothing but praise for them, but I also heard nothing but praise for quite a few other knives that had questionable quality to me. I am a lefty and I had issues with the compression lock on my Yojimbo 2 pinching the hell out of my finger... does the PM2 do that? Anything else important to know?

 

[RemyKaze]

I haven't been pinched yet. The PM2 has been designed for superior ergonomics in a lightweight, thin package. It is meant to be held comfortably in many grips and you can choke up on it easily. I can't remember if it required break in time. The one fault I know of is that the blade will bounce if you hold down the lockbar and flick it closed, so it doesn't behave quite like an Axis lock but still works well.

 

[dkb45]

I tried closing my Junior like that a few times. A near stab into my foot made me be a little more careful. I think it actually stabbed a hole in my sock when I dropped it. No more holding it by just the lock to close it.

 

[dynamicmoves]

It's great trade material. The biggest plus I can think of of the knife.

Being serious, it is a nice knife.

 

[A Justice]

I haven't been pinched yet. The PM2 has been designed for superior ergonomics in a lightweight, thin package. It is meant to be held comfortably in many grips and you can choke up on it easily. I can't remember if it required break in time. The one fault I know of is that the blade will bounce if you hold down the lockbar and flick it closed, so it doesn't behave quite like an Axis lock but still works well.

The lock actually works well if you get it adjusted. When they are smooth you don't have to flick it closed, they fall closed - and with a little technique you can eliminate all bounce, but I usually just let it bounce closed.

OP, just make sure you get it optimized for use. You might have to adjust the tension, which can be a pain (I have had it dialed in, screwed it back up, and fixed it back. All the screws on both sides adjust the tension in different ways, but you want everything to be flush, so no more than a full turn [that's an estimate]).

I have a brown PM2 that is 5x as smooth as this one, but here is a video I made to show another member at least how smooth their PM2 should operate.

[video=youtube;Cgv_XGDvvsY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cgv_XGDvvsY[/video]

If yours is tighter than this, work on it before you give it up. After getting mine dialed in, it's all I carry lately.

 

[snake.plissken]

Lefty here--no problem. I just press the lock and the blade falls closed. I rarely go without it.

 

[Rusty_shackelford]

It took me a little bit to warm up to mine. Initially I liked the manix2 better than the pm2. That has changed. I still like the manix2 but I prefer the pm2.

 

[jmclfrsh]

I am a lefty, and can use it ambidextrously rather easily.

In the left hand, just use your thumb tip to depress the lock while grasping the handle against the clip with the other four fingers and give it a 1/4 flick to the right.

The coated (black) blade closes a little slower than the non-coated ones. They bounce less, though.

 

[dkb45]

My Junior wasn't quite freely swinging when the lock was held, it just had enough friction to keep the blade until any force was applied then it closed. With the handle being wider and much larger, I ought to be able to get a good grip on it.

Is it Friday or Saturday yet? This week cannot pass by fast enough... I have both a ZT 770 and a PM2 coming... If those turn out well, most of my collection may be leaving due to being totally ignored.

 

[Inkbender]

I haven't been pinched yet. The PM2 has been designed for superior ergonomics in a lightweight, thin package. It is meant to be held comfortably in many grips and you can choke up on it easily. I can't remember if it required break in time. The one fault I know of is that the blade will bounce if you hold down the lockbar and flick it closed, so it doesn't behave quite like an Axis lock but still works well.

Release the compression lock tab as the blade heads towards closed position... may take a little feeling out but it can lock into detent before the bounce

 

[Dkenz]

Grate on the new PM2. I just ordered mine today too . Was it my post that made ya get both the 770 and PM2? . I ordered just the one. Gonna wait for cf version of 770. From what I've read were gonna really like our new spydies.

 

[dkb45]

Grate on the new PM2. I just ordered mine today too . Was it my post that made ya get both the 770 and PM2? . I ordered just the one. Gonna wait for cf version of 770. From what I've read were gonna really like our new spydies.

Just mere coincidence... That and both knives being hugely popular. I did have to send the 770 for detent work though. Called Kershaw and they said that the 770 should have a real detent, not more of an assumption of one.

 

[dkb45]

FINALLY got the friggin Paramilitary. Not too bad of a knife at all. Nice size, and after getting it cleaned up and reoiled it is very smooth. Blade freely swings when the lock tab is held. Got the pivot tuned right so the action is almost frictionless, but it does have a wee bit of lateral play. Nothing that is any kind of issue.

My biggest complaint is that the handles are VERY rough. About equal to a fresh sheet of 400 grit sandpaper.

 

[Inkbender]

I've owned a few PM2s... and at one point, three of the exact same model. With that, I did notice slightly more bite on the G-10 on one of them. Nothing as pocket shredding extreme as my later Emerson G-10s though... nor as abrasive as the Southard flipper's scale.