I just need help deciding - Cold Steel SR-1 vs. Spyderco PM2

For normal duty I would take the Spyderco. I am a huge Spyderco fan. However...Cold Steel makes a super rugged knife and it has great steel. It is the knife you want if you expect to use it really, really hard. The lock requires simple break it. You open it about half way to compress the spring and let it sit for a couple of days to two weeks and all issues will go away. The more you use it, the smoother it will become. I have a couple of CS knives with the Triad Lock that are so smooth it is unbelievable. They did need breaking in, though.
 
My understanding is that for knife oriented tasks, the PM2 is nice. For non-knife and the so called HARD USE stuff, the Cold Steel wil last longer.

With all due respect, I fell for the PM2 rage and I bought a pink one on the exchange. And when I received, although I like the knife let's be honest, I find the scales are too blocky. Spyderco could have taken the extra step of rounding them off a bit more. For comparison, the scales on my Military are much nicer to hold on to.

Size is nice for me, because for office use the Military is a bit too big.
 
Of these two, the PM2. But as someone else mentioned, have you considered the CS Recon-1?

I have one in CTS XHP and, despite my loathing for Cold Steel, it is a very good knife.
 
I think the handle on the SR1 will fit you much better than the PM2.
 
Thanks for all your input guys. I think I know which way to go from here, although the Spydie Military has now entered the running..
 
I think the Military would be the better choice given your size.


The SR-1 is kinda redundant since you already have a fixed blade but it looks like a solid blade.
 
The Military is a great knife. Knifeworks still has the green G10/ CTS-204p available for $180.

Been using mine for a little over 5 months. It replaced my three year old S30v Military.
 
el gigantor said:
Thanks for all your input guys. I think I know which way to go from here, although the Spydie Military has now entered the running..
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Going to muddy the waters a bit here...hopefully it’s helpful.

Taking your size and budget into consideration, I’d steer you to the Manix2 XL or the Cold Steel Recon1 and not to the Military. The Military is a great knife and I own several. I have drifted away from frame/liner locks though as they are prone to coming unlocked in the hand with just the right twisting motion. This is very unlikely to happen under normal use but you never know exactly what your going to be doing with your knife later today, tomorrow, next week, etc. My carry rotation knives use compression, ball bearing, or triad/back locks.

I’m 6’ 6” 240 and the PM2 fits my hand great. The Manix2 XL has about a 1/4” of clearance at the back end and the handle hooks around at the end more than the regular Manix2 does, so you might want one in hand before purchasing. The Recon1 gives me about 1/2” extra at the end of the knife and doesn’t hook around as much.


PM2
DA621A6E-284D-46E1-A403-766B9FD5409D.jpeg

Manix2 XL
A0E428FD-11A4-4E36-9681-C70FF5F8BD41.jpeg

Recon1
0F25D2B8-87D2-4440-8B56-1F490A31B48C.jpeg

And 4Max just cuz
B609BA97-2A21-4E3F-8249-2FD878E45893.jpeg
 
el gigantor said:
Thanks for all your input guys. I think I know which way to go from here, although the Spydie Military has now entered the running..
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I've got no experience with Cold Steel, but can definitely vouch for both the Military and the Para2. I left a couple messages on your Profile Page.
 
I will also add that you really don't need a hand-sized EDC knife. Many adults carry Vic SAKs and small traditional knives like the Peanut. Why? Because most of us don't cut anything that these smaller knives can't handle. A knife in the woods/camping is a different animal or can be and I like a little size because I want to be able to apply a fair amount of pressure cutting if I need to. It comes down to ergo's and pocket friendliness for me.
 
ScooterG said:
Going to muddy the waters a bit here...hopefully it’s helpful.

Taking your size and budget into consideration, I’d steer you to the Manix2 XL or the Cold Steel Recon1 and not to the Military. The Military is a great knife and I own several. I have drifted away from frame/liner locks though as they are prone to coming unlocked in the hand with just the right twisting motion. This is very unlikely to happen under normal use but you never know exactly what your going to be doing with your knife later today, tomorrow, next week, etc. My carry rotation knives use compression, ball bearing, or triad/back locks.

I’m 6’ 6” 240 and the PM2 fits my hand great. The Manix2 XL has about a 1/4” of clearance at the back end and the handle hooks around at the end more than the regular Manix2 does, so you might want one in hand before purchasing. The Recon1 gives me about 1/2” extra at the end of the knife and doesn’t hook around as much.


PM2
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Great pics, and again I thank you sir! The Manix looks pretty good, but I’m really wary of that locking mechanism for some reason..
 
22-rimfire said:
Many adults carry Vic SAKs and small traditional knives like the Peanut.
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You know, since I joined Blade Forums, your posts have been some of my favorites. That said, I found the above statement really patronizing. I don’t know if it was intended or not, but it came off sour.
 
Real easy decision. Do you have the need for a heavy duty knife on a daily basis, If so go for the CS. If you need a knife for normal edc and occasional hard duty get the PM2, it's a much better looking knife that can pass for a gentleman's knife. In addition their are many custom scales, backspacers, and screws that you can get for the PM2. My opinion for a tuff knife you can get the Manix2 lightweight in S110 or the Shamam which is an awesome knife.
As you could see I am not a big fan of CS. I hate how stiff the backlock is and I think the owner is a pompous loudmouth who is a legend in his own mind and I prefer not to give him my money.
I hope that these suggestion's help you.
 
el gigantor said:
The “many adults” part rubbed me the wrong way I guess.

Regardless, I know which way I’m going now. Thanks everyone.
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Glad you know which way you're going or leaning. Many adults is just a way of making the comment broader as other people might read these posts. I try to apply common sense to my posts flavored with my own experiences. By the way, Peanuts are too small for me. ;) But I do like SAKs.
 
Interesting discussion and good points made all around I would say that the SR 1 is so heavy duty as to limit its usefulness as an EDC however there is something fun about having such a tank of a knife. I like the 4max for that reason (its also ground a little thinner) as many have said maybe both would be your best bet PM2 for regular edc and SR1 for occasions that warrant it. Or when you just feel like carrying something big.
 
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