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Just bought a new Paramilitary 2. Is it fake? Many high res detailed pictures inside.

L

Losd

Joined
Jul 26, 2014
Messages
60
Hey guys. New member to the forum here. Great community so far, and this is my first post. I just picked up a Paramilitary 2, well at least I hope it's the real deal. I did research on the counterfeits so I was pretty sure I knew what to look for, but I still have my concerns.

I was hoping that some of you Spyderco experts would be able to help me out. My gut feeling says it's real. What do you guys think? Here are a bunch of high res pictures for you guys to look over. Thanks in advance!

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Kershaws said:
Where was this blade bought?
Click to expand...

Ebay, that's why I am stressing. I couldn't find any black blade PM2's in stock anywhere. I know the first rule of thumb is to get it from a reputable dealer, but in this case they were sold out everywhere and I took a chance.

And thank you, happy to be here.
 
I have alot of experience with the PM2 and I can safely say that it is legit. The grinds, the laser etchings, all of the parts placement, g-10 texture, packaging..they all match mine. So unless counterfeiters are going to extremes now, you've got yourself a JEN-YOO-WHINE Spyderco. Congrats. Also, you can check the edge retention by cutting some cardboard, best method in my opinion
 
Whew. Was gonna say. Either this is the nicest counterfeit ever or I got the real deal. It's nice to be reassured tho. So if the blade dulls fast by cutting cardboard, it's a safe bet that it's fake? How long would real S30v stay sharp while cutting cardboard?

So stoked on Spyderco! I bought a Tenacious this week, and knew I had to have an American made blade from the company. Seems like the general consensus is that the PM2 is a beast for every day carry, so that's why I went this route.
 
Here is a reference video if you are still curious [video=youtube;lrgesqFA_Ko]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrgesqFA_Ko[/video]
 
Kershaws said:
Here is a reference video if you are still curious [video=youtube;lrgesqFA_Ko]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrgesqFA_Ko[/video]
Click to expand...

Yeah this is the video that got me concerned. I couldn't tell if the compression lock tab on mine was like the real one or the fake one, and wasn't sure about the box.
 
Losd said:
Whew. Was gonna say. Either this is the nicest counterfeit ever or I got the real deal. It's nice to be reassured tho. So if the blade dulls fast by cutting cardboard, it's a safe bet that it's fake? How long would real S30v stay sharp while cutting cardboard?
Click to expand...

S30V holds it for a very long while, it's not that hard to tell, just get some cardboard, and start cutting strips off of it for a while, maybe a minute or two, then check the sharpness by either doing a shaving test or paper slicing. Even my VG10 Spydercos hold up to cardboard very well. A fake would likely be made of cheap 440 or something similar, you would be able to tell trust me, i've had fake PM2's before.
 
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From the pictures, I'd say it is genuine. The only true, last test you could do is for quality - giveaways in that tend to be, as others have said, edge retention, though the general fit & finish tends to be off, and the G10 a different texture, in the fakes.
 
No way would I use that video alone to judge a PM2 fake or real. I have 6 PM2s currently and almost all have at least 1 of those video indicators of being fake.

I have 2 very early examples I purchased at the same time from Howe's and they are completely opposite from each other. 1 lanyard hole is chamfered the other isn't... blade profile is a little different above the hole on one... also the etching on the blades is very fuzzy or rough on one but not the other.

The only exception with my PM2s is my Elmax version... It's as close to perfection as I've seen.
 
Kershaws said:
Here is a reference video if you are still curious
Click to expand...

I would take everything the author of that video says with a grain of salt. There is a reputation there and it's not exactly a stellar one. Not only with this brand but a lot of others.
 
I agree, blade etching is not a good indicator of a fake as I have had PM2's with fuzzy markings.
 
So the general consensus is that it's real. I mean it looks much better than all the fakes out there, so I gotta feel good about it.
 
It has reached the point where the only safe place to purchase the PM2, and several other Spyderco models, is from a reputable dealer. Amazon is "iffy", at best. eBay has become a total craps shoot, and if the seller's only other Spyderco sales are for commonly faked models like the Military, Southard, D'fly Salt, Spin, and/or Poliwog, then you're almost certainly playing against loaded dice. Gun shows, at least in this area, are even worse, and flea markets are probably worse than that, and probably the source of a lot of the fakes being sold at shows and on eBay.
 
EVIL1 said:
No way would I use that video alone to judge a PM2 fake or real. I have 6 PM2s currently and almost all have at least 1 of those video indicators of being fake.

I have 2 very early examples I purchased at the same time from Howe's and they are completely opposite from each other. 1 lanyard hole is chamfered the other isn't... blade profile is a little different above the hole on one... also the etching on the blades is very fuzzy or rough on one but not the other.

The only exception with my PM2s is my Elmax version... It's as close to perfection as I've seen.
Click to expand...

Not really on topic , but I also just received an Elmax PM2 and it is a perfect specimen! I've never seen such tight , clean and fine grind lines on a production knife. It's a beauty.
 
Losd said:
So the general consensus is that it's real. I mean it looks much better than all the fakes out there, so I gotta feel good about it.
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I couldn't tell a real one from a fake one but there are kind of two standards here. Has enough people told you it was real to carry and tell others you have a PM2? Sure. If you decide to sell it, do you feel safe telling others that it is an authentic PM2?

For me personally, not coming from a dealer and recognizing that there is a chance it is a fake, I would have issues selling it to someone else as authentic without authoritative proof. Hopefully the money you saved buying it from a grey market seller offsets that for you.
 
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