Hey guys, I need a little insight here. I'm trying to decide between the Military and Paramilitary 2 for my next possible blade. It probably won't be for a while as I just got a new Adamas, but I still like the idea of having a good slicer handy too. Now I need to decide between the Military and the PM2. If you guys could give me some ideas of how one would be better than the other, that would be great since I don't have the ability to go and see them in person. Is the price worth it for the Military? Pic? Ideas? Anything helps!
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Military vs. Paramilitary 2
- Thread starter TSKWolfe
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jtoler_9
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If you search this forum, you can find a ton of information on both and probably a few comparisons between the two. You're in the right place.
As for the two, I much prefer the Para 2. It fits my hand perfectly and carries well. It really is a personal preference thing I think. If you can, try and find a local shop and get both in your hand. As for slicing, what are you planning on slicing? I would imagine the Military would be the better slicer due to the blade length.
As for the two, I much prefer the Para 2. It fits my hand perfectly and carries well. It really is a personal preference thing I think. If you can, try and find a local shop and get both in your hand. As for slicing, what are you planning on slicing? I would imagine the Military would be the better slicer due to the blade length.
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The Military is awesome if you like a knife that big (I have the CruWear version and love it), but I'm personally more of a fan of the ParaMilitary2 for a couple of reasons. It's still an adequate size IMO, the ergonomics are as good as the Military, I really like the option of 4 way clip carry, and I also prefer the compression lock to a liner lock for several reasons. Either way though, you can't go wrong. I only have one crappy cell picture comparison but I'll throw it in here anyways.
The Military is awesome if you like a knife that big (I have the CruWear version and love it), but I'm personally more of a fan of the ParaMilitary2 for a couple of reasons. It's still an adequate size IMO, the ergonomics are as good as the Military, I really like the option of 4 way clip carry, and I also prefer the compression lock to a liner lock for several reasons. Either way though, you can't go wrong. I only have one crappy cell picture comparison but I'll throw it in here anyways.
As much as I'd love to hit up a knife shop somewhere, I live in a town with only around 250 people and the closest mall or anything like that is about 3+ hours away from me so that's not really possible right now. Haha
I usually carry right hand, tip up so that's not too big of a deal for me. But they don't make the Military with the compression lock at all?? I've been wanting to try that out.
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I would say you should understand just how big the Military is. I have seen a lot of guys get one and think it is too big. If you are good size wise, I say it is more of a must have than the PM2 IMO. Me, I love it. I don't carry it to work. I will carry my PM2 to work along with many others, but when the weekend comes around the Military gets used most. If you plan on wearing gloves, the Military has a clear advantage.
Sometimes I carry both
Sometimes I carry both
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Tip down only carry though, and only on one side of the knife...really hurts it IMO, and I still prefer the operation of the compression lock to the liner lock (And that's without taking the added strength of the compression lock into account). For me it would be ParaMilitary2 all the way. I think the standard S30V PM2 (Like my Digi-Cam version pictured) is the best knife on the market from any company based on price. You get so much for ~$110-120. I like my CTS-204P version even more (Solid green scales and 204P is the equivalent to M390 which is VERY nice). I'd take a Manix before the Military largely because of the ability to carry tip up, but I do prefer the ball bearing lock to the liner lock as well (Though not as much as the compression lock). Don't get me wrong...the Military is an amazing knife and any Spyderco fan should have one, but I think the PM2 is that much more desirable and as such I'd get one before the Military, but that's just my own opinion.
I highly doubt the Millie will be too big, especially since I currently edc a Benchmade Adamas 275 that's almost 9" open and close to 8oz. Haha I'm definitely not a fan of smaller knives since I really use the shit out of them and always break the small ones quite quick. (I've even gotta send in my griptilian to get fixed now, ugh) Is the small amount of extra blade you get with the Millie really worth the extra $80-$100? How about locks? I was kinda hoping to get the compression lock, but only the pm2 comes with that right?
I've never been much of a spyderco fan to be honest. All their blades just seem to look the same to me I guess. I've always been interested in the PM2 though for some reason and almost bought it a week ago but went for my Adamas instead. Now I feel like I need to add a spydie to the other pocket but had quite a few people tell me how great the Millie is, so now I'm trying to decide between the two. Price on the pm2 is definitely a bit better though, even with the coated blade and everything.
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My top 5 favourite knives are all Spydercos. In no particular order...the Chokwe, ParaMilitary2, Schempp Tuff, Techno, and Manix2. The PM2 really is an exceptional knife. You should definitely take a closer look at the Manix2 as well IMO.
More around $60+ I guess. Blade HQ has them for around $170 while the spyderco website lists them at $280ish which is fucking nuts. Still a bit of a gap to be getting the same exact steel and what I've heard is a lesser lock.
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It's still a great lock...I trust the liner lock on my $45 Tenacious, but the compression lock is definitely stronger. Spyderco makes all their locks more than strong enough to do the job...but the compression lock is definitely a little stronger.
I actually snapped my Tenacious lock bar about 7 months ago. Haha It might have been a defect or something, but I've stayed away from liner and frame locks lately. I definitely like the idea of being able to quickly deploy and close the blade using the compression, especially since I've carried axis locks for the past year and a half+.
Probably should have. But I don't think they would have covered it since I was so pissed off, I threw it as hard as I could off the boat I was working on and then went inside our office to wrap up the finger it had just sliced open to the bone.
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That's something I've never heard until now...there's a reason I prefer knives that have a finger choil because they'll protect you in the event of a failure, but also provide the ability to choke up for finer cutting tasks. I can't imagine putting enough force on the spine on my Tenacious (Or any of my other Spydercos) to cause the lock or blade to fail because I always put force on the edge which forces the blade farther open as opposed to forcing it to close unexpectedly...I've always dismissed spine whack tests because typically when cutting you're putting force in the exact opposite direction onto the lock. Can I ask (Without trying to sound pretentious as the situation has never arisen in my use) what you were doing that forced the blade to try to close against the lock?
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My thoughts exactly.
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I've never put force on any of my knives that way...I've never thought of cutting something by using the spine of my knife as the edge. To the OP: I'm not trying to sound disrespectful, but I can't picture a use I'd have that involves putting significant force on the lockbar that would cause the knife to close...I'm purely curious. I can picture hitting a rib or bone in a self defense role causing pressure on the blade in the negative direction, but short of that (And I carry a knife for purely utility purposes) I can't picture a situation that would cause a blade to try to close against the lock.