New Paramilitary 2 Maxamet- Day 1- Is losing sharpness normal?

C

CaptainClam

Joined
Sep 23, 2025
Messages
1
Hi Folks,

I went with the Para2 Maxamet, thinking I would get a blade that was not rustproof (debated on the MagnaCut), but would stay very sharp (debated on the MagnaCut). I busted it out of the box last night, filet'd some paper, and went to bed. Today I cut down two Chewy dog food shipping boxes, and cut about 4 feet of landscaping fabric (through dirt). I did slide into one of those damn rust landscaping fabric pins, but slid right past it. Later in the day, I decided to try the paper test again, and it failed miserably. Like paper crumpling pretty badly. There are spots on the blade where it cuts into the paper well, but in most areas it rips the paper instead of cutting it.

Is this normal? I put it under a microscope and found an imperfection, where it looks chipped, but nothing major. I didn't see any edge defect (totally rookie). I bought this because it was supposed to have astounding edge retention, but compared to my $60 Boker D2 when I got it, this is very disappointing. I cut down at least 20 boxes before I couldn't easily slice paper. It is bad enough that I started to think it was a fake, but not that I can tell.

Anyway, I attached some photos (microscope included) and am interested in your thoughts.
Oh, nice. I spent 45 minutes trying to link from five different sites and they ended up with the same error message. I am just going to put links below...
I don't think it is a fake or anything, but I'm dumbfounded. Should I send it back to the Amazon seller and buy a CPM-Magnacut, or do I send it to Spyderco for a look? Can't deal with a $200+ knife that is making me feel like I messed up and if it was damaged from lightly contacting a rusty landscape pin, it isn't the blade for me.

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I started carrying my Maxamet Para3 a few weeks ago and it's been quite impressive. Came out of the box incredibly sharp and has sailed through my typical cardboard, nylon strapping and zip ties life. It's dinged against metal a few times with no effect. I think your's shows edge damage from that pin, may have hit harder than you thought. You could send the pictures direct to Spyderco and ask if they could get the chips out for you.
 
Probably pretty normal. I have a 15v pm2 which is very close to maxamet on hardness and wear. Once last year id just sharpened it, went to cut open a box sliced right through the tape then my edge was wrecked. Dull dull. I opened the box to find id run the edge right along a box full of lava rocks for the fireplace thing. Hard abrasive rocks apparently dull steel... dirts the same way. Abrasive and will wear out an edge. Ever ran your chainsaw the dirt?

Anyhow resharpen it and go at it again. I bet you'll be pleasantly suprised. Be careful to not form a burr. Burrs tricked me at first when I first got my first k390 and 15v knives. I thought these things suck, then learned it was my mistake creating burrs (by stropping on balsa wood). Once i sharpened without burrs I was very happy with the steels. My k390 is a cardboard cutting machine and Stays sharp plenty long. Maxamets a step up from that so I reckon you'll be happy. I sharpen mine to 15dps
 
This is main reason I don’t loan chainsaws. I will do it for them rather than loan (neighbors friends.)

I have touched dirt many times and seems like less than a second to go from sharp to crazy dull.

Chain saw is way different to knife but principal is the same.
 
Several people on BF have posted that their Spyderco 's edges got a lot better after a sharpening or two. And dirt/grit can be very detrimental to a fine edge. I'd research carefully about counterfeits first, then if yours seems legit give it a sharpening and see how it does.
 
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