On a new Para Military 2: should the 'bevel edges' look the same on both sides?

I ordered a pizza and it came only half baked, but that's okay - I was under the impression the baking is just courtesy and it's my responsibility to finish it.
 
I don't agree that a knife comes with an edge from the factory as a courtesy to the customer. In fact that's one of the most ignorant things I've heard so far in 2013. It's a knife that has a primary purpose of cutting so why would a nice sharp edge be a courtesy? I also don't agree that because it has become a popular knife and they are not able to currently keep up with orders that they should start letting flaws through QC that they wouldn't have let through before just to try and keep up with demand. Poor excuse and the kind of business practice that makes a good company go under. I'm not saying that is what they are doing or that they are going under by any means but some of the excuses that are being fabricated by some of the members are strange to me. That is the kind of attitude that will allow a company to get away with things like this. They are made on a production line and mistakes will happen but doesn't mean he is being "nit picky" for not being entirely happy with his knife. I love my Spyderco knives but it doesn't mean I would make up excuses as to why this knife has a bad grind and try to convince him to just live with it or re-profile it.
 
Using the term courtesy was probably the wrong choice of words and mainly meant as a joke. It was basically a nice way of saying what so many others have already said. Which is the fact that he should be able to reprofile the edge. Any knife guy with an ounce of self respect should be able to fix that edge and anyone who can't fix it shouldn't be bothered by it IMO. Its his money though and if he wants to attempt to exchange it that's fine. That's all this really boils down to is the OP making himself happy in this situation. He simply asked for our input and everyone that could fix it on their own said keep it.
 
I agree with you 'jkulysses', , I purchased the PM2 because I wanted to see/feel/experience what all the raving and accolades about the knife were all about.
Waited four or five months after prepaying (this knife was back ordered).
I purchased through Cutlery Shoppe and found the customer service and communication to be quite good and very customer service oriented.

I'm not being "nit picky", I simply was interested in knowing if anyone else had this same experience with theirs (PM2).
Personally, while I am comfortable using a Sharpmaker to resharpen a dulled edge, unlike many here I am not highly skilled or experienced at completely "re-profiling" an edge to match the edge on the other side of the blade.

Re: receiving a pizza only half baked on one side, I don't agree that "the baking is just courtesy and it's my responsibility to finish it".
Nor do I feel I should "expect to" have to re-profile a knife after a purchase.

I own several Spyderco Knifes:
Two older all black serrated Natives - both perfect, flawless, sharp.
One all black serrated Manix2 - perfect, flawless, sharp.
One Ambitious - perfect, flawless, sharp.
One Persistence - perfect, flawless, sharp.
One Tasman Salt - perfect, flawless, sharp.
Two Ladybugs H1 plain edge, tan and orange - perfect, flawless, sharp.
One Civilian serrated kept in its case - perfect, flawless, monstrous.

So I'm not exactly unfamiliar with the brand.

Again, I simply wanted to see/know what all the 'high accolades' were about and if anyone else received this knife (PM2) new, with one edge visibly different in size/profile/edge/angle than the other side.... the difference is actually more perceivable with the knife in hand turning it over, than perceivable in the two photos I posted below.
I agree: very nice comfortable ergonomics, compression lock is fun, yes extremely sharp, nice tactile scales and light in weight.

Honestly.... after reviving this knife I thought I would 'possibly' add wood scales made of Bocote wood,
(about $100.00) which looks nice with a black blade, as I'd like to have a PM2 that isn't "Como-ed" and looks like everyone Else's.
http://www.cuscadi.de/2012/09/21/spyderco-para-military-2-animal/

But not on a knife that looks like two different blade edges on each side.
I just called Spyderco, hopefully they will get back to me, my one past experience with sending something back to them for replacement was a positive one.

Thanks very much for all your views and inputs.
Mark
 
Does anyone know why manufacturers don't use an automated sharpening system on the production line?
 
Shift said:
Any knife guy with an ounce of self respect should be able to fix that edge and anyone who can't fix it shouldn't be bothered by it IMO.
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Shouldn't any knife company with an ounce of self respect be able to put on a decent initial edge?

You can fix it, but you shouldn't have to.
 
Mine is uneven as well. Really shows when you get down to the tip. Hasn't detracted from anything so far though
 
I guess the real question is at what price point can we expect perfection? Given the responses here today I'd say the general answer is more than $100. I'd be willing to guess that the number is also at or below $400, because at that point you can get a Sebenza and you have every right to expect that knife to be perfect.
What you have is a very good knife with a not so great sharpening job. I believe that Spyderco offers sharpening for a nominal fee, but the knife is probably already sharp.
I think that this issue is more noticeable because of the black blade increasing the contrast between the blade and the bevel.
Who looks at both sides of the blade simultaneously, anyway?
 
Fancier said:
I guess the real question is at what price point can we expect perfection?
Click to expand...

When was the last time you bought a pair of scissors with uneven edge grinds? And I bet none of them were $100.

It doesn't take a single cent more to produce an even edge, what it does take is a little care.
 
100eyes said:
Shouldn't any knife company with an ounce of self respect be able to put on a decent initial edge?

You can fix it, but you shouldn't have to.
Click to expand...

I hear you buddy I do. I can honestly say that it would not have hurt my feelings any for the edge on my new blue PM2 to have come perfect out of the box. However my thoughts on it were that I was gonna have to sharpen it at some point anyway and I have never seen a factory edge I couldn't improve upon. All joking aside to the OP if you are proficient with the sharpmaker you should go buy you a diamond stone. It won't cost very much and with the skills you already have you can teach yourself in no time to reprofile that edge. Then you won't ever have this issue again. Good luck
 
Fancier said:
I guess the real question is at what price point can we expect perfection? Given the responses here today I'd say the general answer is more than $100. I'd be willing to guess that the number is also at or below $400, because at that point you can get a Sebenza and you have every right to expect that knife to be perfect.
What you have is a very good knife with a not so great sharpening job. I believe that Spyderco offers sharpening for a nominal fee, but the knife is probably already sharp.
I think that this issue is more noticeable because of the black blade increasing the contrast between the blade and the bevel.
Who looks at both sides of the blade simultaneously, anyway?
Click to expand...

I think that this issue is more noticeable because of the black blade increasing the contrast between the blade and the bevel.
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Without a doubt yes, I agree 100%.

Who looks at both sides of the blade simultaneously, anyway?
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Not me, I look at each side separately. :D

Re: the analogy of sneakers and laces as mentioned below in post #7, personally if I buy a pair of well known designer brand sneakers at $109.00,
I generally expect that one lace won't be 2 inches longer than the other.
Yes, of course I can go out and replace the lace.... should I have to?
 
100eyes said:
When was the last time you bought a pair of scissors with uneven edge grinds? And I bet none of them were $100.

It doesn't take a single cent more to produce an even edge, what it does take is a little care.
Click to expand...

Give it a rest buddy. Scissors are machine chisel ground blades...there aren't even 2 sides of the bevel to compare, and the whole thing is done on a machine. Scissors also aren't nearly as sharp from the factory as the average spyderco knife. A $100 knife isn't an expensive knife, and being that they are mass production and sharpened by hand, there are going to be some variances from knife to knife and even from one side of the bevel to the other. That factory edge is going to last what, maybe a week with some real use and will then need to be sharpened anyway, at which point, the owner can put whatever kind of edge he wants on the knife. As for the argument that we are talking about a knife which is meant to cut things thus the requirement for a sharp factory edge, I think you missed the fact that the op said the knife is sharp and performance is not inhibited. For $100 you get well built and high performance, you don't necessarily get pretty. If you want pretty guaranteed you'll have to open up your wallet and fork over at least 2-3 times the cost of the para2...
 
For the record, just let me restate that I don't 'dislike' the knife or that the knife does 'not function' as it's meant to, or that I find the obviously "visual mismatching" of the left to the right edge to be earth shattering in any way.
I simply originally just wanted to know if anyone had this "same experience" with specifically a "new" Para Millitary 2 (the newest 2013 run/re-stock) with a noticeably/visually differing left and right edge?
 
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Fancier said:
I guess the real question is at what price point can we expect perfection? Given the responses here today I'd say the general answer is more than $100. I'd be willing to guess that the number is also at or below $400, because at that point you can get a Sebenza and you have every right to expect that knife to be perfect.
What you have is a very good knife with a not so great sharpening job. I believe that Spyderco offers sharpening for a nominal fee, but the knife is probably already sharp.
I think that this issue is more noticeable because of the black blade increasing the contrast between the blade and the bevel.
Who looks at both sides of the blade simultaneously, anyway?
Click to expand...

Knife nuts do. Or try to. :p

Look, it's not the price point for me necessarily. Spyderco has set at precedent in my mind on what to expect when I buy one of their knives. I'd feel the same if the knife cost $50. The thing is, I work very hard for my money. I expect everyone else to work just as hard for theirs. It is easily in Spydercos ability to do better so I expect it (for MY money)... others are free to do whatever they like.

I'd send it back. No big deal. It's not like they have to throw it away. They can send me a proper example and sell that one to one of you guys who expect a lower degree of quality.

That's just the way I see it. When I was younger I would have been fine with it. As I said I have an edge pro to fix it, but in my mid 30s now I don't pay until I'm happy. :)
 
My PM2 is similar with uneven grinds. My Southard, on the other hand, has amazing grinds. I'm wondering if they are using a different system than in the US for final edge finishing?
 
Strigamort said:
Knife nuts do. Or try to. :p

Look, it's not the price point for me necessarily. Spyderco has set at precedent in my mind on what to expect when I buy one of their knives. I'd feel the same if the knife cost $50. The thing is, I work very hard for my money. I expect everyone else to work just as hard for theirs. It is easily in Spydercos ability to do better so I expect it (for MY money)... others are free to do whatever they like.

I'd send it back. No big deal. It's not like they have to throw it away. They can send me a proper example and sell that one to one of you guys who expect a lower degree of quality.

That's just the way I see it. When I was younger I would have been fine with it. As I said I have an edge pro to fix it, but in my mid 30s now I don't pay until I'm happy. :)
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I'd send it back. No big deal. It's not like they have to throw it away. They can send me a proper example and sell that one to one of you guys who expect a lower degree of quality.
Click to expand...
Yea.... I like the sound of that philosophy :thumbup:
Hope there are any of the new batch/s left they can replace it with if I choose to get it replaced.
 
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