para 2 alternative.

BenLong1018 said:
I would have to suggest the Benchmade Mini Onslaught. I love mine and I got it for $100. It seems to exactly fit your criteria and in my opinion it's the para 2 of Benchmade.
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^ this is also my thinking.

p.s. to the OP, the para2 is a great knife.
 
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I'd grab the BladeForums Skyline while there's still some left for pre-order. You get the perfect thin slicer blade and flipper of the Skyline, but FFG and in S30V. It'll only cost you $90 too.
 
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Dewberry said:
So I'm starting to save up for a new knife, and I am thinking something along the lines of a para 2. But I was wondering if yall had any other suggestions. I will put some criteria below.

Folder
"slicer" I want a relatively thin blade I can make scary sharp
3.5 inch or longer blade
Handle on the larger side
No tanto
No serations
Non coated blade
A flipper would be nice but I don't have to have it.
And lets try to Keep it under $115

Thanks for the help guys
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it's also pushing your price limit, the spyderco military.
 
The Para2 and any form of the Manix 2 are great choices. I love both knives and have owned more than one of each and wish I still had them.
But my favorite slicer from Spyderco(and my favorite slicer of any for that matter) would have to be the Spyderco Chokwe.
Handle on the large side, leaves room to move your hand easily if you want, very ergonomic even though it looks different, fits the hand like a glove, thin FFG wharncliffe style blade, 3.5" s30v steel blade, takes and holds an edge very well, slices through anything, perfect for EDC. Oh and it's a Ti Frame Lock.
 
The Gayle Bradley, Caly 3.5 w/ ZDP steel and carbon fiber, BM Mini Onslaught, BM 710, and probably quite a few others would be great choices, but all of these are well over your price limit. You'd have to find em used. The ZT 780 is close to the price and is very close in some ways and includes the flipper. Doesn't seem to be as good of a knife as the PM2, nor as good as the quality you expect from ZT on their more expensive models, however. The Kershaw Skyline forum knife would be a great choice for something completely utilitarian and smaller. Probably none of the knives we're talking about are as good for tactical use as the PM2, though, and it's an outstanding EDC with great value. There's a reason it's so praised. For the price, there's really nothing very similar that comes close. If you get one of the knives in it's price range with a flipper, you will almost certainly be sacrificing more than that flipper is worth. Besides, the PM2 is one of the most fun knives ever to manipulate. Very smooth and fast to deploy, fun to middle finger flick, thumb flick, Spydie-drop, etc. Honestly more fun than most flippers. Do it! Or else pony up the extra for one of the others I listed.
 
You need to check out the Stretch. It has pretty much everything in your criteria covered. It slices like no other, im surprised noones suggested it since your first request is a thin blade that can get scary sharp, but then again the stretch is always overlooked, oh well makes it more unique for me!. You can opt for either zdp-189 or the vg10 versions, both can be had for under 100. But your probably getting a para anyway right? You should! As for flippers how about a buck vantage pro in s30v. Wicked slicer big g10 handle n everything else u require for around 50. You can buy one for each pocket!
 
I have a ZT0350SW and Love It! Would highly recommend that, the Zulu which is smaller but an amazing slicer (my sharpest knife ever), and the Kershaw Speed Bump which is a great folder for an amazing price. Nice big blade, perfect handle ergos and nice g10 if you get the g10 version... Also has a flipper and will slice through almost anything. I also like but never owned the mini onslaught and griptillian. BUT if youre really digging the PM2 then go with that.. Trust your gut not your screen. ;) Not saying there isnt great advice here, but if youve been spending time doing your research on the PM2 and others in its class and still want the PM2... then go with it. Worst case scenario: you buy it, hate it, and sell/trade it here and get your money back or get the knife you really think you want.
 
I'll second the Stretch as well.
The ZDP-189 though would be the best bet.

So I think the four best choices so far:
Para2
Manix 2 - XL possibly
Chokwe
Stretch
 
Caly 3.5 or Stretch......was wondering when these were going to get mentioned:) Both great choices!!
 
Hans17 said:
What do they do differently when they grind it?
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mkjellgren said:
It is made MUCH thinner.
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This^ and they do it without weakening the edge.I have a couple of regrinds by both TK & Ban.It's like a completely different knife when they are done with it.
If you want,I'll post a couple pics tomorrow,I can't now running late for work.
 
I'm not a fan of any one specific manufacturer. I've got knives I like from most of them but not a blinded fan of any.

That said, the Para 2 is my first pick for EDC when I leave the house. I'll carry other knifes for show and tell while playing dress up, but the para2 is the edc. I use them as flat bars, screw drivers, wire strippers, Mill knives and to scrap rubber off the door of a banbury mixer, I trash them at my job. They do things that most wouldn't expect their knife to do. At their price it's easy for me to get every ounce of their ability out of them and then go buy a new one. It is a great knife and I don't feel lacking while I have it in my pocket.

If you don't own a Para 2, and you have need of a quality knife that you don't want to have to baby, this is the one to get. I'm sure there are other good knives in this category, but the Para2 is like pitching a perfect game. It has happened, and will happen again, but its not often so appreciate it when it does.
 
Another option is the Spyderco Yojimbo 2. Same lock as the P2 but has a 3.25 (ish) Wharnecliffe blade with a hollow grind. Even though Janich designed it, he also made sure it had a good utility functionality to it too. It's only 4 oz. It may carry wider than a P2 but it seems like a great blade to compare with the P2 for EDC despite the differences. Although they seem hard to keep in stock, some places have them right now and you can get them for between $102 and $125. A lot of USA made knife for not a lot of money much like the P2.

Specifications

Overall Length:
7.75"

Blade Length:
3.31"

Blade Material:
CPM-S30V Powder Steel (Stainless)

Lock:
Compression Lock

Closed Length:
4.50"

Handle Material:
Black G10

Liner(s):
Stainless Steel

Clip:
Stainless Steel

Weight:
4.00 oz.

Country of Origin:
USA

I have a newly acquired Orange CTS-XHP P2 and LOVE it. I think the P2 is a major player for EDC and for the street price! But I just ordered myself a Yojimbo 2 today after finding them in stock and all it will be for me is an EDC, not a personal defense weapon. I carry something else for that :) I like Wharnie blades a lot ;)
 
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Thank you every one very much for all the amazing answers.
I'm thinking the pm2 or the ZT 0350 with a regrind, but I already have a ZT so I'm leaning strongly toward para 2. could anyone give me an approximate cost for a regrind?Now the saving begins and the search for a good deal starts. I really like the blue handle on the para but it's way outta price range unfortunately
 
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