Paramilitary 2 blade return .....or lack thereof!

SPYfanman

SPYfanman

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So after picking up a Sage 1 and Caly3 it seemed the next thing would be to try the new Para 2. I was lucky enough to pick one up off another forum and absolutely love (like so many others it seems) it. There is really nothing less that awesome with this knife. However it seems a noticeble problem flaw caught the eye. This one has some very smooth action and lockup is perfect to disengage. I have read some reviews where this could be a problem. The problem with mine is a different story. After disengaging the lock and manually returning it to the closed position, I notice the blade lingers and lingers and only retracts automatically about .25 inches from its full closed position. This is a real bummer as not only does it make its status on the safety scale drop dramatically but also makes it pretty much impossible to reverse the pocketclip to tip up carry unless I want to gamble with a risk of reaching in the pocket to grab it only to find a large slice in one of the fingers. :( So my question is this normal? I can't imagine it being so with all the attention to detail and refinements made on this model. I think it was the Benchmade Deejavoo that exhibited the same problem. Any thoughts comments? Thanks
 
Are you saying the detent is weak? It is tough for me to decipher your above post. If the detent is weak, I would contact Spyderco warranty and returns.
 
I just got one. It's got the updated lock if that makes any difference. But yeah, the blade retention is very good when closed, but the blade won't snap closed until the tip is just a hair above the G10 scales. This is way different then say my Byrd Hawkbill II or a Cold Steel voyager I have laying here in front of me. They snap shut when the blade is over an inch away from the scales during closing. That's just a characteristic of the compression lock vs a backlock. At least the Para 2 won't snap on your fingers, but you do have to make sure YOU shut the blade completely, you can't just get it close and let the spring do the rest like on a back lock.
 
So you got a used Para2 that has a weak detent? Mine seems fine, but then again I am the original owner. Also, I carry mine tip down, old habits die hard. Can't say that I have the same issue with mine. Maybe tighten the pivot all the way, that could help.
 
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Ah, now I am confused. Marlinaholic - did you say yours is a recent one from the latest batch and its normal to have that sort of "lack of detention"? It certainly won't change my mind into selling it but would save a lot of trouble sending it back. You make some good points on the features of different lock styles. This is my first compression lock but my caly3's lockback puts the automatic return feature into kick like you said at about 1.25 inches from closed position.



Revdevil - I did purchase it from another fella on the forms but it is NIB condition never having been used.
 
Mine is very recent. It's normal for the blade not to snap closed until you have nearly closed it manually, but the retention, that is how strong the lock holds the blade closed once you have it closed, is very good on mine. Good enough that I can't really do the "Spyderco drop" method of opening as the weight of the handle isn't enough to overcome the lock. So I would say the Para 2 isn't likely to open in your pocket and cut you, just make sure it is fully closed when you put it in there in the first place :)
 
The detent on my Para 2 is the strongest of any folder I own.
If you have never owned a knife with a ball detent before, it may seem strange that the blade does not snap shut on its own, but this is completely normal.

The issue people commonly have with ball detents is them being so weak that they do not keep the blade closed under any circumstances. If this is the problem, then return the knife to the manufacturer to be adjusted. If the blade cannot easily be shaken open after you close it all the way, then it is working normally.
 
The compression lock has almost no closing bias, no more than a Walker liner lock or Reeve Integral lock. There is nothing to drive the blade shut except the operator. Backlocks, ball locks, even Axis locks have more closing bias. I carry my Para 2 tip down in part because of this simple fact: if it starts to open and gets past the detent, there is nothing to close it. It is a characteristic of the lock. Deal with it or get something else.
 
Ive been corrected
Para 1- milled detent in blade
Para 2- ball detent

Thank Guy
 
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A lockback's self-close is COMPLETELY different from the liner lock/frame lock/comp. lock family. Expecting it to have a self-close feature is simply a lack of experience I guess. The comp lock, like a liner or frame lock, has a ball bearing detent that keeps the blade closed, but only when it's closed all the way and the leaf spring is allowed to engage (flush up against the tang). So if you're still holding the comp lock tab (depressing the leaf spring) of course it won't stay shut, because it's just like if you were holding down the release for a back-lock--you're disengaging the back spring which is what makes the self-close work. In order for the detent to work, you cannot be holding down the lock tab as it closes. Try depressing the lock and letting it only close halfway, then letting go and closing it the rest of the way with your thumb/finger. I'll bet the detent will engage and you will see that it does have in-handle retention.

My Para 2 has a stronger detent than any other linerlock style knife i have, including my Sage, Military or Michael walker. It was almost a little strong for my taste, but with a little use it has smoothed out a bit so it doesn't take too much effort to open.

PS-I carry by Para 2 tip up, because I think with its strong detent, nothing is going to be getting the blade past it without me wanting it to. Same for spyderco liner locks--they have a strong enough detent to make me comfortable carrying them tip-up. I really don't see anything forcing them open besides a person's thumb.
 
trimcut123 said:
The para 2 detent is the same as the origional.. the compression lock itself works as the detent... Strong and perfect..

Yablonk ... great explanation
Click to expand...

Not so. The Para 1 had a milled tang that acted as the detent whereas the Para 2 has a ball bearing detent.
 
Sorry.. That is what I meant with a poor explanation about the milled detent on the para one blade.. I meant the compression lock falls into that groove acting as the detent. Good call on the ball bearing detent. What do you expect from me on a saturday night.:p Thank you though..
Gotta love the bushing system and all the new ergo improvements on the para 2..


Orion's Belt said:
Not so. The Para 1 had a milled tang that acted as the detent whereas the Para 2 has a ball bearing detent.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for all the great comments and info. I stand corrected. It seems my "problem" was less of a problem and more of a feature inherit in this type of lock instead of a detent issue. Despite the blade having to be almost completely closed for auto-close to take place, once it is closed it is by no means slack and loose. The chance the blade could come open is greater than on my Caly3 and Sage 1 but strong enough from what I can gather. Having further tested the pressure needed (not scientifically) to open the blade from closed position brings one to the conclusion that it is highly unlikely the blade with pop open on its own unless some outside force does it. Compressing the lock one handedly while open releases the blade smoothly and quickly to which it bounces off the bottom with little force whereby leaving the blade .5 to 1 inch open. From there a manual close is need. Yes, it doesn't close up with a flick of the wrist but I would rather have the quick lockup with a flick on the opening portion then the closing anyday. It is darned near perfect in that regard.)
 
Yes...as a few of the posts above explain, there is no "auto-close" on the Para 2, nor on most linerlock or framelock knives.
 
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