Paramilitary 2 M390 Can it be stropped? Replacing blue scales with black

A

Andrew124c41

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Mar 19, 2017
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I am new to the forum although not new to knives...save for the fact that I betray my age because the knives I own all have the steel that was available in the 90s. I have two questions. The first is about M390.

I know a custom knive maker who told me that the only steel he uses is 154CM. He said that studies have snow that is what most peopel like. I understand that for edge retention, ability to sharpen, and hardmness. it is a good all around comprise.

Having never owned any of the so called "super steels" not even S30V, I thought it would be interesting to try one out. Yes, I have heard that M390 is more difficult to sharpen.

However, one question to which I have not been able to find the answer through Google or searching here is whether or not M390 can be stropped either with bare leather or aluminum oxide, (green compound) embeded leather? It is nice to be able to simply hone with steel and/or stropping. I have had great success with just an old belt. Or....when M390 loses its edge must it be sharpened by conventional means. (I own stones and a Worksharp Guided system. (I used to own a Lansy but i really never liked having to set it up.)

So, can M390 be stropped?

My second question is about a blue Paramilitary 2 in M390 that I saw for sale. I like the size of the Military but it is a tad big for CIMP. So, never having owned a Spyderco, I figured a Parmilitary 2 would be nice. I found a blue one with an M390 blade for sale. The thing is, the only knife colors that I would ever own or carry would be black and camo....or....various natural stag horn or bone. So, if I purchase this knife, can (or where) can I get black in G-2 or carbon fiber?
 
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In my experience M390 was tough to sharpen but I was using Spyderco Sharpmaker and no diamond rods. A better system would easily sharpen it. I stropped it with no problem. As for CF model PM2 options are M4 , S90v , and 154cm/S90V. Cheapest is M4 which is super stressed KnifeWorks exclusive model as others are very Sprint Limited Production. G2 black models are standard s30v
 
Welcome.

1) Yes, M390 responds pretty well to stropping as long as you don't let it get dull. Use it... strop it back into shape that evening. I use a strop block for the most part on my Bradford G3 & BM 484. Both are M390. The strop is loaded with green compound. I also use balsa wood loaded with 1.5 micron CBN or diamond compound. Either one works. I finish on a piece of bare horse butt leather.

2) If you're asking about replacement scales for your M390 PM 2, BladeHQ sells replacement scales. You can also go to Putman's own web site or get with one of the scale makers here on BF. Try the Services Offered subforum under Knifemaker's Market. You'll find several very highly skilled scale makers there.

If you're asking about getting an S30V PM 2 in black or CF, everybody sells them in black G10 & S30V. CF handled versions are harder to come by. They're either limited production and not very available right now, or they were sprint runs that have sold out and probably won't be available from a dealer again. You're best bet is to check the exchange here on BF. You can even post a Want to Buy notice in the proper subforum and see if anyone has a CF version they'll part with.

You may need a paid GOLD membership to post in W-T-B, I can't remember.
 
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Forgive me...I am not familiar with CBN...I understand whatever it is comes in different micron sizes.
Additonally, I have not used diamond compound.
I have green.
I also have the Workshop Guided system.
The abbreviation CF?
In your opinion, as a first Spyderco, should I get the garden variety black/S30V or the M390. Those are the only two I could find...However, the M390 is a blue one from Bento Box....I am not into the blue scales lol
 
Forgive me...I am not familiar with CBN...I understand whatever it is comes in different micron sizes.
Additonally, I have not used diamond compound.
I have green.
I also have the Workshop Guided system.
The abbreviation CF?
In your opinion, as a first Spyderco, should I get the garden variety black/S30V or the M390. Those are the only two I could find...However, the M390 is a blue one from Bento Box....I am not into the blue scales lol

OH, when you strop...do you rub compound into the rough or smooth leather side...do you use any petrolium jelly?
 
CF = carbon Fiber
CBM= not sure, but it may be a diamond paste that comes in different micron sizes (how fine the diamonds are)

The garden variety inn S30v should suit you fine. If you are hard on your knives, then upgrade to M390 may be worth it.

Joe
 
Andrew124c41 said:
Forgive me...I am not familiar with CBN...I understand whatever it is comes in different micron sizes.
Additonally, I have not used diamond compound.
I have green.
I also have the Workshop Guided system.
The abbreviation CF?
In your opinion, as a first Spyderco, should I get the garden variety black/S30V or the M390. Those are the only two I could find...However, the M390 is a blue one from Bento Box....I am not into the blue scales lol
Click to expand...

From Google RE: CBN: "CBN is the second hardest material after synthetic diamond. The process of making CBN abrasive is similar to that of synthetic diamonds: scientists treat hexagonal boron nitride at high temperature and pressure to create cubic boron nitride and treat graphite in the same way to create diamond."

I use 1.5 micron CBN on my balsa strop. I also use green compound on a leather strop. I actually use the green/leather more than the CBN/balsa.

Like Joe said, CF is "carbon fiber", a handle scale material... for the most part.

I would also recommend starting with the black/S30V Para 2, My 2 most often carried Paras are both S30V. I'm a cutter, not an experimenter. S30V works just fine for my cutting chores.
 
It's worth mentioning, because it wasn't brought up, Spyderco will void your warranty if you take the knife apart. So just decide what's most important to you, the color+steel combination you want or a warranty, but know going in that if you disassemble if for any reason, the warranty is void.
 
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