Paramilitary 2 or Caly 3.5

A

aqgonzo

Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Messages
19
Ive been looking around for my first Spyderco and and ive narrowed my choices down to these two knives. Which do you guys perfer?
 
Both are nice. I think the Caly is a bit more sheeple friendly...but that just my opinion.

If you're a steel freak (in a nice way :)), the Caly has a cool version out now in Aogami Super Blue. It's a cool steel that is suppose to take a super fine edge and hold it well. It does however rust...but that's the fun of it no?

If you want a Para 2, they have variants in CTS-20CP floating around 2nd hand, a new M390 version coming out from one of the online guys or the standard S30V is suppose to be sweet too.

Bottom line, I'd get the Caly in Super Blue, but you really can't go wrong.
 
I have the 20CP PM2 and the Super Blue 3.5. Both are nice, the PM2 has a more substantial grip, imo. The Caly is slender and also feels very good, but different.
 
Assuming you're wanting this for EDC, that's easy for me - Caly 3.5. I own both, but find the Para 2 too large for EDC. The Caly is slim, has a nice deep-carry clip, and fits my hand like a glove. For other uses, I might have a different answer.

You might want to add what you're intended use is and it'd easier to make a solid recommendation. Happy hunting.
 
PKFan said:
Assuming you're wanting this for EDC, that's easy for me - Caly 3.5. I own both, but find the Para 2 too large for EDC. The Caly is slim, has a nice deep-carry clip, and fits my hand like a glove. For other uses, I might have a different answer.

You might want to add what you're intended use is and it'd easier to make a solid recommendation. Happy hunting.
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I couldn't have summed it up better. :thumbup:

If you can, I would recommend picking one up in Super Blue. It is so easy to sharpen and takes a sick edge. It also holds its edge for some time. If you want to save some money, the standard Vg10 is a great EDC as well. Either knife will serve you well but I feel that the Caly 3.5 is just easier to carry and fits my hand a little better.
 
I much prefer the Para 2, due to: ergonomics, smoother opening blade, compression lock, more sturdy feeling/looking, screw construction instead of pinned. I've been considering the SB caly 3.5 just to try the steel, but if Spyderco came out with a SB Para 2, I'd pick that one up in a heart beat instead.
 
I vote para.
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Often such choices are fairly simple, but this is a genuinely difficult one, and one that has me still in the headlights

I bought a couple of Paras - the CPS one and a S30V one, and they are really terricif knives, surpassing many that I have. On the other hand, the Caly3 has long been one of my very favourite Spydies (this makes me special you know :)) and the 3.5 in that blue steel stuff has really grabbed me. Very elegant, feels great, slices, dices and generally does cutting. Has some of the the sense of a good French eating folder about it.

Only the cost kept me from buying one a few weeks ago when the tension was getting too great

I still think that the matter will resolve itself as not a choice at all. You know. Get both :D:D
 
I'm beggining to lean more towards the Pm2 but I've heard that the pivot cannot be adjusted due to the bushing system. Is this true and if so has anyone ever received a Pm2 with blade play?
 
aqgonzo said:
I'm beggining to lean more towards the Pm2 but I've heard that the pivot cannot be adjusted due to the bushing system. Is this true and if so has anyone ever received a Pm2 with blade play?
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None of my PM2s have any blade play. Got 4 of them.
 
aqgonzo said:
I'm beggining to lean more towards the Pm2 but I've heard that the pivot cannot be adjusted due to the bushing system. Is this true and if so has anyone ever received a Pm2 with blade play?
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Don't believe every negative thing you read. It's sometime s a good thing to take those comments with a grain of salt and find out for yourself. ;)
 
Im sure there has been some knives with issues but its a production knife.I think any problem would be far from the majority when it comes to spyderco .they are a standup company with an excellent warranty department that would fix any problem a knife comes with. Don't be a person that thinks every problem they read is every knife but don't be a fanboy that thinks a knife from your favorite company can never be flawed.
 
spydusse said:
Don't be a person that thinks every problem they read is every knife but don't be a fanboy that thinks a knife from your favorite company can never be flawed.
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If I had money to pay for a membership, this would be my sig. :thumbup:
 
aqgonzo said:
I'm beggining to lean more towards the Pm2 but I've heard that the pivot cannot be adjusted due to the bushing system. Is this true and if so has anyone ever received a Pm2 with blade play?
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I have had two Para's and neither one had substantial blade play. If you want a Para 2 buy with confidence.
 
If you are just going to carry one smallish knife, I'd take the Para, it will be more comfortable if you have to do some hard cutting. I prefer to pair the Caly with a Military, then you have a capable folder with something to do detail work along side it.
 
aqgonzo said:
I'm beggining to lean more towards the Pm2 but I've heard that the pivot cannot be adjusted due to the bushing system. Is this true and if so has anyone ever received a Pm2 with blade play?
Click to expand...
Mine had no blade play at all and after break-in is perfect.Being as the two knives are so different,it seems like an easy choice.At least for me it was.
 
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