Paramilitary 2 or Ritter RSK MK1 for hiking

A

autheim

Joined
Oct 12, 2010
Messages
25
I'm looking for a folding knife that can be my companion on hiking trips. The reason I want a folding knife is because it takes less space than a fixed blade and the weight is lighter. I've looked at both Spyderco Paramilitary 2 and Ritter RSK MK1 but find it hard to decide which one to buy. Both are light weight, dependable and within my budget.

Hope someone can come up with some good advice that might help me decide which one I should buy :)
 
The Ritter--because you can't buy a Paramilitary 2 anywhere.
 
I will in case wait and buy the Paramilitary 2 when it becomes available again.
 
Last edited:
You should try a compression lock knife (doesn't need to be a PM or PM2) before you buy. It is brilliant and strong but the ergos do not agree with everyone.
 
I wouldn't trust a folding knife as my only blade on a backpacking trip. You can get a good, light, fixed blade that doesn't take up much space at all (like a Fallkniven F1- 6 oz.).
 
I would go with the Para2 over the Ritter.
Before you go hiking consider your needs. Will you need to prepare wood for fire/shelter. If so you should have an hachet or at least a strong fixed blade. You don't want to be battoning with a folder.
 
Thanks!

I usually hike in higher altitudes where there aren't much vegetation. Making firewood and buliding shelter will never be an issue there. I always bring a survival bivi bag for shelter when hiking in the mountains. Therefore I want to buy a light weight folder for simple camp chores and food prep.

When hiking in the woods and other places with vegetation I always carry with me my Fallkniven F1 and and a hatchet.
 
Last edited:
OK... since you're taking a FB anyway (that was gonna be my first suggestion) and you want to pick between the two folders you mentioned, I'll say that I've had and used both and I kept the Paras.

I've found them to be more comfortable for me to hold and use (I like Spyderco's G10 better than BM's FRN/Noryl), and a Spyderhole deploys faster and more confidently to me than a thumbstud knife, especially with wet or gloved hands. Spyderco's S30V seems easier for me to maintain than anyone else's S30V and their blades generally come very sharp from the factory and ready to be touched up on a Sharpmaker without having to reset any edge angles.
 
The Para 2 is an amazing folder. The only thing I hated about the previous Para 1 was that the blade just felt a bit stubby and looked off with the longer handle. This is no longer an issue in the Para 2 with the slightly longer blade. The ergos are phenomenal and blade shape is ideal for all edc tasks including food prep. Also the compression lock is a very strong lock but it may take some time getting used to and feel a bit awkward at first. The biggest problem with the Para 2 is that it wont be available till early next year when they start production of it again. Your best bet would be to get the sprint S90V Para 2 which should be out by December.
 
Aesthetically the Para 2 looks better than Para 1 and much better than Ritter RSK MK1.

Which is best (most reliable and durable), the axis lock or the compression lock? Also, does the locking mechanism interfere with the grip on any of these knives?
Cleaning is also a crucial factor because it may be used for fishing. The knife should be easy to disassemble and clean.
 
Both knives are excellent for what you're going to be doing. I own and use both while I'm out camping and hiking but for whatever reason seem to take my Para more often than the Ritter.

The Para has a more simple design ie. No extra parts to break, the locking mechanism is just one big spring(liner) that jams in between the tang and the stop pin. Its a very strong design however its nearly impossible (for me) to close quickly and reliably with my left hand. The full flat grind cuts like a laser and the point is nice and low while still having enough belly to do skinning chores.

The Ritter has an awesome blade shape that works great for all sorts of outdoor activities and cuts like a dream. I love the Axis lock because its so easy to manipulate with either hand and is very strong. I've got a whole collection of griptilians but usually carry my mini Ritter w/ g11 Wilkins grips in the outdoors. All around a great choice.

Its all a matter of personal preference but either will work very well for you and I'm sure you'll love either.
 
I have decided to buy the Paramilitary 2 when it comes available again. Hope it doesen't take too long :) Thank you for all recomendations. I really appreciate it.
 
Good choice. I have a Para (not Para 2) and I have played with a friend's standard Grip (and I have a mini-Ritter). For me, the Para is the clear winner. It has better ergonomics for me, better grip, and is easier to deploy. The fully open design will be much easier to clean than the Ritter, which is fully enclosed.
 
They are both wonderful, but the bottom line is that the Para2 will have fewer things that can go wrong, as noted by a previous poster. They are both great knives with versatile blade shapes.

The compression lock seems less likely to accidentally disengage during use than the axis lock, although I have had no problems with either.
 
The minigrip is a terrific economy knife, but that's all it is. The para 2 is superior in almost every way and the cost is almost identical.

The minigrip used to be a vastly superior knife when it came out and paying more to get bleeding-edge steel made a lot of sense. These days though, there's a lot more competition and it just doesn't cut it.

No offense to the ritter-fans. It's a great knife. But it's an inferior value proposition these days.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top