Paramilitary 2 versus Military

Losd said:
Just get both like I did lol. Once you have one, you will want the other.
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Hey losd, do you have a favorite yet, or are you just trying to figure out how to spread the love like me?
 
Never warmed up to the ParaMilitary2. For something that size from Spyderco I always go with Gayle Bradley. I've had a Military since 2005 in the G-10 liner lock variety. Carries deceptively small. Lock hasn't moved in all these years. It went for a reconditioning last year and it's good as new. For a stronger Military overall and lock I have the Military titanium frame locks.
 
uxo2 said:
Military SUCKS for the following reasons.

TIP DOWN CARRY only.
No Compression lock.
Tip Down only carry
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Clearly the market disagrees. The C36 has been a leading seller for Spyderco for almost 20 years now with no major redesign. :rolleyes:
 
I prefer the Military , fluted titanium specifically. I love frame locks and the machine work on the Ti handle is beautiful.

However , the Compression Lock is also a favorite of mine. That's the biggest selling point in the PM2 for me.
 
Surfingringo said:
Hey losd, do you have a favorite yet, or are you just trying to figure out how to spread the love like me?
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Haven't fiddled with the military and manix as much, but so far the PM2 is my fave. Just a great balance between size, weight and function. Plus the compression lock is amazing. I slightly adjusted the pivot, and now the blade just flys out of the handle. Great setup.
 
I have two Paramilitaries, S30V and CPM D2, one Para2 in S90V/CF and a dozen Millies. The Paras have had their chances, but once my first Military arrived they didn't hold a pocket space for long. One or another of the Millies has been in my right back pocket every day for years, and the Paras languish in their boxes. I've tried very hard to like the Compression lock, but I have failed.
 
Just do what I do : carry a pm2 and a manix2 xl! :D
I don't have the military ....yet.
The PM2 is freakin fantastic. I find individual preferences funny. Especially all of the comments regarding dislike for the tip down carry of the Millie .
I usually prefer tip up carry myself, however, after switching the pocket clips on all of my para 2s to tip up and carrying them for a while , I switched them back. The para 2 ( IMHO ) carries better tip down. It rides slightly lower and straighter. Ultimately, to answer your question, get em all.
 
I sold my left handed Military after I realized I no longer carried it, it had been completely eclipsed by the Para 2. I just find it quicker to operate the compression lock and also more fun. The slightly more pronounced belly on the Para 2 blade makes some types of cutting a little easier. But... the Military is quite flat and lightweight and it is amazingly easy to carry for such a large knife. It really doesn't feel much different that the Para 2 in the pocket--both stick out about the same amount, with the Military just going a little deeper. The Military definitely makes more of statement when you take it out and it snaps open with that loud clack... The Para 2 fits my hand a little better, and is a little more EDC friendly especially if you are around people who might be offended or freaked out by a very large knife. The Military is a lot easier to open or close wearing gloves. I'm sorry I let mine go, since the lefties are kind of rare, but it would be a knife that I carry only occasionally. I am almost never without my Para 2.
 
I think if you take anything from this thread it's that you should try both! I own a s90v milli and a 20cp para 2 that both get about equal pocket time. The para 2 is definitely more fun to play with but IMO with the milli you get more knife for only a little more weight (iirc .5 ounces more?)
 
Military by far for me.
But the Para 2 is my second favorite Spyderco. They're so differnet that you'll need/want both.

I have other knives I could substitute for one of my Para2's( size/weight, etc..), but there is no other knife like the Military. My favorite(CF) models are only 4.25oz with an awesome 4" blade, great handle, and you hardly know its in pocket. No one else makes anything like that.
The Military is their best design, and one of the best knife designs ever IMO.
 
Ken44 said:
Military by far for me.
But the Para 2 is my second favorite Spyderco. They're so differnet that you'll need/want both.

I have other knives I could substitute for one of my Para2's( size/weight, etc..), but there is no other knife like the Military. My favorite(CF) models are only 4.25oz with an awesome 4" blade, great handle, and you hardly know its in pocket. No one else makes anything like that.
The Military is their best design, and one of the best knife designs ever IMO.
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What he said. I carried mine yesterday for the first time. Didn't even know it was in my pocket. That's saying something for a knife with a 4 inch blade.
 
Surfingringo said:
Ok, I owned the pm2 first and thought it was the greatest knife ever...until I got a military. Once I got my hands on the Millie, I was convinced it was the greatest knife ever! So much so that I didn't even carry my pm2 anymore and ended up selling it. Well, last week I finally got another pm2 and now Im thinking...maybe it's the greatest knife ever. :rolleyes:

In other words...GET BOTH! ;)
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LOL, yeah get both.
 
If someone didn't mention it , get both but I'm sure the first one you get will be the favorite :)
 
I have both and I carry the military much more often. That said I have my own business so I am not restricted as to what I carry and we work outside a lot so a large knife doesn't seem out of place. I mention this because as you know the military is quite large and could appear frightening to some. I like the Military more than the Para 2 for a number of reasons;

- its ergonomics
- I find the larger blade handy
- Although I don't like the liner lock as much as the compression lock, I have the frame lock version in the Military as well so that takes care of that
- Tip Down doesn't bother me, I carry the Para 2 the same way
- The weight in relation to the size (G10 version) such a light knife
- Extremely easy to deploy same as the para 2 and also really easy with gloves on

IMO it really comes down to size. If you are in an Urban environment and need to be concerned about carrying something as large as a military in a public setting where it would seem out of place, I would choose the Para 2. If this is the case and you still really want to carry the Military then you could also carry a small back up like a Dragon Fly or Delica for tasks that don't require a large knife but this (carrying multiple knives) can also appear weird to people in an Urban setting. You may still have a problem with sheeple with the Para 2 but not nearly as much.
 
Military. I've had several examples of both models, also Manix 2's and the original Manix C95, I ended selling up all of those except a few Militaries and one Paramilitary 2, a 20CP that I've used a lot which I don't think anyone would buy anyway. That said, I hardly ever carry it because I always go for the Military when there's a choice. It just feels more ergonomic in-hand, the balance is better, and still glove-friendly. Tip up vs tip down doesn't matter to me.
 
Unfortunately you are eventually going to have to get both--or regret whichever one you didn't buy...
 
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