Paramilitary 2 Worth the Hype?

Sorry to hi-jack the thread a bit, but would you guys say the Para 2 is better than a standard Military or Manix XL, or are they all around the same?
 
While I am an auditor and finding faults and defects should be my meal tickets, I failed miserably in finding any faults and defects on the Para2.
 
I succumbed to the "hype" myself. I have heard so much about it that I had to try it for myself. I needed to formulate my own opinion on the knife. I finally bought one and I was impressed with the PM2 when I got it even with all the hype surrounding it. It is a fantastic folder! It is well made, with quality materials, at a very competitive price and exceptionally designed. I love the compression lock. It is strong and easy to operate. The blade is of high-end enough steel with a great shape and size and FFG which I love. The handle is very comfortable and reassuring in use in any grip. The jimping and overall traction is fantastic. Its operation is very smooth, quick and easy to deploy.

If you break down the Paramilitary 2 into its separate components to judge it, it will stand on it own merits. But it is the sum of its parts and how well they work tgether and how well it was designed that makes this folding knife great. Spyderco took an already excellent knife in the Paramilitary (1) and made it better in every way possible.

Sure it get its acclaim and maybe more than it should. But IMHO, it is deserving of all its praise. All I can say is decide for yourself. Who else can make a judgement on what a great knife is to you than you. It may not be that great to you, but for many, including me, it is.

Sadly, I lost mine a couple months ago. I was very distraught. I've lost knives before and always just got another one to replace it and always a different knife all together. It was my way of try out the various knives available in the market. But with the PM2, I will get the PM2 to replace it as soon a more come in stock. I have bought a couple knives since losing my PM2 but they are not replacements. The only replacement for the PM2 is a PM2.
 
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all the other knifes I own just sit, PM2 is always with me. I have two of them. the brown one in S35VN an on in M390 which I swapped the scales to have in black in stead of blue. I love the combination of size, ergonomics, performance and "pocket-ability". thats what makes this knife great.
 
Here's my answer... EVERYTHING about it seems right to my hand. The lock makes easy enough one hand action, the blade deploys like butter and it cuts like a machine. In the price point, to me, very little touches it!

When an item I use in my daily endeavors feels like an extension of my hand, I feel more capable to use it. I feel much more comfortable. My glock, my streamlight, my Manix and para2...sure, they may not be the end all, but they damn sure work for me and I feel if I don't have confidence and comfort, it's all she wrote
 
I wondered like you, so I got the M390 version in order to kill 2 birds with one stone- I didn't have any M390. It's a nice enough knife, but it didn't manage to replace my MiniGrip. The handle is comfortable, but just way too big for the amount of blade/cutting edge for my taste. That also made it take up more space in my pocket than was really convenient- yes, it's very thin, but it's also long and wide. For reference, I still haven't warmed up to my Gayle Bradley, either.
 
I carried the para2 everyday, but was fortunate enough to pick up a sebenza and xm24. The sebenzas finish, attention to detail, tolerances make me hold and examine it daily. Its just such a machining masterpiece. Trouble is, i just have the hardest time deploying it one handed! Maybe it needs to break in or maybe I'm just a thumb wuss. I have been carrying the xm24 daily now because its such a heavy, large and expensive piece of man jewelry if you will. Plus i can slow deploy it one handed with the flipper, or flick it open. I can also close it one handed. Realize its more than five times the price of the para2 even at direct sales prices! But i find i often bring the three out together and enjoy and examine the differences of each!
 
I don't think I will get one. The blade to handle ratio isn't to my liking. And for some reason I don't like spydies. I don't know why I just don't.
 
I have had numerous Para2's.... I could never figure out why I never warmed up to them..

Then I figured it out.. I dont like the clip, and how much the knife sticks out of my pocket.. Easy enough to resolve.. I am going to get a Blue one ( on order) and send it to STR for a low rider clip.

It is going to be great.. I sold my last blue m390 to my partner and he uses it alot.. He asked me to sharpen it, it was butter knife dull. 5 minutes on the Sharpmaker and it was spliting hairs.. I was amazed..
 
I like my regular black s30v pm2, but I rarely carry it. Even though i think its a great knife, I'm afraid I'll break the tip at work.
 
FCM415 said:
Cheapest new Griptilian in s30v plastic handle I know of is $107 shipped (limited edition 500 pieces at that). Cheapest new PM2 in s30v G10 handle I know of is $98 shipped.

Disagree with "much better lock". Personal opinion and preference of course. But "much better" to me seems like a stretch. The things that you would dislike about the comp-lock could apply to the axis lock also as they are quite similar. I like both.
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If were talking about S30v prices, Buck Vantage Pro beats both. Also has G10.
 
dynamicmoves said:
If were talking about S30v prices, Buck Vantage Pro beats both. Also has G10.
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The Vantage pro IS a nice knife, and very reasonably priced. That said, the PM2 is pretty close to my 'ideal' EDC knife. I rotate through a BUNCH of knives for my EDC, but the PM2 sneaks in more often than it should :D
 
Hello,

I found the 154cm version of the large Griptilian for around $100 but the only Griptillian in s30v I could find was the 552 RSK and thats goes for around $120. Plus no g10 and Ive had 2 omega spring break in my Griptilitans, im not the only one. The Griptilian is a good knife but not on the level of the Para2.

Have a good one,

Chris
 
The Para2 is the knife I'd feel most comfortable recommending to someone looking for a knife. Apparently some people have issues with it, but I haven't heard anything yet to change my opinion.
 
Man I love my para2, it flips out like a automatic, it locks up rock Solid, its sharp like a mutha f--a. I just love my para2. If u don't have one then your not complete
 
I have been asking myself the same question since I joined BF. I finally got one from the exchange forum and I liked it, but it hasn't replaced all my other knives or anything like that. I will say it is is probably the easiest to open Spyderco I have. I carry and use it as much as my Endura zdp and Griptilian, followed closely by the Manix and Manix lightweight.
 
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