Sage 3 vs Paramilitary2

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danknugs

Joined
Mar 11, 2012
Messages
23
Hello, im in the market for a quality folder for EDC and have decided on these two spydercos. I have also been told benchmade mini griptilians are great edc blades. Really though, im open to any suggestions. I am looking to spend about $100-150

Thanks in advance
 
Welcome to Blade Forums. You will likley get as many opinions as there are stars but that's part of being in a huge arena! There are quite a few great knives for EDC in your price range. Ever one you mentioned is a high quality knife that would serve you well. I will say that the Sage 3 will set you back for the price of 2 Mini-grips and whether it's worth it or not only you can decide. The Para 2 is legendary but bigger than both and obvious to the mini-grip. Good news is none of them are duds.
I'll let the others add on...
 
For less than $150, let me throw the Spyderco Gayle Bradley out there to you as well. Carbon fiber scales, M4 steel, in a sexy tank of a knife package with top notch fit and finish. The best bang for your buck spydie in my opinion.

If you do not like the GB, both the PM2 and Sage 3 are awesome as well. Between the Sage 3 and PM2 I would have to give a slight edge to the PM2 because it has all of the carry options and I like the blade shape better along with the compression lock.
 
Hopefully this will make it harder for you to decide. Or not.

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I would pass on the sage and get a mini grip to start with or even customize one from bench made with some s30v or d2 but the standard 154cm is still great. After that I would save up and get a cool sprint(read special steel and handle colors) run of a Paramilitary2. Best of both worlds.
 
Sithus1966 said:
Hopefully this will make it harder for you to decide. Or not.

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I love seeing used knives. My Sage 3 looks used and the blue is not near as blue as it used to be, but I would rather that than a safe queen. And are you wearing the G10 on that PM2 down? It almost looks like you took sand paper to it.
 
If you are looking at the Sage series, you may want to consider the Ti version. I have that and the 3, and tend to grab the Ti one more often, not sure why exactly but just do. However, I have a PM2 in CTS-204P on order and bet that will kick both out.
 
lol, good advice but.... im still no closer to making a decision. Im leaning towards the sage 3 still because i really like the color and blade shape. And the cheapest mini grip ive found is about 80 while i found a sage 3 for about 112. The gayle bradley is cool, but i do not want a liner lock. With the sage 3 i feel like id e getting the est of both worlds because its lock is very similar to bechmade's axis lock. Then again ive also heard the PM2's compression lock is equally as awesome. It would help if i could handle the knives somewhere. Anyone know where to go to handle knives in the charleston, SC area?
 
PM2 is versatile and can take what you throw at it. I am surprised I havent snapped the blade with some of the things i put my pm2 through. S30v steel is fantastic on it. Multi carry (tip up and down for left and right hand) makes it user friendly feels good in hand. Sage 3 i cant speak for since I keep buying more PM2s lol

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you can pick up a pm2 for 105 and an S35VN version for 135ish
 
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danknugs said:
lol, good advice but.... im still no closer to making a decision. Im leaning towards the sage 3 still because i really like the color and blade shape. And the cheapest mini grip ive found is about 80 while i found a sage 3 for about 112. The gayle bradley is cool, but i do not want a liner lock. With the sage 3 i feel like id e getting the est of both worlds because its lock is very similar to bechmade's axis lock. Then again ive also heard the PM2's compression lock is equally as awesome. It would help if i could handle the knives somewhere. Anyone know where to go to handle knives in the charleston, SC area?
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I live in Charleston. I suggest you go to 1161 cainhoy rd, Wando,sc Coastal Firearms they have an amazing selection of GOOD knives. like a couple thousand dollar stuff so i wouldnt be surprised to see one there. Never been in there personally but i have talked to the owner of it who owns cigar bars in north charleston, east bay, and mount pleasant
not any knife shops down town. I think that shop sells Case Spyderco Benchmade Lone WolfLeatherman ZT CRKT Kershaw Al-mar Blackie Collins Gerber Emerson Cold Steel and other stuff if i remember what he said right. If not ask me and i can give you a good deal
 
nccole said:
I love seeing used knives. My Sage 3 looks used and the blue is not near as blue as it used to be, but I would rather that than a safe queen. And are you wearing the G10 on that PM2 down? It almost looks like you took sand paper to it.
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I actually had to sand down the G-10 due to the original owners "modding". Spray painting and saw grooves.
 
Chipped Karambit, thanks for the advice. Ill go check out coastal for sure as i am also in the market for a shotgun(benelli nova or 870 wingmaster) so it will be a very useful trip. Also need about a dozen arrows fletched so hopefully they can take care of that as well. Really leaning more towards the PM2 now after researching the compression lock and the amount of people who swear by that folder, but i will have to go try them out in hand. Ill be sure to let you guys know what i decide on, gun and knife.
 
danknugs said:
Chipped Karambit, thanks for the advice. Ill go check out coastal for sure as i am also in the market for a shotgun(benelli nova or 870 wingmaster) so it will be a very useful trip. Also need about a dozen arrows fletched so hopefully they can take care of that as well. Really leaning more towards the PM2 now after researching the compression lock and the amount of people who swear by that folder, but i will have to go try them out in hand. Ill be sure to let you guys know what i decide on, gun and knife.
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Trust me. I walk around charleston with a pm2 without a problem. It is a beast. But doesn't appear overly aggressive. Compression gives it so much more versatility than the basic liner or integral lock.

also, if you want to check before you go there. There is a cigar bar in mount pleasant (its at the end of the Carta route in the walmart center inside that round about with the huge basket) you can check there, they have some knives but not much from last time i was there. Just some basic stuff. Owner of coastal owns that bar so you can ask questions
 
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Benchmade requires dealers to display MAP pricing so when you see $80, they will usually have a code at checkout for actual prices. A well known & trusted seller who is popular around here sells them at a significant mark down from MAP.
 
So people who have the sage 3 as well as PM2, what do you prefer? The sage 3 is slightly smaller and lighter which is a bonus, but then the PM2 is a friggin tank of a knife and i like the digicam/black blade combo thats available. Does the PM2 carry well? I also noticed the sage 3 has a lower riding clip which is also a bonus. The prices are within like 3 dollars of each other for a new knife, so thats no issue. Really its probably going to come down to me just saying screw it and ordering one because i know ill enjoy either one.
 
I prefer the PM2. I like the Sage series but the Sage 3 is my least favorite. The lock is harder to disengage than the axis lock. There's also less spring tension holding the blade closed than with the axis lock. Go with either the Sage 1 or the PM2.
 
The pm2 has a left and right handed tip up tip down carry clip. For 25 dollars you can get a low rider clip. But the issue with low riders is, if you want to use the ziptie opener system low riders dont work with it.
 
Personally, im not at all interested in the zip tie thing so thats not an issue. And i forgot to mention that i don't want liner lock at all. Id prefer not to have frame lock either but i could deal with it. I really like the locking mechanisms on PM2, sage 3 and benchmades axis system. The sage 3 would probably wear in after use to open and close as easy as the axis system no?
 
If you like the PM2,and the color of the Sage3, but have a limit of $150, then you probably don't want to know about this one:
PM2-Centered.jpg

It's my first Para, and has become my EDC. I've never tried the Sage3. I have a couple Manix2's, and like the lock a lot - but it's not the same as the Sage lock. Unlike the Manix2, The Para2 does not feel at all tank-like to me, though I trust it not to let me down. It also carries much smaller than its size would suggest.
My alternate EDC is the Sage1. Both slip easily into my pocket, and each is a great size for EDC. I don't think there's anything they won't do daily-user-wise, but the Para2 fits like an extension of my hand, and the M390 holds a razor edge much longer than the S30V.
Basically, I don't think you can go wrong with either of your choices. Hopefully you can find a shop to try both out and see which feels better to you.
 
I have the Sage I II and III, plus two Para 2's.

The Para 2 is my favorite EDC, hands down. A great combination of light weight, strength, blade length and handle comfort.

I did add a STR titanium low ride clip to the Para 2, which made it perfect for my uses. It just disappears into the front right pocket, tip up.
 
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