Sliverax vs. PM2 (Advice Sought)

Well, I've read everyone's input, and besides the slimmer profile, I haven't heard a compelling reason as to how the Sliverax beats the PM2 -- and they are, after all, similarly sized EDC designs, so asking for a comparison makes sense. More than that, it looks to me that the Caly 3.5 can probably do what the Sliverax does, and with a better steel.
 
Sharperthansticks said:
SharpGuy, could you speak a little more to how the PM2 and Sliverax compare, and why you'd ultimately choose the Sliverax?
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Sorry for the late reply!

First, let me clarify. I have 4 PM2's and they're not going anywhere. I carry one IWB at work (with something smaller RFP) 2 or 3 times a week. The other days I usually have a Manix 2 LW.

Regarding the Sliverax. I think I like it so much because it's design is so different than everthing else I have. I like that! The ergos work well for me but I'm sure it doesn't work for everybody. Like I said previously, I like the thin profile, wire clip, blade shape, longer cutting edge. The action on mine is crazy smooth. It's even better than my Sage 3 and that's sayin' a lot. But it wasn't quite as nice out of the box as it is now. I did a little tuning and, combined with several months of break in time, it's become even better.

Let me be clear. I'm not trying to talk you into buying a Sliverax over a PM2. There's a reason the PM2 is so iconic. If you don't have one yet you need one. Maybe try a Sliverax someday down the road and see what you think. I was skeptical about it at first and now I'm really glad I tried one.

Sharperthansticks said:
Well, I've read everyone's input, and besides the slimmer profile, I haven't heard a compelling reason as to how the Sliverax beats the PM2 -- and they are, after all, similarly sized EDC designs, so asking for a comparison makes sense. More than that, it looks to me that the Caly 3.5 can probably do what the Sliverax does, and with a better steel.
Click to expand...

Caly 3.5 is a fine choice too. I also have one of those and it's not going anywhere either. The Mantra's another good one. Basically a Delica on steriods. Lot's of blade & cutting edge in a relatively small package. The Mantra 3 should be out soon and it'll have some of the same features the Sliverax has. Compression lock flipper with the new bearing system, wire clip, carbon fiber-G10 laminate scales. Should be a good one in my book.

I see a lot of threads & posts where someone is wanting to know which knife is better A or B. I always have a difficult time choosing one over another. Spyderco has so many good designs and which one is the best really comes down to personal preference. As the saying goes...they're all good, just different.
 
Sharp Guy said:
Sorry for the late reply!

First, let me clarify. I have 4 PM2's and they're not going anywhere. I carry one IWB at work (with something smaller RFP) 2 or 3 times a week. The other days I usually have a Manix 2 LW.

Regarding the Sliverax. I think I like it so much because it's design is so different than everthing else I have. I like that! The ergos work well for me but I'm sure it doesn't work for everybody. Like I said previously, I like the thin profile, wire clip, blade shape, longer cutting edge. The action on mine is crazy smooth. It's even better than my Sage 3 and that's sayin' a lot. But it wasn't quite as nice out of the box as it is now. I did a little tuning and, combined with several months of break in time, it's become even better.

Let me be clear. I'm not trying to talk you into buying a Sliverax over a PM2. There's a reason the PM2 is so iconic. If you don't have one yet you need one. Maybe try a Sliverax someday down the road and see what you think. I was skeptical about it at first and now I'm really glad I tried one.



Caly 3.5 is a fine choice too. I also have one of those and it's not going anywhere either. The Mantra's another good one. Basically a Delica on steriods. Lot's of blade & cutting edge in a relatively small package. The Mantra 3 should be out soon and it'll have some of the same features the Sliverax has. Compression lock flipper with the new bearing system, wire clip, carbon fiber-G10 laminate scales. Should be a good one in my book.

I see a lot of threads & posts where someone is wanting to know which knife is better A or B. I always have a difficult time choosing one over another. Spyderco has so many good designs and which one is the best really comes down to personal preference. As the saying goes...they're all good, just different.
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Thanks for the input. I have more than one PM2, though I really only use one, and I have more than one Manix 2, where I alternate them. Additionally, I have a Caly 3.5 that is in rotation. Rather than buying another knife for the sake of buying another knife, I was asking to see if the Sliverax brought something to the table that these knives didn't. I appreciate your enthusiasm over the Sliverax. For me, a longer blade is neither necessary nor desirable. It seems that, leaving that out, the Caly 3.5 is pretty similar to the Sliverax.
 
I was excited for the sliverax and bought one when it first came out but I returned it. The only better thing about the sliverax compared to the PM2 is the wire pocket clip. The detent is too weak so it’s an anemic flipper. Eric said in a video that they made the detent the way they did so you can also use the spydie hole. Unfortunately this created more of a jack of all trades, master of none.

I also didn’t love the ergonomics. They were okay but not great in my opinion. Caly 3.5 is an odd comparison to the sliverax but I have a Caly 3.5 as well and it’s a great knife, much better than the sliverax in my eyes.
 
Here's a comparison pic I have that captures the knives in question, plus a Millie:

oi9b3d.jpg


I like the Sliverax a lot, very unique and aesthetically pleasing. Mine is fully broken-in so it flips well without wrist action, but a stronger detent would still improve it as a flipper. Tab aside, it's probably the most satisfying middle-finger flicker I own.

The long cutting edge, negative blade angle, and deep cutout in the handle make the Sliverax a very impressive cutter. If I had to pick a folder to do extensive heavy cutting with, it would be my first choice most of the time. I find the handle very ergonomic even if it is a little unusual and perhaps a bit limiting in grip options. The heavily chamfered edges on the scales are really well done.

All that said, in terms of ranking it still falls a bit behind the PM2, Manix 2, and Caly 3.5 for my EDC preferences. At work, etc, I generally carry a Chaparral lw or other smaller knife so it really has a lot of blade in comparison. Also, I'm a lefty so while I don't have any problems with the right-handed comp lock, isn't my preference vs. the left-handed Military and PM2, or the fully ambidextrous CBBL and back-locks.
 
731Chopper said:
The detent is too weak so it’s an anemic flipper. Eric said in a video that they made the detent the way they did so you can also use the spydie hole.
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I remember seeing (or reading) that comment regarding the detent from Eric or Paul Alexender. It kind of baffles me. 3 of my PM2's (and Para 3's) have pretty strong detents and they're designed to be opened with the Spydie hole. I wish my Sliverax and Mantra had detents that strong. They'd be excellent flippers instead of just mediocre. My Southard has a really strong detent and it fires well. My Advocate is pretty strong too, no problems with that one either.
 
Sharp Guy said:
I remember seeing (or reading) that comment regarding the detent from Eric or Paul Alexender. It kind of baffles me. 3 of my PM2's (and Para 3's) have pretty strong detents and they're designed to be opened with the Spydie hole. I wish my Sliverax and Mantra had detents that strong. They'd be excellent flippers instead of just mediocre. My Southard has a really strong detent and it fires well. My Advocate is pretty strong too, no problems with that one either.
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Yeah it's almost like this was there first time ever tuning the detent on a compression lock.
 
IME Taichung detents are very different than Golden detents. Golden detents have bigger holes and seat deeper. Every Taichung detent hole I've seen has been much smaller, with the ball not seating as deeply, which makes a not so snappy action. JM2C
 
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