SpyderCo ParaMilitary 2 blade free falling

A

Armen

Joined
Apr 20, 2018
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I've handled a few PM2's and Para 3's and the blades on them seem to free fall if you disengage the compression lock. I did some research and learned that the free falling blade is not in specification but It's just a behavior I like a lot.

I picked up a new PM2 recently with a satin finish blade and the blade does not fall freely.

  • I gently took a screwdriver to the pivot screw to see if it was easily moved in either direction. It did not budge so I'm assuming it's factory spec and probably loctited?
  • The blade is perfectly centered
  • I can middle finger flick it with no issues
  • I can disengage the lock and flick my wrist and it will close.
The question is should I just keep playing with it until it breaks in and hope it loosens up or start messing with the pivot screw. (Personally, I don't like messing with screw tensions because it causes all kinda of issues like blade play, centering or stiff lock up. On the PM2 specifically the stop pin tension has an impact as well aside from the pivot screw).
 
Armen said:
I've handled a few PM2's and Para 3's and the blades on them seem to free fall if you disengage the compression lock. I did some research and learned that the free falling blade is not in specification but It's just a behavior I like a lot.

I picked up a new PM2 recently with a satin finish blade and the blade does not fall freely.

  • I gently took a screwdriver to the pivot screw to see if it was easily moved in either direction. It did not budge so I'm assuming it's factory spec and probably loctited?
  • The blade is perfectly centered
  • I can middle finger flick it with no issues
  • I can disengage the lock and flick my wrist and it will close.
The question is should I just keep playing with it until it breaks in and hope it loosens up or start messing with the pivot screw. (Personally, I don't like messing with screw tensions because it causes all kinda of issues like blade play, centering or stiff lock up. On the PM2 specifically the stop pin tension has an impact as well aside from the pivot screw).
Click to expand...

If its a newer manufactured pm2 it shouldn’t have locktite. Try loosening the stop pin screw a hair and if that doesn’t work try loosening the pivot a hair.

I’ve had pm2s that just wouldn’t free swing.
 
Try lightly loosening the stop pin screw and or pivot screw, that should do it
 
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That's how I like my Paras and Military's... they stay put, open or closed, until I move the blade. I've had a few that free-fall in the past but I've most always been able to get them to stay in position until I move them. I'd leave it alone, like others have said, and hope it stays that way.
 
I almost always give my knives the chance to break in before tweaking the action.
 
Lapedog said:
If its a newer manufactured pm2 it shouldn’t have locktite. Try loosening the stop pin screw a hair and if that doesn’t work try loosening the pivot a hair.

I’ve had pm2s that just wouldn’t free swing.
Click to expand...
Do the new PM2s have a bushing pivot, Lape?
 
ChazzyP said:
Do the new PM2s have a bushing pivot, Lape?
Click to expand...

Oh, that’s right, they do have a bushing pivot. I believe all PM2s have bushing pivots.

Regardless on my stiffest pm2 I owned loosening the pivot did help abit, though it never swung as freely as my other pm2s. The knives aren’t built with such super exact specs that they will all have the same action.

Even Sebenzas sometimes come with stiffer or looser actions depending on each individual knife.
 
My first pm2 had that issue. I thought I'd just wait for it to wear in. It never did. Only after taking it apart and re assembly did it work.

As mentioned above by Josh, try the stop pin, that's been known to work.
 
Mo2 said:
My first pm2 had that issue. I thought I'd just wait for it to wear in. It never did. Only after taking it apart and re assembly did it work.

As mentioned above by Josh, try the stop pin, that's been known to work.
Click to expand...

I know the stop pin is notorious for making the action stiff. I was going to start with that instead of the pivot. Is there a downside to a stop pin screw not being at the correct tension? I thought I read somewhere that it impacts the detent on the knife.
 
I've not had either of my two PM2s apart, so I hadn't any idea about the bushing pivot or the stop pin. On Sebenza 21s with bushing pivots, the best way to free up the action is by taking down the washers by .01-.02 mm each. I know that on Sebenza 25s with adjustable pivots, the screw down stop pins frustrate efforts to free the action, so one could either thin the washers or loosen and locktite the stop pin. I shouldn't think a tiny adjustment to the stop pin should affect the detent in a PM2, but again, I haven't had to muck with mine.
 
Give it a thorough hot soapy wash in the sink. Then another. I started doing this with all my knives when I get them if I cannot easily take them apart.

This won't instantly make it drop shut, but in my experience it will speed up the break in period. I don't use any oil until the knife is a little broken in. Your PM2 sounds just like my first and it broke in perfectly in very little time. If you're watching anything on TV, keep it in your hand and just open and close.
 
Here's a >>>>> link
Often I will loosen the pivot a degree or two.
I'm not in the least interested in flipping my knife for dozen's if not hundreds of cycles to break it in.
 
Wowbagger said:
Here's a >>>>> link
Often I will loosen the pivot a degree or two.
I'm not in the least interested in flipping my knife for dozen's if not hundreds of cycles to break it in.
Click to expand...

I removed the pivot screws, cleaned out the holes, retightened the screws to full and now the blade falls freely, it's dead centered and there is no blade play.
 
Last edited:
I opened and closed mine a few dozen times to let the detent ball wear a little into the blade. Added a drop of oil to the detent ball. It has no play and drops freely.
 
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