Spyderco Paramilitary or Benchmade 940?? (update. Bought another Para!)

Help me decide!

  • Paramilitary

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 940

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    0
SpacemanSpiff23

SpacemanSpiff23

Joined
Feb 22, 2009
Messages
160
Let me start off by saying that I already own an axis lock knife (Mini grip) and, I already own a Paramilitary (D2 version). The Paramilitary is my absolute all time favorite knife, and I'm really bummed that they are making the design "better". At the same time, I also really love my mini grip, and would love to get a larger axis lock knife. Money is going to be tight for a while, and this will probably be my last new knife for quite a long time.

So, should I get another Paramilitary before they change the design, or should I get a Benchmade 940 to broaden the range of my collection?

P.S. If anyone has any side by side comparison pictures of these 2 knives, that would be great!

Paramilitary

spd_2010012081845_b.jpg





940

940.jpg
 
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I voted for Paramilitary. Axis lock is too much hassle for me (the need for the lock to be extra clean in order to work properly and the chance for the omega springs to break). Yes, other locks also need to be clean to work well, but in my BM Presidio case, it has to be extremely clean. Otherwise, the lock bar won't engage the tang deep enough to secure the blade.
 
I voted Para even though I own a 940. I love the 940, don't get me wrong, it's a great knife, but the blade profile is... just not as good. Looking at the two, I would choose the Para if I had to go back simply because it has a more usable looking profile. Two, I don't like the aluminum handles for their ability to show wear more so than say, G10, or Zytel. I like the Axis lock, it's wicked fast, and the 940 is probably the fastest-opening knife I own, other than a fixed blade :D, but I never carry it. I'm actually wanting to trade it because it's not worth all the hype it's given, honestly.

Then again, this is my opinion, and it's still a great knife.
A difficult choice.

edit: about the axis lock needing cleaning, this has never been the case for me. And the omega spring breaking... this is always said, but I think it's proven itself as a great locking mechanism. I'd like to see a thread, or at least some pictures of one breaking, is this possible? Second, the tang has enough space that if debris is hindering the locking process... I've never had an issue. I don't know what else to say.
 
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The 940 is a great knife, but it's not really bigger than a mini-Grip. That said, everyone needs at least one Warren Osborne-designed knife in their collection.

I'm holding out for the Para2 that you don't like the looks of. Maybe you should, too? I didn't like the looks of the latest Swamp Rat Ratweiler (aka Chopweiler), but in hand and chopping, it was perfect. Maybe the Para2 will surprize in a similar way.
 
I vote 940.
It has a MUCH better blade/handle ratio.
It's sleeker, and more lightweight making it pocket friendly. (It doesn't shred your pockets).
The Blade shape is very useful, you get an extremely strong tip with a decent forward belly, and plenty of blade for the size. It will accomplish any of your EDC tasks well, and look good doing so.

I also prefer the AXIS lock, and have not had any problems with it.
 
beluga said:
Axis lock is too much hassle for me (the need for the lock to be extra clean in order to work properly and the chance for the omega springs to break).
Click to expand...
I've gotten my mini grip filthy dirty and dusty and it has never had a locking problem.


somber said:
Two, I don't like the aluminum handles for their ability to show wear more so than say, G10, or Zytel...

And the omega spring breaking... this is always said, but I think it's proven itself as a great locking mechanism. I'd like to see a thread, or at least some pictures of one breaking, is this possible?
Click to expand...

I like it when my knives show wear. It's the main reason I'm looking at the black coated para instead of the regular one. Scuffs and scratched make a good looking knife look so much better.

Also, I broke a spring on my mini grip. It happens. I just had to pay for shipping back to benchmade to fix it, and it only took a couple of days to get it back. Unfortunately, they replaced the clip too, which would be great if I liked my clip to look new, butI had to start all over again with getting it scuffed up.

thombrogan said:
I'm holding out for the Para2 that you don't like the looks of. Maybe you should, too? I didn't like the looks of the latest Swamp Rat Ratweiler (aka Chopweiler), but in hand and chopping, it was perfect. Maybe the Para2 will surprize in a similar way.
Click to expand...

If they just ground that little shoulder down a tiny bit more, put some pocket clip holes on all 4 sides (even though I've gotten used to the tip down carry on it), and make it in orange I would love it. But the new clip is too round and boring, the rounded off handle is not as aggressive looking, and the old one fits my hand perfectly, and the longer blade changes the off balance ratio of handle to blade. I love all these things about my para because they make it a unique and fairly ugly knife. The new one is just too plain and generic.
 
I had a Para and have a BM 930 (which is really similar to 940). I think Para's ergo is much better than "dressier" 940 (which would be a bit slippery).
 
i have the 940 and love it. i got it in d2 as a limited run and its been phenomenal so far. its not slippery at all, and fits in my hand nicely. the blade is deceptively long, just a great knife
 
the ergo and blade shape of the para is kind of perfect. I own a para and it is a beautiful blade. So balanced and well constructed. I only own the griptilian bm and also think it's fantastic, the axis is quite smooth and the opening/closing tension of bm is excellent as well. Can't go wrong with either in my opinion, but the para is just tactical cool and the materials are quite nice.
 
wec12 said:
I had a Para and have a BM 930 (which is really similar to 940). I think Para's ergo is much better than "dressier" 940 (which would be a bit slippery).
Click to expand...

The 940 isn't slippery at all. It's actually quite comfortable in the hand.
Sure, spyderco is known for their ergonomic grips, but the handle-blade ratio is weird as a result.
 
What changes are happening to the Para?
 
What changes are happening to the Para?
Click to expand...
Charlie Mike here's a vid on the updated para.
[youtube]HjXyHW_zEE8[/youtube]


I voted for the 940 because the handle fits my hand much better then the para military.
Plus I dig the blade shape a little more.
 
I'll preface this by saying that I really like Spyderco knives.

However, I'd go with the 940. Much better blade to handle ratio, very sleek/light weight, and I like the modified tanto tip. I bought a 950 a little while back, which was nice and similar, but I always kicked myself for not getting the 940 instead. The para is still very nice, but I don't like the handle size, tip feels a little more delicate, and I really don't like how high the clip rides, nor the tip down carry.

What do you have against the Para 2? It seems to me like a home run. Longer blade, more carry options/better clip, and a sleeker handle. Seems hard to be biased against a blade that hasn't even been released yet.
 
I have more Spyderco's than Benchmades overall but don't have a Para. However the 940 is my favorite knife of all I own, even though I'm not real crazy about the blade shape.
 
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