The Para 2, why?

Amoo

Amoo

Joined
Jan 8, 2017
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503
For starters, I don't really want this to turn into a debate thread, all I'm looking for is information from people who own and enjoy the Para 2.

Immediately upon looking at the Para 2, it just seems like a knife I wouldn't enjoy. I'm not a huge fan of the blade shape as I worry about it's toughness with the flat grind and secondly I have small-medium hands so anything over 8" fully open doesn't usually appeal to me. Now with all that said, I have seen a lot of people who enjoy the same style knives I tend to like who ALSO enjoy their para 2. Upon looking at Spyderco's website the Para 3 is smaller then the 2, and fully open comes in at < 8" which puts the entire knife size right in my wheel house.

So for those of you who have and enjoy the Para 2, what is it about this knife in particular that so many people enjoy it? Why do you like yours?
 
It's good looking, a bit iconic, slices good but I won't use it as EDC. Nice collector piece, but it sleeps in its case.
 
If the looks and size don't appeal to you then you probably won't like it as it's just a knife and nothing magical. It uses pretty thick stock for a pocket knife so if you are worried about the thickness you probably like a different kind of knife that is over built. Nothing wrong with that as they are popular. But for a pocket knife that is meant to be used and cut stuff, a thick pry bar blade isn't that great.

The PM3 is also brand new and hasn't had much time to whip up hysterical fanaticism yet.

It's a good knife with a strong lock that is fun to use and comes in 31 different flavors. It has a nice flat grind that isn't overly thick nor crazy thin and it cuts stuff well and is a good tool to have in your pocket which many recognize.
 
The Paramilitary 2 is deceptively tough, as long as you don't use it as a prybar or baton with it.

As for why I use it, I love the compression lock and the size is just about right for me.

From what I know, the Para3 offers more or less everything the Para2 does, minus of course the larger cutting edge. If it would better fit in your hands I don't see why you shouldn't go with it over the Para2.
 
The para 2 has a better handle to blade ratio than the 3. Yes, it's big in the pocket, but I wouldnt wear it out, in jeans; I use it for work, and wear smaller knives out casually. The para 2 is an extremely functional, durable, and easy to operate knife. The new steel options are amazing (m390, s110v). It is the perfect work knife. For casual wear, grab a sebenza. I'm not really a fan of the para 3; the handle looks almost as long, with a shorter and wider blade. Why.
 
If you were to go with the Para3, I'd urge you to take a look at the Sage 5 too.
 
The Para 2 is a fantastic knife. There is really nothing I can find wrong with it. Nearly perfect.

I just do not care for them. Have owned two and sold them....stupid thing is, I am about to buy another.

I need help.
 
Screwdriver said:
The Para 2 is a fantastic knife. There is really nothing I can find wrong with it. Nearly perfect.

I just do not care for them. Have owned two and sold them....stupid thing is, I am about to buy another.

I need help.
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Thanks to those who have participated so far, and I look forward to hearing more.

Screwdriver, what is it about the knife that makes you keep getting rid of it, and then why do you keep coming back to it?
 
Amoo said:
Thanks to those who have participated so far, and I look forward to hearing more.

Screwdriver, what is it about the knife that makes you keep getting rid of it, and then why do you keep coming back to it?
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People will disagree with me, but it is probably the most boring knife I have ever owned. Para 2's are like Toyota Camrys or Honda Accords. I tend to like knives with quirks...I mean look at my sig.
 
Comfortable in hand, cuts well, and it has a good lock.
It takes up a lot of pocket. The choil eats into the cutting edge.

I owned one once, got rid of mine in the end. The PM2 is not for me.
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
If the looks and size don't appeal to you then you probably won't like it as it's just a knife and nothing magical. It uses pretty thick stock for a pocket knife so if you are worried about the thickness you probably like a different kind of knife that is over built. Nothing wrong with that as they are popular. But for a pocket knife that is meant to be used and cut stuff, a thick pry bar blade isn't that great.

The PM3 is also brand new and hasn't had much time to whip up hysterical fanaticism yet.

It's a good knife with a strong lock that is fun to use and comes in 31 different flavors. It has a nice flat grind that isn't overly thick nor crazy thin and it cuts stuff well and is a good tool to have in your pocket which many recognize.
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The reason for the thread and as an example, a Benchmade Barrage is a great knife that a lot of people enjoy and I have held both a Barrage and Mini-Barrage in my hands this week.

The regular 586 Barrage Standard size has a blade length of 3.6" and a fully open length of 8.35"
The 586-1 Mini Barrage has a blade length of 2.9" and an open length of 6.91"

1 I absolutely dislike as I feel for me and what I use a knife for it is just too big and cumbersome, the other I love.

In the same token the Para 2 has a blade length of 3.4" and a fully open length of 8.3", so I know that is too big of a knife for me to enjoy.
The Para 3 on the other hand has a blade length of 2.95" and a total open of 7.24"

Now there are a few Spyderco designs that I can look at and "know" they are knives I would enjoy if I can find them in sizes I enjoy, like the C195CF Positron or the C186Ti Slysz Bowie or if they ever come out with a smaller version of the regular Military not the Para Military. So when I look at the Para 3 for me, it looks like a knife I would like to know much much more about and what it is about a seemingly oddshaped design that people enjoy out of their regular PM2s as the size shape and usefullness reference will cross over from the 2 to the 3 for people like myself who enjoy an overall smaller knive.
 
Great, great ergos, great blade size and shape, cool lock, blade drops freely, hand filling, one of the best all around if I only had to own just one knife what would it be knives.
 
I too always thought it was ugly and too big until I finally broke down and bought one. I generally carry much smaller knives like a Mini-Griptilian, Delica, etc. I've owned plenty of larger knives, but always get rid of them because they're either too heavy or uncomfortable to carry... With one exception. The PM2. (And, though I don't own one currently, the Military.)

It really carries like a much smaller knife, at least for me. I carry in my back pocket and never notice it despite it's size. The handles are considerably larger than I need them to be with my medium sized hands, but the ergonomics make them very comfortable.

The blade shape is very useful actually. It's fairly thick stock, especially when compared to something like a Delica, so it's more robust than a glance would indicate, but because of the shape and grind it slices well and is still capable of delicate tasks. Don't use the tip to open a paint can though.(Don't do that with any knife!)

But what sets the PM2 up and over the top for me is the way the pivot is constructed and the compression lock. With the pivot bushing you get a no headache pivot where you can generally just torque it down and go and the compression lock has this beautiful, snickety mechanical nature to it. Like the gear shift in a Mazda MX-5 or a fine bolt action rife. So it's a combination utility knife, delicate slicer and fidget toy.

An argument could be made, and plenty would line up to make it, that the PM2 is the single greatest modern pocket knife design. I'm not sure if it's true, but I certainly wouldn't want to get stuck arguing the con in that debate.
 
I was slow to convert, but convert I have and I love my PM 2. Never was a better fidget toy made in my book. Stress melts away as my dog watches in amazement while I Spydie flick my Paramilitary 2 over and over. Scary sharp out of the box, although not that great in the kitchen. I enjoy the ergos in hand. It's my favorite toy, fills the need to flick, squeeze, snap, flick again and again....dammit, I'm gonna go grab it and flick it some more...comprende?

Sent from my LG-V410 using Tapatalk
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
If the looks and size don't appeal to you then you probably won't like it as it's just a knife and nothing magical. It uses pretty thick stock for a pocket knife so if you are worried about the thickness you probably like a different kind of knife that is over built. Nothing wrong with that as they are popular. But for a pocket knife that is meant to be used and cut stuff, a thick pry bar blade isn't that great.

The PM3 is also brand new and hasn't had much time to whip up hysterical fanaticism yet.

It's a good knife with a strong lock that is fun to use and comes in 31 different flavors. It has a nice flat grind that isn't overly thick nor crazy thin and it cuts stuff well and is a good tool to have in your pocket which many recognize.
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I wonder why people always associate thick blade stock with prybar. Sure it has 4mm stock but that blade is nothing like a prybar. It's about the grind. I use my spoon as prybar and it's not even 2mm thick.
BTW the para 3 has the same thickness, blade and handle wise.
 
SavageSmurf said:
The para 2 has a better handle to blade ratio than the 3. Yes, it's big in the pocket, but I wouldnt wear it out, in jeans; I use it for work, and wear smaller knives out casually. The para 2 is an extremely functional, durable, and easy to operate knife. The new steel options are amazing (m390, s110v). It is the perfect work knife. For casual wear, grab a sebenza. I'm not really a fan of the para 3; the handle looks almost as long, with a shorter and wider blade. Why.
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The Para3 has the same blade to handle ratio as the Paramilitary 2.
The Para3 is the same size as the Delica with the same blade to handle ratio. I consider it a Delica on steroids.
 
I see a Para 3 in my future but waiting for the 52100 version. (I don't have inside info).

The PM2 has excellent out of box geometry, sharpness, fit n finish, and pointy tip. It can whittle, drill holes, make notches, feather sticks and then fold right up and disappear in the pocket. It is very capable deep in the bush or an urban warehouse. I find the list of things it can't do much shorter.
Also, it just looks right.
 
Screwdriver said:
People will disagree with me, but it is probably the most boring knife I have ever owned. Para 2's are like Toyota Camrys or Honda Accords. I tend to like knives with quirks...I mean look at my sig.
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Take it back. You can't say that about the most beloved knives ever made. It is a great friend and definitely not boring. I taught mine to bring me my slippers.;-)
 
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