The Para 2, why?

I have smaller / medium hands. But mechanic's hands.
What I like best about the Para 2 is the large handle (meaning long, I don't really need all the hight (from opening for the blade to the spine) but it is a very satisfying knife or me to own.

Secondly is the action; it is very free and light but a very strong knife. I mean you just breath on it with your finger and it opens fast and a light press and it is flying closed. When you want it to. When it is locked . . . man is it locked ! No worries about it coming unlocked.

It is a brilliant product and worth the money. There are knives that are even better for me and the way I work but I would easily buy my Para 2 again and there are probably more versions (different steel and handle colors) in my knife buying future.

For you I suppose it depends on what type of work you want the knife to do for you.
My preference is for a delicate blade (thin spine and shallow ground edge bevel and the fine point isn't a problem for me I prefer it). Though the blade thickness is even more robust than I need.
I want a nimble, competent, blade rather than a pry bar / froe but I like a long full size handle for more grip options and some times for more leverage for cutting not prying.

I will say I took the pocket clip off and carry mine in a belt pouch but I do that with many of my knives. Some knives I prefer without a clip because they are too thick in my pocket. The Para isn't one of them; it is thin enough to pocket carry with the clip and that works great. I just prefer the clean handle with no clip in this case so, for now, that is the way she rolls. These are old photos when the clip was still on.

There are tiny insignificant details I could pick at but over all it is a GREAT, GREAT, GREAT KNIFE.
And honestly I haven't given the Para 3 a second look. I think I prefer, given a choice between the two, the Para 2.

And if I bought another similar knife I would be going with the full size version . . . the Military.

I never tire of posting my little "stealth" (for fun) photos so here goes nut'in.







 
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It's a joy to touch up/sharpen because of its curvature. Same sharpening motions into the stone are how your going to cut with it. Feels great and you have good control. Your pinkie finger is locked in with the back end shape of the handle. It's better than pm3 because you get a longer tip. The knife gets pretty wide and using the tip portion for some cutting task is nice where you would need a narrower blade. The bigger handle with shorter blade really gives you more leverage. Its light knife. Its fast to deploy use and put away. The lock bites in your hand if you do something hard but just wear a glove. Mine has beautiful cf scales they are rounder and I love the nested liners and action on it. S30V baby spyderco is gewd
 
It cuts. Perfectly. You could not design a better slicer. Even my ZDP-189 Delica takes a back seat due to the backlock and the weird notch at the pivot when it's closed, despite having a better blade steel.

As others have remarked, however, this makes it pretty boring. So you carry the prettier ones—like a Sebenza, or a Kizer Gemini. (With a SAK in another pocket.)

As for blade thickness, this isn't the steel of the 1970s. You may snap the tip if you try to pry a can of paint open, but you should know better and have a more appropriate tool nearby. (And if you actually do it that often, you probably want to be carrying that tool in your pocket.) It's a knife. It's designed to slice. A PM2 can baton wood in a pinch, because it's @#$ing steel, and it doesn't break that easily.

I guess there's a link in some people's brains that makes the abuse of a knife inversely proportional to the amount they spent on it, so they want the thickest blade stock possible lest they break it. But you can slice a blueberry with a PM2, whereas those sharpened pry bars are about half its width to begin with.
 
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This past year, I have worked my way back to production knives, after working up to customs the last couple years. I picked a Mini grip in M4, a PM2 in M4, and a PM2 in Cru-wear. The mini grip and the PM2 in Cru-wear really took me by suprise!! They are fantastic knives, well built, smooth, and tough! If you can find a PM2 in Cru-wear, I would go for it. Great EDC! It is very tough, and a great slicer!! The handle on the PM2 is a little long, but not enough to really be a bother. Great knife.
 
From someone that is not a big Spyderco fan, if you are thinking of getting one, do it. They are great knives. I got one myself, the only spydie I have.
They are reasonably priced. for what they are, but the overall quality and build is as good if not better than some knives costing much more.
Yes they are butt ugly, but you'll find that the design works very well and the ergonomics are great. Comfortable and secure. I ride a KTM, sometimes things can be so ugly that they are attractive.
Blade shape, big *$$ hole, yes again ugly, but the line that the cutting edge follows combined with a full flat grind, make this knife like others have said a great slicer.
It is a larger knife and the handle to blade ratio is a bit less than optimum. If its too large go for the PM3, but you won't regret getting one.
 
As a woman I tend to like to carry the smaller knives. Delica, native, xm-18. My husband always carries his para2 with him. I played with it some but wasn't quite sure I would like it. He got me one for Christmas and not it's one of my edc's. it's in my purse as we speak! I can't tell you how in love I am with this knife. It's not as big and bulky as you would think. Smooth action, easy to carry. It's a dream really. I did get a para 3. Let me tell you they are NOTHING alike except the locking mechanism. They are very different. Don't get the para 3 thinking that you are getting a smaller 2 because you won't. They are both great knives but nothing beats the 2 in my opinion.
 
The PM2 got me into the knife craze. Quickly built up a collection of them then sold them off. Keeping only one, my green Ti XHP. They're solid, the lock is great, slice really well and it's fun to play with.
This is half the PM2's I've had

The only one I own
 
its a good knife. its BIG in the pocket tho. the manix2 is even bigger in the pocket tho. i still recommend either of those for your first spyderco.

i never liked the look of spyderco knives, didnt know why people even liked them what so ever. then i got the pm2... i was hooked so i bought the manix2, two of my favorite working knives. (pm2 in M4 steel and manix2 in S110v)

no other brand brings so many different super steel's to users at affordable prices with really decent quality.
 
Just picked up a PM2 in blurple and S110V. I got into Spydercos by way of the Delica, but looking forward greatly to trying out the larger Spyder hole and the compression lock. Can't believe I never got one earlier.
 
SavageSmurf said:
False.
Para 3: 4.27" / 3" = blade is 70% the handle size
Para 2: 4.81" /3.44" = blade is 72% the handle size
Math. Go figure.
Click to expand...

Wow, you showed them. The massive 2% difference should have left no question really (actually less than that, .703 vs .715, or 1.2 percent). Thank goodness we had math to save us, though. ;)

EDIT: corrected typo
 
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I never fully understood the PM2 obsession, and enjoyed using the Manix2 more for just about everything. However, when the PM2 I had been waiting for with my favorite combo of materials was released, I decided to shove the other knives in a drawer and let the PM2 ride shotgun for a while.... and it finally won me over. The blade shape, grind, and seemingly infinitely comfortable grip options the handle provides are just excellent. It's currently not my most carried knife, but it's hard to deny what a great all arounder it is IMO

30683375842_20b742671d_b.jpg
 
I think the most amazing thing I am learning in all of these great reviews you guys and gals are giving is how many people had the same first impressions of the knife I did. For some that changed and for some it didn't. I think I'm going to have to take an hour ride down to a Gander Mountain or Academy sports and see if I can get my hands on a Para 2 and Para 3 and see if the Para 2 is just flat out too big of a knife for me.
 
Amoo said:
I think I'm going to have to take an hour ride down to a Gander Mountain or Academy sports and see if I can get my hands on a Para 2 and Para 3 and see if the Para 2 is just flat out too big of a knife for me.
Click to expand...

Same some money and time by looking in the exchange here they come up often.
 
Amoo said:
I think the most amazing thing I am learning in all of these great reviews you guys and gals are giving is how many people had the same first impressions of the knife I did. For some that changed and for some it didn't. I think I'm going to have to take an hour ride down to a Gander Mountain or Academy sports and see if I can get my hands on a Para 2 and Para 3 and see if the Para 2 is just flat out too big of a knife for me.
Click to expand...

Handling it is the best way to tell, but to give you an idea just how ginormously-handled a pocket-hog of a knife the PM2 is, consider that these two knives have about the same amount of sharpened steel:

pKyfJto.jpg
 
evilgreg said:
Wow, you showed them. The massive 2% difference should have left no question really (actually less than that, .703 vs .715, or 0.12 percent). Thank goodness we had math to save us, though. ;)
Click to expand...

He's technically right, the best kind of right. I know I appreciate that vs. off-the-cuff guesstimates to suit a point.
 
Full disclosure, the PM2 is not my favorite knife. However objectively, it's probably the best knife I have for EDC. It is super light, very fast, strong, and user friendly. Also, it is highly collectible due to the sprint runs. The blade shape is a bit funny looking, but trust me it works! I have yet to try the Para3, but the PM2 is not too big for me.
 
I only got a PM2 to see what all the fuss was about, I prefer smaller knives. But now it's one of the ones I'd have to keep if I had to choose, there is something about the ergos, the weight, the way it carries and the action. The compression lock is just great.
 
evilgreg said:
Handling it is the best way to tell, but to give you an idea just how ginormously-handled a pocket-hog of a knife the PM2 is, consider that these two knives have about the same amount of sharpened steel:

pKyfJto.jpg
Click to expand...

This is honestly my biggest fear. Like I said, I'll do best to get my hands on it and know.
 
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