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Thoughts on the southard....Long term
- Thread starter ryanv403
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2012
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- 109
I'm selling mine in favor of my PM2s. It's rather depressing knowing that nothing will probably ever knock the PM2 out of my pocket. I'm sure it'll save me a lot of money. I also never said that I'm giving up just yet.
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2013
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- 289
I was just the opposite. My PM2 sits in my drawer now. I find the Southard a bit more carry friendly in the jeans I wear due to their smaller pockets.
I've been impressed by the absolutely no wiggle at all lock up and the edge retention of CTS-204p.
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- Jul 10, 2011
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- 1,941
Same here, I prefer everything about the Southard to the PM2 with the exception of the asymmetrical handles. My CTS-XHP PM2 has an ill fitting pivot bushing so I may not be getting the full PM2 experience, but I'm certain I would still prefer the Southard. The extra cutting edge length on the Southard is killer.
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2012
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- 109
I will also add that I haven't gotten to give the CTS-204p a workout because I wasn't sure, from day one, if the Southard was a keeper or not. My decision has been biased on 1) The way the PM2 feels in hand vs the Southard and 2) The ease of deployment vs the PM2. There's just something about flicking open and closing the PM2 that makes me smile every time. Not to mention that the compression lock is my all time favorite.
The pocket clip needs some work . The knife will find a way out of your of your pants in certain situations. There is a fella over on Spyderco forums that has lost two already. I have a anodized low rider clip coming shortly. Otherwise it's a fabulous, high quality piece .
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2013
- Messages
- 289
Yes, I purchased a STR lowrider before my Southard. The first thing I did after taking it out of the box was swap clips.
As mentioned earlier, I too prefer the blade shape vs. the PM2. And maybe I'm in the minority, but I prefer the ergos as well, not that the PM2's aren't amazing as well. Both are just 10/10 knives and I don't think that can be disputed. It's which you prefer that can.
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2007
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- 7,743
Spyderco has ergos nailed, at least for me. Of course the Southard is all Brad's. It works very well for large hands too.
Bring on the Domino!
Bring on the Domino!
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2012
- Messages
- 82
I sold both my PM2's after using the Southard for a couple of weeks and recouped a lot of its cost.
To the OP, having used it for a few months no major issues. I managed to chip up the edge near the tip pretty good while using it for some remodeling chores but I was able to fix it easily. My favorite knife right now and it has pretty much eliminated my itch to buy anything else. I still want to try a ZT 560/561 but can't convince myself to pull the trigger.
evilgreg
Why so serious?
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2012
- Messages
- 4,092
Shows just how subjective knife preferences are. I have a PM2 and vastly prefer the Southard to it. The only things I prefer about the PM2 are that I think it looks nicer than a stock Southard (the brown scale doesn't do it for me) and that it has a better pocket clip. That said, I had my Southard customized to be prettier, lighter, and more symmetrical, and replaced the clip with a perfect STR deep carry clip, so even those small pros to a comparison with the para 2 are gone now.
From a hand feel perspective, the Southard just feels like a lot better knife than the PM2. Different strokes for different folks, though. It's good that people like different stuff, it makes for lots of options for knife addicts to try.
I've been carrying it everywhere, all the time, except for the occasional visit to Chicago and I'm loving it. If it didn't have the goofy hole in the blade, I think it would be close to perfect for my personal everyday, general purpose needs. Prettied up it looks nice and it's small and light enough to just fit in with business attire, yet it's sturdy enough that I don't pine for my 710 when I need to use it hard.
I will say that the thick spine that I've grown to love (the curves to the top line and slightly rounded edges feel really pleasing to me) does make it a less than efficient slicer at times. The hollow grind and steel that can hold an edge even sharpened fairly steep make for great performance on shallow cuts, but on deeper cuts the thickness gets into wedge territory and seems to add a lot of drag.
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2009
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- 2,400
I didn't think I'd ever own or want a Southard but an opportunity arose and I traded for a brand new Southard. Newest knife usually gets a week of carry and then I rotate like usual. It's been 40+ days and I haven't used any other folders yet! It's got it all, ergos, lockup, useful blade shape, great steel and due to the shape carries very well in the right, front pocket. It's also built so well I have no reservation using it much harder than some of the thinner, FFG models.
Since the blade has a gentle hollow grind paired with the extreme edge retention of the steel, it wouldn't surprise me if my southard outlasts me. And I am only 21!
The only thing I can see wearing is the ti lock side. We all know how steel wears against titanium.
The bearings might give you some trouble long term as well. Maybe some rust.
But overall it should last an extremely long time
I love the size, don't particularly like how thick the spine is though I accept that because of the flipper, it is really comfortable in hand but you will need to file down the pocket clip because it will put holes in your clothes.
The only thing I can see wearing is the ti lock side. We all know how steel wears against titanium.
The bearings might give you some trouble long term as well. Maybe some rust.
But overall it should last an extremely long time
I love the size, don't particularly like how thick the spine is though I accept that because of the flipper, it is really comfortable in hand but you will need to file down the pocket clip because it will put holes in your clothes.
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