Underated Buck & Overhyped Spyderco? - Some Overservations

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newknife

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Jul 6, 2008
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So I finally caved in to the hype and bought a camo PM 2. I had been looking for a new knife, and in particular wanted to get a Spyderco since selling my Endura a few years ago. Of all the Spyderco's it really is the most appealing to me when looking at the shape of the knife. I was really expecting to be overwhelmed with it when I received it. However, I was a little underwhelmed. Yea, it has a great fit and finish. The build quality is good; tight lock up, centered blade, etc. However, as an EDC, it just doesn't do it for me. Don't get me wrong it's nice BUT for me, it's just not "there". I think it's a little on the big side for EDC. The blade shape when deployed is probably less sheeple friendly than others. It doesn't quite pull out of jean pockets with the ease of other knives, and while the spyderhole is great it's certainly not as quick as a flipper.

Prior to this I've mainly been carrying a Buck Vantage Pro. After comparing the two, "for me", it seems like the Buck Vantage is a much better, and a surprisingly underrated, EDC in many ways. It's smaller than the Para 2, but not too small. Slides in and out of jeans with ease, even with having a deep pocket carry clip. Opens and closes supper fast with an effective flipper. Blade shape seems more sheeple friendly. It also has the same great S30v steel. (And, as a side note, while Spyderco has a decent warranty, Buck has a "Forever Warranty", that basically covers anything for the life of the knife). So like the PM 2, the Buck Vantage has g10 scales, s30v steel, as seems to be all around a better fit for EDC. AND it's about $40-$45 less for basically the same materials!

So, while I like the PM 2 (it's a nice looking knife), I was hope it would meet all the hype and maybe bump out my Vantage for pocket time, I don't think it will. It's a great blade, but for EDC, the Vantage is the clear winner for me.

just my opinion.....

anyone else have a similar experience when they received their PM 2?
 
Nope, haven't had that problem...

Usually carry a Military or Para 2.
 
Not exactly the same, but after about a month I traded my para 2. For me, it fell into size range that I just don't use. I generally like either a smaller knife like a delica or mini grip, or a larger knife like a Military. The para 2 just felt too big, without being big enough.
 
As far as underwhelming, not sure what you were expecting when you pulled the knife out of the box. It's a knife afterall. No fireworks, no band, no parade down Main St. :D I've not had any issues with my Para2s.

It's not hype though, if it was you wouldn't have so many people buying them, using them, and waiting to try the newer steels. The opimum knife will vary from person to person, but the "hype" as you refer to it can be seen as a testament to the quality of the design itself. The Vantage series is also nothing to brush off, they are great knives. Diffent strokes.
 
RevDevil said:
As far as underwhelming, not sure what you were expecting when you pulled the knife out of the box. It's a knife afterall. No fireworks, no band, no parade down Main St. :D I've not had any issues with my Para2s.

It's not hype though, if it was you wouldn't have so many people buying them, using them, and waiting to try the newer steels. The opimum knife will vary from person to person, but the "hype" as you refer to it can be seen as a testament to the quality of the design itself. The Vantage series is also nothing to brush off, they are great knives. Diffent strokes.
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Yea, "hype" is probably no the right word. However, everyone has some sort of expectations when they inbox a new knife. Sometimes there is a "wow" factor and sometimes there's not. The PM 2 is a nice knife. Maybe it'll grow on me.
 
newknife said:
Yea, "hype" is probably no the right word. However, everyone has some sort of expectations when they inbox a new knife. Sometimes there is a "wow" factor and sometimes there's not. The PM 2 is a nice knife. Maybe it'll grow on me.
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I personally prefer the vantage pro myself. I carried a vantage for about a year before I want to see if the pm2 was as good as people on here say it is so I gave it a shot. Purchased a black handle satin blade one and carried it for about a week. The spyderco was given to a co worker and my vantage is now back in my pocket. I agree there is nothing wrong with the spyderco I just much prefer the blade shape of the vantage. As far as fit and finish goes I could not see the spyderco was any better than my Buck. I also much prefer the liner lock on my Buck over the compression lock. Again im not taking anything away from the pm2 but as the op said it just wasnt for me. Now the co worker I let "barrow" the knife loves it so much that I doubt ill ever get it back.
 
RevDevil said:
As far as underwhelming, not sure what you were expecting when you pulled the knife out of the box. It's a knife afterall. No fireworks, no band, no parade down Main St. :D I've not had any issues with my Para2s.

It's not hype though, if it was you wouldn't have so many people buying them, using them, and waiting to try the newer steels. The opimum knife will vary from person to person, but the "hype" as you refer to it can be seen as a testament to the quality of the design itself. The Vantage series is also nothing to brush off, they are great knives. Diffent strokes.
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Sounds like buyers remorse to me since the OP brought up cost...... On a $100 knife...
 
Ankerson said:
Sounds like buyers remorse to me since the OP brought up cost...... On a $100 knife...
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It may be a bit of remorse perhaps he was expecting the pm2 to be 2x the knife of the vantage given its about twice the cost. Not everyone is going to like the same knife as everyone else, cost aside perhaps he just simply didnt like certain things about the knife. However I think he was simply sharing his thoughts on 2x knives and that in his eyes the pm2 wasnt what he thought that it would be.
 
Ankerson said:
Sounds like buyers remorse to me since the OP brought up cost...... On a $100 knife...
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No, it's just a valid observation when comparing the two. "For me", I don't see $40-$45 more value over the Vantage wich is made out of the same materials. Of course that's all subjective, just sharing my opinion. I was just curious if others have had a similar experience with the PM 2 because most post I read rave about the knife, with many saying its their favorite. I'm in no way saying their opinion is wrong, just sharing my thoughts on it, specifically when compared to the Vantage Pro.
 
IMHO, Spyderco's are all the same. They use different blade materials, but if you've seen 4 Spyders, you've seen them all. Don't get me wrong , I own 2 myself and they are great but I prefer different knives that are not really similar to two I have already. Overhyped? No, that would be DPx and Kershaw! -----------> Reaches for Fire suit!
 
I have two Vantages that are off-center and won't 'flip', yet every Spyderco I own are pretty much perfect. Experience is variable.
 
A.P.F. said:
I have two Vantages that are off-center and won't 'flip', yet every Spyderco I own are pretty much perfect. Experience is variable.
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True, Buck has had some issues with the Vantage line. But if you have one that doesn't have issues, for me, I prefer it over the PM 2.
 
PatrickKnight said:
Send it to them. Mine was that way when I got it and I sent it to Buck they sent it back to me perfect.
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i just havent got around to doing it. considering ive been buying their products for a couple decades now this will be the very first Buck knife ive had to send back. dissapointed, yes...but it hasnt shook me concerning their quality.
 
woody d said:
i just havent got around to doing it. considering ive been buying their products for a couple decades now this will be the very first Buck knife ive had to send back. dissapointed, yes...but it hasnt shook me concerning their quality.
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I have enough Buck knives that are perfect, to recognise that the Vantage problems are just 'teething' issues. I know when I send my knives in, that I will be well taken care of. :)
 
newknife said:
No, it's just a valid observation when comparing the two. "For me", I don't see $40-$45 more value over the Vantage wich is made out of the same materials. Of course that's all subjective, just sharing my opinion. I was just curious if others have had a similar experience with the PM 2 because most post I read rave about the knife, with many saying its their favorite. I'm in no way saying their opinion is wrong, just sharing my thoughts on it, specifically when compared to the Vantage Pro.
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Might have to use it for awhile I am thinking.
 
I agree with the OP.

If I were to judge a knife based on how appealing the shape looked, how small it was, how sheeple-friendly it was, and how easily it pulled out of jean pockets as opposed to fit/finish, build-quality, tight lock-up, centered blade, etc...

The Buck Vantage Pro would win every time.
 
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