Updating an old favorite

[mlanghornes]

Hi everyone, I need some advice from the collective wisdom of the boards. I love my Spyderco Delica. It is my almost constant companion, it was in my pocket when I was married, and when my son was born, and I have drug it all over Hell's Half-acres using it for everything from a backup knife camping to a primary knife lightweight backpacking to some pocket-sized peace of mind in bad areas when travelling. I've abused the heck out of it, cutting through hung drywall and sticking it in the wall stud by mistake, and opening tuna cans just for the hell of it (the tip is undamaged, BTW. Doubt ye not the FFG). Here's my problem...

The blade is a bit short for food prep when camping. I know, its a nitpick, but I'd like to have something with a longer blade, but similar wonderfull-ness, defined here as thin, lightweight, easy to carry, made of great steel, with fantastic ergos, as strong as you'd ever need it, and extremely versatile. I have several candidates laid out.

Endura 4 ffg- on the surface, this looks like the knife, since it is basically a longer delica. However, Santa was good to me and I found myself with about $110 in the knife budget, so I'm straying to something a little sexier perhaps. I almost bought this knife before, on the recommendation of the forums, but at the last minute, changed to my beloved delica.

Paramilitary 2- Looks great, seems extremely versatile, and is well-loved by those in the know. However, I don't know if its that much better, or different, than the endura, and it is more expensive. Also, the compression lock has me a bit apprehensive, since I tend to value "old reliable" mechanisms that have stood the test of time.

Benchmade 710- Another perennial favorite, this time with an axis lock. Again, it seems to be what I'm looking for, but the things throwing me are the stain resistance (or lack thereof) of the D2 steel, and sharpening the recurve blade.

ZT 0350- A totally different approach, well loved by the forums, but in comparison to the others, like showing up to the Kentucky Derby riding a grizzly bear. I know its tough, but I don't know if that comes at the expense of usefullness. Also, the blade is shorter than the others, which may put me back in the same boat I started in when it comes to slicing fruit, peppers, or meat. Also, recurve sharpening might be tricky.

Basically, I'm looking for advice; do I grab the endura and pocket the cash, or go for something nicer, and if so, what? Can anyone give me advice on the drawbacks I mentioned with any of the candidates? Anyone have any other contedners they'd like to submit for consideration? Thanks in advance.

 

[Vanguard41xx]

Out of the knives listed.... I think the PM2 is what you're looking for.

 

[Gadgetman7]

Of the choices you listed I'd get the Paramilitary 2 but I have the FFG Endura and I think you like it. Another knife to check out would be the Manix 2. It's a tank of a knife but the blade is shorter than Endura or Paramilitary.

 

[Bill1170]

I voted for the PM2. I would not worry about the reliability of the compression lock. It is as simple as it is ingenious, and a very strong lock, to boot. It is not susceptible to defeat from pocket lint like the Delica/Endura back locks. It is also much easier/safer to close one handed than the Endura.

 

[HuntBomb]

The Para 2 won't let you down and the compression lock is loved by many, but I would suggest getting the Endura 4 because it rides like a dream in the pocket and I have put mine through A LOT of abuse. (not to mention it's only half the price of a Para 2)

 

[Mark Schmitt]

Based on your description, I would bet you'll appreciate the Endura the most. It has everything you appreciate in the Delica but with a longer blade. Second choice would be the PM2 - the compression lock has never hesitated or failed on my PM2. The blade is nice and thin for food prep too.

The ZT350 is a fantastic knife, but it is a little overbuilt for the uses you describe.

The 710 is the only knife I don't own (I don't particularly like the Axis lock), but I would not hesitate to use their D2 steel. Just wipe the blade when you are done using it and it will do fine.

Good luck with your search. You really can't go far wrong with any of the knives you mentioned.

Mark

 

[clich]

if your going zt, then 0550

 

[slight]

the pm2 will slice more like the ffg d4 than the ffg e4. plus alot of ppl seem to prefer it

 

[Contained]

If you like the BM 710 but are worried about stain resistance, look at the BM 710 in M390. Runs around $150 if memory serves well. Worth every penny in my opinion. Good luck on your hunt!

 

[vwspdshp]

I've sold a lot of my favorite knives since pocketing my first PM2. The 20cp version is my all time favorite folding knife and gets most of my pocket time these days.

 

[tacdriver22mk2]

firstly stay away from the zt0350 its way to heavy and its not that great

second the pm2 isnt that big of a knife it has the same blade length as a tenacious but with less cutting edge due to the choil and i have found that the tenacious isnt enough knife for food prep thus the pm2 isnt enough knife ex: cutting an apple not 2 hours ago and it bottomed out on the choil and the tip was still not all the way through

you all ready like the endura/delica baisics so i would say dont mess with it the endura is just a scaled up delica so i guarantee that you will like it. think about it if your delica isnt enough knife for the job you with the endura you literally have your same love just bigger

and the endura is long enough to do food prep and still stand up to "hells half acre"

he bm 710 is the second choice as the d2 will rust out on you and if you get a coating with how you use a knife it will be gone very shortly also its more expensive AND the biggest problem is the axis lock the problem is this the axis lock is a flawed design the spring in it is known to break and this gets even more prone to breakage as the conditions get worse aka dust dirt they make it worse and i would bet that that spring is gonna fail you especially how you use a blade along with the fact that the 710 can be difficult to disengage the lock and that will be worse when its cold and rainy on your hike or when its hot and your all sweaty or when your hands are all oily and greasy from cooking

you should look into the military you would probably like it and if not you should go with the endura

we aren't talking about which is the best knife we are talking about when you cant get the job done what do you reach for and the fact is the endura is the only logical choice

 

[crom]

Haha, AXIS is a flawed design! Anyhow, of the ones you mentioned I'd go with the Endura as well. The paramilitary has a blade about equal in length to the delica.

 

[krust]

I say go for the Endura 4 ffg in zdp-189..I actually prefer it over my pm2 even though the para is a close second