Upgrade from PM2?

I've tried most of these brands...some of them many times.
Sure, I love Spyderco PM2s and Millies...and I have CRKs in the safe.
But...the knife I've carried since last December (when I bought it)...is the Southard AVO.
I think of it as a "flipper...mid-tech, mid-sized Sebenza. Yeah, Chris doesn't make it in a mid-sized...but this one is.
I cannot bring myself to carry anything else...
 
If you're that happy with the knife, look for an upgraded version. There are a ton of sprints and exclusives with different steels, and different handle materials. There's one out with S110V now. If you don't like the translucent blue, you can have some custom scales made in any material you want for well under what you're looking to spend. If you really want to spend your money, I know where you could get a Sprint run Carbon Fiber model with S90V blade steel for less than half of what you're looking to spend. Shameless plug. ;)

Besides grabbing an upgraded Para 2, if I had $1,000 to blow on whatever, I would try a lot of different knives from different companies. Diversity is better. The Sebenza is an amazing knife, but it's not for everyone. The Spyderco Military is an amazing knives, but they aren't for everyone. The same can be said about the Para 2. Everyone's opinion is going to vary. The best way to find out for sure, is to try a bunch of different knives from different manufactures, and you'll start to see your preferences emerge. Anything you don't like or don't just decide you don't want, you can list for sell on here and usually get a decent amount of your money back, and in some cases turn a profit.

The below picture is very old. I only have one of the Para 2s shown below, since I started my "all knives are users or for sale" policy. My point is, there's a lot of options available even when just talking about Para 2s. There's going to be even more flavors available over the next year. In the end, it's completely up to you.

20141010_083425_zps0u0rir34.jpg
 
Thanks everyone who gave me feedback, after looking at all the knives and listening to what you have had to say, I think I am gonna go for a southard Avo. Now the only question is... Where do I find one in mint condition..?
 
I would check out a small Sebenza 21. They come in carbon fiber and micarta with a few different blade shapes and are similar in size to the PM2.

The thing is, the PM2 is pretty much as good as it gets in that size range as far as ergos and cutting ability. It's just a very well balanced, high performing knife.

The Sebenza is built significantly better with much tighter tolerances. The action is more consistent. It will always fit together perfect and last several lifetimes without ever developing play, even with multiple dis-assemblies, so long as you don't abuse it. It's a nicer knife, and you can tell if you know what you are looking at.

That said, it doesn't cut better than a PM2. Worse, actually, with a stock edge. Not that it cuts poorly. It doesn't. It's just that Spyderco makes a better slicer with stock edge geometry. It's probably not going to be more comfortable in hand, either. Spyderco designs knives based on the shape of your hand.

To put a ribbon on it: You get what you pay for, and a Sebenza has features that exude quality and are well worth the price. Spyderco makes knives that fit your hand like a glove and cut like a demon.

There is no right answer.
 
Blowpop said:
I was wondering if anyone has found a better edc user than the para 2?
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There are more expensive knives, but for most people there aren't any knives that are better EDC users than the PM2. The best upgrade to a PM2 is a PM2 with better steel such as the recently introduced S110V model.

We all like different things and there are a lot of nice knives out there, which is why my EDC rotation stays to big. Besides the PM2, I like the Benchmade 581, the various Manix 2 models, and even the ZT 0561. The Benchmade 581 is a nice knife, not better than the PM2, just different.

If a person wants a nicer knife and has the budget, the Sebenza would seem to be a good choice. The OP mentioned Strider and Hinderer. If those didn't meet his needs then maybe the Sebenza woudln't either. With the OP's stated budget I would suggest he go with a custom. I don't follow custom folder makers so I have to idea what to recommend. I do recall a pretty good review recently of a Gayle Bradley custom though.
 
Blowpop said:
Thanks everyone who gave me feedback, after looking at all the knives and listening to what you have had to say, I think I am gonna go for a southard Avo. Now the only question is... Where do I find one in mint condition..?
Click to expand...

If that is what you want...then wait around a bit for it. They show up on the Exchange often, and Brad Southard has them in rotating stock, so it shouldn't be a long time. IMO, it's worth the wait. But there are MANY nice folders out there, and Sebbies are a part of that mix.
 
Sonnydaze said:
If that is what you want...then wait around a bit for it. They show up on the Exchange often, and Brad Southard has them in rotating stock, so it shouldn't be a long time. IMO, it's worth the wait. But there are MANY nice folders out there, and Sebbies are a part of that mix.
Click to expand...

I actually just found one for a great deal! I heard that as of may that the avo was going out of production. Could be rumors but just what Ive heard. In my opinion the sebbie doesnt look like it has much soul, and is a little too big. I think the avo is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for the recommendation. Wont be here for a week or two but man am I excited.
 
TuCrafty said:
If you're that happy with the knife, look for an upgraded version. There are a ton of sprints and exclusives with different steels, and different handle materials. There's one out with S110V now. If you don't like the translucent blue, you can have some custom scales made in any material you want for well under what you're looking to spend. If you really want to spend your money, I know where you could get a Sprint run Carbon Fiber model with S90V blade steel for less than half of what you're looking to spend. Shameless plug. ;)

Besides grabbing an upgraded Para 2, if I had $1,000 to blow on whatever, I would try a lot of different knives from different companies. Diversity is better. The Sebenza is an amazing knife, but it's not for everyone. The Spyderco Military is an amazing knives, but they aren't for everyone. The same can be said about the Para 2. Everyone's opinion is going to vary. The best way to find out for sure, is to try a bunch of different knives from different manufactures, and you'll start to see your preferences emerge. Anything you don't like or don't just decide you don't want, you can list for sell on here and usually get a decent amount of your money back, and in some cases turn a profit.

The below picture is very old. I only have one of the Para 2s shown below, since I started my "all knives are users or for sale" policy. My point is, there's a lot of options available even when just talking about Para 2s. There's going to be even more flavors available over the next year. In the end, it's completely up to you.

20141010_083425_zps0u0rir34.jpg
Click to expand...

Yeah man I have upgraded to a 20 cp version and its awesome. Just was looking for a more "elegant" folder than the pm2. Quite the collection you have there, what one did you end up keeping?
 
Blowpop said:
Of those two which do you prefer? I have owned the 940 and liked it, but the look of the 581 is much cooler in my opinion.
Click to expand...

The Benchmade 581 is a more interesting knife. It looks more interesting- it is assisted, it has sculpted polished G10 scales as well as metal bolsters, it has M390 steel. The stock PM2 is "just" S30V steel, uses flat G10 scales, and many people don't think it is that attractive as a knife. But the trick is that as an EDC knife the PM2 works very well, as good or better than the 581. Spyderco says that their knives "are designed for the hand, not for the eye", they are designed to function well not look pretty.

Even though I like the PM2 as well as other Spydercos, I'm not a Spyderco fanboy and I've been buying Benchmade knives for longer than Spyderco. I bought my first PM2 after reading all of the praises and somewhat later I bought my first Manix 2. I found that they were good knives but it took a little while to discover that they were very good knives. As a small time collector I can own and use more than one knife, and my EDC rotation contains knives by Spyderco, Benchmade and ZT. I like each knife for different reasons.
 
Off the top of my head I would put the a Strider SnG as a great upgrade to a Para2. They both have a certain fun factor and IMO, the SnG is an overall fairly significant upgrade. Sebenzas would be even more of an upgrade, all things considered, but they do lack the fun factor. I personally was unimpressed by the Southard AVO. The very small fasteners and they way they are used gives me caution to its sturdiness as does the use of the "hidden stop pin".
 
There is really only one knife that I own that I prefer carrying over my PM2 and it is a ti Gayle Bradley Flipper.

You do get what you pay for but the law of diminishing returns is also in effect. This is more knife than my pm2 but it is not 5 times more knife. Sure am happy to own it though!!
 
Don't have it yet so I can't say for sure but I'm waiting on getting my Smock Knives SK23. This design promises to incorporate all the features I love in my other knives combined into one...oh and mine will be lefty!
 
I have a PM2 and a small Sebenza, The small sebenza is my EDC and I prefer it over the PM2. I think that Sebenzas will really be the knife of our generation. Here is a different suggestion. Get 2 matching plain sebenzas. Use one and keep one mint to pass on, then the 2 of you will be carrying the same knife for a while. Then when the time comes he gets a well loved knife that he will cherish
 
The PM2 ended my knife hunt. For me the PM2 and Delica 4 are about as good as it gets for an EDC knife. YMMV.
 
onojoe said:
I have a PM2 and a small Sebenza, The small sebenza is my EDC and I prefer it over the PM2. I think that Sebenzas will really be the knife of our generation. Here is a different suggestion. Get 2 matching plain sebenzas. Use one and keep one mint to pass on, then the 2 of you will be carrying the same knife for a while. Then when the time comes he gets a well loved knife that he will cherish
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Well said, opened my eyes up a bit. Thanks!
 
archieblue said:
Off the top of my head I would put the a Strider SnG as a great upgrade to a Para2. They both have a certain fun factor and IMO, the SnG is an overall fairly significant upgrade. Sebenzas would be even more of an upgrade, all things considered, but they do lack the fun factor. I personally was unimpressed by the Southard AVO. The very small fasteners and they way they are used gives me caution to its sturdiness as does the use of the "hidden stop pin".
Click to expand...

Did you own the avo and feel it in hand?
 
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