We have seen the GB in hard use, who has hard use stories about the Para 2?

M

MRaymond

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Jan 27, 2012
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We have seen pics and a nice story about how the GB can handle a lot of hard work, I don't see the para 2 as a "hard use" knife as much as you would another knife like the GB. What was the hardest you worked your Para 2? What is it capable of? What should be avoided? Pics would be nice!
 
129 looks but no responses. I know I haven't done anything I would consider "hard use" by any means with my PM2 yet. It seems that everyone is in the same boat?
 
Personally, I use a pocket knife for tasks appropriate for a pocket knife. If a pry bar, axe, machete, or screwdriver are more appropriate tools, I reach for them - and not one of my Para2s.

I use my Para2s awfully hard - but don't ever get close to abusing them. Now granted, I've never been in a life-threatening situation where appropriate tools weren't readily available. If so, I'd rather have a Para2 in my pocket than a GB or Manix - that's my personal preference...

TedP
 
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I'm in construction, carpentry specifically , but I often do things associated with other trades as well, gc stuff. I carry my gb every day in addition to my utility knife. I was doing a roof and I was on like the last 20 or so cap, and my utility knife fell through the open ridge of the house. No one else on site, so out came my gb, cut the rest of the cap with it. Never do it again though, absolutely destroyed the edge. The other thing that comes to mind is when I had to custom fit a fiberglass door slab in an existing frame, I had to cut it down and put a new filler in the bottom. There where all these fiberglass ridges inside the panel that I had to carve out with my gb, cause' the utility knife didn't have the reach or the strength.
 
I don't have any lusty tales of adventure with my Para 2 that are worth sharing. I have used both of mine but for nothing noteworthy, yet.
 
I'm in construction as well and since I always have a utility knife in my belt or close at hand I have to look for opportunities to use my pocket knives. In most cases it just makes more sense to use the disposable blades for a utility knife than to dull the edge on my expensive pocket knife.
 
Is the para 2 a hard use knife? I have the GB and carry it when out doing farm chores. I carry my other spydies for more gentlemanly pursuits. I dont have any P2's yet but do have the CTS-XHP and CTS-204p P2's on preorder. I'm not sure how XHP will do on the farm although if 204p is a better version of M360 it might be a good farm steel. The most challanging thing I sometimes have to cut with the GB is electric horse fence tape which has metal wires imbeded in it. If I am headed out for a day of fence repair I will always grab my tinsnips as thats the best tool to cut this tape but if I happen to be out and about and need to cut a tape or two the GB saves me from having to return back to the barn. A normal knife is instantly dull cutting the tape but the GB soldiers on.
 
I don't think the Para2 is at all a hard use folder. Its a pure slicer. The tip is very thin and I think it would break or bend if you really put it through its paces for hard work that involved moderate prying.

For me the Para2 is an awesome EDC thats geared for slicing related activities and its thin tip is great for opening packages, and other edc related work. A hard use folder in my mind is something with a slightly thicker blade stock, different blade shape, and most importantly a stronger tip.

But in my experience Hard use folders make poor EDC's. Personally, I like an EDC that is slicey and dicey and has killer edge retention. Super thin S90V makes a great EDC, but sn't a great choice for Hard work. Thicker M4 is.
 
No distinction for HARD USE, I do however use mine for HARD CUTTING CHORES. I have shown the video of me cutting some of that damn pipe we have on site, used it to cut fertiliser bags, around horses cutting leather but the worst it has seen is cleaning my nails after a days work....the GB has done all the same work as well as my Delica, Sebenza, SAK, Opinel, Burger to name but a few.

I use my knives hard within their design parameters, but dont abuse them beyond that.

[video=youtube;K96JQ0uUppo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K96JQ0uUppo&list=UUDVjLbnj847m0n9oQa16eHQ&index=3&feature=plcp[/video]
 
My Manix. 2Bd 30P is my go to hard use knife around the house. Thickenough tip, great steel and therefore great edge retention.
 
I haven't used the PM2 for 'hard use' but did take it hunting this past year. Did some 'moderate cutting' but one thing that was frustrating was how the compression lock functioned when dirty.

The PM2 fell out of the tree stand and fell into the dirt/mud. This made the compression lock very gritty and difficult to operate. Particularly when trying to close the knife, and push the liner back towards the G10 scale (if that makes sense).

Granted any knife will suffer when dirty, but other knives I have with different locks haven't been as 'finicky' as the PM2 when dirty. That being said I love the PM2, its a wicked slicer, and can't beat the weight to blade ratio. A simple cleaning helped the operation, but I eventually dunked the whole knife in warm water and had to complete a thorough cleaning to get operation back to 100%.
 
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