What's Your Favorite Steel for the Paramilitary 2?

[Lenny]

Easy question, right?
Is it Cruwear, Magnacut, K390, or???
Thanks all.

 

[iacchus]

Cruwear for general unspecified duty. It just performs so well and handles all comers. Takes a variety of nice edge easy.

 

[kobold]

I only have one PM2 and it's a Maxamet. I microconvexed the P3 and the PM2 for added edge stability, even though I never had any chipping.

 

[kreole]

20cv for me

 

[Ballsac]

I loves me some CruWear so I always default to that when available and my CruCarta PM2 has been great. But I actually think maybe K390 might be a better choice given its thin, slicey blade. I’d like to find out for myself.

 

[Wandering_About]

CPM 15V for the win.

 

[Danke42]

Cruwear is a great steel and it's in production so you can actually get it new.

 

[StoneAndSteel]

20cv for me

Best general stainless for the field, IMO. I have literally stropped it back to hair-popping on a field exercise using my pant thigh. It has been put through the ringer, but has held up beautifully.

 

[elevator man]

15v gets my vote for sure. It's got alotta good qualities, just don't take it scuba diving. Not k390, my understanding is its not the same ht as the seki made k390.

 

[norcalAF]

This one!

 

[Ajack60]

Cruwear, I’ve got several other Spyderco’s with it.

 

[Scuttlery]

I'd prefer to have one in Maxamet or Magnacut (both really) - but all I have is CPM S45VN:

 

[iacchus]

I'd prefer to have one in Maxamet or Magnacut (both really) - but all I have is CPM S45VN:

S45 is a great steel. Honestly, I prefer it to Maxamet.

 

[Buffalohump]

I only have one -- the new Salt one in Magnacut. So far very impressed with the steel performance. The DLC less so as it tends to smear a bit.

I love the fact I can use the knife to cut whatever kind of material or food and not have to clean it straight away. I have a K390 Endura and that requires a lot more babying (great steel but it def takes more work.)

 

[bmo419]

Been slowly collecting a version of the PM2 in every steel they released, save for a few of the rarer steel versions and or steels that are analogous to each other (20CP, CPM154/S90V, 52100, M390, 4V, etc), but if I had to choose one it would probably just be Cruwear or maybe the Magnacut. Still waiting on my satin Magnacut version I preordered from SMKW, but I own the Manix Salt in Magnacut and don't expect the PM2 in Magnacut to perform any differently. I could see Magnacut being interchangeable with Cruwear for my uses based on my limited experience with it so far.

As a freehand sharpener, Cruwear on the PM2 has always done exactly what I want it to and the edges just come out wicked sharp, either polished or toothy. Holds the edge long enough that I've never felt it's lacking and it's very tough. That's all I really care about.

 

[BD_01]

I’m a fan of S110V. The working edge lasts forever. It’s a bear to sharpen though.

 

[kobold]

I’m a fan of S110V. The working edge lasts forever. It’s a bear to sharpen though.

Usually I do the progression on DMT coarse/fine/extra fine/extra extra fine followed with Spyderco UF and stropping with three different strops so it takes some time to sharpen S110V.
Last time though, I created the burr with extra coarse, followed with just a few trailing strokes on coarse and fine and quick (10x) stropping to get it to shave.

 

[Blues]

I have many of the above...but may have missed seeing M4 mentioned. I think it deserves to be on the list with several of the other great steels already proffered.

 

[elevator man]

M4 would be a great option, preferably just not in jade colored handles.

 

[JBoone]

My M4(s) are in peel ply carbon. Was offered a few years ado as an exclusive. Probably my favorite