Why the obsession with the paramilitary 2??

[singularity35]

A rule I go by is that if a knife sells for much more than what the manufacturer says it should, I can always find another knife that will work just as well. I do love my paras though.

 

[Minnesotapride88]

A rule I go by is that if a knife sells for much more than what the manufacturer says it should, I can always find another knife that will work just as well. I do love my paras though.

Things even out over time. I bought the Para 2 for low a while ago and the Bradley for low just recently. Values go up and down, you just have to watch them

 

[singularity35]

Things even out over time. I bought the Para 2 for low a while ago and the Bradley for low just recently. Values go up and down, you just have to watch them

I know, I got in on the pre order for each if the sprints I have. I would not have gotten them on the secondary market.

 

[Mossyhorn]

I've had several and sold them all. It is not for me.

 

[whp]

It is a good knife, maybe a very good knife, but not worth the crazy prices that people are getting for them right now. The popularity of the PM2 was made when it was available for $100-110. Now that the same knife is hard to get and costs $150-170 we might be paying for the hype partly and for the knife itself partly. And the people buying the colored ones for $300+, I don't know if they are doing that for herd mentality or because they think they knife is very good. Or maybe they think it will go up in value and they can sell it for a profit.

I would not buy a plain PM2 right now for $150+ and I wouldn't buy one with different color G10 for $250+, but lots of people do. In my mind the Manix 2 is a similar knife for less money, and a few people have said that it fits them better than the PM2. The PM2 fits me pretty well but it isn't magic, and the handle could be a little bit shorter. The recently discontinued Superleaf was another alternative to the PM2 and I would have liked the opportunity to try one but they are very scarce right now.

I think the PM2 was made to come in right under the 3.5" blade restrictions that some people have to live with, such as the people in Colorado that actually make the knife. They made the handle longer for increased utility, not just to cover the blade. For someone like me a handle that barely covers the blade length would be marginally too small for serious use. I have a Tenacious that has a blade length similar to the PM2 but a handle that is barely long enough for the blade. Sometimes when I hold it I think the handle seems a bit short. I am interested in buying a Military to try out since my state allows blades longer than 3.5".

I think the PM2 hype will gradually come back down, maybe in a couple of years, but until then they will be hard to find and the prices will be higher. For the prices that you have to pay for a PM2 right now I can buy several different knife models that I think are better than the PM2 and I am doing so.

I believe the pm2 came out at a price that represents a great value. Considering the materials, ergonomics, and fit and finish, I m glad the retail price has stayed the same. It s definitely comparable to knives costing much more. Even in Spyderco s line. I wonder what several different knives better than the pm2 you re referring to.

 

[PeterPHWS]

I just bought one - had it a month or so - over here in the UK you can get a "bargain" as there is no "mark up". Demand is low on knives here. The PM2 is £108 in satin and £120 in black.

I have had a UKPK for years and the old version is by far our best legal EDC but for gralloching Deer the slip joint is not good on health and safety grounds as the blade could close.

I usually use fixed blades for this task but have kept a locking folder as a back up for years. The last knife doing this duty has "gone into hiding" and I needed a replacement.

So I tried a Bradley to begin with and didn't like it ( liked the steel though ) and decided something lighter which had better protection for my fingers sliding forward was needed.

Enter the PMII and I am one happy customer :thumbup:

The large grip is perfect for me - stabbing with a rear grip to bleed out the carcass is secure and the forward grip using the choil is precise for inside the body cavity.

 

[Jim malone]

edited

 

[Theronsb]

The Manix 2 XL fits my pocket and hand perfectly. My favorite knife for sure. I started carrying it every day and was surprised I never once noticed it in my front pocket. I love the ball bearing lock as well.

Your post really makes me want a Military now. I like the compression lock on my PM2, but I greatly prefer the handles on the Manix 2 XL and Mini Griptilian. I wonder how it will fit my hand.

Yeah, I realize that. My post was not intended to be negative in any way. I really meant it when I said that is why they make different models for different people. Not just with knives, but with everything. Tastes are different and there isn't a thing wrong with that. So, if I came across as demeaning your thoughts about the military, that was certainly not my intent. I don't have a single issue with you liking the Military and me not. That is just kinda the way the world works..

BTW, I too like a large blade for some knives. I have the Manix2 XL and love it. The blade on the Manix2 XL is as long as the blade on the Military (or very, very close - 3.88" vs 4") but somewhat wider. The reason that I like the Manix and not the Military is the way the two respective knives fit my hand, I think. The Manix is a nice fit and is comfortable for me to use. The Military feels awkward to me. And that, clearly, is a function of my individual hands. Very subjective stuff here.

I'm hoping that the PM2, having a slightly smaller handle, might be a better fit. We'll see.

Anyhow, no offense intended in my prior post.

Edit:
Comparison photo of Manix2 XL to Military:

 

[mwhich50]

I have a black/satin military and definately prefer it to my digicam/satin Para 2. I think the Para 2 is a little too petite, but it is still a terrific blade and superior to most of my other knives. I just snagged a couple new black/satin Para 2s. This batch lasted about 3-4 hours before they were all gone. I will end up trading one or both. The herd mentality is definately powerful. I never had any intention of adding another Para 2 to my collection; prior to the feeding frenzy.

 

[ToddM]

I think the big reason is that spyderco packaged a great everyday carry utility knife in what looks like and is marketed as a tactical knife. Many of the tactical knives I've seen that were popular over the last few years, and still are, are not as good of an everyday knife as the paramilitary. They might take more abuse and are better pry bars but lets face it most of the people out there buying tactical knives are not abusing them. They are using them as EDC knives, cutting everyday things that the paramilitary blade thickness/shape excels at. It's the reason my paramilitary finds it's way into my pocket before my 0551, or 0561 even though I'm guessing either would take more abuse.

The Para2 ergonomics are great for most people, it's a good blade size, shape, and thickness for everyday use, it's easy to sharpen and holds a descent edge. It's light and thin, the lock is great, quality control seems pretty good, it's made in the USA!, the jimping is effective but not overbearing, the handle shape supports both a normal and "choked up" grip equally well, good lanyard hole, clip position options, there have been several versions of colors/materials, etc. and it's priced pretty good. I do think as of late they are commanding too high of a price, seems with demand they are now pushing the $175 range, which I won't pay for one.

Do I think the Para2 gets hyped a bit too much, probably, but the demand sure is there, look at what some of the sprint versions are selling for now. That said though, there's a lot of knives on my shelf and while I can't really say it's significantly better than any of the others as an overall package it finds its way into my pocket more than anything else as of late unless I know I'm likely to need something I can abuse.

I also think more and more people are getting tired of liner lock knives, it's almost daily we get posts about liners not engaging fully, or engaging too far, etc. and I know many of my recent purchases have been non-liner locks. I'm not scared of a liner lock, or feel it will fail under normal use, I just think there are better, more secure and consistent options out there now and my purchases tend to reflect that. For example my 0561 lock bar will engage about 60% when you open it but 100% if you push on it fairly hard and it's practically new and I don't flip my knives open. Is that good or bad, and how will it be 3 years from now, I don't know, but the non-liner locks don't seem to have these problems as they don't require the same level of tolerances I'm sure.

 

[bdmicarta]

Even in Spyderco s line. I wonder what several different knives better than the pm2 you re referring to.

I think in Spyderco's line the Manix 2 and the Superleaf should be reasonably comparable to the PM2, and I have read that some people prefer the handle shape of the Manix 2.

I was actually referring to other brands. I have at least a half dozen knives in my EDC rotation from other brands that I bought for less than the cost of a standard PM2 right now, and my knives from other brands include blades of M390, M4 and D2, compared to the standard PM2 with S30V steel. Of course the reason for this disparity in price is the demand for the PM2 that has forced the prices up. Granted there are a few people that manage to buy new PM2's for around $110-120, but mostly I see them on the sales forums sell immediately for $150-170.

 

[shunsui]

Steel, heat treat, lock, handle design, clip, ergonomics, USA made, price point (when available).

It's a nice package for a basic EDC.

 

[Nic S.]

The para 2 wasn't for me. I had one with a detent problem sent it back and got one that was dull and had an uneven edge. I think they are trying to crank them out and the QC has taken a hit. Either way after going 0-2 I won't buy another or recommend one. I prefer the Manix 2 over the para 2