ZT0550 Gen 3 vs Paramilitary 2 vs Other suggestions

[Geneo]

The 0550. Its a good cutter plus its not as heavy as everyone says. I carry it at work along with a tool belt, radio and a wad of work keys and I don't feel the extra weight of the knife at all. The pm 2 is almost too light for me, but that's personal preference. Plus the 0550 will probably outlast you. I have both knives, and I like the pm2 very much but I love my 0550. Plus you wont be able to get the 0550 forever as they are discontinued, I doubt if they will ever stop making the pm2.

Ditto. Mine doesn't feel like a brick in my pocket.

 

[flarp]

Depends on your preferences. Both are great knives, but they are also very different. You really can't go wrong with either. Between the two, my 0550 has probably seen more cycles in the EDC rotation.

The PM2 is a great all-around medium-large knife. Thin and sturdy. Lightweight and relatively comfortable to carry. Great ergos, and a finger choil for choking up on the blade, if you use that grip. Compression lock works well, but it's not my favorite.

The 0550 is a great tank of a knife. It's very robust and solid-feeling, and it carries surprisingly comfortably for its size. Great ergos, and the thicker handle actually helps reduce fatigue (at least for me) when having to do a lot of cutting. It offers a very full, hand-filling grip.

Here are some shots that have both a PM2 and 0550 (Gen 2).

 

[CelticCross74]

0550. Why? Its big and thick but not TO big and thick. It does NOT carry like a "brick" in your pocket thatd be the 0300 series and the 0200. Definitely can tell its there though. Also the 0550 is the best Hinderer ever. Why? for a bigger thick knife the jimping and ergos are spot on. My 0550 fires open as fast as an automatic lock up is bank vault secure. I had a 15 dps mirror edge grind and polish done to my 0550 and it cuts like a scalpel yet still has that thick blade stock to back it up. Tip of the PM2 will snap on you that just isnt going to happen with the 0550

 

[fsatsil]

I own/love both the PM2 and Zt0550 and I'm surprised to see so many votes for the ZT0550 when the OP said that the knife wouldn't see hard use. IMO the only reasons to pick the ZT0550 would be for hard use and/or if you simply prefer beefy titanium framelocks. I guess what I'm trying to say is if hard use isn't a concern then why carry the extra bulk of the ZT when the Spyderco is thinner, lighter, and cuts better?

 

[Insipid Moniker]

I own/love both the PM2 and Zt0550 and I'm surprised to see so many votes for the ZT0550 when the OP said that the knife wouldn't see hard use. IMO the only reasons to pick the ZT0550 would be for hard use and/or if you simply prefer beefy titanium framelocks. I guess what I'm trying to say is if hard use isn't a concern then why carry the extra bulk of the ZT when the Spyderco is thinner, lighter, and cuts better?

Yup. I dig beefy knives, but bottom line is that knives are meant to cut and, if it's not getting beat on, thicker blades and more obtuse grinds just make the knife worse at that. Personally, I would go with the PM2.

 

[steelhead seeker]

How many people on here came here looking for suggestions on a couple knives, got advice, bought that one knife from a couple they suggested and then stopped there and didnt get another one.

If the 0550 is catching the eye of OP chances are if he gets the pm2 he will always wonder what that 0550 is really like...especially after carrying the pm2 for a few months. At least down the road if he decides to buy that second knife the pm2 will still be available. The 0550, not so much.

 

[99cuts]

I have 1 pm2 and 2 0550. For edc I recommend 0550

But you should also consider 0566. It is the more balanced knife of these 3. Pm2 and 0550 are polar opposites imho