Spyderco Forums

PM2 REX76

For the Para 3 I’d choose G10, unless you plan to replace the scales anyway with AWT’s.
The LW has unpleasant action for me and it always lines up crooked, due to the missing washer. Also the balance seems a bit too blade heavy.

FRN is very good though, much grippier than G10. I prefer it on the ...

Decided to put a 15dps edge on my Manix 2 LW 15V.

It does provide good ‘feedback’ on the stones, gritty like MagnaCut has too for me.
Initially I used 140 grid Atoma Diamond to re-profile. It left a ragged edge as expected.
Used 400 grid to put a proper edge on. That was challenging, the burr ...

What I like a lot about 15V is the way it keeps sharpness.
Maxamet still cuts longer for me, but it barely keeps frontend sharpness. It just cuts roughly, nothing smooth about it, but doesn’t dull much.
REX45/REX76/CruWear keep frontend sharpness longer than 15V for me. However, they glass out soon ...

Native 5 15V

Manix 2 15V
Couldn’t resist a solid deal at local dealer. There must be plenty available.
Not digging the scales compared to AWT much yet, but very functional.

PM2 CruWear

We also can't use a bathroom scale (HRC) to measure body composition.

It's the same reason why you can take two athletes who both weigh 200lb (62-63rc) and you can get very different performance metrics from them despite the fact they both weigh (HRC) the same.

Why? Well, their body ...

I’d like to add the dimension ‘edge taking’, which may make it even more complex and very subjective.

In real world use, with some solid diamond stones I don’t find much difference in sharpening Maxamet/REX 121 or any other well heat treated steel.
However, the ability to allow for different edge ...

Para 3 Maxamet
Including a famous Maxamet-serration (a.k.a. microchip), from slightly overenthousiastic weeding in the soil . Remains a steel to love and hate for me.

Get the right tool for the job, a stainless steel knife has serious advantages in such scenarios.

However, I live at the coast and frequently oil and take apart my knives. I also re-apply wax to the actual blade often and keep it clean. It’s just requires a time and place, and sometimes I simply ...

PM2 REX76

In Spyderco’s this is REX 76 for me, because of incredible edge taking/holding. Or 15V for even more edge retention and better availability.
CruWear closely behind, for incredible edge stability and flexibility.

And besides, I love MagnaCut with ~64 HRC.

PM2 REX76
Added a LynchNW satin clip, to the (already) awesome Rockscale scales.

1. PM2 REX76 | perfect ergonomics with amazing steel
2. Para 3 15V | easy to carry
3. Manix 2 CruWear | workhorse
4. Military 2 15V | cardboard destroyer
5. Native 5 Magnacut | when in need

Bodacious SPY27 deserves an honorable mention. It’s not pretty, but can replace a fixed blade in functionality.

Para 3 15V

Military 2 15V

Bodacious SPY27 & PM2 REX76
Both with Rockscale scales and backspacers, pretty neat. Especially the Bodacious feels much more grippy and balanced. The PM2 looks surprisingly similar to the G10 brick scales, but feels nicers.

Manix 2 CruWear

Titanium scales with a steel liner delete (makes the titanium version lighter than the G10/steel liner version), titanium ball cage, lighter spring, ceramic ball, titanium clip, titanium hardware and lanyard tube. Along with the CPM-15V steel, it's quickly becoming a favorite knife.

How stable ...