Unabridged Unapologetic Case for the Para Military 2 Left Hand *
Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2016 9:31 am
* No Righty Spydies will be harmed in the making of this case.
(The following is definitely more of an in-depth opinion essay than a quick question. Proceed at your discretion.)
I want to start by thanking Sal, Eric, the entire Spyderco design team for all the many ambidextrous options (esp. the Chaparral). Spyderco back locks and BBLs work flawlessly, in form and function. Yet an even more impressive attribute, I believe, is that they embody a firmly held Spyderco principle: Inclusivity.
No surprise, I'm a lefty. Make no apology for it. ****, I embrace it. Proudly.
It ain't all rainbows and Rubicons. For me, poring over the latest catalog or scrolling down "Mr Blonde's" highly-anticipated Amster-****-that's-cool thread inevitably becomes a somewhat disheartening process of elimination. (LinerLocked-out again, nooo!) So many state-of-the-art dedicated right hand options. So, so many. Sure, the standard back lock classic beauties are always well represented; maybe an updated configuration of the must-have Manix some years; even a bright blue Sage 3 once. Don't get me wrong, I truly appreciate all the innovative, lust-worthy feats of design built into these predominantly right-handed gems. I'm just not willing to perform "parlor tricks" to deftly manipulate a "wrong-handed" folder. (phraseology credits: "The Deacon")
Could I adapt to a "wrong-handed" folder? Or overcome occluded Spyderholes? Of course I could. All lefties adapt daily. Just don't want to. Not here. Not at these price points. Don't want to have to think "compromise" when I choose a Spyderco. Moreover, it is completely counterintuitive for any meticulously designed handheld implement created for precise functionality to be held intentionally in the opposite hand than the specific one for which it was painstakingly ergonomically designed. Right??? Whoooops! I meant, please agree at least a lil' bit.
I believe it was 2009 when the Military Left Hand was released. So very cool of Sal & co. to offer a true lefty folder again. Talk about "walking the walk" in regard to being fully customer-focused. With that one decision alone, CQI, itself, got an upgrade: Constant Quality Inclusivity! Jealous of all of you lucky (read: smart) enough to be holding a Lefty Millie. I, too, grasp this monumental creation of balance. But only conceptually. See, Spyderco popped up on my radar about four years ago. I missed out. Now when a Lefty Millie appears for resale, it's Mamba-priced. One day…
To be completely honest, I don't even want another black G-10 knife. Too generic for my taste. The 4-inch Millie blade is also a bit too large for my urban use and carry. And I know I'm not at all alone in these opinions. Yet, if Spyderco does rerelease C36GLE (as Sal may have hinted/tooling exists), of course I'd still buy it up faster than a Caly Super Blue Sprint.
Thanks for reading all that preamble. There hasn't been a "Lefty" thread here in quite a while, probably because it's not the most handedly correct view to voice openly in mixed company. In lieu of any flowery apology for my incorrectness, I'm doubling down on appreciation. And I'd be a fool not to appreciate how Spyderco Forumites seem to be as unanimously generous in exalting the Para Military 2 as you all are in sharing your profound expertise. Enablers, I am sold!
Well, sort of.
PARA MILITARY 2 LEFT HAND
The compression lock and the PM2 platform do seem to be the two most quintessential Spydie Gotta-have-its these days. What a strong statement to ALL Spyderco loyalists it would be to offer the PM2 specifically designed for loyal lefty customers as well. Just one glorious PM2LH would be a timely, unambiguous lefty invitation to the Spydie Party – and so appreciated! Green polished G-10 is fine by me. Even Natural G-10, highly adaptable (a lefty trait). How about fluted Ti with 'greened' anodizing? Green C-tek? Oh yeah, I'm also an unapologetic green junkie. Ideal steel choice? I'm still too green, I trust you HRC-OCD gurus on steel selection waaaay more than myself.
If Sal is just not feelin' the love for a PM2LH … (Eric?!) … how about adding some "LH" to the coming-soon-ish Minuteman? Or fire up the Devil's Yojimbo 2?! Southpaw Southard? Truth be told, any true LH Spydie would be… Nirvana!!! Maybe Sal and Eric would agree to a pow wow with "The Deacon" and "Mr Blonde" – both Spyderco stalwarts and fellow SOUTHPAWS! I'd buy with both hands whatever came out of that meeting of the Spyderco minds. (IMHO new knife name: Spyderco Blonde Deacon)
I'm no savvy Spydie collector, but wouldn't the rarity, reverse design, and inherent positive provenance of such a unique piece also make it really stand tall in even the most extensive collection? Righties, we need your help here! If not for your awe-inspiring Spydercollection, how about just one masterfully crafted for your other hand? Watch the movie 127 Hours – true story about hiker Aron Ralston caught between a rock and a hard place (literally) – then tell yourself that you couldn't imagine ever wanting a Spyderco for your left hand.
That's my case… in a verbose nutshell. Thank you for your patience and consideration. Hopefully some of you will choose to discuss it, refine it, (edit it!), come up with an even better true Left Hand Spyderco. Lefties, please make yourselves heard here, too!
Overly Righteous One, feel free to scratch that itch of yours to want to gut this glorious green grail o' mine. (No irritant, no pearl.) Taking it that silly step further and presumptuously self-appointing yourself as Sal's Chief Business Protector, however, is just not warranted here. This respectful, impassioned plea is the furthest thing from any sort of attack on Spyderco and it's beyond-honorable business practices; I just really don't want to be forced to buy a $ebenza! Plus, Sal and Eric (+/-Michael Janich) are quite capable of protecting themselves. Most likely they have a sharp knife or two handy.
One for each hand, I hope.
Sully
(The following is definitely more of an in-depth opinion essay than a quick question. Proceed at your discretion.)
I want to start by thanking Sal, Eric, the entire Spyderco design team for all the many ambidextrous options (esp. the Chaparral). Spyderco back locks and BBLs work flawlessly, in form and function. Yet an even more impressive attribute, I believe, is that they embody a firmly held Spyderco principle: Inclusivity.
No surprise, I'm a lefty. Make no apology for it. ****, I embrace it. Proudly.
It ain't all rainbows and Rubicons. For me, poring over the latest catalog or scrolling down "Mr Blonde's" highly-anticipated Amster-****-that's-cool thread inevitably becomes a somewhat disheartening process of elimination. (LinerLocked-out again, nooo!) So many state-of-the-art dedicated right hand options. So, so many. Sure, the standard back lock classic beauties are always well represented; maybe an updated configuration of the must-have Manix some years; even a bright blue Sage 3 once. Don't get me wrong, I truly appreciate all the innovative, lust-worthy feats of design built into these predominantly right-handed gems. I'm just not willing to perform "parlor tricks" to deftly manipulate a "wrong-handed" folder. (phraseology credits: "The Deacon")
Could I adapt to a "wrong-handed" folder? Or overcome occluded Spyderholes? Of course I could. All lefties adapt daily. Just don't want to. Not here. Not at these price points. Don't want to have to think "compromise" when I choose a Spyderco. Moreover, it is completely counterintuitive for any meticulously designed handheld implement created for precise functionality to be held intentionally in the opposite hand than the specific one for which it was painstakingly ergonomically designed. Right??? Whoooops! I meant, please agree at least a lil' bit.
I believe it was 2009 when the Military Left Hand was released. So very cool of Sal & co. to offer a true lefty folder again. Talk about "walking the walk" in regard to being fully customer-focused. With that one decision alone, CQI, itself, got an upgrade: Constant Quality Inclusivity! Jealous of all of you lucky (read: smart) enough to be holding a Lefty Millie. I, too, grasp this monumental creation of balance. But only conceptually. See, Spyderco popped up on my radar about four years ago. I missed out. Now when a Lefty Millie appears for resale, it's Mamba-priced. One day…
To be completely honest, I don't even want another black G-10 knife. Too generic for my taste. The 4-inch Millie blade is also a bit too large for my urban use and carry. And I know I'm not at all alone in these opinions. Yet, if Spyderco does rerelease C36GLE (as Sal may have hinted/tooling exists), of course I'd still buy it up faster than a Caly Super Blue Sprint.
Thanks for reading all that preamble. There hasn't been a "Lefty" thread here in quite a while, probably because it's not the most handedly correct view to voice openly in mixed company. In lieu of any flowery apology for my incorrectness, I'm doubling down on appreciation. And I'd be a fool not to appreciate how Spyderco Forumites seem to be as unanimously generous in exalting the Para Military 2 as you all are in sharing your profound expertise. Enablers, I am sold!
Well, sort of.
PARA MILITARY 2 LEFT HAND
The compression lock and the PM2 platform do seem to be the two most quintessential Spydie Gotta-have-its these days. What a strong statement to ALL Spyderco loyalists it would be to offer the PM2 specifically designed for loyal lefty customers as well. Just one glorious PM2LH would be a timely, unambiguous lefty invitation to the Spydie Party – and so appreciated! Green polished G-10 is fine by me. Even Natural G-10, highly adaptable (a lefty trait). How about fluted Ti with 'greened' anodizing? Green C-tek? Oh yeah, I'm also an unapologetic green junkie. Ideal steel choice? I'm still too green, I trust you HRC-OCD gurus on steel selection waaaay more than myself.
If Sal is just not feelin' the love for a PM2LH … (Eric?!) … how about adding some "LH" to the coming-soon-ish Minuteman? Or fire up the Devil's Yojimbo 2?! Southpaw Southard? Truth be told, any true LH Spydie would be… Nirvana!!! Maybe Sal and Eric would agree to a pow wow with "The Deacon" and "Mr Blonde" – both Spyderco stalwarts and fellow SOUTHPAWS! I'd buy with both hands whatever came out of that meeting of the Spyderco minds. (IMHO new knife name: Spyderco Blonde Deacon)
I'm no savvy Spydie collector, but wouldn't the rarity, reverse design, and inherent positive provenance of such a unique piece also make it really stand tall in even the most extensive collection? Righties, we need your help here! If not for your awe-inspiring Spydercollection, how about just one masterfully crafted for your other hand? Watch the movie 127 Hours – true story about hiker Aron Ralston caught between a rock and a hard place (literally) – then tell yourself that you couldn't imagine ever wanting a Spyderco for your left hand.
That's my case… in a verbose nutshell. Thank you for your patience and consideration. Hopefully some of you will choose to discuss it, refine it, (edit it!), come up with an even better true Left Hand Spyderco. Lefties, please make yourselves heard here, too!
Overly Righteous One, feel free to scratch that itch of yours to want to gut this glorious green grail o' mine. (No irritant, no pearl.) Taking it that silly step further and presumptuously self-appointing yourself as Sal's Chief Business Protector, however, is just not warranted here. This respectful, impassioned plea is the furthest thing from any sort of attack on Spyderco and it's beyond-honorable business practices; I just really don't want to be forced to buy a $ebenza! Plus, Sal and Eric (+/-Michael Janich) are quite capable of protecting themselves. Most likely they have a sharp knife or two handy.
One for each hand, I hope.
Sully