Yojimbo 2 LW – revisiting the idea

[Stas]

This has come up before, but things have changed. With the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Lightweight now out, some of the concerns people had with the Para 3 LW—especially around the Compression Lock and FRN construction—seem to be addressed.

So, could a Yojimbo 2 LW with a similar linerless setup work? I get that it’s more challenging. The Yojimbo is more blade-heavy than the PM2 and tied to MBC principles, so it likely needs to meet a certain standard for strength and balance. Still, to keep weight down, a slightly thinner blade stock could be an option (like the Spyderco Lil’ Native Lightweight vs G-10 version).

For those who carry a Yojimbo 2 but want something lighter or more discreet (summer clothes, formal settings), the Microjimbo is the obvious option—but it’s a clear step down in size.

That’s why I’m looking at the PM2 LW. It’s actually lighter than the Microjimbo while still offering a full-size handle and longer blade—and even with its belly and less “pure” geometry compared to a wharncliffe, I imagine the extra edge length can still deliver more real-world cutting power than the shorter Microjimbo.

All that said, the main point remains: a true Yojimbo 2 LW—same design, just lighter—would fill that gap perfectly, if it can be done without compromising what makes it work.

[Red Leader]

I'd be totally down for this, but with a few caveats.

I'd love for Mr. Janich to have the opportunity to go through the design after a comment he made in a different thread saying that after further accumulated experience, he would make some changes to the design.

While I wasn't much interested in the Y2 due to the ergonomics not quite working for me, a small modification of the design made it completely approachable for my hands and I can really get behind a lot of the design now. I think what your saying regarding the linerless FRN handle would be the biggest challenge to overcome, since the weight distribution on the Y2 is highly dependent on that blade.

One possible way to overcome that weight might be going w/ a slightly thinner blade (3.0mm vs 3.7 or 4mm), and possibly a FFG? I'd be really interested in doing my modification on a Y2 in 15V whenever it comes out, but that hollow grind tip on that hard of a blade.

More than anything, I'm really interested to see what could happen if Spyderco greenlights a Yojimbo 3.

[riclaw]

Stick a wharncliffe blade in a PM2 lightweight handle.

[ladybug93]

i would take one, but only if it was a salt in all black with an emerson wave built in and a finger loop built into the frn like a karambit.

[zhyla]

A linerless linerlock? you need at least one liner.

[Stas]

A linerless linerlock? you need at least one liner.

Just like “stainless” is stains less So I mean liner-less (not that it entirely lacks any), to clearly separate it from LW Comp Lock models which still have full nested liners like the Spyderco Lil’ Temperance Lightweight, which weighs almost identical to the G-10 model.

[Stas]

i would take one, but only if it was a salt in all black with an emerson wave built in and a finger loop built into the frn like a karambit.

“Seamos realistas, pidamos lo imposible”

[Stas]

I'd be totally down for this, but with a few caveats.

I'd love for Mr. Janich to have the opportunity to go through the design after a comment he made in a different thread saying that after further accumulated experience, he would make some changes to the design.

While I wasn't much interested in the Y2 due to the ergonomics not quite working for me, a small modification of the design made it completely approachable for my hands and I can really get behind a lot of the design now. I think what your saying regarding the linerless FRN handle would be the biggest challenge to overcome, since the weight distribution on the Y2 is highly dependent on that blade.

One possible way to overcome that weight might be going w/ a slightly thinner blade (3.0mm vs 3.7 or 4mm), and possibly a FFG? I'd be really interested in doing my modification on a Y2 in 15V whenever it comes out, but that hollow grind tip on that hard of a blade.

More than anything, I'm really interested to see what could happen if Spyderco greenlights a Yojimbo 3.

Good points!

[ladybug93]

i would take one, but only if it was a salt in all black with an emerson wave built in and a finger loop built into the frn like a karambit.

“Seamos realistas, pidamos lo imposible”

"In order to attain the impossible, one must attempt the absurd."

[Stas]

i would take one, but only if it was a salt in all black with an emerson wave built in and a finger loop built into the frn like a karambit.

“Seamos realistas, pidamos lo imposible”

"In order to attain the impossible, one must attempt the absurd."

:) BTW, I’d definitely love to see a weaved Salt Yojimbo—LW or not. The option of having a ring at the end of the handle is also really appealing; it would make it a great weak-side back pocket emergency blade for me.

[Evil D]

In my perfect world every model would have a linerless LW Salt variant.

[cjk]

There has been a wharncliffe PM2 that's the exclusive of The Cutlery Shoppe.
There's now also a lightweight PM2.
It would be no surprise to me if there was someday a PM2 Lightweight wharncliffe from The Cutlery Shoppe.
It would also be no surprise to me to see someone attempt to blade swap a wharncliffe blade into the lightweight PM2 handle.

[Wartstein]

In my perfect world every model would have a linerless LW Salt variant.

Yes, though just for me I´d say "linerless FRN version", "Salt" not that important. But does not hurt either at all of course.
Seems the technology would be there now for each "main" Spyderco locktype (except perhaps linlelocks..?)

[spydergoat]

Delica or Deka are very easy to carry, good cutters and reliable folders, and has trainers available.