Now that I have the Paramilitary 2 in my hand, what was all that hype about?

[Firebat]

You're upset that a folder with:

-A 3.5" S30V blade, fully flat ground, no less
-G-10
-Nested steel liners
-Four way clip mounting option
-Unique and strong Compression Lock
-Pivot bushing and bronze washers

And on top of it all, is made in the USA...

Costs a little over a hundred bucks online?

You can't be serious.

[dsandiego]

Just wonderin...

What angle do you guys sharpen your PARA 2?

[SQSAR]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. And I think Firebat summed up mine precisely.

[dsmegst]

Just wonderin...

What angle do you guys sharpen your PARA 2?

I haven't had the need but I use 15 degrees per side on all my S30v knives.

[Pneumothorax]

I guess the whole reason I'm not so into the para is for the amount of solid blade and construction i got from the police 3 g10, and the ffg endura- I probably just took a risk with a smaller knife, knowing I'm into the bigger folders, and was disappointed in the end. I'll should just stick to <4inch blades like i did before :D

Sounds like the case where everyone has told you the movie was great and then it didn't live up to your expectations. I'm just the opposite. I've never been a Millie or para fan. The Para was too much handle for the short blade and had that darn comp lock that I hated when I first saw it. But, when I saw the enhancements on the Para 2, I had to give it a try for no other reason than to get a comp lock and see what all the fuss was about. I expected not to like it...but I love it. Love the big handle, love the lightweight, love the enhancements, love the comp lock - especially because I can open and close it one handed easier than even my liner,ril locks! It's now in my top 5 Spydies! Just a different view since I started with low expectations funny how that works. Sorry you don't like it.

[RedRunner]

I like the Para 2 and it's definitely growing on me because of it's more compact size. But overall I still find the Manix 2 is my holy grail. It's incredibly smooth and I can easily close it one handed while maintaining a decent grip on the knife. I often need to open and close a knife one handed while the other hand is holding something (what I am cutting). While I could set the knife down, I prefer to shut it (safety issue) and put it away, so I know where it's at the next time I need it.

I too found the Para 2 to have double click on opening, especially when I open it slowly. I am getting better at shutting it one handed, but I find that I can not hold it as firmly as the Manix 2 and I'm concerned about dropping it. I will say that it is a good size for carrying, but I like the slightly bulkier grip of the Manix 2 more, when I'm using it.

With all that said, it is growing on me and could take a position on the grail status list for me. It's certainly not a questionable knife and I think it's worth the money for sure.

[JediKnight86]

Everyone has "what's the big deal?" reactions from time to time on the forums. It happens all the time with the CRK Sebenza. People are impressed by different things, and sometimes their opinions change. I know mine have.

Simple solutions: Keep it and learn to love it through use, or get rid of it for something you think is worth having.

[MCM]

"I'm merely saying that the knife does not live up to its hype/pricetag"

Your opinion is worth exactly what we paid for it. :eek:

[5.56]

I'm merely saying that the knife does not live up to its hype/pricetag. In all honesty I think the Endura ffg beats it in every way possible with half the cost, but that's my opinion.

Then you have no understanding of knives. This is a USA made folder with G10, FFG S30v and one of the most difficult locks to manufacture, and it's retail price is under $100. :eek:

Re: the Endura, FRN is not better than G10, VG-10 is not better than S30v(arguably very close, but no) and the back lock is weaker than the compression lock.

[OldHoosier62]

SnowCrash,
What exactly do you use your knives for...opening mail?..breaking down boxes?..food prep?..whittling?..???? The reason I ask is that you dislike the Para with its very solid compression lock, but praise on 2 other knives which use weaker,less positive back locks.

I like and trust my Endura and my old Police but if I had to choose for safety and durability then I would choose the Para above both. I mention this because I notice that you seem to be in the security field.

Your thoughts?

OldHoosier

[Ankerson]

I'm merely saying that the knife does not live up to its hype/pricetag. In all honesty I think the Endura ffg beats it in every way possible with half the cost, but that's my opinion.

I am confused... :confused:

How can a lined FRN handled lock back with VG-10 steel be a better knife than a G10 handled with full liners, compression lock and S30V......

Just the materials alone would tell you different and both are made by the same company on top of that.

I am completely lost on that one and totally confused....

And I am not even going into that the Para 2 is a lot more comfortable to use, S30V will hold an edge a lot longer than VG-10 will and G10 is one heck of a lot stronger than FRN.

Anyone who knows anything about knives at all would be able to tell that even if they hated the Para 2.

[SnowCrash]

Hi Snow,

Sorry for your disappointment. Our prices usually reflect our manufacturing costs. What is it that you use to determine the worth of a knife and whether the price is worth the value?

sal

I determine the worth of a knife with the feeling I get from holding it in my hand and cutting with it, along with how much buyer's remorse I get after putting it away for the night. Generally speaking after I bought the Benchmade 940 for about the same price ($150, not "under $100" like the other members claim), I was perfectly content and knew I was getting a knife that BM made sure would please on initial impressions as well as use. The anodized aluminum handle, purple titanium backspacer, and reverse tanto design almost felt like I was ripping off BM with the $150 I spent on it- however with the Para2, all I see is just "another spyderco" In terms of "improvements" to this model, I suppose a lanyard hole is a nice touch an a bigger blade is a plus. I personally just don't see anything special about it, with all due respect.

Don't get me wrong, the knife is good, but I'm not a fan of the compression lock and how irritating it is for me to use force to close it, but that's what this knife is: good. Not something that blew me away like the BM940, but it is good. Not every :spyder: can get me ecstatic about the day I open it out of its box, but most have- both the police 3's I own, the FFG endura, the civilian, etc have all made sure I get 0 regret in buying the knife.

And that was my rant answer :D

[Evil D]

I was perfectly content and knew I was getting a knife that BM made sure would please on initial impressions as well as use.

Wow...so BM is good enough to know ahead of time in the design of the knife to know that it's absolutely for sure going to please everyone who buys it? That's damned impressive. That's like printing their own money. I can see why you're disappointed with the Para2.

Like i said in your other thread, you shot this knife down before it ever landed in your hand. You're biased towards the BM before you even gave the Para2 a chance and now that you have it you still prefer the BM. There's nothing wrong with that other than blaming the knife itself for your own personal tastes.

I may prefer a Ferrari over a Lamborghini, but that's sure as **** not a discredit to the Lamborghini and i'd be silly to blame the car for my own personal preferences.

[vaa]

Do not buy a Balance. You would be very disappointed with it's value. It's too pricey for what it is :rolleyes:

Why don't you try it out for a week and see if your initial thoughts are correct? There have been knives that I thought "why did I buy this", the Cricket is the perfect example and now keep one on me at all times. I'm not saying you have to like it or that you will like it but you just got it. Does it not fit your hand? If it cost you $50 instead of $150 would it be a better knife?

[SnowCrash]

I would say that yes, I would buy this knife for $50. For $100? It's iffy, maybe I would if I didn't already have it in my hands. For $150? No, and I really shouldn't have pulled the trigger without the usual amount of extensive research I do before I buy something.

It's a good blade, like I said, but you can get better for the money if you looked at some of the other spyderco models IMO, not even going into BM

Somehow you all think I'm a BM fanboy, and well, the 940 is the only knife I praise. All the others are just "okay" like I marked this one

Btw Ferrari > Lamborghini :D

[Freediver]

I bought mine for $91.75, plus shipping from a certain shoppe. I had to wait on a list for a while, but it just shipped today so I am excited. Again, like my previous statement, I would check out the Byrd line or the Chinese Spydies if you feel you haven't been getting the most bang for your buck.

[Evil D]

The thing you're missing is what you're getting for the money. I'm a big Delica fan, and the Endura is its big brother...so it's not bashing when i say, the Endura is just not in the same league as a Para 2. The content of the knife is WHY the Endura is $100 less than the Para 2. You're confusing your personal preferences with cost of manufacturing like Sal said. In the end you get what you pay for, plain and simple. The Endura is a sweet knife especially for the price, but it is a lesser quality knife....still a fantastic knife, just made with less expensive materials and so you get a less expensive knife.


By the way, here's a test for you to do. Start a camp fire and place a rock about a foot away from the fire, and lay both the 940 and the Para 2 on the rock for a good hour. Pick up both knives. Let us know which one feels better in your hand

[D1omedes]

I determine the worth of a knife with the feeling I get from holding it in my hand and cutting with it, along with how much buyer's remorse I get after putting it away for the night. Generally speaking after I bought the Benchmade 940 for about the same price ($150, not "under $100" like the other members claim), I was perfectly content and knew I was getting a knife that BM made sure would please on initial impressions as well as use. The anodized aluminum handle, purple titanium backspacer, and reverse tanto design almost felt like I was ripping off BM with the $150 I spent on it- however with the Para2, all I see is just "another spyderco" In terms of "improvements" to this model, I suppose a lanyard hole is a nice touch an a bigger blade is a plus. I personally just don't see anything special about it, with all due respect.

Don't get me wrong, the knife is good, but I'm not a fan of the compression lock and how irritating it is for me to use force to close it, but that's what this knife is: good. Not something that blew me away like the BM940, but it is good. Not every :spyder: can get me ecstatic about the day I open it out of its box, but most have- both the police 3's I own, the FFG endura, the civilian, etc have all made sure I get 0 regret in buying the knife.

And that was my rant answer :D

Well, since you just gave your "rant answer," I feel like giving my "rant response."

It sounds to me like your opinion is largely aesthetic and subjective. You appreciate BM's visual presentation of the 940 model. That's well and good. I don't think the Para 2 is, or ever was, designed to be a piece of pocket jewelry. It's a hard-use folder that both cuts and fits in the hand well.

Those that wanted a mid-sized folder, with high-grade steel, a strong lock and good purchase have been largely pleased by the Para 2. To pass judgment on a design that does not coincide with your personal taste is pretty silly. It's like a sports car enthusiast criticizing pick up trucks.

I think the best course of action is to no longer make entire threads based on your "buyers remorse" so you can attract attention to yourself. If you really just don't like a new knife, you can sell it and move on. I don't mind if someone posts a comment to the effect that they are unimpressed but to make an entire thread about it is a bit ridiculous.

/rant

[jezabel]

Don't get me wrong, the knife is good, but I'm not a fan of the compression lock and how irritating it is for me to use force to close it, but that's what this knife is: good. Not something that blew me away like the BM940, but it is good. Not every :spyder: can get me ecstatic about the day I open it out of its box, but most have- both the police 3's I own, the FFG endura, the civilian, etc have all made sure I get 0 regret in buying the knife.

Regardless of price not every knife you buy is going to "blow you away" your lucky you've found one that does. The only knives that have ever done that for me are the D2 Para & C83 Persian, both which suit me perfectly. I've learnt and happily accept that the Manix's (moreso the M2) don't really agree with me and to a lesser extent nor do the Enduras & Delica's. There's no point in complaining about it. Learn from it. Evaluate why the Para 2 doesn't work for you, look at why you like the models which do work for you. Build a bridge and get over it.

Jez

P.s compression locks can take a few days to get used if it's your first time.
p.p.s. Mopar or no car!

[wongKI]

IMHO, half the knife is ergos. If you find it uncomfortable, then it doesn't matter what the materials are, nor the build quality. You're probably not going to carry it over another knife which, although of lesser materials (in most people's eyes), is more comfortable to cut with.

The Endura and P3 are great knives in their own right-I can certainly see how a Para2 can fail to live up to expectations if you expected it to be much better. For me, the comp lock doesn't live up to the lockback in terms of comfort-not to rip on the complock, because the lockback is just that good. The action, the ease of release...mmm :) And not everyone will agree with me either.

Oh, and the BM 940 is awesome. Not Stretch-2-awesome, but awesome nonetheless.