Which Para to buy?

[DMgangl]

I need some input from Para owners. I have on pre-order right now a Para 2 in Carpenter steel. There is also the S90V version coming soon, and I found a D2 Para for sale online.

I have not owned a Para before, but the new Para 2 has had me interested since the supplement catalog. The compression lock has always been my favorite lock, and the medium size seems good for an EDC knife. The main thing that is causing my confusion is the steels. D2 is a steel very close to my heart. Its one of the first steels I cut when learning to be a machinist. I have wanted a pocket knife in S90V since I bought my S90V mule. It seems to be the perfect steel for what I think a blade steel should be. I have no experience with the Carpenter steels. From what I gather on this forum it seems to be pretty good. Plus if the CTS20CPis supposed to be an equivalent to S90V but is available in a cheaper package then it seems right up my alley.

So those with experience with Para, Para2, D2, and Carpenter steel let me hear your experience.

DM

[cckw]

2 of each. duh!

[Eddie]

I have no experience with any of the Paramilitary versions, YET. We are in the same boat, since I too have a dilemma on which version to buy..but right now I'm leaning towards either the normal production model with digicamo or the S90V with the peely ply carbon fiber. Just be patient and don't pull the trigger yet. Who knows, maybe Sal will make a D2 sprint run.
Anyways, good luck with your decision!
Eddie

[kingdomgone]

Personally I would first choose between carbon fiber and G10 based one what I intended to use the knife for. If it's in a more casual setting I'd go with the cf because it typically looks much nicer. If I planned on using the knife for work, or brutalizing it in some other way, I'd go with G10 because of its durability. Then I would worry about the steels. CTS20CP and D2 are both are such great choices that I would actually just decide based on whether I wanted a grey or black G10 handle. I guess I'm saying you really can't go wrong here.

[jabba359]

I'm in for the grey G-10 CTS20CP version. I like grey, the price is right, and a new steel! How can I go wrong here?

So you should get one of the other two. Less competition for the one I want.

[ace]

go with the para 2--I have both and think the 2 contains several improvements over the original with no disadvantages.