Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Review - Why So Popular?

Hey guys, we got a big one here today.
We are looking at the Spyderco Paramilitary 2.
Hopefully I do this knife justice, considering it’s reputation.
The Paramilitary 2 has been a mainstay in the Knife community for years now, and for good reason.
I’m going to look at this knife objectively and give you guys what I like and what I don’t like.
If you guys wanna know why this knife has become so popular, and why I like it, stay tuned and check it out.
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Intro music - High Octane by www.BenSound.com

[@logicmr.8351]

Bought my first spyerco para 2 today..... the shop guy suggested this knife and i immediately made a purchase, now I am home slicing every paper i find, envelope and boxes.... lol P.S my gf thinks I’m a dork

[@koga8100]

They always will

[@jathomas437]

Bought my first Spyderco about 3 months ago, the Para 2 blackout. I was so in love, a week later bought the camo w/ black blade. Worst thing about it is deciding which one to carry each day. haha

[@KoukalKnives]

Dude it is such a struggle hahaha

[@CoordinatedCarry]

What is this word, “deciding”? You don’t just carry both? 😁

[@butcheredalive]

I love the way this video is organized! Just ordered my PM2 all black in S45VN yesterday and can’t wait!

[@Gun_Talk]

I lost my PM2 with black scales at work about a year and a half ago. So my wife just bought me a new one for my birthday, this time its with their blurple scales and s110v steel. Super stocked. 😁😁😁

[@josephpagee3977]

I’ve had mine for a year now. Satin blade black g10. Absolutely love it. So elegant, easy on the eyes, very ergonomic, and the blade just cuts.

[@KoukalKnives]

Yeah it was one of those knives that just grew on me super quick, I remember not wanting to like it at first but just couldn't help it

[@TheWatcher60401]

Great video, I hope your channel grows.

[@jojojaykay]

I understand your sentiment about the lack of sharpening choil. I used to feel the same way, but I’ve learned to appreciate it. I like having (mostly?) usable edge right up to the plunge. You’re right about it being a design decision and not a manufacturing restriction. I think either sal or Eric have stated that publicly before. Have you considered adding your own choil? I’ve considered it on some knives but have never ended up doing it

[@KoukalKnives]

I do remember hearing something about that, I never really quite dug into it too far though because I felt like it wasn't a huge deal and maybe I was just being a little picky haha yeah I have done it on my Manix 2 before, and It came out beautifully, If you take your time and make sure the blade and tool stays cool while your working on it, it will come out looking pretty good

[@CoordinatedCarry]

I recently picked up a PM2 in digicam with the DLC blade. I wish I knew about the solid ODG PM2/DLC when it was available. Oh well.

[@ncedc3158]

Such a damn good knife. I had my Para 2 for almost two years and can't get any better. Still holds up and looks og after many uses, including wood use

[@KoukalKnives]

Smooth too, mine just keeps getting smoother with use, its crazy! Thanks for watching and the comment!

[@plynch113]

The pm2 was my first spyderco 5 yrs ago and started my knife collection.....5 yrs later I have 30+ spyderco among others!....pm2 is legendary

[@adammcguinness9950]

I just bought a PM2. It’ll be my third Spyderco. I like your blue/purple scales.

[@gregwalker4236]

i have the s30v and the s110v versions and i love em. my only wish is that the default color (black) for these models was a little bit brighter--gray would be better....shouldn't have to wait for a sprint run to get away from the dull black.

[@jackhenry290]

Im still on fence between this and my griptillian. I’m so nervous to break the spiderco tip. So I still carry the grip for now.

[@grim4954]

Para mili is like one of the coolest knives I've ever used owned and had or have. I have the original pm2 but I chip the tip and I put it up. Now I have the two feature on your video. The only thing I don't care for on any knife is the full flat grind I don't care for it. When I use my knives I like to feel confident that my knife tip won't snap off.

[@nunyabizness3882]

You sound like you aren't using your knife tip correctly then. Try buying s pry bar and filing the tip of it to a point.

[@rockyj5047]

I love the blurple S110V combo especially for the paramil 2. Can't wait for the Shaman version, hopefully it's released 2023.

[@hogi99]

That pocket clip is a menace. I've had more problems with that particular pocket clip design than all my other knives put together,. It snags everything.

[@thetacticalparadigm5331]

I have a lot of knifes, both fixed blades and folders. I have 3/ Spyderco knives 🔪 However I have yet to get a Para2. Getting ready to make a purchase this week. But I was going to get the ZT 0562 Hinderer collaboration. Hmmmm. Good video Brother, till next time... carry on !!

[@KoukalKnives]

That's a tough choice between the 2!! They both have pros and cons vs each other, of course I would say just get both 😂 then you don't have to decide!

[@Camelotsmoon]

You get that pm2 yet?

[@timbo4374]

An American classic. Not pretty, but a great user knife, no matter which version you get, My favorite is the smooth G10 in Cruwear/ The smooth G10 is comfortable in hand, and slides in and out of the pocket great. Not slippery like I thought it might be either. Liked it enough I picked up the same in the Para 3 to match it.

[@KoukalKnives]

Oh nice! I really wanted the cruwear manix 2 but they are very hard to find now, I also have matching paras, both of mine are the blue/purple CPM S110V, love them!!

[@BigRed-oi6ky]

Great video. I never leave home without one in my pocket.

[@Camelotsmoon]

For a second I thought you said you never left home without my pocket lol.

[@alholsbo5934]

I just ordered a PM2 should be here today. Camo with black for$153 + tax......can’t wait 👍👍😬🔪. Update It came and I love it...getting the spydie flip down just takes time👍👍🔪

[@SuperValdez7]

I just ordered mine on bladehq now I wait. Finally upgraded from the gerber knives I use lol

[@Camelotsmoon]

The pm2 is gonna be like the Buck 110 is now in 30 years.

[@suttonmatthew]

The PM2 is indeed an iconic folding knife similar to the famous Buck 110 in popularity. This is a companion to the Military. Although the physical specs differ, the PM2 is a bare hand use knife versus the Military which is designed for gloves with more handle leverage. The S110V make this easily one of the best knives on the market.

[@wills.8662]

This year a Military 2 will be released. the liner lock is upgraded to a compression lock.

[@Rogerio_FM]

Beautiful blue scale.

[@menacewithaknife4045]

Picked up a left hand version and love it. Spyderco needs to make a deep carry clip is my only complaint.

[@KoukalKnives]

YES, deep carry clip on these should be standard. I'm sure it was easier to just slap on the normal clip, but easy isn't always the best!

[@cmoney1609]

Look up Lynch northwest clips. Just got one off eBay for under $30.

[@KoukalKnives]

Yeah that's the one I show in the video, the right handed para 3 clip from lynch

[@menacewithaknife4045]

@@cmoney1609 thanks for the tip

[@demon6937]

Does the black coating of blade wear off?

[@KoukalKnives]

Yeah eventually, its dlc coating so its gonna be pretty tough but it will definitely wear out

[@AndysVideoLog]

I just got one a a week ago, it's in the box because I still prefer my benchmade Osborne 940-2. PM2 is a great knife but not for EDC it's just too big and heavy where as my 940-2 disappears in my pocket.

[@KoukalKnives]

Yeah the 940-2 would be a feather compared to most, I don't blame you!!

[@-Anthracite]

Man you made me laugh Im not a huge knife guy one day i said i want a quality folder for a good price So i looked various models the one that impressed me most was the sr1 from cs but that thing is unbearable weighs almost as much as a flagship phone so i shaved some weight off and the ultimate hunter interested me Then shaved some more weight with the pm2 And now i hear from the 940-2 :p

[@Bluelightbandit]

I didn't like the looks of it either when it came out. Finally grew on me, she'll be here tomorrow lol.

[@DG__3]

So the sharpening choil... the premise is that it aids in sharpening the full length of the blade right? Well doesn't it take up space at the bottom of the blade and isn't it dull? If you think about it critically, what it really is is a small unsharpenable area at the base of the blade at the ricasso. Kinda like there is without a choil right? The negative of having one is a possible weak spot (possible but no likely), but my main issue with them is that the choil, depending on depth, etc can catch/snap on some fibrous material on full blade length draw cuts/push cuts and mucks up the cut. So in that way choil is nothing more that a dull cut out at the base of a blade that occasionally causes the blade to snag. Frankly it does more to hurt than help vs the alternative. And you're still not getting the blade uniformally sharp from ricasso to tip.

[@Pharto_Stinkus]

no spyderco has ever snapped at the spydie-hole. ever. this isnt a thing that happens.

[@guitaristgod666]

I made the purchase today of the camo with the black blade. I've been carrying Kershaw for years so hope this is a good change

[@coherence_x54r]

I lost my first one, camo/plain and miss it so much that I'm buying one right now. How do you like yours?

[@guitaristgod666]

@@coherence_x54r love it I wouldn't trade it for the world

[@Gun_Talk]

@@coherence_x54r I lost my pm2 with black scales at work, and my wife just bought me a new one with their blurple scales and s110v steel. I'm super happy.

[@coherence_x54r]

@@Gun_Talk she's a keeper! Smart woman 🙂 great choice.

[@edwardlilley1705]

Welp it's been 4 months. What do you think so far?

[@cwrowe]

What sharpening system do you use?

[@KoukalKnives]

I used to just sharpen by hand with various stones/ceramic/strop, but now i use the worksharp precision adjust, i really like it

[@mikeogden5256]

Too small but high quality and beautiful and better than nothing

[@patbiggin644]

Get a Dremel and a carbide bur . You can add the choil yourself

[@nunyabizness3882]

Gotz me a lefty model in s45vn

[@bobb.9917]

I get why it's iconic. I own two...The form-factor is GREAT.....but the knife has some SERIOUS pivot/locktite/adjustment issues. It's a mess there. A freaking mess.

[@KoukalKnives]

Yeah I have heard that from some people, thankfully I haven't had to adjust mine, so we will see how that goes when I get to that point

[@gwailotus9154]

@Bob B. - how long have u owned it and how much use?

[@beefcurtainz69]

Am I the only person that really doesn’t like how some knives like the pm2 and the new G-10 grey and blue Griptilian have the back that is open basically the knife blade is sandwiched between two slabs of material and you can see the blade through the back? I seem to like a closed back that you can’t see the blade through, and even though I don’t own the knives I mentioned, I would just think that open back sandwiched style wouldn’t be as comfortable on the hand as a closed back knife. Am I just weird?

[@KoukalKnives]

I can definitely see where your coming from, and for me it depends how thick the knife is overall. On thinner knives I don't notice as much but on a knife like my Brous Blades VR-71, that is something I noticed, not in the back since it does have a backspacer, but in the front where there is a larger than normal gap since the blade is so thick and just the whole knife in general. So yeah if that knife had standoffs instead of a backspacer I can see it being a lot less comfortable in hand. I personally don't notice it too much on most other knives though, but like I said I can definitely understand what you mean! Thanks for the comment!

[@gwailotus9154]

@beefcurtainz69 - i have read that the open space prevents pocket lint etc debris build up

[@jojojaykay]

You’re right (from my experience at least) that a closed back will always feel better than an open one. Although, I’ve never felt that an open back design was offensively un-ergonomic or unusable by the nature of it being open backed. Advantages to both. Just my two cents :)

[@rondilliner9424]

You're not weird...this is just, "Much Ado About Nothing." Shakespeare must have been a blade guy. Well, spears anyway. :~)

[@John..18]

Yeah,, you've got the clip the wrong way round,,, big knives should be tip down,, especially this knife,, 🔪🗡️🔪

[@jacebecker8154]

*Smacks lips and sucks teeth*

[@KoukalKnives]

Yeah I noticed, idk why I do it haha I don’t do it when I talk normally, maybe just a nervous thing since I’m not super experienced yet speaking to the camera. I’ve been working at it and getting better at it I appreciate feedback and constructive criticism, but try to present it better, I’m sure if someone criticized your photography like that, it wouldn’t be the greatest feeling. Thanks anyways though

[@jacebecker8154]

@@KoukalKnives just goofin' bro :) Thanks for the video, I ended up getting the para2!

[@KoukalKnives]

Oh haha all good man 😂 Which one did you get?