Spyderco PM2 Tanto: History, Design, and 2026 Return

In This Article

• PM2 Tanto Drop Information
• The History of the PM2 Tanto
  • An Exciting Exclusive
  • The First Wave of PM2 Tantos Arrived
  • Round Two
  • The Long Wait
• Tangent: A Ravenous Hunter (Story)
• FAQ

PM2 Tanto Drop Information (2026)

The first drop of the PM2 tantos since we had them years ago was on 7/22/2026.

Both the satin and black blade versions sold out lightning fast!

We were trying out a new queue system to keep everything as fair as possible, but there were some unforeseen technical difficulties.

If you were unable to purchase one, fear not! More are on the way. We hope to have another drop before the end of the year.

But no promises! These things are largely outside our control.

You can rest assured, however, that we’re doing everything we can to get the knives you want into your pockets and give everyone a fair chance.

The History of the PM2 Tanto

At the time of writing, it’s been nearly four years since we last saw stock of the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Tanto.

I am not exaggerating when I say that since it sold out, not a week has gone by that someone hasn’t contacted Blade HQ demanding its return.

Heck, outside the Spyderco booth at SHOT Show this year, a man in charge of equipping an Army Ranger Battalion approached me to ask if we could bring back the PM2 Tanto so he could put them in his Ranger’s pockets.

Let’s break down how this amazing blade came to be, what makes it special, and why it’s so beloved by so many people.

An Exciting Exclusive

Perhaps our favorite class of knives is Blade HQ Exclusives (who would have guessed?).

Over the years, we’ve run thousands of them from dozens of brands.

When it comes to exclusives, Spyderco has always been one of our favorite brands because it doesn’t just make us new colors, but also new blade steels.

Such was the case for the website-busting jade G-10/CPM M4 series. (I know you see a lot of jade G-10 these days, but that trend was born with Blade HQ and Spyderco.)

In 2019, we asked Spyderco if they could do a tanto PM2 for us, as we hadn’t tried a new blade style yet.

At SHOT Show the following January, Eric Glesser, who runs Spyderco, surprised us with a Paramilitary 2 tanto he had hand-ground himself. Eric’s the best!

The First Wave of PM2 Tantos Arrived 

A few months later, in the heat of a global pandemic, we got a big ol’ shipment of Paramilitary 2 Tantos from Spyderco, and it was like Christmas morning.

Just like it always does, Spyderco knocked it out of the park. Instead of just chopping the tip off at an angle, they made a truly world-class tanto.

The main edge has a hollow grind to be thin and slicy, and the tip has a flat grind for strength. Where the two edges meet, you see that sexy curved grind line that only the most elite tantos get! 

When drop day came, we anticipated heavy website traffic, so everyone except me was kicked off the Blade HQ backend while I activated the stock.

Once I pressed the button, I stood up and walked to the break room where everyone was having donuts.

Before my donut was finished, the PM2 tanto had sold out.

Before noon that day, we ordered more from Spyderco.

Round Two

About a year later, we got another shipment, but this one was special: We got stock of the original S30V PM2 tanto, but also two jade G-10/CPM M4 models!

And, once again, they sold out faster than we could have imagined.

I wanted to get one, but my wife told me, "We have a baby coming any day now, so no knife shopping for you."  

I love my wife, and I’ve never been sad following her instructions, but that moment solidified the PM2 tanto as one of the knives "that got away."

One day, so help me, I will add one to my collection!

The Long Wait

We put in another large order for the PM2 tanto immediately thereafter, but we weren’t given an ETA.

I’m not privy to the specifics of Spyderco’s organization or production schedule. If I had to guess, I could think of four good reasons for the wait: 

1. Spyderco is always working on something new. Spyderco is an active knife research and development organization on top of being a knife manufacturer, and all that pushing of the envelope takes a lot of effort. 
2. Spyderco also has an entire catalog of world-class knives to make and high demand for them. Making all those knives keeps them busy. 
3. Around the same time the second run of PM2 tanto’s arrived, the knife industry started hearing whispers of a game-changing new steel called MagnaCut. Spyderco has spent a lot of time working on that, as well as SPY27, 15V, PD#1, and more. Once again, that takes precious time.
4. We ordered a ton of knives. It takes a long time to make a ton of knives.

But that’s all just a knife nerd’s speculation.

Finally, in July 2026, the third shipment of PM2 Tantos arrived.

The long wait was over.

Tangent: A Ravenous Hunter (Story)

Here’s a fun story!

We kept one Para 2 Tanto in our marketing library after the second drop. When we reopened our Utah storefront in 2024, the storefront manager thought it would be fun to put it up on a not-for-sale display.

And it was fun—for less than two hours into the first day of our soft open.

That’s when a man walked in to check out the new store, looked at the display, and got wide eyes. He then went to the manager, pointed at the PM2 tanto, and said "I want that knife. How much?" 

"Well, that’s from our library. It’s not in stock, I’m sorry-" he tried to say, but was cut off.

"Listen, everything is for sale. HOW MUCH???" 

"Uh," the manager said, "I guess we can make something work. Excuse me for a minute."

He then came to my desk to ask how much it cost. I looked it up and told him, and he sold it to that very happy man.

It was sad to see it go, but it’s hard to say no to someone so passionate and with such good taste!

FAQ