Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Knife Brown Micarta (3.4" Satin CRU-WEAR) C81MPCW2

For years I dragged my feat on buying a Spyderco because I just never liked the way they looked. After doing the research though I decided this was the knife I needed to break the ice with and all I can say is "WOW!" Let's start with the action. It flicks like a well oiled machine. You can just feel a different level of quality deploying this tool than most other brands. I had to give it a slight tweak for loosen the recovery to my taste, but I do that with most every new knife. The Micarta handle looks like a beat up old recliner, but it's also comfortable like that old recliner. Right out of the box my hand thought it was holding it's oldest, best friend. Now the blade. Far and away the sharpest, finest blade out of the box I have ever bought. As for the finish, I had watched several videos on this knife and they don't do it justice. I person the CRU-WEAR metal has a shimmer to it, I mean it practically glows. You just can't capture on video or a picture how special this blade looks when it reflects light back at you. This knife is the total package and instantly went to the top of the list as my primary EDC.

I am a long time customer of BHQ, but have never written a review. I think it is in order for this Micarta Para 2. FIrst, I am a long time Sypderco fan - my first one being one of their first all stainless, no exposed hardware Seki steel sheepsfoot folders bought about 35 years or so ago. I like all six of my Spydercos purchased over the years, and they keep improving their product. That said, this Para 2 is a unique one. There is very little of this folder that is the same as previous Para 2s. The liners (full width), the scales (full width with no pocketing around the liners), the liner lock (significantly different), even the blade is a little different - new Cru-Wear material aside. I think the pocket clip is the only thing completely the same. As well as previous Para 2s perform ergonomically for deployment, this one is noticeably better. Smoother, easier to flick, still solid in locking up, and easier to unlock with one hand (one finger). The action is a step up from what I already thought to be perfect. The scales are just what I wanted. I've been trying to find a micarta scale on a folder that had the kind of grip that this canvas micarta has ... for a long time, to no avail. When I first held it in my hand, I thought "this is it." Maybe just a tiny less grippy than the typical G-10 Syderco scale, it's still plenty grippy - but it's a little softer with its tactile touch. Some have complained about the thickness cutaway for the liner lock. I don't find this worrying, and unless one is going to abuse the handle with a hammer, I don't think there will be any problem, unless a stress fracture at a corner or some delamination occurs - but these would be highly unlikely manufacturing defects that I would expect Sypderco would take care of. I anticipate no problems. Others have complained about the light blond color of the scales. Mine arrived with an attractive mottled coloration (from light tan to brown) that I find appealing. I have had the knife for a little over a week and it's already darkening with a natural patina without much handling. I anticipate it turning rather dark brown with time. I own several Benchmades (Bugout, Osbourn, Crooked Rivers, and more); Bokers (too many to mention - all excellent); Protechs; even a 50 year old Puma Game Warden (serial date numbered) since it was new, still in pristine condition. So when I say that this new Para 2 is my current fave EDC, it means that it's special.

Since this model's construction is different, I was a bit hesitant. But man.. I'm really happy with this knife. I'm not sure if the full liners attribute to this, but this is easily the best action I've had on about 10 different Para 2's and 3's. Perfect centering and grind. One thing most don't seem to note is that the compression lock tab is about 75% longer than usual which makes it feel nicer on the finger I think. It does thin out a longer portion of the show side scale near the lock tab but I don't notice it in real life use and I very highly doubt anyone will ever break it. This method is obviously cheaper for Spyderco to make so its easy for some to say that's the only reason they did it, but I'm personally happy they went outside the box on this one. The scales are initially light but darken nicely with use pretty quickly and are super comfy. Not aggressive but not smooth and slippery either. Typical micarta. Plus, who doesn't love Cruwear?

This is a wonderful knife with the CPM-Cruwear steel. I'm really happy with the steel, it's right on the edge of being stainless with the edge retention of high carbon steel. The scales claim to be brown and are more like almost white with a very soft feel. I love the way Micarta looks wet, almost like cardboard, and then it dries pristine again. If you wear over-dyed blue jeans the blue will rub off on the scales, which is not the knife's fault. My hands are even blue from my jeans when I wash them. All brands of jeans from cheap to expensive seem to be overdyed. I'll just call it patina and move on, It will wash off, but it would be a daily event. The Micarta will age and develop its own character over time and use and that is the beauty of this knife. I'm not sure why some are having trouble when off-center. I have only had one Spyderco ever come off center and that was the large LionSpy. It still didn't rub and the second I tightened the pivot screw it pulled off to the carbon fiber side.

I was really excited to try out this knife after all the good things I have read, I also figured it would make for a great addition to my EDC rotation as my first spyderco. There are some really good things and some really disappointing things with the knife I received. The good: -By far one of the sharpest blades out of the box I have ever seen -Centering is perfect and there is no play in the action -Opening and closing was stiff out of the box but is smooth and loosening up more and more each day -Compression lock is secure and dependable The bad: -The blade had such a fine tip to it that it broke off while cutting up the box it arrived in. It is still usable, but still -By far the cheapest micarda I have felt on a knife, it feels like cardboard and is surprisingly thin -The metal insert for the lanyard hole sticks out on one side of the scale and catches your hand -Grooves on top of the blade where your thumb is meant to go are sharp and caused me to slice my knuckle open while putting my hand in my pocket Overall, the knife is okay. The design is great and it has a lot of potential, but the lack of attention to detail when finishing it is disappointing. These types of issues I expect on a $50 Chinese knife, not a nearly $300 MSRP USA made knife.