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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Para Military 2 Blurple S110V
- Thread starter miso2
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2014
- Messages
- 2,633
I was a bit skeptical to try this knife because I know I like thin blade-stock thinly-ground slicers (like Boker Plus Exskelibur 1 or Spyderco Stretch 2), and this doesnt seem to be that kind of a knife at a glance. I have a Manix 2 S110V and barely take it out from a storage box, as it is too thick to be a good slicer.
Anyway I ordered one when the Blurple version became available at my local store. I guess I just wanted to experience the standard which are praised constantly by many in this forum, same reason for buying a Sebenza
Now, holding it in my hand, I really really like this knife.
The fit and finish of mine is superb. I dont have any complaints at all at the moment. Evenly ground blade, good blade centering, relatively good factory edge, etc.
The ergonomics is perfect, as many have said here. It feels like it was custom designed for my medium hand.
The G10 handle is very grippy and feels extremely solid with the steel skeletons. The slightly transparent Blurple G10 is also pretty and chic without being cheap. Before having it, I was considering to buy Ti scales for it right away. But now I am thinking to just keep the Blurple G10.
The compression lock, or reversed liner lock, is a triumph of designing. Solid, safer than regular liner lock, and easily operable. In terms of operability, I prefer this lock to the ball-bearing lock of Manix 2, as I can easily disengage the lock with one finger and close the blade with a much better control (though I still like the combination of frame lock and front flipper of Exskelibur better for a even better control). When engaged, the blade is rock solid without a play. It is surprising how much confidence that flimsy lock bar gives. I would ditch the knife if it uses that thin lock bar for regular liner lock, but with this ingenious lock design, it seems perfectly sufficient.
The blade. It is a lot thicker (0.14) than Exskelibur 1 (0.105) or even Manix 2 (0.125).
Yet, the grind is somewhat deep. The thickness behind the edge of mine (with the factory edge) is about 0.023. This makes the blade performs better than that of Manix 2 (with the edge thickness 0.03 at 15 DPS) and close to the level of Stretch 2. The semi-Wharncliffe blade shape also makes it a good cutting tool, particularly at a kitchen.
*Note that the blade shape was modeled where the blade width was about 1 for each model, but not at the thickest part of the blade.
In fact, PM2 cuts a tomato well and clean. The thin blade near the tip also provides very fine cutting.
To sum up, my first overall impression is that it is a very very capable knife. If I am forced to rely on only one knife for life, I would choose this one (or Southard Tolk) for its versatile cutting ability, sharp tip, solid feel, good ergonomics, and the premium stainless steel, even over Sebenza or Umnumzaan.
I will sharpen it and use it to see how it holds up.
Miso
Anyway I ordered one when the Blurple version became available at my local store. I guess I just wanted to experience the standard which are praised constantly by many in this forum, same reason for buying a Sebenza
Now, holding it in my hand, I really really like this knife.
The fit and finish of mine is superb. I dont have any complaints at all at the moment. Evenly ground blade, good blade centering, relatively good factory edge, etc.
The ergonomics is perfect, as many have said here. It feels like it was custom designed for my medium hand.
The G10 handle is very grippy and feels extremely solid with the steel skeletons. The slightly transparent Blurple G10 is also pretty and chic without being cheap. Before having it, I was considering to buy Ti scales for it right away. But now I am thinking to just keep the Blurple G10.
The compression lock, or reversed liner lock, is a triumph of designing. Solid, safer than regular liner lock, and easily operable. In terms of operability, I prefer this lock to the ball-bearing lock of Manix 2, as I can easily disengage the lock with one finger and close the blade with a much better control (though I still like the combination of frame lock and front flipper of Exskelibur better for a even better control). When engaged, the blade is rock solid without a play. It is surprising how much confidence that flimsy lock bar gives. I would ditch the knife if it uses that thin lock bar for regular liner lock, but with this ingenious lock design, it seems perfectly sufficient.
The blade. It is a lot thicker (0.14) than Exskelibur 1 (0.105) or even Manix 2 (0.125).
Yet, the grind is somewhat deep. The thickness behind the edge of mine (with the factory edge) is about 0.023. This makes the blade performs better than that of Manix 2 (with the edge thickness 0.03 at 15 DPS) and close to the level of Stretch 2. The semi-Wharncliffe blade shape also makes it a good cutting tool, particularly at a kitchen.
*Note that the blade shape was modeled where the blade width was about 1 for each model, but not at the thickest part of the blade.
In fact, PM2 cuts a tomato well and clean. The thin blade near the tip also provides very fine cutting.
To sum up, my first overall impression is that it is a very very capable knife. If I am forced to rely on only one knife for life, I would choose this one (or Southard Tolk) for its versatile cutting ability, sharp tip, solid feel, good ergonomics, and the premium stainless steel, even over Sebenza or Umnumzaan.
I will sharpen it and use it to see how it holds up.
Miso
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2014
- Messages
- 2,633
I have reprofiled my PM2 S110V to about 15 DPS. I think the factory angle was somewhere at 16 and 18 degree. It took me about 30 min to reprofile with Edge Pro Apex.
I spent most of the time with 120 grit silicone carbide stone (Edge Pro) and stepped up to 240 followed by 400 silicone carbide stones (Congress Tools Moldmaster). Then, the blade was stropped on a horse leather sheet loaded with Pikal (aluminum oxide compound, presumably comparable to the white compound). The result was very aggressive edge capable of cut soft tissue paper clean.
I have cut up a few cardboard boxes and found that the edge is still very aggressive. I will see how it holds up over time.
Miso
I spent most of the time with 120 grit silicone carbide stone (Edge Pro) and stepped up to 240 followed by 400 silicone carbide stones (Congress Tools Moldmaster). Then, the blade was stropped on a horse leather sheet loaded with Pikal (aluminum oxide compound, presumably comparable to the white compound). The result was very aggressive edge capable of cut soft tissue paper clean.
I have cut up a few cardboard boxes and found that the edge is still very aggressive. I will see how it holds up over time.
Miso
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2015
- Messages
- 1,312
Thanks alot for sharing, mine should arrive soon.
Gesendet von meinem SM-A310F mit Tapatalk
Gesendet von meinem SM-A310F mit Tapatalk
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2014
- Messages
- 2,633
- Joined
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- Messages
- 1,312
Just to add that I am really happy. Same excellent fit and finish as the jade g10 m4 version, though I feel like the blurple looks much better, but that depends on the person.
Gesendet von meinem SM-A310F mit Tapatalk
Gesendet von meinem SM-A310F mit Tapatalk
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2014
- Messages
- 2,633
Just to add that I am really happy. Same excellent fit and finish as the jade g10 m4 version, though I feel like the blurple looks much better, but that depends on the person.
Gesendet von meinem SM-A310F mit Tapatalk
Congratulations on the score!
Miso
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2014
- Messages
- 2,633
I sharpened my PM2 a couple of times now.
S110V is a bit difficult to sharpen compared to other steels like S35VN and M390, at least with my skills.
Still I managed to get a good polished edge with Edge Pro Apex.
The edge angle was set at about 15 DPS.
I used Edge Pro #120 (silicone carbide), Congress Tool Moldmaster #240 and #400, and then Edge Pro polish tapes #2,000 and #3,000.
I have Edge Pro stones at #600 and #1,000 (aluminum oxide) but skipped them because they don't seem to work well on S110V.
Instead, I worked longer on the polish tapes.
I felt that the steel tends to develop wire edges more easily than M390, ZDP-189, CTS-XHP, and M4, and had to carefully remove them before going up the grit.
The result was a very smooth but aggressive edge.
Miso
S110V is a bit difficult to sharpen compared to other steels like S35VN and M390, at least with my skills.
Still I managed to get a good polished edge with Edge Pro Apex.
The edge angle was set at about 15 DPS.
I used Edge Pro #120 (silicone carbide), Congress Tool Moldmaster #240 and #400, and then Edge Pro polish tapes #2,000 and #3,000.
I have Edge Pro stones at #600 and #1,000 (aluminum oxide) but skipped them because they don't seem to work well on S110V.
Instead, I worked longer on the polish tapes.
I felt that the steel tends to develop wire edges more easily than M390, ZDP-189, CTS-XHP, and M4, and had to carefully remove them before going up the grit.
The result was a very smooth but aggressive edge.
Miso
Sal Glesser
Moderator
- Joined
- Dec 27, 1998
- Messages
- 11,652
Nice edge and report.
Let us know how it holds up.
sal
Let us know how it holds up.
sal
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2014
- Messages
- 2,633
Thank you, Sal, for the comment and your continuing effort in building knives with good designs and values.
I own a several Spydercos, and PM2 and Stretch 2 are my favorites.
Particularly, this PM2 with S110V blew my mind.
I will keep using it and report how it comes along.
Miso
I own a several Spydercos, and PM2 and Stretch 2 are my favorites.
Particularly, this PM2 with S110V blew my mind.
I will keep using it and report how it comes along.
Miso