- Joined
- Jan 13, 2011
- Messages
- 36
You know how you acquire a new blade and it's so awesome that you don't want to ruin or damage it? Instead of actually using your new blade for EDC chores, it ends up becoming a legend on your shelf or in your display because it's just so damn nice that you couldn't bare the thought of putting a scratch or nick on it. Well, therein lies the story of my search for the perfect EDC for the past 40+ years resulting in a ever-growing, massive collection of blade awesomeness, practically none of which I'm truly content or willing to regularly EDC for one reason or another (mil-service blades excluded).
I thought I finally found that perfect EDC in my Kershaw Breakout. I read all the rave reviews on that blade and thought, "This is the perfect EDC I've been looking for!" Light, strong frame, a small enough footprint for business attire and concealment while large enough for defense, a modicum of belly for a variety of tasks, good edge holding, nice lines, good ergonomics and fun to play with when meetings get boring. Since it came out, it's been my go-to EDC blade of choice. The only factor missing is confidence that I won't break the tip during the heaviest of chores or while prying. Not too big of a deal considering the cost of this blade is so small, I could buy a few spares. But that confidence in an EDC is important to me. And so with a Breakout in my left hand and a mouse in my right hand, my search for that perfect EDC continued while feeling a little guilty that I was "cheating" on my Breakout.
No offense to you Spydie lovers, but every Spyderco I've handled just didn't cut it in one way or another for my EDC needs. They're definitely well-built and well-suited for a variety of tasks for a diversity of people, but there has always been something about each that I couldn't live with. Along came the Spyderco Paramilitary 2. I read way too many reviews and YouTube videos. Like all that came before, it just seemed too good to be true and I passed all the forum jubilation off as hype. But something about it just kept calling to me. I tried like hell to ignore that calling, but it kept getting louder and louder. I asked my team if anyone had tried one, and lo and behold, 2 guys pulled them from their gear. Oh my God! What a blade! I was immediately hooked and had to have one. I ordered the regular S30V with black G10 scales. I've been playing with it, carrying it and actually USING it non-stop since it arrived. Granted, it's kind of hefty to EDC in business or formal attire, but it's suited to everything else. This Para2 is so damned well-built I don't think it will ever break under my "normal" use. The fit and finish is about as perfect as perfect gets and the thick spine and flat grind is exactly what I've been looking for in an EDC. The edge is all belly and a joy to maintain, usually requiring only a quick strop to bring it back to razor sharpness even after hacking oak. The compression lock is smooth and confidence-inspiring. Except for a small peeve of mine with the forefinger groove, the ergonomics are superb no matter how I hold this beauty. I love this knife!!!
So why does the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 suck? Well... I just can't seem to put it down. I get withdrawal symptoms during times when it's not kosher to pull it out. I'm having a hard time resisting the urge to play with it when stuck in traffic jams. I'm losing sleep and the only time I eat now is when I think of a new way to prep food with my Para2. The incessant sound of Para2 "THWACK!" all day and night at home is alienating me from my family. I need help.
Maybe Spyderco embedded some newfangled, addictive compound into the G10 scales? I don't know, but either the pivot bushing is going to wear out or this blade is going to do me in.
To the Glesser Family and the Spyderco Crew, thank you for creating the blade that has become the end of my long road to EDC happiness.
I just ordered another one with a black blade for service carry.
Note: The only things I decided to change about this blade were to change the clip to tip-up, chamfer the scales at the forefinger groove for endurance cutting with a deathgrip and ease of deployment when using the SpydieHole, and smooth the G10 a little under the grip to keep my pocket from wearing down and quicken the draw.
Soldering iron tip to the head of each screw to break the red Loctite:
Dremel grinding stones, 320 & 600 wet/dry sandpaper to chamfer the scales at the forefinger groove:
Duct tape around general area to be sanded before removing clip:
After about 10 seconds of light finger pressure with 320 wet/dry paper:
My now perfect-for-me Para2:
Cleaned up and ready to rock the most perfect EDC I've ever owned:
I thought I finally found that perfect EDC in my Kershaw Breakout. I read all the rave reviews on that blade and thought, "This is the perfect EDC I've been looking for!" Light, strong frame, a small enough footprint for business attire and concealment while large enough for defense, a modicum of belly for a variety of tasks, good edge holding, nice lines, good ergonomics and fun to play with when meetings get boring. Since it came out, it's been my go-to EDC blade of choice. The only factor missing is confidence that I won't break the tip during the heaviest of chores or while prying. Not too big of a deal considering the cost of this blade is so small, I could buy a few spares. But that confidence in an EDC is important to me. And so with a Breakout in my left hand and a mouse in my right hand, my search for that perfect EDC continued while feeling a little guilty that I was "cheating" on my Breakout.
No offense to you Spydie lovers, but every Spyderco I've handled just didn't cut it in one way or another for my EDC needs. They're definitely well-built and well-suited for a variety of tasks for a diversity of people, but there has always been something about each that I couldn't live with. Along came the Spyderco Paramilitary 2. I read way too many reviews and YouTube videos. Like all that came before, it just seemed too good to be true and I passed all the forum jubilation off as hype. But something about it just kept calling to me. I tried like hell to ignore that calling, but it kept getting louder and louder. I asked my team if anyone had tried one, and lo and behold, 2 guys pulled them from their gear. Oh my God! What a blade! I was immediately hooked and had to have one. I ordered the regular S30V with black G10 scales. I've been playing with it, carrying it and actually USING it non-stop since it arrived. Granted, it's kind of hefty to EDC in business or formal attire, but it's suited to everything else. This Para2 is so damned well-built I don't think it will ever break under my "normal" use. The fit and finish is about as perfect as perfect gets and the thick spine and flat grind is exactly what I've been looking for in an EDC. The edge is all belly and a joy to maintain, usually requiring only a quick strop to bring it back to razor sharpness even after hacking oak. The compression lock is smooth and confidence-inspiring. Except for a small peeve of mine with the forefinger groove, the ergonomics are superb no matter how I hold this beauty. I love this knife!!!
So why does the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 suck? Well... I just can't seem to put it down. I get withdrawal symptoms during times when it's not kosher to pull it out. I'm having a hard time resisting the urge to play with it when stuck in traffic jams. I'm losing sleep and the only time I eat now is when I think of a new way to prep food with my Para2. The incessant sound of Para2 "THWACK!" all day and night at home is alienating me from my family. I need help.
To the Glesser Family and the Spyderco Crew, thank you for creating the blade that has become the end of my long road to EDC happiness.
Note: The only things I decided to change about this blade were to change the clip to tip-up, chamfer the scales at the forefinger groove for endurance cutting with a deathgrip and ease of deployment when using the SpydieHole, and smooth the G10 a little under the grip to keep my pocket from wearing down and quicken the draw.
Soldering iron tip to the head of each screw to break the red Loctite:
Dremel grinding stones, 320 & 600 wet/dry sandpaper to chamfer the scales at the forefinger groove:
Duct tape around general area to be sanded before removing clip:
After about 10 seconds of light finger pressure with 320 wet/dry paper:
My now perfect-for-me Para2:
Cleaned up and ready to rock the most perfect EDC I've ever owned:
