FOG HORN March, 2016

Twobirds Flying Publication

Copyright 2016, Towbirds Flying Publication. All Rights Reserved.

Spyderco’s Para Military 2 Dark Blue

Spyderco Para Military 2 2016

Copyright 2016, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved

Spyderco Para Military 2 Dark Blue – The Spyder Strikes Again!

By: Sal Palma

It’s never mundane to have the opportunity to

review a Spyderco blade. Sal’s philosophy of

continuous quality improvement is evident in

each and every piece he and his team turn out,

and team it is because everyone in the

organization contributes to the company’s huge

success. So, for me to say how great it was to

once again work with Sal and his folks on this

review is redundant.

At our SHOT Show 2016 meeting, in Las Vegas,

Kristi Hunter, Digital Media / Marketing

Administrator at Spyderco, took me through the

company’s new offerings for 2016. I’ll say right

off the top, all of the offerings are worthy of

honorable mention but their new Para Military

2 Dark Blue impressed me. Such a classy look at

this level of performance is uncommon.

The Para Military knife can trace its beginnings

to 2004, if memory serves me, when the

company introduced the classic Para Military.

In 2010 Spyderco introduced the Para Military 2

which featured a number of major

enhancements reflecting Spyderco’s philosophy

of constant quality improvement, a tradition

that continues in the 2016 Para Military 2.

Although presented as a tactical folding knife,

Spyderco’s 2016 Para Military 2 Dark Blue is as

much at home in BDUs as it is in Armani.

To fully appreciate the 2016 rendition of the

Para Military 2, it’s important to revisit the

specific generational improvements.

In 2010, Spyderco made the decision to profile

the blade and handle thinner than the classic

design. The change improved the knife’s

ergonomics and reduced its weight adding to its

overall comfort level.

The 2010 model also saw a reduction in size to

the end of the textured G10 handle to improve

how the handle feels in the hand. The company

retained the handle length, a great decision

preserving the classic’s excellent grip even in

the largest hands. Further 2010 enhancement

was increasing the size of the all-important

lanyard hole, a feature that many of the “so

called” tactical designs overlook.

On the mechanical side all Spyderco Para

Military models were designed with the

Compression Lock™ mechanism—a high-

strength lock that allows the knife to be closed

one handed without placing your fingers in the

path of the edge. The compression lock

increases safety without compromising the Para

Military 2’s very solid fixed blade feel.

Spyderco Para Military 2 2016

Copyright 2016, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved

Continuing with mechanical changes, Spyderco

moved to a new pivot system for the blade axis

that made operating the knife smoother or as

the company describes it more fluid, and fluid it

is!

In 2010 the company addressed the persistent

folding knife carry dilemma, right side carry tip

up / tip down or left side carry tip up / tips

down - there are as many opinions on this topic

as there are grains of sand. Spyderco added an

ambidextrous carry tip up or tip down

arrangement to provide its customers with a

plethora of options.

The blade too saw a change for 2010 beyond its

profiling. The 2010 Para Military 2 saw a slight

lengthening of the blade tip which improved the

knife’s piercing abilities; jimping along the spine

and finger choil was also increased to improve

control.

Spyderco also changed the clip to a beautifully

finished and branded hourglass pocket clip. You

won’t be damaging your gabardine dress slacks

with the new pocket clip.

All of the generational enhancements of the

2010 Para Military 2 are preserved in the 2016

design.

In 2016, Spyderco added the Para Military 2

Dark Blue. Like all of their Blue Line knives, the

blade steel was upgraded from CPM S30V to

CPM S110V, a decision that improved the Para

Military 2 cutting performance and corrosion

resistance by factors of 10. Crucible’s CPM

S110V is a powder metallurgy steel enriched

with high amounts of vanadium and niobium—

alloys that give it exceptional wear resistance

and a higher corrosion resistance than many

other stainless steels.

Combining the full flat grind with the CPM

S110V, raise the Para Military 2 to a higher level

of performance. I’ll go as far as to say that

Spyderco’s 2016 Para Military 2 Dark Blue has

the best blade I’ve seen in any folding knife at

its $250 price point.

The Para Military 2 Dark Blue is a safe,

ergonomic, high performance and attractive

folder. Everything about it demonstrates

Spyderco’s substantial experience and

commitment to quality. It deserves a special

place in your collection.

-SP

Spyderco Para Military 2 2016

Copyright 2016, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved

Manufacturer Specifications

Overall Length: 8.24" (209 mm)

Blade Length: 3.42" (87 mm)

Steel: CPM S110V

Closed Length: 4.82" (122 mm)

Edge Length: 3.04" (77 mm)

Weight: 3.8 oz (108 g)

Blade Thickness: 0.145" (3.70 mm)

Handle: G-10