The Magnacut Paramilitary 2

[xnmw]

FYI I got a shipping notification that my preorder shipped from Blade HQ.

Gives me hope--I'd have thought preorders would go out before you could just pick these up off the shelf--probably the last time I preorder

[Brock O Lee]

I"m not so sure about the extra grip on the black one @Wallach. Looking at stock photos, the yellow version has the same peel ply texture on the flats, so I'd say it is likely they'll feel the same in the hand.

The yellow/black appears smooth in this video?:

I stand corrected... That is my bad for not seeing those videos.

The stock photos floating around must have been photo-shopped.

[RugerNurse]

How does the pivot stay rust resistant with the washers?

[James Y]

I wonder if that thin central line in the handle pattern from the clip screw holes to the pivot screw helps to make clipping and unclipping in the pocket a little smoother? Because the clip's contact point does not land on that "Caribbean-like" flat spot in the middle like it does on the Caribbean.

Jim

[shunsui]

Well I was resisting buying another Para2, thought I'd pick up the Military2 version, but then I noticed there isn't a Military2 version in this year's line up.

Caved.

Good thing I did, this is a really nice Paramilitary 2. I'm not posting pictures because it's much nicer in hand than what you see in the pictures. Black cat, coal mine, yada yada...

Was wary of the handle serrations but it feels great in hand. Serrations look better in person too.

Only disappointment was the stop pin wasn't DLC coated. Not sure how normal that is, but it's not a show stopper for me. The other two standoffs though black coated, are shiny and reflect a little glare from a light source so the stop pin doesn't stand out as much as it could have. Maybe service has a spare.

The edge measured the typical 17 degrees per side, 34 inclusive.

Ran a few Bess tests and got 84, 85, and best case 67, worst case 103.

Edit: corrected those test results, see post further down this page.

Cut up a Safeway receipt with ease.

Thank you, Spyderco, for a great version of the Paramilitary 2.

[Brock O Lee]

Those are impressive Bess numbers from a factory edge!

[Wallach]

It's odd because literally the only thing that isn't coated on the entire knife seems to be that stop pin. I can only assume it is made of something very rust-resistant since they didn't want it coated (probably as to not interfere with the tolerance of the lockup over time or something).

[Brock O Lee]

I agree, an uncoated stop pin makes complete sense to me for reliable and consistent lockup. No surface layer to wear off over time and change the lock tolerance.

On some of my other PM2’s I’ve seen occasional light stop pin corrosion over the years. I’ve seen similar reports from other people too. I assume for this model a sufficiently corrosion resistant steel was chosen given the Salt designation. Speculating, but likely a similar steel as is used on the Caribbean, the other Salt model with a compression lock.

[RugerNurse]

I"m not so sure about the extra grip on the black one @Wallach. Looking at stock photos, the yellow version has the same peel ply texture on the flats, so I'd say it is likely they'll feel the same in the hand.

The yellow/black appears smooth in this video?:

I stand corrected... That is my bad for not seeing those videos.

The stock photos floating around must have been photo-shopped.

This is close up from the 2024 product guide. It looks textured there though. Maybe there is hope

[Mushroom]

That photo in the catalog is a prototype. It genuinely looks like they took one of the black scales and painted the grooves yellow to show off the concept. Notice how the edges are still black, not layered.

As a result of manufacturing, the black and yellow scales will be smooth. Only the all black PM2 Salt scales will retain the peel ply texture.

To attain a consistent finish among all of the yellow/black scales, they have to machine the top surface evenly to clean up the scales and ensure the right amount of yellow can be exposed underneath the black.

[riclaw]

Well, I for one hope the yellow/black salt scales are predominantly black as shown in the 2024 Product Guide.

I noticed the difference during the Texas Blade Show videos but hoped the one Eric was holding was the outlier.

[Mushroom]

The photo in the product guide is not accurate. Refer to this video, posted here by Sovereign.

These are production pieces. This is how they will all look.

…

[shunsui]

Those are impressive Bess numbers from a factory edge!

I made a point of not cutting anything before the Bess tests.
If you cut up a cardboard box, the numbers are going to trend upwards.

It is impressive though. When I first got the tester, I tried a lot of knives and was surprised by how dull they were. I actually got a new razor blade to check the tester and it popped at 50, so it seems to know sharp.

[Brock O Lee]

Two Magnacut brothers from another mother…

[GT99]

Is the black still a DLC coating or is it a new coating they were talking about at shot show?

[RugerNurse]

I think in the knife center interview Eric said it’s DLC to start and will transition to the new coating once they get it finalized

[Eliteone2383]

I help my friend on his crab boat in the summer time. Maybe I need to consider getting this one. What kind if edge retention does magnacut have? Am I gonna have to resharpen it after a day on the boat every time?

[Pokey]

I help my friend on his crab boat in the summer time. Maybe I need to consider getting this one. What kind if edge retention does magnacut have? Am I gonna have to resharpen it after a day on the boat every time?

I think it's safe to say it all depends on what you're cutting.

The chart below is from Dr. Larrin Thomas' website https://knifesteelnerds.com/2021/03/25/cpm-magnacut/ and shows many different kinds of steel that MagnaCut is compared to. The link above from his website tells how he developed it. As you've probably gathered by now his website in general is an excellent source of everything about knife steel.



If you've been using knives with different steel it'll give you a good idea where MagnaCut fits in.

[Dizzysamurai]

anyone got a ballpark on the HRC of the pm2 salt?
i want to buy, now that available but, kinda trying to hold off till they come out with satin pm2 variation and lw pm3 variation. I will snatch one of these up though if, I here they knocked the heat treat out of the park.

I fear when new coating comes out dlc pm2s may fade away, so I'm tempted to buy.
Need that magna to be heat treated right though!
not too many videos posted up on this knife yet so, ill ask here. much appreciated!

[ZrowsN1s]

Huh. Strangely enough the black and yellow look better to me. How odd.