EDC advice/opinions sought: Paramilitary 2 vs Benchmade 940

[DitmasPork]

Alright, I'm pretty set with kitchen knives, finding it challenging to justify needs—basically I've got too many kitchen knives.
Thought it about time to purchase my first EDC since having a beloved Swiss Army knife confiscated by TSA in my early 20s.

My shortlist—within the price point I'm able to spend are:
Spyderco Lefty Paramilitary 2 and the Benchmade 940.

FWIW, I'm an urbanite, don't do camping, will use the knife for just odds and end tasks, can't imagine it getting heavy use. Any thoughts, suggestions appreciated—open to EDC knives I've not thought of.

Any KKFers have experience with both or either?

 

[Simply]

PM2 was my go to for at least a decade but I just no longer need a pocket knife enough to justify it in the pocket. Great knife, great mechanism. The 940 is nice but just doesn’t feel as robust (plus I’ve had a few axis lock springs break).

The pm2 is a little on the thick side, so I would also consider a native 5, delica, or pm3 if pocket bulk is a consideration.

I have an old but excellent condition mini griptillian that I’m happy to send your way for the cost of shipping. Very light and suits the urbanite needs. It has a broken axis spring, but that’s a cheap fix. (Edit- if I can find it, just checked the drawer where I thought it would be and not the case. Maybe in my fishing bag.)

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

I am decidedly Spyderco biased. I am not a fan of Benchmade's Axis lock. If you just want to flick your knife open and closed then have at it but that lock gets super loose and I've seen too many broken springs. I've also seen and read too many accounts of poor Benchmade quality. Good customer service but too many things escape the factory.

Others will strongly disagree.

I'd say to give the Dragonfly 2 and Chaparral a hard look. Very nice size for getting started. The Dfly2 is one of my all time favorite knives.

 

[DitmasPork]

I am decidedly Spyderco biased. I am not a fan of Benchmade's Axis lock. If you just want to flick your knife open and closed then have at it but that lock gets super loose and I've seen too many broken springs. I've also seen and read too many accounts of poor Benchmade quality. Good customer service but too many things escape the factory.

Others will strongly disagree.

I'd say to give the Dragonfly 2 and Chaparral a hard look. Very nice size for getting started. The Dfly2 is one of my all time favorite knives.

Kinda fell for the Paramilitary 2 when a family friend showed up at a party and cut pastries with his para 2. I'll look up the other Spydercos you mentioned. Another Spyderco that caught my attention was the Shaman, but don't know if they do a lefty version of the compression lock.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

Been out of it for a while but I don't think they do a lefty version. Shaman is nice for sure but it is pretty thick and bulky in the pocket. Just something to consider.

 

[azn_knives_4l]

940 fits really nicely into a pocket but also doesn't cut I'd go PM 2 on that alone but weight and ease of carry are important. Maybe split the difference and go Bugout?

 

[aporigine]

I’ve got a coupla Benchmades and like the brand. I did read somewhere that the 940 is unpleasantly wedge/shaped in cross-section. Never used a Spyderco folder but they have a reputation for being natural-born cutters.

 

[panda]

Alright, I'm pretty set with kitchen knives, finding it challenging to justify needs—basically I've got too many kitchen knives.
Thought it about time to purchase my first EDC since having a beloved Swiss Army knife confiscated by TSA in my early 20s.

My shortlist—within the price point I'm able to spend are:
Spyderco Lefty Paramilitary 2 and the Benchmade 940.

FWIW, I'm an urbanite, don't do camping, will use the knife for just odds and end tasks, can't imagine it getting heavy use. Any thoughts, suggestions appreciated—open to EDC knives I've not thought of.

Any KKFers have experience with both or either?

I use pm2 daily (heavy use) and it slays cardboard. I even cut through nearly an inch thick shipping box. have not had to sharpen it yet either

 

[azn_knives_4l]

Fwiw, maybe consider an Opinel, lol. Not expensive or American but lighter than the Benchmade *and* slicer than the Spyderco. Can't open one-handed

 

[DitmasPork]

Fwiw, maybe consider an Opinel, lol. Not expensive or American but lighter than the Benchmade *and* slicer than the Spyderco. Can't open one-handed

Cheers. But personally, I find the Opinel to be rather hideous looking, too cheap.

 

[azn_knives_4l]

Cheers. But personally, I find the Opinel to be rather hideous looking, too cheap.

They do look cheap and it's because they are, in fact, cheap

 

[DitmasPork]

They do look cheap and it's because they are, in fact, cheap

I'm sure they cut fine, but aesthetics do matter for me. Can't see buying more than one EDC (although, that's what I said about gyutos). Price point for my purchase is approx $250, give or take.

 

[aporigine]

I'm sure they cut fine, but aesthetics do matter for me. Can't see buying more than one EDC (although, that's what I said about gyutos). Price point for my purchase is approx $250, give or take.

You could do worse than snagging a used Chris Reeve off the Bay. Several in the ~$200 range, but none are buy it now.

I have a Sebenza. Dressy, nice close tolerances, capable cutter.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176465507294?itmmeta=01J2HGT6BAH1W6D9H5PRYV5T1E&hash=item291629f3de:g:rzQAAOSwArVmjuNv&itmprp=enc:AQAJAAAAwBNyzUwlh+i+hX09ZaFRghVsGyTMeujJIEXVE3B03+yTDOKRNq9tFnJ8DAKdRx25nnjEiXeJ6uWt7cwH0y85KaYzMb/G2UPYzW3bH8cBVPvV+Y4uZOAdWIFo4wpOI61xTMav5HPuvDfezNfrH/d/0Okkvu8Mz3GYousyinGHbZCWe8KrNaqbnnXDhMfrwAwZykS6JUt1OrgdY+3QKU+JXLmL6o298woOwoCVJerikK5jF0drTHhPjLlnGBzXSPyLEA==|tkp:Bk9SR9rl6LCUZA

Not seriously suggesting this, but it made me smile. Gucci x Rambo

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1263561608...eUhxV+|tkp:BFBM6rClsZRk&LH_ItemCondition=3000

 

[JustAnotherJoe]

Cheers. But personally, I find the Opinel to be rather hideous looking, too cheap.

Boo! Boo!
Unless your talking about the ones with plastic handles, then yeah those look cheap.

I've toyed with carrying one and found the two handed opening to be too clunky to possibly recomend them as an edc though.

 

[Barmoley]

I prefer Spyderco and PM2 would be my choice out of the two. PM2 comes left handed, but many lefties have no issues operating right handed compression lock, you just have to use your thumb instead.

 

[AT5760]

I own both Benchmade and Spyderco and prefer Spyderco for EDC.

 

[Noodle Soup]

Spyderco, but I'm carrying the full size Military. I'm left handed and had never thought about the compression lock being right handed.

 

[DitmasPork]

Spyderco, but I'm carrying the full size Military. I'm left handed and had never thought about the compression lock being right handed.

Admittedly, I’ve very little (about 10 seconds worth) experience handling a Paramilitary 2, but had read a bit about lefties using compression locks on Knife Forum.

 

[Tim Rowland]

Out of those two, my bias would go towards the pm2. Nothing wrong with the osborne but I always give a slight bias to anything full height ground and a slightly higher Rc.
I own a handful of each companies knives.
At the store I work at we sell about the same quantity of each, I rarely see a spyderco come in for any warranty work. We probably send in 4-5 benchmades a month for warranty (mixed models). That said benchmade has great customer service and they do have a good turnaround time for their warranty work.
As for everyday carry I would suggest the pm3 as it is only slightly smaller but I find is a great size for all day pocket carry and can get 99% ofc edc tasks done. Nice full height slicey grind and in my opinion much better HT than benchmade.....and more accurate according to the many blades I have tested on my rockwell tester.

 

[Barmoley]

If you don’t mind bright yellow, salt PM3 in MagnaCut is excellent edc, light weight and very capable. Or if you want an ultimate pm2, 15V with BBB heat treat is great too.

 

[DitmasPork]

Bought! Finally decided to take a baby step into the world of EDCs.

Just ordered a Spyderco left handed Para 2 with a titanium deep carry clip installed from Lynch NW.

My first EDC purchase.

 

[pitted_soul]

I think you will be pleased. I made it late to the discussion but have both. In terms of a functional EDC knife, the Para 2 or 3 is the way to go. The 940 is great in its own right, but the jimping sucks and it's not the easiest to sharpen with the grind. The Para 2 is just so slicey and easy to sharpen. Plus, it's ergos give a much deeper sense of security and grip in the hand.

 

[daveb]

I like both brands and have representatives of each. But Benchmade gets the nod because of the release mechanism. For me it just works better than Spydie's. Mini Osborne is the everyday.

 

[jedy617]

I think you will be pleased. I made it late to the discussion but have both. In terms of a functional EDC knife, the Para 2 or 3 is the way to go. The 940 is great in its own right, but the jimping sucks and it's not the easiest to sharpen with the grind. The Para 2 is just so slicey and easy to sharpen. Plus, it's ergos give a much deeper sense of security and grip in the hand.

And no omega springs to break. Always preferred compression lock

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

Bought! Finally decided to take a baby step into the world of EDCs.

Just ordered a Spyderco left handed Para 2 with a titanium deep carry clip installed from Lynch NW.

My first EDC purchase.

Lynch is just down the road from me. They make a good product.

 

[DitmasPork]

Lynch is just down the road from me. They make a good product.

I’ve never bought from them, found Lynch when searching for lefty clips.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

I’ve never bought from them, found Lynch when searching for lefty clips.

They are very commonly recommended in the Spydie world. I have Lynch clip on my everyday Endura and very much like it. Sits nice and low in the pocket.

 

[Danejah]

Hard to go wrong with either. I’m a vegetable farmer and use them pretty hard. I’ve always carried benchmade and have lost more than I want to admit in the field (mini freak s90v as of recent). I’m hard on them and just send them to benchmade at the end of every season for a sharpen/go over. Had the 940 but it’s just to big imo to carry, anything benchmade carries in the mini version I’d probably go with unless you’ve got a specific need. I personally don’t want to notice it in my pocket especially when I’m carrying a phone and a set of keys and other misc stuff. Both good brands for the everyday user

 

[RRLOVER]

I just purchased the new Osborne and mini Osborne In magnacut...One is an auto which is fun to play with...I was carrying a Para 2 for a long time...It's a hard choice between the the 2 blades...I say buy both!!!

 

[DitmasPork]

Admittedly, I was torn between the Para 2 and Para 3, unsure what would be more comfortable day to day—I’d faced the same dilemma when buying my first gyuto, choosing between a 210 and 240. I can’t imagine this being my only EDC purchase.