The Para Military 2 by Spyderco Knives

My number one request for pocket clips is the Para Military 2. The Para Military original model and the Military have always been very popular for me but this model here since it arrived on the market has literally taken over a lot of pockets if the amount of requests I get for clips is any indication. While I love the fact that the two models of this knife that I own have basically paid for themselves allowing me to fashion clips for users the fact is I'd have bought this knife even if this was not the case. My feelings about this particular folder by Spyderco are that it is the most complete and well thought out folder Spyderco has ever produced. I'll be perfectly honest with you about this lock. I don't like the compression lock all that much. I have no reason for this other than just personal preference but you cannot argue that it has many advantages for strength and reliability over the liner lock many trust. Over the time I've owned this model I have actually grown quite used to the compression lock and do find it to be very much something that can be adapted to if one is patient. I doubt it will ever rank with frame locks or the Triad lock for me but I am comfortable giving it third place with the original Dodo style ball lock coming in at number 4 for me. This is just my own personal pref as I find I rate all these locks above the button lock, the liner lock, the axis lock and most others being offered for myself. 

As you can see looking at this knife I do unique clips with no two ever the same. This is something I ask of my customers in that I like having artistic license to let my creativity flow. I will however work with folks if they see a pic and want that. This Para Military 2 model with the beefier hardware and screws, the refined bushing action of the pivot, the cleaner well thought out design and placement of everything including the pocket clip and lanyard as well as the overall design of the larger handle for bigger hands all come together in such a way here that anyone that handles one has to say WOW that feels great! The hand loves a Spyderco and above all else the hand trumps the eyes when it comes to use. I mean lets be serious you can't expect to make any long term commitment with a new partner in life if that partner is one that doesn't pass the 'hug test' now can you? 

Everything from the screws and hardware used to the position of the pocket clip has been well thought out here. The pocket clip is such that in the hand it all but disappears perhaps better than any other model I can think of in recent years. 

In the hand is where Spyderco really shines and in this case the Para Military 2 model may actually raise the bar a tad higher. In fact if you ask users and fans of Spyderco knives you hear time and again about how some users didn't even care for the way the knife they bought looked at all. The term 'fugly ugly' has been used to describe Spyderco by some for many years but you often times cannot really even appreciate the Spyderco experience until you pick up one of the Spyderco knives and wrap your hand around it. For most this is the deal maker right there! You cannot deny it fits the hand and this seems to be the case with one knife after another produced by this company. Add that to a fine warranty, the best forums available from any manufacture so you can actually talk to the people within the company if you like and sometimes even the man behind it all himself and you have a very good reason to look seriously at the Spyderco product line. They get a fair amount of my knife money each year I can tell you that.  Combine all this with a company that knows the definition of sharpness, the proper use and application of blade geometry geared toward the best steels and optimum heat treatment available and you understand why guys like myself often times pick Spyderco for what goes in our own pockets. 

The Spyderco Para Military 2 refines precision high performance cutting excellence in such a way here with this model that one cannot help but say it has to be among the best knives to consider for  those trying to decide which knives to purchase. If made in the USA is something you are looking for this would certainly be in my top three suggestions for anyone at this writing. 

You have here a model available in a host of the latest and greatest blade steels, handle materials, and color options. All this comes together in such a way that it is hard once you look at this model to find one configuration you could not live with quite happily. Spyderco goes above and beyond for blade grind and optimization of cutting and edge performance. In my experience Spyderco has always set the standard for 'sharp' in this industry which is why many looking to buy a knife on the forums use terms such as 'Spydie edge' or ask questions when looking to buy a used knife like, 'is it Spyderco sharp?'  To most knife nuts we relate to that instantly because it would be a rare occurrence indeed to purchase a Spyderco that did not come biting sharp! I've bought some from other companies that were shipped to me with no bevel at all! Oh yeah! You'd be shocked who too trust me!

Anyway, I'm way late entering this on my blogger. You guys kept me hopping last year with clips and pry bars. Thanks to you and guys like you that are interested in my craft and my increasing exposure I have manged to keep my head above water for the first time in 2011 where I actually made some money. It has been nice being able to develop this niche I've created for myself in the market. The fact that I was able to do it and play with something I've always been passionate about, knives, makes it that much greater for me and that much more the reason that I love you guys showing interest in what I produce. Please know that I thank each and every one of you for your part in allowing me to do what I love doing out of my own home shop. For 2012, for you my customers,  it is my goal to continue to try to enhance your folding knives with my custom fit ti pocket clips made to order and to provide a useful pocket or key ring tool to those needing or wanting one. These two items are all I focus on now and things have grown such that this is now possible for me to do that. 

So, with that said, I hope to continue to learn and grow working to make my customers happy in a manner consistent with maintaining my reputation for good communication, prompt courteous service with as fast a ship out of your completed orders for your EDC folders as is humanly possible. I pray that our economy and our current turmoil in the world will begin to wind down so we all can continue our relationships this way . Love and light to all of you. Thanks so much for a record 2011. I look forward to helping you feel better about your folders in 2012 and beyond.  Should any of you need me you can email me at STR@bladeforums.com with your questions. 

STR

How well will G-10 hold a screw?

This question has come up so often asking me how well G10 holds threads that I thought it was a good subject to go over. If you are a knife nut you are likely quite familiar with G10 material. This glass filled epoxy material is time proven for knife handle applications with machining and carving or shaping ability that far exceeds most of the other things we have open to us as makers to use as handle materials. G10 is virtually immune to weather changes such as temp. variance and humidity, it is immune to oils, chemicals, acids, heat and flame and many other factors such as chipping or cracking from drying out over time. Even with the safety issue of having to really watch how much of this dust you breath in by using the best respirator you can afford since it is basically like breathing volcanic glass G10 brings a lot to the table as Cold Steel and Andrew Demko have proven in their severe abuse testing of some of this material when used on folding knives.

Way back in 2009 I had a post for this question which I recently found again. My answer was so complete that I decided to make that post a sticky on my forum and to place that same info here. Here is my answer complete in it's original form pasted from my own words when the question was put to me yet again.


The question: 


I wanted to do a quick mod on a knife. Will G-10, if tapped, hold a screw well or am I wasting my time?


My answer: 


G10, Micarta, FRN/Zytel 'can' work to hold threads indefinitely and as I always tell folks when I flip these clips to tip up carry for them the same things I'll just tell you now so you know. Of course this depends on using the proper size numbered drill sizes to drill your holes and the proper size tapper to thread those holes after they are drilled. For softer materials such as these a number 48 drill will work just fine with a thread forming tap for a 2-56 size from Enco or MSC Industrial supply.  Be aware of the three rules of thumb for threading these materials without liners of nickel silver, brass,  stainless or titanium behind them and you'll see that it will go a long ways for you before you ever have to fuss with it again. Those three rules are:
1) Never overtighten the screws. They need only be snug to work. An occasional check is ok but just be careful to not overtweak them. One half twist too far can severely weaken the bite and hold down ability of your new threads. 
2) Don't use loctite or super glue on the threads. While it is debatable here I don't recommend using it in this case. Doing so in my experience may be responsible for premature weakening of the threads when you are relying on just G10, Micarta, or FRN (fiberglass reinforced nylon) The more you wear the threads down the more likely they will lose their bite and hold down ability. For the glues it can be such that when you do end up having to remove the clip for whatever reason after gluing them in it can strip out the threads entirely or severely change them to weaken them in some places you can't see the first time you do remove or re-tighten a screw later.
3) Don't make a habit of taking the clip on and off whether you use glue or loctite or not. Frequent removal like this increases the risk of cross threading, or overtightening, both of which are quite easy to do if you are not careful.  The more you use it the weaker and weaker the threads get. In fact its more than an argument really. They will weaken more with use. The key to making the threads last is to simply leave the clip in place once it is mounted.

In some knives depending on thickness of the scales I have used shorter screws to hold the clips but threaded into the material much deeper. Later if a short screw strips or no longer holds you can simply get a longer one and find fresh never used threads deeper that will still work so you can cheat your way to longer life this way also. 

I've done a countless number now of clips threading them into handles made out of all of those materials over the years and some of those jobs are upwards of 17 to 20 years old or more now and still holding threads for folks using them so it can work if you follow these guidelines. In the event that a screw does strip you can always send it to me then and get the backing plate or some threaded inserts installed on the underside of the scale so there is metal to screw down to. (see pics attached to this post) Generally speaking if you follow these three simple rules though, its trouble free and it won't come to that. In the event that one does strip out though there may be other options. 

In my testing I've never had any issues doing it this way, and quite honestly the fears and stories of the G10 ripping out are nonsense. Thats never happened to any I've tested. The clips break way before the G10 would give out and if you notice the G10 is very secured and bolted down both at the lanyard on most Spydercos and the screws holding the knives together. It makes for a very strong body. I believe Cold Steel and Andrew Demko have proven just how durable and strong G10 actually is. Just watch some of the videos on youtube.

I've done so many now its old hat and I have some knives in my safe of my own threaded like this that are first test pieces so to speak that are old Cold Steel FRN knives from way back still holding threads no problem. Way back when a lot of companies, Spyderco included made those pocket clips integral with the handle of the same FRN or Zytel material and often times those had to be replaced from bending out, deforming or one time one melted somehow. I forget how now. Seems like it had something to do with insect repellent now that I think about it. Anyway, there are a ton of old knives out there by me with new clips done this way and some are probably still floating around the forums that folks here have had me do so just do what I recommend and you'll be fine. 

As I said, if and when it ever needs work again just print my work order form found in one of my sticky threads about contacting me and mail it off to me or fix it yourself with a little bit of work after dissassembling it by installing two or three inserts in the bottom side of the scale. Use spade or two flute type drills in the proper sizes and not the twist drills and you can save time by not having to clamp pieces down. Twist drills pull the piece in and on something very thin like a scale it can snap clean through right quick if you are not careful. A starter hole using one of the two flute carbides from MSC followed up to the proper depth with a correct size end cutter flat bottom drill and it is ready to have the insert placed. I usually buy one 1/8" pivot barrel already threaded for the 2-56 size screw. Then I slice off thin end cuts off the end of that stainless barrel using my thin kerf cut off disc and my rotary handpiece holding the barrel firmly with a small vise grip plier. Once a 1mm slice is off I insert them in 1/8" shallow holes on the undersides making sure to cut the slices so the last little bit of material holding the slice on the barrel has to be snapped off. This leaves a little splinter or nipple end protrusion that you can use to grip into the G10 keeping it from spinning when its tightened down. After the clip is placed you can spot some super glue over the back side of the three inserts and its basically on there ready to roll after that. Reassemble the folder and you are good to go with metal backing now to secure the clip.

Hope that helps and answers your questions. Thanks for stopping by my forum to ask. 

STR

click any picture to enlarge

shown above are two thin stainless 1/8" pivot barrel slices placed into holes drilled to precise depths to allow the sleeves to sit flush once pulled in and seated by tightening down the screw. This is of course a shot of the underside of the scale on both shots here.  Once the folder is put back together it looks like any other folder with the unseen threaded inserts hiding on the inside. 

Three pack to start 2012

Emerson CQC7 left, Spyderco Para Military original model middle, Spyderco Manix 2 far right. 

 Sky blue left, dark bronze middle,  light olive/teal green right to match the handle a little better

I figured it was high time to make another post here so I picked a couple favorite photos of recent jobs to post up just to try to keep the place lively. Thanks for stopping by. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/525771-Low-Rider-Pocket-Clip-info-mailing-instructions

STR

Shown above- 4 samples of the Mini Griptilian-Full Size Griptilian
low rider I offer shown in the top four  finish/color requests. 

Kershaw Rainbow Leek with STR emerald green ti low rider clip

Shown here is a emerald green anodized titanium pocket clip made to fit a Rainbow Leek by Kershaw knives. Sometimes they come out so nice you just have to show em off a little. Keep in mind that the one shown is a concept. And while it is the basic pattern I designed originally trying to stay along the same feel as the original clip that comes on the folder when new we do have some room to play there creatively to make adjustments if we like. So long as I am able to work within the templates I have precut out using up my titanium stock I'll work with folks. We can go over that when you contact me.

http://www.yuntaa.com/FileManager/Download.aspx?ContentID=52E030C97E8122C9E04400144FB7B71E


Here are a few more of the same model only a standard Leek in tip down carry vs the rainbow model which is set up for tip up carry. Most of these aftermarket low rider clips I make are going to be 'location specific'. If you imagine flipping the clip on this rainbow model to tip down you can see that the fold over would overhang off the end by quite a bit. This is typical of many folders as the proximity of the holes to the end of the knife is most always different from one mount position to the other. Doesn't matter if it is a Spyderco Para Military or Military or one of the Leek models or many others. Few are going to be the same for hole placement in regards to their distance from the end of the handle.

Hope that makes sense.

The Leek ranks up there for me with the Para Military 2 and my mini AK 47 for the top three spots in my everyday line up. It would not be unusual to catch me with one or more of the above on my person at any time. One thing the Leek really has going for it is the perfect size! I love the size of the Leek and the blade shape which I consider to be among the most useful you can use. I also love the rainbow Leek in particular because a friend of mine has one of these he bought years ago and I sharpen it for him frequently due to how he uses it. The finish on this knife is so durable and scratch resistant that you have to respect it regardless of how pretty it looks because it makes for a very durable pocket knife. I find the blade steel Kershaw uses to be more than adequate preferring the 14c28 over 420HC or anything being offered by SAK or Case only preferring 154CM and ATS34 over it for the more frequently seen stainless steels made available. I'd take S30V or D2 over all these though. Fortunately the Leek has been offered in so many blade steels that one should be available to please even the biggest steel snob around. I had a Leek with ZDP189 and another in 110V. Both were gifted to my son though as I did not want to use the limited editions. I have no problem using the very common rainbow Leek. I snagged this folder off of Wal-Mart on line for just over $55 shipped! I can't argue with that at all for what you get. .

Thanks for looking
STR
STR@bladeforums.com

Leek Factory Clip 

Factory clip tip down

Custom Low Rider Tip down 

Low Rider in pocket shown in titanium, anodized blue @ 28 volts for the DC power supply