My first article about the Military 2 Salt was a story about evolution. About how Spyderco quietly transformed one of its most iconic folders from the ATS-34 era into something that almost feels like the final expression of the Military concept. From ATS-34 to the Salt Age, the journey was technical, historical and, in many ways, inevitable.
This time, I want to talk about something much simpler : Living with Gurney, my Mil 2 Salt. (I nicknamed my Military 2 Salt Gurney, after Gurney Halleck from Dune. A warrior, a troubadour and, above all, a dependable companion. Somehow, it seemed fitting.) Because after months of carrying it, I’ve stopped thinking about its steel, its lock or even its impressive specifications.
I simply reach for it. And I like it. I like its texture and action. I did not like some hot spots.
The very first thing I did was reshape the edge. Not because Spyderco’s factory edge wasn’t excellent—it was—but because every knife eventually becomes personal.
Sal Glesser has often said that sharpening a knife is one of the ways its owner truly makes it his own. I couldn’t agree more.
Over the years I’ve come to prefer a convex edge on almost every working knife I own. It glides through food beautifully, feels stronger behind the edge and, perhaps more importantly, suits the way I maintain my knives.
Magnacut seems to love that de-shouldering treatment of mine.
Once the convex geometry is established, maintenance becomes almost effortless. A few strokes on a leather strop are usually all it takes to bring the edge back to hair-popping sharpness.
Just a few moments with a strop on fine leather (NOT that Gucci !) or white ceramic, and the Military 2 Salt is ready for another week of work.
No complicated sharpening sessions. No steel removal unless it’s really necessary. Free-hand sharpening is a skill to hone. 😉 Pun absolutely intended.
Now, about those hot spots I mentioned earlier.
I also rounded the blade spine.
Not because it needed it, but because I simply love the feeling of a nicely rounded spine under my thumb. It’s a small modification that makes prolonged use even more comfortable and gives the knife a more refined, almost custom feel.
Like the convex edge, it’s one of those little personal touches that turns a production knife into your knife.
Ah, and the choil ! Just to fit it to my hand. I have used the diamonds rods from my Spyderco TriAngle sharpening system.
Those scales are french fries friendly. 🙂
Ok, like many knife enthusiasts, I spend far more time preparing food than cutting ropes or surviving in the wilderness.
Summer only reinforces that habit. (Here pictured with my favorite kitchen knife custom the Kitchen Warriors made by Patrick Bonetta)
Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, avocado, watermelon, mozzarella, feta, peaches, lemon, herbs… preparing large salads means wet hands covered with olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar and vegetable residue. Exactly the kind of environment where many folders start feeling slippery and where corrosion quietly begins its work.
The Military 2 Salt simply doesn’t care. Citric acid ? Bring it on ! And that G10 pattern/texture really keeps the knife perfectly anchored in my hand even when everything is slick as butter under the sun.
I would ever think that its ergonomics almost reveal once my hands are wet and slippery. And you know what, in cutlery, luxury is not having to think.
Magnacut attracts all the attention nowadays and corrosion resistance sells knives. But what I appreciate most isn’t the laboratory performance. It’s the peace of mind. Nothing is going to rust. Nothing is going to seize. Nothing requires immediate cleaning because I forgot the knife in the sink after cooking.
That confidence is difficult to quantify, but it changes the relationship you have with your tool.
This is something few knives offer.
At around €200 (or about $200), the Military 2 Salt is hardly a budget knife, but I honestly think it’s a bargain for what you’re getting: a thoroughly refined design built around one of the most capable blade steels available today.
(A deep pocket carry clip is a must for a low profile attitude.)
That knife, it removes one more concern from everyday life. You simply use it, rinse it if needed, strop it from time to time… and never worry about rust, corrosion or a reluctant pivot. No lock stick on mine actually. Just a smoooooth opening and closing.
The Military has always been a large folder. Well balanced and alive in your hand once opened.
But its pointy blade is undeniably imposing.
Yet the black and yellow Salt colors completely change the perception people have of it.
Instead of looking tactical, it looks… useful.
That yellow jacket Salt identity somehow soften its silhouette. It becomes an obvious tool before becoming a military weapon.
That surprised me.
I expected a big folder built with soldiers (of fortune), outdoorsmen and hard users in mind. And it is.
Instead I found one wasp of a folder that almost disappears into daily life despite its size.
Larger folders are often criticized for being excessive.
Sometimes that’s true. But excess is good in a sturdy piece of equipment.
I do love the Lil’Temperance in K390 which is a beast of a folder. But when summer arrives and you’re slicing an entire watermelon, preparing vegetables for several people or working with large ingredients, blade length suddenly becomes an advantage rather than a compromise.
This is exactly where my UKPK Salt or even my Sage Salt begin to reach their limits. Blade length in the kitchen is defining the use of the knife.
These days, whenever I know I’m going to spend time doing wet work, I instinctively grab the Military 2 Salt.
If I’m cooking—or simply lending a hand in a friend’s kitchen—the Military 2 Salt usually travels in my bag, while a smaller Slipit, like the Urban, rides in my pocket. (Or a Microjimbo, Meerkat, Lil’Native…)
The same applies when I’m camping or travelling.
Peace of mind is priceless, and that’s exactly what Spyderco’s CPM Magnacut Salt knives give me.
Gurney comes along as well, bringing all the qualities I appreciate most: a high-tech blade, superb balance and effortless reliability.
Not because they’re the strongest folding knives I own. But because they’re the ones I never have to worry about. I know they’ll deliver—whether in terms of cutting performance, corrosion resistance or simple reliability.
Easy to deploy. Easy to control. Easy to clean and keep it dirty. Easy to put back in the pocket. Solid. Reliable. Efficient. The Military 2 Salt has become exactly that.
A big folder to live with. A little piece of Colorado in my pocket.
You know how much I enjoy giving names to my knives. Well, this Meerkat Sprint Run is going to be called Casper.
Partly because of its very friendly personality, and partly because of its famous Phantom Lock. It seemed only fitting.
Like the friendly ghost, the Meerkat is small, harmless-looking and easy to like. It quietly disappears into a pocket, only to reappear when needed. And then, of course, there is that Phantom Lock. A lock that remains hidden, mysterious and just a little magical, even after all these years.
So yes, this Meerkat has officially become Casper the friendly folder, especially toward sheeples.
Now, as many of you know, I tend to baptize my knives the traditional Nemo way: with a little bit of my own blood.
And the Meerkat did not disappoint.
Ah ! When closing the blade with a wrist flick after disengaging the Phantom Lock, make sure your middle finger is well clear of the blade’s path. If it isn’t, it will quickly discover that the Meerkat’s edge is less friendly than its name suggests.
The closing blade comes down like a tiny guillotine, and yes, it cuts very well.
Ask me how I know. 😉
Nothing serious, just a small nick, but it serves as a useful reminder: the Meerkat may be compact and charming, yet it is still a very sharp Spyderco.
But once you start playing with the Meerkat, several things quickly become apparent.
First, it is surprisingly fidget-friendly.
Once you get the hang of it, disengaging the Phantom Lock and flicking the blade shut with a simple wrist movement becomes second nature. It is one of those knives that invites interaction. Before you know it, you find yourself opening and closing it repeatedly just for the pleasure of the mechanism. Just keep that middle finger away !
The second thing I noticed is how enjoyable the knife is to deploy using the good old Spyder Drop. Draw !!
Screenshot
I know this opening method is no longer fashionable. Nowadays, many users prefer to flick open a tip-up folder with their index finger. But the classic Spyderco opening technique—grabbing the knife by the Round Hole and snapping the blade open with a wrist flick—works wonderfully well with the Meerkat. The reasons are simple: tip down carry and… The handle carries a surprising amount of weight thanks to its steel liners, full backspacer and robust construction. That extra mass gives the knife excellent momentum during deployment, making the opening feel smooth, positive and satisfying.
Another pleasant surprise is the ergonomics. Despite its compact size, the handle comfortably accommodates all four fingers. The index finger naturally settles into the choil, while even the pinky gets its own dedicated space. The result is a grip that feels far more secure and powerful than the knife’s dimensions would suggest.
Then there is the blade.
One detail genuinely surprised me. Looking at the blade stock thickness, the Meerkat is actually thinner than the famously thin UKPK.
Meerkat: 0.096” (2.4 mm)
UKPK: 0.098” (2.5 mm)
We’re only talking about a tenth of a millimeter, but I still found it amusing. The UKPK has long been my benchmark for a thin, high-performance cutting blade. Yet here comes this odd little Meerkat, quietly slipping underneath it. Perhaps that helps explain why the knife feels so eager when slicing wood, food, cardboard or just about anything else. The Meerkat may look chunky because of its stout handle and full stainless steel liners, but the blade itself is surprisingly lean.
Like many great Spydercos, it hides its elite cutting performance in plain sight.
Its generous belly and thin geometry make it an outstanding cutter. The edge remains in contact with a cutting board through much of the cutting stroke, allowing clean and efficient slicing.
I’ll admit that, despite its tiny size, I ended up doing a surprising amount of kitchen work with it. Tomatoes, vegetables, even breaking down and portioning a chicken—the little Meerkat handled everything without complaint.
Agile in hand and eager to cut, it never feels overwhelmed.
This little knife is a genuine worker.
The textured FRN scales provide excellent traction, preventing any tendency to slip during use. Equally important, I found absolutely no blade play, either vertically or laterally. That’s reassuring on a knife whose pivot is not particularly accessible for adjustment.
In actual use, the Meerkat reveals itself as an exceptionally capable travel companion.
Low profile, discreet and easy to carry, yet remarkably efficient when called upon. Much of that comes from its relatively thick handle, which provides excellent control, while the thin, tall blade slices with a combination of precision and authority that continues to surprise me.
Small sheeple friendly folder, yes but very, very, very serious cutter. An impeccable companion that disappears into a pocket. Ghostlike. Always there when called upon. And far more capable than its size would ever suggest.
Ah, the Meerkat and its magical Phantom Lock… Ah ah ah! This one takes me straight back to 2002. Back to the Future, Spyderco style. The Meerkat is one of those knives that seems to have been designed for a single purpose: making knife enthusiasts scratch their heads. First impression? This is a very small knife. Even compared to the Chaparral. The Chaparral owes much of its DNA to the C62 Navigator. It was a compact lockback with the same short blade (saber hollow grind) optimized for travel and office-friendly carry. It also carries forward the spirit of the C09 CoPilot, continuing Spyderco’s long tradition of creating small knives that cut far bigger than their dimensions would suggest.
Naturally, I slipped the Meerkat into my fifth pocket, where it fits absolutely perfectly. In fact, it feels like it was designed for that role.
The second thing you notice is that this little oddball is set up for tip-down carry, just like the mighty Spyderco Military. And yes, you can still perform the classic Spyderco Drop without any issue ! 🙂
In hand, the Meerkat feels like a stout little worker. The action is firm, the lock-up is rock solid, and despite its compact size, there is nothing delicate about it. Everything feels purposeful and surprisingly robust.
Then comes the Phantom Lock. The Ghost in the Shell. 😉 I have just found that video made by Wouter (Spydercollector) 16 years ago !
Just hand the knife to another knife enthusiast and watch the show begin. They open it. They admire it. Then they try to close it.
Confusion follows. That’s when you starts smiling. 🙂
More than twenty years later, the Phantom Lock remains one of the cleverest and most entertaining locking mechanisms Spyderco has ever produced. It’s practical, it’s secure, and above all, it’s pure Spyderco: innovative, unconventional, and just a little bit crazy. 😄
Sliding the scale to unlock the blade.
Yep, some knives are designed to sell with some tactical bells and whistles. Others are designed to impress for their cleverness. The Meerkat never became a mainstream Spyderco classic. It was too small for tactical enthusiasts, too weird for traditionalists, and too clever for its own good. Yet more than twenty years later, Spyderco decided to bring it back as a Sprint Run equipped with CPM-SPY27 steel and cobalt blue FRN scales.
And honestly? I’m so glad they did ! Because the Meerkat was a knife from the future, designed twenty years ago.
And it is cute !
No, really, it remains one of the most futuristic designs ever released by Spyderco. At first glance, it looks like a tiny leaf-shaped folder with a humpback silhouette and a blade barely longer than your thumb. Full Flat Grind, the Spyderco Signature, deep carry clip Then you discover the lock. The famous Phantom Lock. Unlike a traditional back lock, the Meerkat closes by slightly twisting the handle scales in opposite directions. The mechanism releases almost magically, making the knife feel more like a gadget from a science-fiction movie than a conventional EDC your grand’pa would have chosen in a gun show.. Even today, very few production knives offer anything remotely similar. Sal Glesser is an inventor. He loves his craft. I still can hear his laugh when I have handing a Meerkat to a knife enthusiast, the reaction is the same: “Wait… how do you close this thing?”
Mission accomplished ! (Still confused by the Phantom Lock? Don’t worry, you’re not the first. Just push on the Spyderco logo to slide the scale. Suddenly, the magic trick reveals its secret. And you’ll soon be able to operate it with one hand.) 😉
The Meerkat carries its fully flat-ground blade measuring just over 5 cm (2inches). On paper, that sounds ridiculously small. In practice, it slices like a miniature lightlaser.
Spyderco’s leaf-shaped blade profile has always been one of the most efficient cutting geometries in the business. Give it a thin full-flat grind and suddenly this tiny folder starts behaving like a much larger knife.
Opening parcels. Food prep. Sharing a fruit. Breaking down cardboard. Removing parcel. Protect your family against enraged bear attacks. You name it. The Meerkat will perform all of these tasks with surprising authority.
The blade disappears in any pockets with its deep tip down carry system.
This Sprint Run upgrades the original steel to CPM-SPY27, Spyderco’s proprietary powder metallurgy stainless steel developed with Crucible. The goal was simple: create a steel offering a balance of edge retention, toughness, corrosion resistance and ease of sharpening.
I’ve not used enough SPY27 on larger folders like a Bodacious or a Manix 2 XL to fully explore its limits, but I do understand what Spyderco was trying to achieve with what I often call their “powder metallurgy VG-10.”
My own experience with SPY27 comes mainly from a UKPK that I have nicknamed The Golden Child.
What I’ve discovered is this: SPY27 doesn’t try to win steel competitions. It simply works. The edge stays keen for a long time, corrosion resistance is excellent, and maintenance remains refreshingly easy compared to some modern “super steels.” Much like Magnacut, SPY27 seems to love a leather strop. A few passes are often enough to bring back that crisp, shaving-sharp edge.
Many users compare its overall performance to S35VN, appreciating how straightforward it is to touch up. Perhaps they’re right. Personally, I don’t really care whether it lands closer to S30V, S35VN or S45VN. What matters is that Spyderco consistently gets the recipe right. Because a blade is never just an alloy. A blade is alloy + heat treatment + geometry.
And Golden’s people understand that better than most. What I want in 2026 is a blade steel that is easy on my mind. A steel that won’t punish me for grabbing the wrong sharpening tool while travelling.
A steel that can be maintained without turning sharpening into a science project.
A forgiving steel.
At sixty years old, I find myself caring less about ultimate edge retention and more about living with a knife. SPY27 feels like one of those steels that wants to work with its owner rather than against him. For a compact EDC like the Meerkat, that balance is exactly what I want.
This is not a knife meant to chop down forests. It is, however, a surprisingly capable whittler. The generous belly, thin blade stock and full-flat grind simply devour wood. Whether shaping a tent peg, sharpening a stick for the barbecue or absent-mindedly carving curls while sitting by a campfire, the Meerkat performs far beyond what its dimensions would suggest.
The blade bites eagerly, tracks predictably and leaves behind clean, controlled cuts.
Small knife. Big appetite.
Yes, it really is that powerful.
The Meerkat is a knife meant to disappear into your fifth pocket and be forgotten.
Twenty years after its introduction, that’s still what impresses me most about the Meerkat: not the Phantom Lock, not the rarity, not the nostalgia.
The fact that such a small knife cuts so ridiculously well.
The knife represents an era when Spyderco was willing to experiment with strange concepts simply because they were interesting.
Today many manufacturers chase trends. The Meerkat reminds us of a time when designers chased ideas. Its unusual lock, compact dimensions and unmistakable silhouette make it instantly recognizable among hundreds of modern folders.
You don’t buy a Meerkat because it is the most practical knife. You buy it because it is unmistakably a… Meerkat. Cute, clever and sharp.
That SPY27 Sprint Run does not reinvent the Meerkat. Fortunately. It preserves everything that made the original memorable while upgrading the steel to something genuinely useful for modern everyday carry.
Tiny. Strange. Ingenious. Solid, Stout. Great ergonomics for a 2 inches blade. The Meerkat remains one of the most charming oddballs ever released by Spyderco. And in a knife world increasingly filled with tactical clones and oversized pocket swords, that may be exactly what makes it special.
Not because it is perfect. Because nothing else feels quite like it. Invention, innovation…. Open it. Read between the line and twist the scales to close it.
The Meerkat is a jewel of a user. The kind of little big knife you can clip into a pocket every morning and completely forget about—until you need a knife. Then it reminds you exactly why it’s there.
Much like the little African animal that inspired its name, the Meerkat has a habit of suddenly popping up when something interesting needs attention. That’s part of its charm.
Disclaimer: This knife has been provided through Spyderco’s Ambassador’s program and friendship. Thank you to them for letting me review it. It felt like welcoming back an old friend I hadn’t seen in over twenty years.
If the Meerkat has piqued your curiosity, do yourself a favor and visit the website of my friend Wouter (“Mr. Blonde”). Few people know Spyderco history better than he does:: https://spydercollector.wordpress.com/tag/meerkat/
Also, there is a great thread on the Spyderco Forums featuring information, anecdotes and historical details contributed by collectors (including my friend and contributor, Robin “Ramonade): https://forum.spyderco.com/viewtopic.php?p=1885029#p1885029
One of the things I enjoy most about the Spyderco community is that there is always somebody curious enough to take a knife apart and look beyond the catalog specifications.
This time, that somebody was my friend Robin Hette.
In a recent video, Robin completely disassembled his new Para Military 2 Lightweight and discovered a couple of interesting details showing how Spyderco has refined the design his compression lock.
The changes become apparent as soon as the knife is taken apart: the Compression Lock spring got now a longitudinal groove running down its center. Its purpose appears straightforward: improving the spring’s lateral stability and reducing side-to-side movement during operation.
It’s a major modification possible only on a mold FRN scale.
Yet these are exactly the sort of details that reveal how seriously Spyderco treats continuous improvement.
Screenshot
The scales tell a similar story.
Comparing Robin’s disassembled PM2 Lightweight with the his Para3 LW reveals noticeably less internal milling. Spyderco has left more FRN in place on the PM2.
At first glance this may seem counterintuitive on a knife designed around weight reduction. But rigidity matters too.
The additional material should provide greater structural stiffness while adding very little weight to the overall package. The result is a handle that remains exceptionally light while feeling even more robust.
That philosophy of Constant Quality Improvement has defined Spyderco for decades. Observe. Test. Improve. Repeat.
Thanks to Robin’s curiosity—and willingness to completely tear down his knife—we get a rare glimpse of that process in action.
The latest PM2 Lightweight under its scales, however, it tells a familiar Spyderco story:
“Good enough has never been good enough.” 😉 So, kudos to Eric Glesser and the Spyderco team for continuing to push the envelope.
But enough about engineering. What’s the PM2 Lightweight actually like to live with?
Well, let’s just say it’s a lot more pleasant than trying to get an AI image generator to accurately reproduce a knife model from reference photos. 🙂
But…Now imagine… It’s dark in the basement. You’ve had a long day. You’re tired. Nothing seems to go quite as planned. You need a sharp tool. Anything ! For a moment, you think you don’t have one. Then you remember. Your knife should be sitting in your right front pocket. Exactly where it has been all day. So light that you forgot it was there. So comfortable that it never demanded your attention until the precise moment you needed it.
A few ounces of FRN. A blade in CPM 15V. Or K390. Or MagnaCut. It doesn’t really matter. It could be that new PM2 Lightweight Sprintrun. It could be the built-like-tank Lil’ Temperance Lightweight in K390. It could be the sleak Sage 5 Salt Lightweight in MagnaCut.
Different knives. Same philosophy. But that PM2 Lightweight pushes really the concept one step further. No stainless steel liners. Just enough material to hold together one of the most capable folders Spyderco has ever designed. A reliable cutting tool so light that I forget it’s there—until the moment I need it.
And that’s the whole point: the best pocket knife isn’t the one you admire all day long. It’s the one you completely forget about—right up until it does exactly what it’s supposed to do. That’s what Lightweight means.: “When you need it, it’s already there.”
I recently used the PM2 Lightweight in a French pub to slice some rather excellent chili dry sausage on a wooden board. The pub had kindly provided a knife, of course. I didn’t use it. Instead, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the PM2 LW. Same size as the dull kitchen knife provided. Nobody noticed that PM2 LW. Not a single glance. Not a single raised eyebrow. The sausage, however, attracted plenty of attention.
By the end of the evening, everyone had enjoyed a few slices and a few beers. The PM2 simply returned to my pocket, unnoticed.
And somehow, that feels like the ultimate compliment for an everyday carry knife.
Mine has also been used in all condition, and for kitchen duty, my own PM2 Lightweight in CPM15V is starting to develop that beloved slight patina after processing several kilos of fresh tomatoes. That’s perfectly normal for CPM 15V. A little discoloration is simply part of the deal.
A pocket knife that never shows signs of use is usually a pocket knife that isn’t being used enough, don’t you think ?
So far, the PM2 Lightweight has proven itself to be a reliable and faithful companion. The color of the FRN scales on this particular version won’t appeal to everyone. Personally, I rather like it. Combined with the stonewashed blade, it creates a surprisingly discreet package. A kind of visual camouflage. The knife doesn’t draw attention to itself.
And that’s another quality I look for in an everyday carry knife: civilian stealth. Not stealth in the tactical sense. Stealth in the social sense. The ability to be perceived as a tool rather than a weapon.
A good EDC knife should solve problems, open packages, slice food, cut cardboard and occasionally rescue a stubborn piece of string. It doesn’t need to announce its presence.
That PM2 Lightweight excels at exactly that. Despite its relatively generous blade length, it remains remarkably unthreatening in appearance. The muted gray-green handle and stonewashed finish help it blend into everyday life, where it belongs.
After all, the best EDC knife is rarely the one that attracts the most attention. It’s the one that quietly gets the job done without attracting any at all like a silent companion.
There are knives that become products, and there are knives that become dialects. The Spyderco Para Military 2 since its inception belongs firmly to the second category.
For sixteen years, the PM2 has occupied a rare position in the knife world: not merely respected, but culturally embedded. Made in Golden Colorado USA Earth, designed in the lineage of the original C36 Military model and its offspring the Paramilitary 1 from 2004, the Paramilitary 2 refined the formula into something more agile, more urban, more universally wearable. Key improvements introduced in 2010 were: Ergonomics: Thinner, refined G-10 handle. Mechanism: New Bushing Pivot System for smoother action. Clip: 4-position pocket spoon clip. Blade: Slightly thinner blade profile with an elongated tip. From there, the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 quickly established itself as a modern classic in the knife industry. It also became the most compelling ambassador for Spyderco’s in-house Compression Lock system, turning simple fidgeting into something unexpectedly addictive.
Its full-flat, leaf-shaped blade geometry delivers near-universal utility — a fine, precise tip paired with a confident, efficient cutting edge. In use, it feels less like compromise and more like calibration.
And then there is the ergonomics: that unmistakable Spyderco palm swell and forward choil, which transform hard tasks into something almost composed, almost effortless.
Even AI now generates imaginary PM2 variants — sometimes hilariously inaccurate ones with back locks — which says a lot about how deeply the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 has embedded itself into modern knife/EDC culture.
Because the PM2 was never just a tactical folder. It became the Porsche 911 of contemporary EDC: instantly recognizable across a room, endlessly reinterpreted, yet impossible to mistake for anything else but one of the Spyderco Millie family.
And yet, for all its success, the classic PM2 always carried a subtle contradiction. It was a knife celebrated for everyday carry that still weighed like a “serious” tool. A tool which floats like a butterfly but sting like a bee. So, the same process which turned its little brother Para3 G10 into Para3 Lightweight has been applied: get rid of G10 scales and bring the Fiber Renforced Resin / FRN !
The new Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Lightweight changes that entirely.
At roughly 76 grams, the PM2 LW does not feel like a trimmed-down PM2. It feels like an entirely different interpretation of the design. To put that into perspective, it is even 16 grams lighter than the Spyderco MicroJimbo — a knife already considered compact and featherweight by EDC standards.
Compared to the classic G-10 PM2, the difference becomes almost startling: 32 grams gone, dropping from 108 grams to just 76. That is nearly a 30% reduction in weight.
Edge-wise, the blade-to-weight ratio is remarkable — and decisively in favour of the Spyderco Paramilitary 2. 😉 Oh well, I’m joking — these two knives were never meant to compete. They simply occupy different territories of utility, and both earn their place in my pocket for different reasons. Still, this new Lightweight feels like the moment Spyderco finally allowed the PM2 to become what it was always destined to be: not merely lighter, but almost spectral. The Para3 LW vibes haves been compared to the Delica. The PM2 got the Endura’s: a ghost of a knife you completely forget is clipped to your pocket… until the exact second you need it. Another clue? The clip. Look closely.
The deep-carry clip makes the knife feel even stealthier in the pocket, almost invisible in daily carry. Tip-up only, though. It’s not exactly a pocket shredder, but it’s not the gentlest on pocket seams either — even if the clip geometry and FRN patterning have clearly been tuned to make deployment and carry as smooth as possible.
In my view, the central “medallion” on the Spyderco Para 3 (pictured here) feels more refined and better resolved visually. It has a cleaner, more intentional integration into the design.
Here, on the PM2, it simply reads “Para Military 2” — which feels oddly understated. Curiously, the Spyderco name itself is nowhere to be found on that element, a surprising omission for such an iconic model.
But then again, this is exactly the kind of detail enthusiasts obsess over.
Personally, I prefer the FRN molding of the Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight in the epicenter of the pattern — it feels slightly more refined and cohesive. On the other hand, I find the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Lightweight superior around the Compression Lock interface and the access to the Spyderhole, both of which feel more open, more natural, and ultimately more satisfying in use.
The handle transformation comes primarily through the FRN handle — fiberglass reinforced nylon — a material longtime knife enthusiasts still love to debate with almost religious intensity. Traditionalists often associate premium folders with layered G-10, titanium, or carbon fiber. FRN, by comparison, can seem almost too practical, too honest about its intentions. Forums discussions around Spyderco’s lightweight models reveal the familiar divide: some users still perceive FRN as less luxurious, while others praise its traction, comfort, and remarkable reduction in carry fatigue. One thing is certain: FRN brings a significant leap in ergonomics.
You can see how the design has been subtly refined to erase the boxy, almost overbuilt feel of the G-10 version. Spyderco’s history with FRN stretches back through legendary lightweight models like the Spyderco Delica, Spyderco Endura and the Spyderco Salt Series — knives that became icons precisely because they vanished into the pocket while remaining utterly dependable in dirty, wet, unforgiving environments. The people at Golden has spent decades refining FRN into something uniquely their own. On a Spyderco, FRN is not budget plastic. It is engineered utility. The texture, invented by Sal Glesser, is the key.
That bidirectional pattern grips the hand with a kind of mechanical confidence — less refined than blasted titanium perhaps, but more secure when life becomes sweaty, cold, rushed, or imperfect.
What makes the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Lightweight genuinely fascinating is not merely its weight reduction, but the engineering compromise Spyderco somehow refused to make. Because removing mass from a back lock or liner lock is relatively straightforward. Removing mass from a Compression Lock platform is something else entirely. The Compression Lock is one of the defining mechanical signatures of Spyderco — a brilliantly elegant system designed by Sal Glesser that combines strength, fluidity and one-handed safety with an almost addictive tactile character. But unlike simpler locking systems, it traditionally depends on nested steel liners and a rigid chassis architecture.
In other words: it was never meant to live inside an ultralight FRN body. That is the hidden tour de force of the PM2 Lightweight.
Spyderco did not simply shave material away from the classic design. They had to rethink how the Compression Lock itself could survive — and still feel reassuringly precise — inside a platform whose entire philosophy is flexibility, lightness and minimal structure.
FRN has a very different mechanical behavior from G-10. It flexes differently. Resonates differently. Carries load differently. The scale’s edges can feel a touch sharp/aggressive out of the box, but I usually knock the initial bite down slightly with my thumbnail. Not a big deal.
And yet, in hand, the PM2 LW still delivers that familiar Compression Lock experience: the sharp metallic click, the secure lockup, the controlled drop-shut feel, the confidence under pressure. The knife retains the mechanical identity of a “real” PM2 despite having shed nearly a third of its weight.
That balance is far harder to achieve than most users realize.
Too much liner removal, and the knife begins to feel hollow or vague. Too much FRN flex, and the lock loses its aura of precision. Too much steel reinforcement, and the entire Lightweight philosophy collapses under its own contradiction.
Spyderco somehow threaded the needle. In hand, the result is fascinating because the PM2 LW does not feel cheap, nor stripped-down. It feels optimized — almost industrially purified. As though the designers kept asking themselves a brutal question: “How little knife can we leave… before it stops feeling like a PM2?” And the answer, apparently, was 76 grams.
So who, exactly, is this new Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Lightweight really made for? Not the collector seeking desk-jewel materials. Not the enthusiast who wants maximal heft and polished mechanical theater. This PM2 is for people who actually carry a knife every day and do not want to feel it in their pocket. Like a ghost… a spirit. For the light traveler, moving through the world in technical fabrics and ultralight luggage — absolutely yes. The Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Lightweight is exactly on point. For the architect, photographer, paramedic, cyclist, climber, sailor, or city commuter who notices every unnecessary gram. For those in the field where every gram really matters — soldiers, paratroopers, operators, and anyone carrying their world on their person — the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Lightweight makes immediate sense. For the those who slips a knife into athletic shorts and forgets it exists until the moment it is needed. And when needed, the action remains fluid , smooth and effortless, while the absence of heft is almost disorienting at first. This is where the name Lightweight stops being a designation and becomes an identity — carried here to its purest, most unapologetic expression. Yes—there is something almost pure in handling this Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Lightweight, something slightly disorienting in its lightness. Almost paradoxical. Elegant, refined, stripped to essentials — and yet fully present in the hand. It doesn’t try to impress through mass or presence anymore. Instead, it disappears, and that absence becomes the experience itself. As the late Mark Hollis (*) once suggested, “Only silence is more beautiful than music…” and in a strange way, that idea translates surprisingly well here. This almost weightless refinement might be the closest thing cutlery has to silence: a design so resolved it no longer insists on its own existence, only its function.
The genius of the Lightweight is psychological as much as physical. A heavy knife asks for commitment. A 76 grams PM2 becomes invisible — and invisibility is the highest achievement in EDC design.
Ironically, reducing the weight also sharpens the very essence of the PM2 itself. The famous blade suddenly feels more dominant, more alive. Several early owners have described the sensation as though “all the weight is in the blade,” giving the knife a startling immediacy in hand.
Pictured beside a 120-gram Spyderco Military 2, the contrast becomes almost absurd. Of course, the Lightweight will not seduce everyone.
Some users will always prefer the denser, almost bank-vault solidity of G-10 scales and full steel liners. Others simply enjoy the tactile indulgence of heavier materials. (I once installed Flytanium bronze scales on a Spyderco Para 3. The result was magnificent — and roughly as subtle as carrying a ship anchor.)
And that is perfectly fair, because the classic G-10 Spyderco Paramilitary 2 remains one of the greatest production folders ever created.
But the Lightweight introduces something unexpectedly contemporary to the platform: efficiency without compromise.
This particular example happens to be a Sprint Run equipped with CPM 15V — a truly high-octane alloy. Yet the steel is almost secondary to the broader philosophy behind the knife. Much like the celebrated 15V Para 3 Lightweight before it, this PM2 LW pairs one of the most extreme high-performance steels available with an astonishingly light 76-gram platform.
The CPM 15V Sprint Run is the enthusiast’s reading of the idea — a limited-production exercise in maximum performance taken to its logical edge. 15V itself borders on the extreme in the best possible way. With an unusually high vanadium content of nearly 15%, it was developed for exceptional wear resistance and outstanding edge retention. In Spyderco’s implementation, it is further elevated by Shawn Houston’s specialised heat treatment, identifiable by the discreet “Triple B” mark engraved on the blade.
The beautifully stonewashed blade arrives with an edge that is immediately convincing — thin, precise, and unmistakably sharp straight out of the box. In my experience, it may well be one of the finest factory edges Spyderco has ever delivered. Hair-popping performance is effortless, almost casual, and geometrically speaking, even the informal “bottle” or light push-cut tests feel almost trivial. Much better than on my Para 3.
Oh well, the exotic steel may attract the headlines. (As a bit of a steel enthusiast, CTS-BD1N on the “vanilla” Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Lightweight doesn’t really excite me — it’s solid, reliable, easy to keep razor sharp, forgiving but uninspiring. I wouldn’t seek it out like I would CPM Cruwear steel, but I’d never pass on a great design just because of it.)
But the real story lies elsewhere: the revelation that one of the most iconic hard-use folders ever produced can suddenly feel almost effortless, friction less… pure.
Not diminished. Distilled. Purified. And distillation brings spirit. Spirit is light. And this purity is no lie.
Disclaimer: This knife has been provided through Spyderco’s Ambassador Program, upon my own request. Thank you to the Spyderpeople for letting me review it.
(*) For a musician and singer, Mark Hollis is unusually interested in silence, in what could be described as the gaps and intervals between notes. To listen to Spirt of Eden (1988) and Laughing Stock(1991), the last two albums by Talk Talk, the band of which he was singer and principal songwriter for more than a decade, is to encounter a music of fragments and dissolution, his murmured vocals often simply fading away as a song does not so much end as expire.
It was upon receiving one of my friend Jur’s knives — a superb hunting knife by Pekka Tuominen dating from 2012, forged in Silversteel and fitted with a handle incorporating walrus ivory — that I felt compelled to turn my attention back to Pekka Tuominen.
Consider this, then, a renewed portrait. Because in Finland, a knife is never just a knife.
And the snow is never just the snow.
In the deep boreal forests where autumn means moose season and winter hardens the earth into something resembling iron, blades are not judged under showroom lights but against bone, sinew, cold, and time. It is in this demanding landscape that Pekka Tuominen has built his reputation — quietly, methodically, without spectacle.
He is not a factory. He is not a brand machine inflated by marketing departments and limited drops. He is a craftsman in the most literal sense of the word. And among serious Nordic hunters, his name circulates with a particular, understated respect. Pekka’s relationship with knives began before memory. His grandfather, a part-time blacksmith, forged blades; his father worked as a carpenter. He received his first knife before the age of five. For him, the object was never exotic — it was elemental.
As a teenager immersed in scouting and outdoor life, he reached a simple conclusion about survival: the most important tool in the wilderness is a knife. Naturally, in Finland, that meant a puukko. At eighteen, he studied in Inari, in northern Lapland, training as a wilderness guide. There, he learned the fundamentals of puukko making. That period marked the true beginning of his craft. A decisive intellectual influence came earlier, when he first read Sakari Palsi’s 1955 book Puukko. The text, he recalls, opened his eyes. It clarified what truly defines a puukko — not ornament, not material excess, but proportion and line. For Pekka, a knife unites tool, design, and art in a single object. He cannot imagine life without one. I have written a long review here about it.
Ask him to describe his ideal puukko — as a user rather than a maker — and he returns to simplicity. A blade of approximately 90 millimeters, paired with a 110 millimeter handle. Dimensions rooted in tradition, refined by use. Multipurpose, balanced, restrained.
He appreciates steels such as 115CrV3, often referred to as Silversteel, RWL34, and 52100. Yet he insists on a hierarchy that reveals the seriousness of his approach: the steel matters, but heat treatment matters more.
He is no rigid purist. One of his own heavily used test knives pairs stabilized black ash burl with a CPM S30V blade. He admits to having “wrongly” used it — and to grinding it down repeatedly as a result. For Tuominen, a knife that remains pristine has not yet fulfilled its purpose.
In an age of aggressive silhouettes and theatrical grinds, Tuominen defends restraint. A true puukko is defined by a relatively short, straightforward blade; a handle without finger guards; no exaggerated pommel; and clean, continuous lines that flow from tip to sheath.
He favors birch bark for its warmth and grip, but also works with curly birch and Micarta. His sheaths are hand-stitched, typically from vegetable-tanned leather. He admires traditional Finnish patterns — Tommi, Pekanpää, Kokemäen — whose differences lie more in decoration than in structure. The essential design language remains consistent across regions.
“The material does not make a puukko,” he says. “The design does.”
In Finland, the word puukkoseppä carries weight. It does not describe someone who merely grinds blades. It denotes a professional who forges, heat treats, shapes, finishes, and sews — who understands the knife as a complete entity.
Tuominen forges Silversteel and 52100, as well as his own Damascus from 15N20 and 1090. Stainless steels such as RWL34 are ground rather than forged. In every case, he performs the heat treatment himself.
This decision is not romanticism. It is control.
Heat treatment determines hardness, toughness, edge retention, resistance to chipping, sharpening behavior — in short, character. By managing austenitizing temperatures, quench timing, temper cycles, and when appropriate cryogenic steps, he tunes each blade for hunting reality rather than laboratory extremity. He does not chase maximum HRC for marketing appeal. He pursues balance.
The difference is felt not in specifications but in seasons.
One Finnish hunter wrote on a forum, after two moose seasons with his knife, that he had done nothing more than strop it. A Swedish outdoorsman described the sharpening behavior as clean and predictable, “no surprises.” The praise is never flamboyant. It is consistent. Stability, reliability, endurance.
While many outside Scandinavia associate Finnish craft primarily with the puukko, Tuominen’s strongest following among experienced outdoorsmen is tied to his dedicated hunting knives. These are not nostalgic reinterpretations of folklore. They are instruments designed for skinning and field dressing large game in cold climates.
Their geometry avoids ego. Clean drop points, disciplined grinds, carefully judged balance. No theatrical belly, no tactical posturing. In hand, they feel neutral — and that neutrality becomes invaluable during extended work. Fatigue diminishes. Control increases.
In sub-zero conditions, poorly treated steel reveals itself quickly. Edges chip, roll, or turn brittle. Tuominen’s blades are repeatedly described as stable. It is a modest word, but in the field it is decisive.
Finland formalizes its craft traditions through national qualifications overseen by the Ministry of Education. Tuominen earned the title puukkoseppämestari, Master Blade Smith, after passing rigorous examinations and presenting a master’s work to a jury. At the time of his certification, only seven craftsmen in the country held that distinction.
Today, knife making occupies the vast majority of his time. His waiting list extends roughly a year. Collaborations, including work with Spyderco, have broadened his international presence. Yet when asked about ambition, his answer remains almost disarmingly modest: he wants to become a better knife maker.
He considers craftsmanship a lifelong education — one in which imperfections are not failures but invitations to improve.
In a global knife culture increasingly captivated by spectacle, Pekka Tuominen’s work stands apart for its restraint. He works alone. He grinds, heat treats, shapes, and stitches himself. From blade to sheath, the knife remains under one set of hands.
He often summarizes his philosophy with a line that sounds simple enough: a simple man makes simple knives.
In Finland, however, simplicity is never simplistic. It is discipline. It is proportion. It is respect for the task at hand.
Disclaimer: This knife has been provided through Patrick Bonetta ‘s friendship. Thank you to him for letting me review it. 😉
In a professional brigade, hierarchy is everything. Precision is everything. And above all, the paring knife is sacred.
The very first lesson in any serious kitchen is this: the couteau d’office is the cook’s most precious tool. It is the instrument that never leaves your side, the blade that performs the quiet, relentless choreography of peeling, trimming, turning, scoring. Before the grand gestures of service, before the spectacle of plating, there is this small blade—and the discipline it demands.
Hygiene, of course, is non-negotiable. In that environment, a folding knife is an indulgence the brigade cannot afford. A fixed blade is imperative—clean lines, no hidden cavities, nothing that compromises sanitation. Form follows function, and function follows rigor.
Yet the realities of service introduce their own hazards. A paring knife can disappear in an instant—swept toward the bin with a cascade of peelings, or carelessly dropped into a drawer where other blades wait to bruise its edge. In a kitchen moving at full tempo, neglect is not malicious; it is simply inevitable.
The solution is as elegant as it is practical: keep the blade on you. Always. Within reach. Around the neck, suspended discreetly yet ready in a heartbeat. Thus was born the idea of a refined thin neck knife—an ultra-thin, fixed blade forged in chrome-vanadium steel, equivalent in spirit and performance to Nitrum from Arcos. Fine-grained, corrosion-resistant, responsive to sharpening, it offers the clean bite and resilience demanded by daily service.
This is not a novelty. It is a working instrument—one now worn by internationally renowned chefs, among them the celebrated Alain Ducasse, who commissioned several for his own use. In kitchens where standards are uncompromising and reputations global, tools are chosen not for ornament but for excellence.
And excellence is precisely what defines Patrick Bonetta. Perfectionist by philosophy, the house approaches finishing and ergonomics with almost obsessive care. The balance is intuitive. The Birdy’s grip—secure without fatigue. The transitions between handle and blade—flawless. Nothing is left unresolved.
The result is “Birdy”, a paring knife elevated to high craft: a lil’marvel of proportion and purpose. In the kitchen, it slices, peels, and minces with fluid authority. It becomes an extension of the hand, a silent accomplice to high precision cuts… or not. 😉
True luxury in gastronomy is not spectacle. It is control. And control begins with the right blade.
As I mentioned in my previous review of the Teeth for the Deep, the Chief Salt in Magnacut comes in two flavors: plain edge and serrated. The plain edge could be the ultimate traveler’s knife—light, versatile, and ready for anything (now that I have discovered the Edgerati, this is another great traveler knife, light and powerful but cost twice the Chief). What about the Chief serrated version? That’s something else entirely. This is another animal. It takes the aggressive Spyderedge concept and stretches it across a long pointy blade, giving you both points and bites in one sleek package. And no, you don’t open oysters with a Serrated Native Chief. This picture is just for illustration. 😀
Having used the serrated Chaparral daily, I already knew how addictive a well-executed serration can be on a daily basis on a short and flat lady/gentleman folder. Scaling that up to the long Native Chief was something I had long wanted to put to the test again, and it doesn’t disappoint. Sal and Eric are true evangelists for serrations. Sal, in particular, is famous for collecting iconic knives and fitting them with custom serrated blades—the man knows how to get the max of performance in a portable package.
Now, let’s be honest: serrations aren’t for everyone—and that’s a shame. More often than not, it’s simply a matter of education and familiarity. No, serrations are not difficult to keep sharp; you just need the right tools for the job. And yes, you can push-cut into wood to strip branches from a rod when needed.
Some of my friends love meat but refuse to touch a serrated knife at the table. And while serrations are not the first choice for delicate whittling or ultra-precise cut, also the teeth are chisel-ground, so the cut can drift if you’re careless… But for true performance, fast and furious, serrations shine everywhere ! On the Chief Salt, they are sharp, a little too aggressive, and pointy: they bite hard into whatever you’re cutting, with a bit of drag, but they make short work of fibrous and demanding materials. The serrations of the Chaparral are more forgiving. The Chief Magnacut’s spyderedge will catch everything, keep it away from your skin !
Maintenance as mentionned earlier is simple. Especially with a triangle rod of a Sharpmaker.
” I designed the Sharpmaker to be able to sharpen serrations. It’s really easy to get good edge on a Spyderco serrated edge with a Sharpmaker. When sharpening a SE edge on the Sharp Maker should you also “push” the knife along the stones as well as pull? I feel like only pulling the edge along the stone would concentrate the contact of the stone on the front of each serration.” Sal. These serrations hold their edge very very well and, because of the chisel grind, you only need to sharpen only one side of the blade. And here’s a neat thing to know: serrations always give you more edge length than a plain edge of the same blade size. More edge’s length, more power.
Using the serrated Chief changes the way I cut. On a wooden board, I often find myself relying mainly on the tip and the first 10% of the edge. Making a wider angle with board, holding he knife higher… If I cut parallel to the board, the serrations are so aggressive they generate sawdust! But in any professional kitchen, serrated knives make preparing sandwiches or slicing layered ingredients effortless—fast, clean, and without crushing delicate foods.
The mechanics of a serrated blade differ from a plain edge. Plain edges excel when you can push, slicing smoothly through the material. Serrations excel with a sawing motion, ideal for fibrous materials and when speed matters more than precision. Think of sawing through a branch versus whittling a stick: both cut, but only one does it efficiently under pressure, in emergency. Spyderco bigger folders were often considered as Pocket Chainsaws for that very reason. Start using Spyderedge and you will see they are addictive !
See ?
Slicing bread illustrates that point perfectly. Pushing with a flat blade (even a thin one) can squish a loaf, but a serrated edge will slice cleanly, scoring and dividing the material with minimal effort. A sharp serrated knife hooks, grips, and slices with real efficiency, unlike a dull serrated knife, which merely tears. Each teeth act like tiny scallop edge, biting, reaping through the material rather than forcing it apart. A real saw, is not really sharp, by contrast, removes shavings to create a kerf—a very different process altogether.
From a geometric point of view, that serrated Chief Salt is a masterclass in applied design. A true vector for serrations. Very aggressive yet easily controlled, fast yet precise enough for practical use in every day or emergency chores. It’s a light folding knife that turns hard work into satisfying results: you cut fast in all conditions, rain, snow, sea, mud, grease… That chief would even be a precious ally for an expedition in the rain forest. For anyone who wants to take with them everywhere the utility of a long, hard-working Spyderedge in a travel-friendly folding package, this is it. An toothy all terrain tool you can rely on in all circonstances. The fruit of fifty years into knife making observing Nature where serrations are legion.
“In our early testing, (Gail and my), we learned that a coarse edge cut more aggressively than a fine edge, but the coarse edge tended to dull more quickly. The way we decided to combine the coarse cutting and the fine edge longevity was with a serrated edge. The serration tooth is he “coarse” aspect and the “fine” inner edge, lasts longer. “ Sal Glesser.
Digression: Did you think we were born in peaceful times?
In Western Europe today, amid increasing concerns over violence and insecurity, carrying a fixed blade — something I’ve done for decades with a short fixed blade — or even a locking folder can easily be misinterpreted.
And every single day, in the fall of 2025, the European newspapers report yet another knife attack or crime.
Knife attacks in the United Kingdom have shown a persistent and worrying upward trend in recent years. National data indicate that police recorded just over 53,000 knife‑enabled offences in the latest annual cycle, with assaults and robberies accounting for a substantial portion. While knife-related homicides represent a small percentage of overall offences, the absolute numbers remain high, with young people disproportionately affected. Offences involving the possession of bladed weapons have also risen, highlighting broader issues of accessibility and carrying habits in urban areas. Compared to a decade ago, knife-related violence has increased significantly.
(From a locking folder to slipjoint folder…. Sign of the times ?)
Most knife crimes in the UK use everyday knives like kitchen knives, because they’re cheap and easy to access. But a significant minority of attacks involve more “exotic” or dangerous blades: like machetes !
In Germany, some state-level police offices estimated more than 21,000 knife attacks in 2022, which corresponds to about 60 knife attacks per day nationally.
In France, knife attacks also remain a major concern, with more than ten thousand recorded assaults involving bladed weapons in the most recent year across areas policed by the national force alone. This figure corresponds to roughly a few dozen attacks per day and does not include all regions or the gendarmerie’s jurisdiction. Schools in the Paris region reported over a hundred knife-related incidents within a year, highlighting a sharp increase in youth involvement and the normalization of carrying knives. Broader national indicators show rising attempted homicides and a high proportion of armed robberies committed with knives, underscoring the central role of bladed weapons in everyday violence. French law places certain knives (e.g., automatic opening, butterfly/balisong knives, fixed-blades over a certain size, double-edged blades) into stricter categories (Category D weapons) when carried without legitimate reason. Folding pocket-knives of everyday use (e.g., classic French models) are more tolerated — they may be treated as tools rather than weapons if not used aggressively or carried without justification.
~89 / 100,000 (using ~55,008 knife-enabled offences and a population of ~61.8 M)
France
~15 / 100,000 (based on ~10,397 reported “knife attacks” and a population of ~68.6 M)
Germany
~10.7 / 100,000 (using ~8,951 knife-attack figure from 2023 data)
In the UK, the rules are straightforward: a non-locking knife with a blade under 3 inches. But now it seems that one-hand-operated folders are no longer welcome; For the record, one-hand operation is actually safer: not only for opening, but also for closing the knife. A closed folder is a safe folder, and being able to switch your tool into “safe mode” quickly is a genuine advantage.
In France, things are far murkier — everything hinges on intention and context of use. It’s almost a Minority Report situation.
Ironically, in the country of Opinel and Laguiole, we’re now backpedaling because of sheer stupidity. And I’m not blaming the criminals who use knives to hurt people — that’s obvious. I’m blaming the people who carry a knife for self‑defense. After a search from the Police in front of an high school: “Why do you bring this knife to school ?” “To defend myself !” A knife is not a self‑defense tool — it’s a catalyst for problems. Awareness, on the other hand, is a self‑defense tool, and that’s something you really need to keep sharp. Even something as simple as wearing AirPods can compromise your ability to stay safe, cutting you off from your surroundings.
Unless you’re a gangster settling scores with your own kin, a knife will never be your bodyguard — not even with training. In fact, it can make things worse, especially if you think you’re “trained in knife fighting.” A knife as a weapon is a killer’s tool, meant for ambush and combat, not for duels.
(The only blade that might actually “help” you — for example in an attempted‑rape situation where you are physically overwhelmed, dominated, and restrained — is also the one that will almost certainly land you in even more trouble afterward. And if you ever reached that true last‑ditch moment, your best hope would ironically be a short serrated edge rather than a razor edge; under an adrenaline surge, an aggressor won’t even register a clean cut. The Spyderco Manbug Wharncliffe SpyderEdge comes to mind. But even then, you would need the mindset to become the aggressor just to survive — and you must be prepared to defend your actions in court afterward.)
I remember reading about an elderly man who was being harassed by a gang of young men. In the confrontation, he slashed the hand of one of his aggressors with his Swiss Army Knife — and in the end, he was the one standing before the judges. “To claim self‑defense, sir, there must be proportionality between the attack and the response.”
“It’s also a mindset. I’ve carried a knife since I was 9 and have never had the inclination to cut or stab someone. It’s all about how you have been raised.” Des Horn
So let’s remain ladies and gentlemen, and let’s be low profile in our EDC choices. The knives we carry and appreciate are not pocket bodyguards — they’re tools we genuinely enjoy using for simple, everyday tasks.
Carrying a knife in today’s civilian world means opening parcels, prepping food, cooking, doing small repairs — being a handyman or -woman, or at least trying to be. I’ve written before about the modern slipjoints we now have access to: knives that benefit from three decades of “tactical” evolution. They offer deep-carry clips, true one-hand opening and closing, and high-performance steels refined for modern cutlery.
So why would you choose a Mike Read folder? Is it better than a UKPK or an Urban? Nope. The SlipIt flagship UKPK, for example, also has a thin edge, and you can even dress it up with titanium scales if you feel like it. Its mechanism is also stiffer, with a two-stage closing “safety” that makes the blade feel more controlled on the way down.
So why choose the PITS2? It ultimately comes down to taste — your willingness to spend a bit more, your appreciation for the mechanism, the maker behind it, and of course a love for titanium and M398.
So what does the Alien/PITS2 truly bring in the long run?
In my case, I was genuinely surprised by how this “hard-to-open-one-handed” knife has grown on me. That stiffness actually makes it reassuring to carry — you know the blade won’t pop open by accident. Especially when you carry it in the back right pocket.
First: it slides in and out of the pocket effortlessly. That deep-carry clip is a real asset. It reminds me of the C181GTIP Lil’ Lionspy — also made in Maniago — but this one is even better than a wire clip: smooth, secure, and gentle on pockets.
Even though it’s light, the PITS2 feels dense and substantial in the hand. If you love titanium, you immediately recognise that warm, almost organic sensation it gives in the palm. Chris Reeve was the first to offer that pure‑titanium tactile experience, and the PITS2 carries that same aura.
Then your thumb finds the hole. It’s stiffer than most Spydercos I know, but that final click when fully opened is immensely satisfying. Forget about using your ring finger — it’s your thumb or nothing.
The hole is sharp enough to allow a “Spyder‑Drop,” though it occurs in two deliberate steps rather than one smooth motion.
Another major advantage: the PITS2 cannot pinch your fingers during opening or closing — a problem that the PITS1 sometimes had.
And, as I mentioned in the quick first‑look, that relatively tall blade comes with very thin geometry. This is the first Spyderco edge in a very long time—aside from my Chaparrals—that didn’t need to be convexed. I usually “de‑shoulder” everything to my taste and to my standard test: the plastic bottle butt.
This is where the PITS2 truly shines: pure cutting performance. So far, it has never disappointed me. At first, I thought its more “gentle” blade tip wouldn’t be pointy enough for my tastes—especially since I’m used to the UKPK, Yojimbo 2 or the Microjimbo—but the PITS2’s tip is razor‑keen. It finds its way into soft or dense materials with nothing more than a light, controlled pass.
Actually, butter knives do not need to be sharp. 😉 The PITS2’s thin edge can slip effortlessly through delicate materials—like slicing a layered birthday cake without crushing it. And it can zip through cherry tomatoes, which is always a great test of geometry and edge aggressiveness. Tomato skin resists, tomato flesh is fragile; a good blade needs to pierce the first without mangling the second.
Well, well, well… go figure: tomatoes can be tricky — and a perfect opportunity to put your favorite edge to the test. But honestly, what more could you ask for from a good EDC, superb slicing ability. A sharp knife is a safe knife.
M398 in that matter continues to surprise me. It reacts to leather like… K390 ! Amazing steel ! I’ve already used M398 on the Roadie XL and the Metropolitan, and it proved far more forgiving than I expected. I initially thought it would be brittle — especially after snapping about half a millimeter off the tip of my Roadie XL — but in everyday use it has shown itself to be an excellent alloy that also responds beautifully to stropping.
After some real use, I still haven’t managed to chip or even noticeably dull the PITS2’s thin edge. What’s remarkable is that it’s still as razor-sharp as it was right out of the box.
I also love how easy it is to check, clean, and oil the PITS2. I can appreciate how skeletonized hidden liners have added lightness and strength to folding knives, but they also tend to become little nests for rust. For that reason, I really appreciate it when liners are DLC‑coated — and even better when they’re made of titanium.
Regarding the PITS2’s titanium handle, the absence of hotspots and the beautifully beveled edges make it a real pleasure to hold.
The cutout for the mechanism isn’t beveled, so you can feel its slightly sharper edge. I’ve also noticed that the two handle slabs are symmetrical, while the cutouts around the pivot are not identical.
Low profile usually comes with a deep‑carry clip or no clip at all… but the PITS2 clip is really shiny, so it still catches the eye. I know, because I’ve checked my reflection in a mirror and eventually had to unclip it and drop it deep into my pocket before passing through security recently. Low profile wise: a tip if you are ever checked, do not open your knife with one hand, use both.
In those days of increasing knife crime and genuily believe that your EDC’s shape needs to be sheeple‑friendly. If I pull out my fully serrated Native Chief Salt, anyone around will instantly assume that this long, pointy, toothy, shiny blade is straight out of Jack the Ripper’s toolkit.
The PITS2, with its rounded profile and non‑threatening blade shape, is a perfect example of a legal and friendly high tech EDC that won’t raise any eyebrows if used in public. It’s actually even less threatening than a UKPK.
ll in all, the PITS2 delivers on its promises. Incredible thin edge. Enjoyable mechanism. Low profile. Easy to clean.
It’s a friendly, high‑tech luxury tool that can be brought to the table to slice a sausage, yet also serves as a reliable outdoor companion capable of carving a walking stick. I’m loving the Alien in these times of shifting paradigms.
So let the weary land be rested and the killing season over Let the shadows stretch forever in the light of burnished silver For I fear the age of consequence and I wish that it was over Bring me the snowfall, bring me the cold wind, bring me the wiener…
(My Nano has been heavily resharpened into a convex edge, while my PITS2 comes with its thin, perfectly even factory edge.)
Disclaimer: this knife was supplied at no cost by Spyderco as part of their brand ambassador program. The review that follows, however, remains entirely independent and unbiased. I thank them for placing their trust in this little blog.
Let’s take a walk back to 2010! It was a year marked by major natural and environmental disasters—the Haiti earthquake, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the Chile earthquake. The swine flu pandemic, which had begun the year before, finally dissipated. On the cultural side, Lady Gaga made history with 13 VMA nominations (the most ever at the time), plus another 5 for her contribution to Beyoncé’s Video Phone. Meanwhile, Justin Bieber won Best New Artist, becoming the youngest person ever to claim a VMA.
But enough about disasters!
In 2010, ZDP-189 was the new kid on the block. The big questions were: does it stain? Is it brittle? What’s its exact composition? And carbon fiber—once a rare luxury—was suddenly being mass-produced for knife handles and had become the must-have material. I was 45. It was the year I got a wonderful gift from Rockstead: their Higo to review in ZDP189. The Michael Walker in ZDP189 was neatly carried in my watch pocket.
Proudly made in Japan.
Fifteen years later, a parcel lands at my door. Inside: a blast from the past—the Caly 3.5. Or should I say, the Mighty Caly. Clad ZDP-189 steel, proud axis screws, and that unmistakable aura. A gentleman’s knife that decided to play the outlaw with its 3.5-inch locking blade.
The father of the UKPK.
And many of the ClipIt offsprings:
Out of the box, the Caly 3.5 is incredibly pocket-friendly. The smooth carbon fiber scales make it glide in and out effortlessly, adding to its everyday usability.
This is one thing I won’t need to polish on the Caly. 😉
Now, the Caly is one of the rare Spyderco models that hasn’t been converted to full screw construction in 2025. It still carries those three rivets on the handle, radiating an unmistakable early-2000s vibe.
Most modern folders are assembled with screws, which makes them easy to disassemble and service. The Caly 3.5, by contrast, is riveted—apart from the pivot and clip screw—which means full disassembly isn’t really an option.
I understand why some people have a visceral dislike for rivets. But in my experience, they work reliably and don’t loosen over time—an important factor when you’re using a knife in remote places for long stretches. A friend of mine, once a hunter’s guide in the African rainforest, swore by riveted knives for exactly that reason: nothing to rattle loose, nothing to lose.
Personally, I won’t be field-dressing game or digging in the mud with my Caly. For me, the lack of full disassembly isn’t an issue. Cleaning with hot soapy water, a rinse, and a blast of compressed air is more than enough. No worries at all. But to quote a user back in 2013: “Disassembly for cleaning is as simple as the design: Open blade, Remove pivot pin screw, Depress lock bar, Pull out pivot and the blade falls out. Voila, that’s as far as it breaks down. No washers, nothing falls out, etc. Reassembly, just reverse the process.”
And then there’s the BIG pivot screw—so bold it practically becomes the Caly’s signature.
This is pure Sal Glesser design: a knife that melts into your hand. The carbon fiber slabs are smooth, almost glassy, while that oversized pivot not only anchors the construction but also serves as a subtle functional detail. It works as a natural index point on the handle—almost like a thumb guard, without ever creating a hot spot.
It’s not just practical; it’s a stylistic stamp. You see the same oversized pivot screw on the Michael Walker, another hallmark of Spyderco’s design language from that era.
Now, let’s talk about ZDP-189—a steel I’ve reviewed many times over the years.
While it’s most often found in high-end kitchen knives, ZDP-189 has also carved out a place in EDC designs. My own Higo J from Rockstead, for example, proudly measures in at 66.6 HRC—a testament to how hard this steel can go when heat-treated to its full potential. (ZDP-189 steel can reach a maximum hardness of 67 HRC, which is well above the values of average mass-production knives.)
Element
Portion
Effect
Chromium
20.0%
Improves wear resistance, heat resistance and scale resistance. It increases tensile strength because it acts as a carbide former. Use of rust-proof or stainless steel, as it increases corrosion resistance from a mass proportion of 12.2%. Reduction in weldability.
Carbon
3.0%
Increasing hardness and tensile strength. In larger quantities, increase in brittleness and a reduction in forgeability and weldability.
Manganese
0.5%
Improves hardness and tensile strength.
Molybdenum
1.4%
Improves hardenability, tensile strength and weldability. Reduction in forgeability and ductility.
Silicon
0.4%
Improves strength.
Vanadium
0.1%
Increasing hardness, increasing wear resistance and improving tempering resistance.
Wolfram
0.6%
Increase in heat strength, tempering resistance and wear resistance at high temperatures up to red heat.
The magic of ZDP-189 lies in its unusual recipe. With about 3% carbon—a huge amount compared to most steels—and a massive 20% chromium, it pushes the limits of what stainless steel can be. That mix makes it harder, more wear-resistant, and more corrosion-resistant than almost anything else in the pocketknife world. If you’ve ever used knives made from softer steels (well below 60 HRC), you know the frustration: the edge dulls quickly. Instead of chipping, the steel tends to roll, with the fine cutting edge flattening under pressure and losing its bite. A few quick passes through a sharpener will bring it back, but the cycle repeats too often.
With a harder steel like ZDP-189, the story is different. Edges don’t roll nearly as easily, which means the blade keeps its razor-sharp performance for far longer, even under demanding use. That’s where ZDP-189 really shines in 2010 and still shines in 2025—it holds a cutting edge like almost no other stainless steel in the EDC world. But beware as ZDP189 is also known for chipping especially on factory edges..
15 years ago my ZDP-189 Higo gave me a scare: its factory convexe edge started chipping quite badly (arrrgh!). I hadn’t been using it hard, so it caught me off guard. My guess is that the ultra-thin edge at the tip, maybe combined with a careless fumble or contact with something hard, was the culprit. The tip may have contacted something hard, which can happen without noticing. I’ve had a similar experience with another knife: a mirror-finished, thin stainless blade I was testing on bamboo. After just ten cuts, the edge looked almost serrated—but I realigned it, and the damage became nearly invisible while restoring high sharpness.
To bring it back to new, I gave it many gentle pass on a Spyderco white ceramic rod, then spent a solid hour stropping on leather with compound. The result? The knife came back sharper than ever, and with a touch of convexing the edge now feels stronger and less prone to be damaged. For all its hardness, ZDP-189 is surprisingly forgiving.
My other ZDP-189 blade ,back in 2010, the Michael Walker, hasn’t rolled or chipped, though it isn’t as “smooth” sharp as the Higo. It’s also slightly less hard than the Higo-J. It will be the same story with the Caly 3.5. I also feel that its beautiful full-flat-ground blade, with its already even edge, could benefit from a bit of convexing. Doing so would create a safety net against potential chipping, making the blade even more durable in everyday use. Sooner or later I will also smooth the blade’s spine. Good news the 420J2 steel is soft to work.
Why does the Caly 3.5 have a laminated blade made of ZDP-189/420J2?
The inner core is ZDP-189, while the outer shell is 420J2. The idea behind a laminated or “clad” blade is simple: the inner core provides a very hard, high-performance edge, while the outer layers are softer and more corrosion-resistant. This combination gives you the best of both worlds: excellent edge retention from the ZDP-189, and a tougher, more flexible spine that helps prevent damage when pressure is applied.
The softer 420J2 outer layer will scratch over time but it will be easy to polish back. It also improves corrosion resistance, especially near the pivot area. Even though ZDP-189 has a very high chromium content, it can still stain, but won’t rust like other hard laminated steels such as HAP40. The cladding adds a bit of toughness to the overall blade, compensating for the fact that ZDP-189 is not the toughest stainless steel in case of torsion.
Carrying the Caly 3.5 is another smooth experience—it practically disappears in your pocket. The deep-carry clip, smooth handle, and thin profile combine to make it a true pocket ghost. But deployment is definitely the Caly 3.5’s vintage characteristic, especially compared to modern compression-lock knives like the Microjimbo. The action is less smooth and a bit slow—which, in fairness, suits a gentleman’s (or lady’s) folder. Out of the box, it was quite grippy, but a few drops of nano oil helped.
One reason for this feel is that the knife lacks washers. The blade and stainless liners are polished at the Seki factory to minimize friction, but they remain in direct contact. Over time, the blade gradually leaves “traces” at the pivot where it rubs against the liners, which is normal for this type of construction. With a little oil, there is no issue.
Using, carrying, and deploying the Caly 3.5 is like going from a 2025 electric Kia to a classic common-rail diesel BMW. It’s rougher, yes, but still comfortable, reliable, and full of character—part of its undeniable charm. And it gets better and better… One big asset is how easy to goes in and out of my pockets where it’s disappears like a much smaller knife. This is purely the opposite of a pocket shredder. It makes the carrying experience pleasant and confortable.
Details like Boyle’s dent on the lock (which flushes with hand), the proud liners and the full stainless steel spacer held by rivets add to that vintage appeal. My Caly 3.5 exhibits zero vertical play, giving the same solid backlock experience I enjoy on my Police 4 in K390. This is rock-solid. And that 3 mm-thick blade contributes significant lateral strength, meaning the Caly can be used harder than its elegant appearance might suggest.
The factory edge is a bit on the thick side, so its performance doesn’t fully meet my needs. At the moment, the Caly 3.5 can’t even slide cleanly through the base of a plastic bottle.
So for my personal taste, I’ll likely smooth the spine, convex the edge, and round that blade jimping (a real hot spot for hard cutting), as well as soften the handle edges until they feel like a pebble. But this will take time—I don’t want to compromise the overall beauty of the Caly 3.5. It’s a true looker, eye candy for anyone who appreciates Sal Glesser’s designs.
But as Bob Terzuola always says: “If your knife is still sharp, it means you don’t use it enough!” So let’s put that Caly 3.5 to work. First step: rounding the angles.
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