Video: Para Military 2 Salt – Spyderco Design Production Sample 2023

This Para Military 2 Saltproduction sample was shown at the 2023 Spyderco Amsterdam Meet. 

For a more detailed look, photos and information, go to my earlier post on the Para Military 2 Salt production sample.

Para Military 2 Salt – Spyderco Design Production Sample 2023

The Spyderco Salt series will be expanded with a Para Military 2. There truly will be a Para Military 2 for any occasion I guess, with all the variants we’ve seen so far, and now one for maritime use. This production sample featured black peel-ply G-10 handle scales, finished with a design of bidirectional grooves. According to Eric, the overall plan is to make a Salt version of every knife, made in the US factory. And although it’s hard to make out in these photos, I had a hard time getting a good shot of the engraving, the blade will be made of MagnaCut. The liners and all other hardware were coated black.

Specifications

Closed: 4.82 inch / 122 mm
Overall: 8.24 inch / 209 mm
Blade: 3.42 inch / 87 mm
Edge: 3.04 inch / 77 mm
Thickness: 0.145 inch / 3.7 mm
Steel: CPM MagnaCut
Weight: 3.77 oz / 107 g
Grind: Full-flat
Lock: Compression
Handle: G-10
Carry: Ambi
Clip: 4-position
Origin: USA

I have no information on pricing or release dates.

Spyderco C81 Paramilitary 2 SPY27 sprint run video

I know I’m a sucker for colored folding knives and sprint runs, but this one was, yes, how to put it …. It is -a lot- No scratch that, this one is just too much. And that it why I think it’s amazing. From the Colorado flag dyed onto the G10 handle, all the way to the multi-color engraved flag on the blade. It’s a unique piece for sure, and it has gotten plenty of criticism online. I’m also sure that given a few years, this will be very collectible. That’s just how it goes with all the ‘outrageous’ looking spydies.

Spyderco C81 Paramilitary 2 2018 Forum Knife

Spyderco was an ‘early adopter’ of online discussion forums. The first forum opened up on BladeForums.com in the 90s, where Sal and several SpyderCrew members would answer questions from fans. More importantly, they asked for feedback which led to several new products and product improvements. In 1999, Spyderco introduced one of the first, if not the first, forum knives for BladeForums.com. A forum knife is usually a variation of an existing design. It shows appreciation to the forumites and -through its sales- help support the forums. Around 2002, Spyderco started their own discussion forum on spyderco.com. And not too long after that, Spyderco offered a new forum knife every few years. The 2018 forum knife, a modified C81 Paramilitary 2, was the last one offered to date.

Spyderco initially offered the PM2 in S30V steel and a black G-10 handle. Since then, Spyderco has offered a few variations in its catalog. But I won’t even start to try and list the many more variations of the C81 as dealer exclusives and sprint runs. The 2018 forum knife however, still managed to offer something new: a grey G10 handle with a stainless steel laser engraved inlay and a CPMS90V blade.

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The 2018 Forum Knife never seemed to get much appreciation. And you’ll rarely see the knife in any Instagram post these days. I don’t think it’s the knife’s fault. It’s just that there are so many dealer exclusives out there of the PM2, and they still keep coming. That way, it’s hard to stand out with a forum knife design. I like it, as I like all the forum knives.

Some might say the forums are done, with the rise of other social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. That might be true, but I still enjoy it and appreciate that there are so many different online platforms where knifeknuts can meet each other and discuss, share and celebrate this ‘weird’ hobby of ours.

Check out the specs and history of the C81 Paramilitary at SpydieWiki.com, and specifically the 2018 forum edition, at Spyderco.com.

Spyderco 2014 Production Sample – Paramilitary 2 – Composite Sprint

Although this very special Paramilitary 2 sprint was already shipping, Eric and Sal brought it along with them to the Amsterdam Meet.

IIRC, the most important reason to try and make this CPM 154/S90v composite blade was ‘to see if it could be done’. I remember Eric explaining that this blade has no real practical benefits over a regular S90V blade. However, it was a very complicated process to successfully combine these two steels in this composite blade. Hopefully, the knowledge gained during this process for this Paramilitary 2 Sprint, will lead to other related innovations that will prove practical. There will be more knives by Spyderco with this type of composite blade, but not in a Paramilitary 2 frame.