REASONS TO BUY
Secure lock
Comfortable grip
Large blade for heavy-duty cutting
REASONS TO AVOID
Slow to open
Cheap-feeling handle
Too large for many pockets
Spyderco Para Military 2 Review
This heavy-duty knife will earn its place on your workbelt, but it's an investment
The Spyderco Para Military 2 is a long-standing favorite among anyone who needs a heavy-duty pocket knife for difficult tasks.
Credit: Kyle Hameister
By Kyle Hameister ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ August 20, 2026
RELATED: The Best Pocket Knives of 2026
Our Verdict
One of Spyderco's most popular models, the Para Military 2 is spendy but largely worth the price of admission. The blade is rock solid, with smooth bearings and a sleek action that makes it easy to open and close. Considering the top-tier steel and upgraded locking mechanism, this is a nearly perfect knife for the professional tradesperson. Buy the Para Military 2 with confidence – it's a pocket knife that'll last a lifetime.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Spyderco Para Military 2 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Pocket Knife |  Best Knife Under $100 | Best Knife Under $50 | Affordable Enough to Lose | |
| Price | $279 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $140 List Check Price at Amazon | $97 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $50 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $30 List Check Price at REI |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This heavy-duty knife will earn its place on your workbelt, but it's an investment | Appropriate for all settings and situations, there's no job this smart pocket knife can't do | This is the perfect knife for the hard-working, blue-collar professional | If you want a full-sized pocket knife, few offer the value of this affordable option | A playful pocket knife that outperforms its affordable price point |
| Rating Categories | Spyderco Para Milita... | Kershaw Bel Air | Spyderco Tenacious | Civivi Praxis Flipper | Gerber Zilch |
| Blade Quality (30%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (20%) | |||||
| Carrying Comfort (20%) | |||||
| Grip (20%) | |||||
| Sharpening & Cleaning (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Spyderco Para Milita... | Kershaw Bel Air | Spyderco Tenacious | Civivi Praxis Flipper | Gerber Zilch |
| Blade Length (Measured) | 3.1 in | 3.1 in | 3.4 in | 3.7 in | 3.1 in |
| Length Closed (Measured) | 4.8 in | 4.2 in | 4.4 in | 4.7 in | 4.2 in |
| Length Open (Measured) | 8.3 in | 7.3 in | 7.7 in | 8.4 in | 7.3 in |
| Closed Blade Lock? | No | No | No | No | No |
| Assisted Opening? | No | No | No | No | No |
| Blade Style | Full flat grind, plain edge | Reverse Tanto, plain edge | Full flat grind, plain edge | Drop point, plain edge | Drop point, plain edge |
| Blade Material | CPM S45VN stainless steel | CPM MagnaCut stainless steel | 8Cr13MoV stainless steel | 9Cr18MoV stainless steel | 7Cr17MoV stainless steel |
| Blade Thickness (Measured) | 3.7 mm | 2.1 mm | 3.0 mm | 3.0 mm | 2.54 mm |
| Opening Style | Ambidextrous thumb hole | Ambidextrous thumb stud | Ambidextrous thumb hole | Flipper (manual) | Ambidextrous thumb stud, nail nick |
| Lock Type | Compression lock | Crossbar lock (DuraLock) | Liner lock | Liner lock | Liner lock |
| Handle Material | Fiberglass composite (G10) | Anodized aluminum | Fiberglass composite (G10) | Fiberglass composite (G10) | Fiberglass composite (G10) |
| Carry Style | Pocket clip, lanyard hole | Pocket clip, lanyard hole | Pocket clip, lanyard hole | Pocket clip, lanyard hole | Pocket clip, lanyard hole |
| Weight (Measured) | 3.9 oz | 3.0 oz | 4.0 oz | 4.4 oz | 2.2 oz |
| Closed Thickness w/o Pocket Clip (Measured) | 0.5 in | 0.4 in | 0.5 in | 0.5 in | 0.5 in |
| Other Features Or Functions | 4 position pocket clip | Lanyard hole, deep carry pocket clip | Lanyard hole, 4 position pocket clip | Lanyard hole, deep carry, 2 position pocket clip | Lanyard hole |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Opening the Para Military 2 requires nudging the blade with the signet ring, but it's easy to close. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Likes
The blade on the Para Military 2 slices through almost anything like butter. It has a “full flat” grind, which means the entire blade is a single, consistent face, forming a gentle yet effective wedge. Something about that wedge separates material without binding up in the way that other blade shapes will.
The 'full flat grind' of the blade makes for an effective wedge, separating material cleanly as it slices. Credit: Kyle Hameister
The stainless steel alloy offers top-tier corrosion resistance and edge retention, with improved toughness relative to other common knife steels.
The bumped-out, tall blade is a bit goofy-looking, but it's designed that way for a reason. Directly behind the signet ring is a thumb rest with tooth-like ridges – it's not only a comfortable way to rest your thumb, but it allows you to push with enough force to make some tough cuts that other pocket knives couldn't possibly handle.
We're most impressed with the grip. The Para Military 2 fits comfortably in most hands and feels secure, even when you're making heavy-duty cuts. The compression lock built into the back of the handle also deserves praise of its own. The lock is exceptionally secure when the blade is out, but it disengages easily, with your fingers well out of the way when the blade closes.
The thumb rise on the back of the blade makes it easy to add force for tougher cuts.
Dislikes
We wish the Para Military 2 were easier to open – it would be nice if it had a thumb stud to flick it open. Instead, Spyderco's signature blade ring cutout requires a slow, steady push to swing open. It's smooth, but it's not exactly quick.
The Para Military 2 is also a fairly large knife. The flat handle sits fairly comfortably against your leg, but it's just too long and wide to carry every day in anything other than large pockets of utility pants. The fiberglass composite handle, while providing a secure grip, feels plasticky and cheap. For a knife that's this pricey, that's a difficult mental hurdle.
The oversized grip is great for stability, but it's a bit too large to carry comfortably in your average pant pocket. Credit: Kyle Hameister
Should You Buy the Spyderco Para Military 2?
Professional tradespeople – carpenters, plumbers, electricians, farmers – who use a knife every day for heavy-duty tasks will surely see a return on their investment many times over. However, for your average person looking for a casual pocket knife to carry every day, the Para Military 2 is a bit too overbuilt and a bit too expensive to make it worthwhile.
What Other Pocket Knife Should You Consider
Thankfully, Spyderco has an excellent 'budget' option – the Spyderco Tenacious has many of the same great features of the Para Military 2 at a fraction of the price. If the idea of a $100+ knife is still a bit astounding, the CIVIVI Praxis Flipper is another excellent large-framed knife for half that much.
—Kyle Hameister
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