Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Folding Knife (CPM S45VN)
LEGENDARY tier
The Spyderco Paramilitary 2 is the most recommended folding knife on r/BuyItForLife and across the broader knife community, and that consensus did not happen by accident.
Origin
Made in USA
Warranty
Spyderco lifetime warranty to original owner against defects in materials and workmanship; lifetime sharpening service available; covers lock mechanism, blade steel, and hardware failures; does not cover abuse, sharpening damage, or normal wear
Price
~$175 (Mid)
Community
Reddit r/BuyItForLife Approved
Manufactured in Golden, Colorado, the PM2 features a CPM S45VN stainless blade -- a particle metallurgy steel that holds an edge significantly longer than conventional stainless while remaining straightforward to resharpen. The Compression Lock is Spyderco's proprietary mechanism: it is ambidextrous, locks with the strength of a frame lock, and allows one-handed closing without placing fingers in the blade path.
G-10 handle scales are virtually indestructible. At roughly $175, this is a serious investment in a folding knife.
The justification is in longevity and serviceability: Spyderco sells every component -- screws, clips, washers, scales, and springs -- as individual replacement parts. The factory offers a lifetime sharpening service, and the aftermarket for PM2 customization is larger than for any other production folder.
Owners report ten to fifteen years of daily carry with nothing more than occasional sharpening and a clip screw replacement. The PM2 does not just last -- it invites a relationship with the tool that disposable knives never will.