Spyderco Paramilitary 2 VS Endura 4 | Differences

Spyderco always offers versatile knife options in response to user demand. And, this time, it launched two demandable mid-sized knives- Spyderco Paramilitary 2 and Endura 4. If you are looking for a mid-sized knife with an affordable budget, these two are the best options. Want to pick up one between them? Then, the key differences between these knives will reveal which is better for you! 

Mainly, Spyderco Paramilitary 2 is shorter in size, and Endura 4 is longer but lighter than PM 2. Endura 4 has FRN handles with better ergonomics than PM2. The compression lock of PM2 offers smooth operation over the back lock mechanism of Endura 4. 

That’s not enough!  Everything will be discussed in detail along with a comparison of the Spyderco PM2 and Endura 4. Stay tuned! 

About Spyderco Paramilitary 2: Overview

When choosing a mid-size knife from the renowned Spyderco, paramilitary 2 is the king of all! Every little feature is updated in this knife for superior performance. 

Probably the best G-10 handle, an easy compression lock, a premium grade S45VN blade steel, and 4 adjustable clip positions are all found on this knife. 

 S45VN steel gives this knife exceptional sharpness and cutting power. It has superior corrosion resistance and edge retention.  The blade is perfectly flat and has a slightly curved appearance. 

The knife size is better and the weight is a little bit heavier. The G-10 handle has skeletonized liners to improve ergonomics for better handling. There’s a pivoting system with bushings to improve deployment.

 The compression locking mechanism is much safer and easier. There’s a 4-way clip position that is not so rough and has a deep carry position. The price is expensive but worth the money.

About Endura 4: Overview

Spyderco offers superior features with their new additional knife Endura 4. It is one of the perfect EDC knives that every knife user wants! 

Endura 4 has a Vg-10 steel blade that has superior sharpness,  great corrosion resistance, and better edge retention. The full flat grind blade makes it more suitable for slicing and other cutting tasks.

Although it’s a larger knife, it is lightweight for its FRN handle. The FRN handle has bi-directional textures that offer secure gripping. 

The back lock mechanism is impressive for easy opening and closing tricks that everyone can handle. Finally, it’ll be a great addition to your everyday cutting tasks at an affordable price.

Quick comparison chart table

Spyderco Paramilitary 2 VS Endura 4: Key differences

It’s time to reflect on the details of the key differences between both knives within real users’ and expert opinions. Let’s see which better suits your needs and budget.

1. Blade steel

Let’s begin the comparison with the first category of blade steel. Paramilitary 2 has a design with CPM S45VN blade steel and Endura 4 has VG-10 steel.

CPM S45VN has 16% chromium and 1.48% carbon, making the steel more corrosion & wear-resistant. 

Vg-10 is premium-grade steel with 15% chromium and 1.5% carbon. It also shows great resistance to any corrosion or rust.

 So, both these Japanese steel have almost the same corrosion resistance. S45VN has a holding edge longer than the Vg-10. 

If you are looking for easy sharpening, Vg-10 is a better option than S45VN. 

I guess both of their steel performances don’t make any big difference. But, if you are afraid of dull knives, Spyderco will be a safe option. Let’s move forward to the next round.

2. Size & dimensions

Both Paramilitary 2 and Endura 4 are large knives. Keeping these knives side by side, you can’t see the actual size difference. 

In the case of Spyderco paramilitary 2, the blade length is 3.42″. The overall length of this knife is 8.24″. On the other hand, Endura 4 has an overall length of 8.78″. And the blade length is 3.80″.

After analyzing the size, it may seem that the Endura 4 is a bit larger than the Paramilitary 2. Two of these knives aren’t imperfect for EDC knives; they’re well-adjusted in the pocket. 

3. Weight

A lightweight knife is always a priority over other features. See what will stand in your expectation! 

Paramilitary 2 weighs 110 grams, while Endura 4 weighs 95 grams. Even though the Endura 4 is a long knife, it weighs less than the PM 2.

4. Handle material and design 

It’s the time when you’ll see a significant difference. And, the difference is in the handle design.

Spyderco PM 2 is designed with the G-10 handle, and Endura 4 has an FRN handle. The FRN handle is a more lightweight version than the G-10.  So, it’s pretty easy to handle heavy-duty tasks with Endura 4 over PM 2. 

Again, a more secure grip is possible with only a bi-directional texture in the FRN handle, which I liked most. Whereas the Spyderco PM 2 handle doesn’t provide an ergonomic grip, the Endura 4 handle does.

So, if you need better ergonomics and a lightweight handle, pick the Endura 4!

5. Locking mechanism

Well, it’s time to reveal another significant difference in the locking mechanism of both Spyderco Paramilitary 2 and Endura 4.

Spyderco paramilitary has a compression lock, whereas Endura 4 has a back locking mechanism.  A compression locking mechanism has few advantages over a back locking mechanism.

A compression lock offers a very smooth opening and closing operation over the back lock. It is because it requires less force and you don’t have to use your finger to open the knife. 

In contrast, a spring is used to build the back lock mechanism into the knife’s spine. Here, you need to use your hand to open and close Endura 4.

Spyderco Paramilitary 2 provides a one-hand opening, whereas Endura 4 doesn’t offer this feature. If it’s about choosing one of them, the choice is over personal preference. But I would prefer the Spyderco PM 2 compression locking mechanism over the Endura 4.

6. Pocket clip & Carry position

Between Spyderco Paramilitary 2 and Endura 4, there’s no difference in their pocket clip feature.

Both of these knives have 4 position-adjustable clips. That means you can set up this clip in 4 different ways. You can get a metal tip-up or tip-down carry position with both PM2 and Endura 4. 

But, you’ll feel different when you carry the knives. Because Endura 4 will be more lightweight in the pocket than PM 2. 

7. Lanyard hole

There are also lanyard hole diameter differences in both knives. 

As we know, a large diameter is better for a lanyard hole. It makes gripping more secure by attaching a stretch or loop to a hole. 

Here, Spyderco paramilitary 2 has a lanyard hole whose diameter is about 7 mm, whereas it’s 4 mm in Endura 4.

8. Sharpening

Both the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 and Endura 4 knives are relatively easy to sharpen. But the Paramilitary 2 may have a slight edge due to its CPM S45VN blade steel. CPM S45VN is known for its excellent edge retention and ease of sharpening compared to VG-10 steel used in the Endura 4. 

8. Price

When it comes to the prize, it goes without saying that you receive exactly what you require. 

In any case, Spyderco Paramilitary 2 offers premium performance at a price that is somewhat higher than Endura 4. 

My opinion (Which I Recommend) 

At the end of the discussion, I think you have a clear understanding of both knives. It’s time to choose between them. Still confused?! Let’s help you out. 

I would prefer Endura 4 over Paramilitary 2. Endura 4 provides Vg-10 blade performance that is overall sharper, lighter, easier to back lock, and has a more comfortable handle at an affordable price. This perfect knife will perform admirably all around.

Whereas, if you want to spend some extra money to get more features, then go with Paramilitary 2. You’ll get an S45VN premium steel blade, a compression lock, and easy one-handed opening and closing operations. 

So, what’s your next knife? Don’t forget to share it in the comment section.