Spyderco
Spyderco Para Military 2
$279
Best Pocket Knives · head-to-head
Spyderco Para Military 2 vs Cold Steel Recon 1
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Cold Steel Recon 1 is cheaper at $169.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Cold Steel
Cold Steel Recon 1
$169.99Cheaper
Which is better: the Spyderco Para Military 2 or Cold Steel Recon 1?
The Spyderco Para Military 2 wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Cold Steel Recon 1 is the cheaper at $169.99. Get the Spyderco Para Military 2 for the stronger spec sheet, the Cold Steel Recon 1 to spend less.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Spyderco Para Military 2 | Cold Steel Recon 1 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $279 | $169.99 |
| Brand | Spyderco | Cold Steel |
| Released | — | — |
| Blade length (in) | 3.44 | 4 |
| Blade steel | CPM S45VN | CPM S35VN |
| Lock type | Compression lock | Tri-Ad lock |
| Opening mechanism | Spyderco Round Hole, manual one-hand opening | dual thumb studs, ambidextrous manual opening |
| Blade shape grind | modified clip point, full flat grind | clip point, flat grind, DLC coated |
| Handle material | G-10 with skeletonized stainless steel liners | G-10 |
| Closed length (in) | 4.81 | 5.375 |
| Weight (oz) | 3.75 | 5.3 |
Sources — Spyderco Para Military 2: spyderco.com (verified 2026-08-11). Cold Steel Recon 1: coldsteel.com (verified 2026-08-11).
What's the difference between the Spyderco Para Military 2 and Cold Steel Recon 1?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (8 of 8). Matching specs are omitted.
- Blade length (in): Spyderco Para Military 2 3.44 vs Cold Steel Recon 1 4
- Blade steel: Spyderco Para Military 2 CPM S45VN vs Cold Steel Recon 1 CPM S35VN
- Lock type: Spyderco Para Military 2 Compression lock vs Cold Steel Recon 1 Tri-Ad lock
- Opening mechanism: Spyderco Para Military 2 Spyderco Round Hole, manual one-hand opening vs Cold Steel Recon 1 dual thumb studs, ambidextrous manual opening
- Blade shape grind: Spyderco Para Military 2 modified clip point, full flat grind vs Cold Steel Recon 1 clip point, flat grind, DLC coated
- Handle material: Spyderco Para Military 2 G-10 with skeletonized stainless steel liners vs Cold Steel Recon 1 G-10
- Closed length (in): Spyderco Para Military 2 4.81 vs Cold Steel Recon 1 5.375
- Weight (oz): Spyderco Para Military 2 3.75 vs Cold Steel Recon 1 5.3