While Spyderco’s PM2 might be a bit too tactical cool for some, we’ve been carrying one daily for over a decade now. And Spyderco has spun off dozens of steels and colorways since the knife released back in 2010. But one configuration has haunted collectors longer than any other, and it’s back at last: the Blade HQ-exclusive Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Tanto CPM-M4.
The Tanto Eric Glesser Ground By Hand
This knife exists because Blade HQ asked for it. Back in 2019, the retailer approached Spyderco about trying a new blade shape for its long-running exclusives program, and at the following SHOT Show, company head Eric Glesser showed up with a prototype he had ground himself by hand.
That blade became the first tanto in PM2 history, and it’s workhorse through and through. The compound grind pairs a hollow-ground primary edge for slicing duty with a flat-ground tip and swedge. This helps create a point that can absorb real abuse without compromising on everyday utility.
Tool Steel for People Who Use Their Knives
Then there’s the steel. CPM-M4 is a carbon-heavy tool steel that holds an absurd edge and shrugs off impacts that would chip fancier stainless options. The catch? It will patina, and eventually rust, if it’s treated like a shelf queen.
A drop of oil now and then is the price of admission, and plenty of M4 diehards consider the patina a badge of honor anyway. The rest is textbook PM2 which includes a 3.44-inch blade, peel-ply G-10 scales, a four-position clip, and of course, the Compression Lock that remains one of the most satisfying mechanisms in production. Both the satin and black DLC versions are made in Spyderco’s Golden, Colorado factory.
Four Years Is a Long Time Between Drops
Blade HQ hasn’t had these in stock since the early 2020s, and the aftermarket noticed, with discontinued tanto PM2s routinely trading well above original retail. That scarcity explains why the retailer now ranks it as the single most wish-listed knife it has ever sold.
Previous runs sold out fast enough to buckle Blade HQ’s servers, and nothing about this release suggests history won’t repeat itself.
Spec Sheet
Brand: Spyderco
Model: Paramilitary 2 Tanto
Overall Length: 8.25″
Blade Length: 3.44″
Blade Thickness: 0.14″
Blade Steel: CPM M4
Blade Grind: Compound (Hollow Main Edge)
Handle Material: Black G-10
Locking Mechanism: Compression Lock
Weight: 4.20 oz
Manufacturing Origin: USA
Pricing & Availability
The tanto PM2 lands back on Blade HQ on July 22, with Blade Club members getting tiered early access ahead of the public drop at 11 a.m. MDT. The black DLC version is listed at $235.95 ($295 MSRP), with the satin model coming in a shade under that. Head over to Blade HQ and wishlist it now if you want a realistic shot at one.
Recap
Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Tanto CPM-M4
The first and only tanto ever fitted to Spyderco’s PM2 returns to Blade HQ on July 22, wearing hard-use CPM-M4 tool steel in satin or black DLC.
