Spyderco Paramilitary 2 vs TRM Neutron 2

87 facts in comparison

Based on 68 Reddit opinions. Close race—Neutron 2 edges ahead.

68 opinions
Neutron 2 leads by 4pts
Spyderco Paramilitary 2
80%
B+
Based on
151 Redditors

Spyderco Paramilitary 2

~$164.35
22 opinions

tldr; King of full-size folders. Compression lock legendary. S45VN steel upgrade worth it. Hand filling ergonomics.

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VS
Reddit's Pick
TN
Neutron 2
84%
B+
Based on
285 Redditors
Winner

TRM Neutron 2

46 opinions

tldr; Reddit highly recommends the TRM Neutron 2 for its American craftsmanship, lightweight design, and custom feel.

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Steel QualityAction & DeploymentBuild QualityErgonomicsValue
🔧STE
ACT
BUI
ERG
VAL
88
Points
75
Points

Score by Category

Steel Quality
100%50%
Action & Deployment
90%
Build Quality
50%100%
Ergonomics
100%33%
Value
100%100%

Why is TRM Neutron 2 better than Spyderco Paramilitary 2?

  • Higher Reddit score (84% vs 80%)
  • Better build quality (100% vs 50%)
  • American made
  • Lightweight (around 2.5 oz without Ti scales)
  • Feels more custom than production knives
Based on 436 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call

Reddit prefers the Neutron 2

Winning by 4 points (84% vs 80%)

Better build quality
American made
Lightweight (around 2.5 oz without Ti scales)
High confidence (436 mentions)

💬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 436 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

Paramilitary 2
8.0/10
151 mentions
Neutron 2
8.4/10
285 mentions
BUILD QUALITY
Paramilitary 25.0/10
Neutron 210.0/10
STEEL
Paramilitary 210.0/10
Neutron 25.0/10
VALUE
Paramilitary 210.0/10
Neutron 210.0/10
ERGONOMICS
Paramilitary 210.0/10
Neutron 23.3/10
ACTION
Paramilitary 2N/A
Neutron 29.0/10
⚔️

Head to Head

Head to Head

Paramilitary 2: 2|Neutron 2: 2
Build QualityNeutron 2
Paramilitary 250%
Neutron 2100%
SteelParamilitary 2
Paramilitary 2100%
Neutron 250%
Value
Paramilitary 2100%
Neutron 2100%
ErgonomicsParamilitary 2
Paramilitary 2100%
Neutron 233%
ActionNeutron 2
Paramilitary 2N/A
Neutron 290%
Paramilitary 280%
Neutron 284%
Close race - Neutron 2 edges ahead by 4 points

Key Specs

SpecSpyderco Paramilitary 2TRM Neutron 2
Blade Length
3.45 inches
3.0 inch (Liner Lock) / 2.95 inch (Frame Lock)
Steel Type
CPM S45VN
Handle Material
G-10
Titanium, G-10, Carbon Fiber
Lock Type
Compression Lock
Liner Lock or Frame Lock
Blade Grind
Full-Flat
Full Flat

Key Highlights

Spyderco Paramilitary 2
🔪 S45VN/S30V steel options
📏 3.44" blade full-size
🔧 Compression lock icon
✋ Perfect for larger hands
TRM Neutron 2Winner
🇺🇸 American made
🔧 Lightweight (around 2.5 oz without Ti scales)
💰 Feels more custom than production knives
🔒 Available with a frame lock now

Topic Battles

Paramilitary 2: 2|Tied: 1|Neutron 2: 2
🔧Steel Quality
Paramilitary 2 wins
Paramilitary 2
100%
Neutron 2
50%
Action & Deployment
Neutron 2 wins
Paramilitary 2
Neutron 2
90%
Build Quality
Neutron 2 wins
Paramilitary 2
50%
Neutron 2
100%
Ergonomics
Paramilitary 2 wins
Paramilitary 2
100%
Neutron 2
33%
Value
Paramilitary 2
100%
Neutron 2
100%

Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories

📈Where They Rank

💬What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for TRM Neutron 2

Best Praise
+5 pts
Nice snag. The neutron is probably the one knife I’d keep if I had to let go of everything.
r/Knife_Swap
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Top Criticism
+1 pts
It’s pretty good, just not perfect. I’d say the Urban XL & F3 are better and also make excellent users (F3 is heavier though) but they’re also at 3-4x the price. Whatever you do, I’d avoid the neutron. It’s an awkward size and feel after handling the atom.
r/Knife_Swap
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3 more quotes available below

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Spyderco Paramilitary 2

Best Praise
+2 pts
The PM2 in s45nv is my favorite user but I sorta broke the tip being stupid. This seems about exactly what I need only a bit bigger.
r/Knife_Swap
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Top Criticism
+2 pts
I got a para 3 in last week, and fell in love with it way more than I thought I would. Especially considering how much I really didn’t love my pm2 and my kapara. This is quite tempting, love the scales
r/Knife_Swap
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3 more quotes available below

📈Historical Price Data

Spyderco Paramilitary 2
TRM Neutron 2
$120$140$160$180Apr '25May '25Jul '25Aug '25Sep '25Oct '25Nov '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Low: $139.97Low: $129.66Current: $171.3Current: $129.69
Spyderco Paramilitary 2
All-time low: $79.99(2014-02)
TRM Neutron 2
All-time low: $60.59(2011-07)

Which is Better?

TRM Neutron 2 Wins
84%
2
vs
80%
2

Close race, but TRM Neutron 2 edges ahead by 4 points based on 436 Reddit opinions.

Why Neutron 2Winner
  • 🇺🇸 American made
  • 🔧 Lightweight (around 2.5 oz without Ti scales)
  • 💰 Feels more custom than production knives
  • More discussed (285 vs 151)
Why Paramilitary 2
  • 🔪 S45VN/S30V steel options
  • 📏 3.44" blade full-size

❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown

Sentiment Breakdown

14%Positive
Positive
14%
Neutral
84%
Negative
2%
Based on 285 Reddit opinions

Sentiment Breakdown

13%Positive
Positive
13%
Neutral
85%
Negative
2%
Based on 151 Reddit opinions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, TRM Neutron 2 or Spyderco Paramilitary 2?
Based on 436 Reddit comments, TRM Neutron 2 has a slight edge with 84% positive sentiment vs Spyderco Paramilitary 2's 80%. The difference is small, so both are solid choices.
Should I buy TRM Neutron 2 or Spyderco Paramilitary 2?
Both have similar approval ratings (84% vs 80%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
What do Redditors love about TRM Neutron 2?
Reddit users highlight: American made. Lightweight (around 2.5 oz without Ti scales). Feels more custom than production knives. With 285 mentions and 84% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Spyderco Paramilitary 2?
Reddit users highlight: S45VN/S30V steel options. 3.44" blade full-size. Compression lock icon. With 151 mentions and 80% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 436 Reddit comments: 285 about TRM Neutron 2 and 151 about Spyderco Paramilitary 2. Data was sourced from Pocket Knives community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.

68 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 4/16/2026