Pocket knives · owner-verdict comparison

Civivi Baklash vs Spyderco Paramilitary 2: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 78% of 27 Civivi Baklash owners recommend it, vs 79% of 393 for the Spyderco Paramilitary 2.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Civivi Baklash

78%of 27 owners recommend
78% recommend · 22% neutral · 0% don't
Owners praise
  • Exceptional value at its price point, with owners calling out $22-$40 price tags as a steal for the quality
  • Owners keep rebuying it, some own two or three, and call it a favorite Civivi or an all-time favorite knife
  • Thin, slicey blade grind that cuts noticeably better than thicker rivals while staying light and slim for EDC
Owners complain about
  • Fine tip can snap or chip under harder use, though Civivi ships a replacement blade cheaply
Full owner report →

Spyderco Paramilitary 2

79%of 393 owners recommend
79% recommend · 13% neutral · 8% don't
Owners praise
  • Superb, secure compression lock
  • Outstanding in-hand ergonomics
  • Slices well, comes very sharp
Owners complain about
  • Carries big and wide in pocket
  • Delicate tip prone to breaking
  • Stiff detent or lock stick out of box
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Civivi Baklash if
  • ✓EDC users who want a thin, slicey blade for everyday cutting tasks
  • ✓Budget-conscious buyers wanting Civivi fit and finish under $40
  • ✓Collectors who like swapping scale materials like G10, Micarta, and brass
  • ✓Anyone who wants a smooth flipper action with a real, usable finger choil
Skip it if
  • Buyers wanting a hard-use blade, since the thin grind gives a weaker tip than tougher alternatives
  • Anyone sensitive to weight, since some owners find it heavier than expected for its size
Get the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 if
  • ✓EDC users wanting a do-everything work knife
  • ✓Enthusiasts who love the compression lock and fidgeting
  • ✓Buyers who want a customizable steel-and-scale platform
  • ✓Anyone after a lifetime hard-use folder
Skip it if
  • People with small pockets who want discreet carry
  • Anyone hard on knife tips or prone to prying

What Civivi Baklash owners think

Owners talk about the Baklash like a knife they keep coming back to, several have bought two or three over the years and call it their favorite Civivi or even their favorite knife period. The appeal centers on a thin, slicey blade grind paired with smooth, snappy action and a finger choil that earns its keep, wrapped in fit and finish people expect to pay much more for. Price comes up constantly, with owners naming $22 to $40 tags as a steal and calling it one of the best budget blades around. A few isolated notes mention a snapped and reground tip after hard use, or a rival's thicker blade holding up better to abuse, but those comments are scattered rather than a shared complaint.

What Civivi Baklash owners say

“I just bought a second Baklash. I’ve been using my current one for three years now, have snapped and reground the tip multiple times. My favourite knife of all time”
— Sammy1FISHY on Reddit
“the finger choil is actually functional; the ergos are very nice”
— Sanklo on Reddit

What Spyderco Paramilitary 2 owners say

“This is the knife that made me fall in love with knives.”
— @edsaban572 on YouTube
“Great knife with balanced hardness, ease of sharpening, and corrosion(rust) resistance”
— Stormrider001 on Reddit
“the g-10 grips feel blocky because they didn’t even round the edges at all just squared off. What a disappointment for a $200* knife”
— @whatfreedom7 on YouTube

Civivi Baklash vs Spyderco Paramilitary 2: frequently asked questions

Is the Civivi Baklash or the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 better?

Real owners rate these about evenly: 78% of 27 Civivi Baklash owners recommend it, vs 79% of 393 for the Spyderco Paramilitary 2.

Who should get the Civivi Baklash?

Owners point the Civivi Baklash at eDC users who want a thin, slicey blade for everyday cutting tasks, and budget-conscious buyers wanting Civivi fit and finish under $40.

Who should get the Spyderco Paramilitary 2?

Owners point the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 at eDC users wanting a do-everything work knife, and enthusiasts who love the compression lock and fidgeting.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Civivi Baklash is fine tip can snap or chip under harder use, though Civivi ships a replacement blade cheaply. For the Spyderco Paramilitary 2, it's carries big and wide in pocket.