Spyderco Para Military 2 (PM2)

The Paramilitary 2 has been the most-recommended premium work folder for over a decade. Original PM was released in 2004; the PM2 updated it in 2010 with refinements (Compression Lock geometry, blade-handle ratio, pocket clip), and it's been the default "best premium work knife" answer ever since. The 2020 update to CPM-S45VN steel kept it current.

The PM2 lives in the same mechanical family as the Para 3, same Compression Lock, same Round Hole, same G10 over steel liners, scaled up to a 3.42" blade and a full 4-finger handle. The larger handle is the underrated feature for hard-use cutting; you can choke up on the spine for detail work or grip the entire handle in a hammer grip for batoning through cardboard. The longer blade has more usable belly for slicing larger items (whole apples, longer rope cuts, full sheets of cardboard).

The trade-off is legality. The 3.42" blade exceeds the carry limit in NYC (4" but with daggers/automatic restrictions), Boston (2.5"), various California jurisdictions, and a long list of European countries. This is a knife for the workshop, the truck, the toolbox, the camping bag, not for downtown dress-pocket carry. If you carry in restrictive cities, get the Para 3. If you carry on a job site or in your truck, the PM2 is the right answer.