why does my 1994 patons red needle #8 keep breaking on merino when i do a k2tog?

tbh i just pulled out my old patons red #8 i rescued from the attic (the one with the tiny embossed patons logo) and tried to finish that half‑finished granny square from 2003. i used that sweet, soft merino "quiet night" 100% that i got from the 2005 yarn swap. weird thing is the needle snaps on the first k2tog, like every time i try a slip stitch combo it just snaps. anyone else still has that #8 from the "mid‑90s metal tip era"? or is it just my yarn being too slick after they added that new soft‑feel finish in 2004? tbh i remember us all swearing the 1994 patons needles were the only ones that could handle the "faux‑lump" of the 2002 "golf‑course" chunky wool without breaking. i guess some of us are stuck in the past. any tips or maybe i should finally let go of the relic and upgrade to a modern bambus #8? (but i miss that satisfying click of the metal tip)

also, anyone else think the 2005 yarn swap "quiet night" merino was overhyped? i kinda feel like it was just a clever marketing spin from the yarn shop, lol