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Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight Folding Knife

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Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight Folding Knife

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Product Description

The Para 3 is Spyderco’s response to those who requested a smaller version of the popular Para Military 2. With all of the functionality of the Para Military 2, but about an inch shorter, the Para 3 is large enough to tackle tough jobs, yet small enough for daily carry Read More

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Jun 4, 2019

Cant get past it being a $50 dollar knife mid steel not g10 how can they justify a lock an hole costing $40 more dollars because that is really nothing great except fan boys with buy anything

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yorick

Jun 2, 2019

I wish there were a spider edge version.

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ScottieG

253

May 31, 2019

I was one of the pre-order buyers. I like the Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight (LW), though you may not like the construction choices. It is clear that Spyderco put some thought about the production costs and factored that into the product design. Though the Para 3 LW is open back, the standoffs are molded into the Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon (FRN) scales. The edge grind on mine is somewhat asymmetrical, but not enough for me to re-profile it right away. The stop pin is only supported in steel on one side, put I have not seen any problem with usage, so far. There is only one phosphor bronze washer, with the other side supported on a molded in support on the FRN scale. This does not present any problem in use or action. The BD1N steel is not new and the performance will probably be good. How good depends greatly on the heat treatment and resulting hardness. Spyderco, and most other knife manufactures, do not push the steel to the upper limits of hardness, so, for most of us, we will only know after usage and a couple sharpenings. Basically, the Para 3 LW is aimed at the extremely successful Benchmade 535 Bugout, which has somewhat better components, such as S30V steel, 2 phosphor bronze washers, aluminum standoffs, titanium lock bar, steel sub-frame on both sides and a significant aftermarket for upgrades. It also costs more than the Para 3 LW. In usage, I don't notice one better than the other, but I liked the Bugout enough to buy two. I buy most of my Benchmade knives through the Post Exchange (the US Military "company store"). With Spyderco, I can get a military discount if I buy directly from them, but desirable items are usually out of stock and I often find better, but short-lived, deals through several retailers.

(Edited)

Evshrug

3772

Community

May 31, 2019

To everyone curious about the knife... got one at launch after pre-ordering, it’s great! To everyone saying “Why is this priced at MAP, ” that’s actually the point of MAP policies! If Drop wants to be an authorized seller, get the latest products, keep a supplier, and stay in a manufacturer’s good graces, they HAVE to stick with the same MAP as everyone else. And since Spyderco IS the supplier, they could just cut off Drop if Spyderco felt like Drop was bad for business and causing brand erosion. If you want to buy it somewhere else... ok. If shipping is cheaper or you have some store credit here, well alrighty then. Decent explanation of MAP policies: https://www.thebalancesmb.com/what-is-minimum-advertised-price-2890196 Ok, back to the knife... This is my first knife over $50, but I have experience from many cheaper ones and I’m up on many of the popular reviewer channels (shout out to @BirdShotIV, @NickShabazz, @Nutnfancy, etc). The compression lock was what first interested me in this knife. Smooth, fast, fairly ambidextrous, and safe from putting your fingers in the path of the blade while closing it was a major selling point for me. Here, it is very smooth... perhaps not AS smooth as it will become with use, but this is the first knife I can spydie-flick, it doesn’t make my thumb sore like an Axis lock will over time, and it’s a stronger lock than a liner/frame lock, button lock, or axis lock. No issue with the blade touching my fingers when I’m holding the lock and the blade closes in the handle. Ok, there are other Compression lock knives, so why is this my first? Well, as a suburban dweller, I like a shorter blade (3” is about perfect and handles all my needs from slicing fruit, cutting chicken with a tough “grilled” skin, breaking down cardboard boxes from my new couch, cutting a memento of cloth off the back of my old couch back to make a cat “home,” etc). The shape of the blade is great, with enough belly that the forward 1/3 of the edge can cut down on a cutting board without getting my fingers in the way. The factory grinding is amazing... there’s the full-flat edge along most of the blade width starting from all the way back to the spine, the “edge” grind, and I don’t know if it’s just mine but I can see a third Micro-grind right at the edge (you can see it reflecting a bit more at this angle in the photo), meaning the final edge is a bit steeper.

This is not as shallow an angle and “slice-y” as a Victorinox pen knife or a Feather safety razor, so maybe it’s not the best for using like an exact-o Blade to cut out little shapes in paper or a photo collage, BUT it will keep a working edge much longer for much lower maintenance, while still being great for all the EDC tasks I mentioned earlier. I have no idea yet how much the steel comp will hold an edge compared to VG-10 and S30-V, sorry I haven't sharpened it yet, but if it's able to get through a whole task, quite rust resistant, and easy to touch up the edge, I will consider it low-maintenance and be happy. I was worried that the thicker blade spine and large thumb hole would be annoying and not carry well, but I think the extra mass and ergos help with the “flicking” and fondling aspect. Speaking of ergonomics, that is largely the reason why I chose THIS model over the original Para 3 (and PM2). My biggest concern about the Para 3 was it’s very squared edges on the G10... along with the extra large thumb hole, it just looked like a knife designed for gloves first, and I just don’t wear gloves often. This Para 3 Lightweight trades epoxy plastic for fiberglass reinforced nylon plastic, and the edges are the smoothest, nicest sculpted FRN I’ve tried yet, even nicer than my Dragonfly (the P3LW has a “matte” texture, slightly less aggressive volcano grip pattern, probably will pick up less pocket lint). The shape of it melts into your hand, and I can easily wrap four fingers around the handle with or without the forward finger choil, or in a reverse grip, making this a super comfortable yet versatile tool to hold and cut with. It's also less than two and a half ounces... a VERY capable knife for a quite low weight. Many people have made a big deal about the original Para 3’s lanyard hole interfering with the pocket clip; well, this time in the lightweight, we definitely have a deep-carry knife that barely shows from a pocket but slides out easily enough if you grip the handle or push/slide the pocket clip up. In the pocket, I arrange it so the knife is clipped towards my hip, and the smooth “spine” of the handle is slightly curving away from my hand as I reach past it. No problems there, though due to length it still is much easier to draw a short knife like the Dragonfly or Ladybug from the pocket while staying seated. Aesthetically (IMO of course), it has less “form” aesthetics than the long continuous curve between handle and blade on the Native series, and some of the swoopy lines on other knives (like my Kizer Vector), but the honest functional look of the knife is appealing to me because you can tell it’s going to be a good tool just from looking at it, and like all Spydercos it looks more unique than “just a knife” (I think traditional looking knives like the Morakniv, Kershaw Skyline, Benchmade Bugout have a certain appeal because of their simplicity, but they “just look like a knife” to me, and thus a bit boring. YMMV). I do wish I could get the scales in blue or a forest green, or just add a touch of flair like a brass lock, brass stand-offs, or brass ring around the pivot to contrast with the black FRN, but I’m sure Spyderco and third parties will come up with more colors and handle scales. I think this knife will be a great bridge between EDC and hiking, as well as useful when I have to break down boxes or cut things like ZipTies when I move to a new house (someday🤞). It is $20-$30 cheaper than the original Para 3, which was a nice deal on top of the weight and ergonomic improvements. Would I have been happier with a compression-lock Sage, a Smock, or a Benchmade Bugout? Well, I would have spent more and had a heavier tool (except with the bugout). I don't know if they would have left me happier, but the Para 3 has been fiddle-fun and satisfies me.

(Edited)

May 31, 2019

Thanks Scottie! Just trying to help, share my findings. I liked your review too. I didn’t bother mentioning the one bronze washer (I could take one of the FOUR in my Kizer Vector, but the Para 3 already opens more smoothly anyway), as well as some other things because I just wrote from my phone (I’m a glut for punishment, I know). Do you think I should share some more pictures, or do you have any Q’s about yours vs mine?

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ScottieG

253

May 31, 2019

EvshrugIt seems the Para 3 LW is covered many places with images and videos, including Eric Glesser's disassembly and reassembly.

(Edited)

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DSH007

May 31, 2019

This an amazing lw knife.. perfect for summer carry. That said, at MAP pricing, I can't comprehend why anyone would buy one here.. Pick one up from Cutlery Shoppe, or DLT Trading, or just about anywhere else and get fast shipping for the same price..

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TheQuietOne75

102

May 31, 2019

And Drop’s whole business model, that it built its business on, was “increased discounts based on member participation”. The name change, and these types of drops just show that they are now shifting over to becoming just another online retailer, and many of us will treat them as such as a result.

DSH007

Jun 3, 2019

I hadn't considered this. Absolutely makes sense if you can save some $ on international shipping. I will amend my comment to say that.. For US buyers, I see no deal here.. If the cost of shipping internationally works out to save you some money, I do highly recommend picking up the Para 3 LW. It's a great knife!

shoop

May 31, 2019

Is anyone from Drop reading the comments lately? This is another "deal" that adds to my lack of interest in Drop.

Wyoin

May 31, 2019

Agree with others on the pricing, but want to say that this is a really great light duty version of the Para 3. BD1N seems to be a huge improvement on BD1. I haven’t played with this one enough to know if it will loosen up like my other Paras so it is a bit stiff and won’t drop open/closed like my other Paras but I think eventually it will loosen up. Only down side is no steel liners so it won’t take as much abuse as the G10 versions, but honestly the blade grind leaves the tip and edges pretty thin. I think only a small minority of people use their knives hard enough that it would be a worry here. If you don’t have a Para and don’t tend to hard use your knives this is a great way to discover just how great the Spyderco compression lock is and what a wonderful size, shape and design Spyderco came up with.

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