I mostly carry traditional slipjoints, but it would be nice to have a single-handed open as an option. Everybody seems to like Spyderco’s Paramilitary 3. Why? What about it is better than everything else they offer?
by bh4th
I mostly carry traditional slipjoints, but it would be nice to have a single-handed open as an option. Everybody seems to like Spyderco’s Paramilitary 3. Why? What about it is better than everything else they offer?
by bh4th
15 Comments
My hot take is but it’s the same as many other things: it was in its own class when it debuted, or at least very notable, but by now there are so many other knives out there today that may have been influenced by it that it seems common in comparison now.
Good size, good blade, good weight, good lock, good materials. Its just good all around. the PM2 and Para3 are the same knife, just different size.
Compare to the Shaman/Bodacious, which is a bigger, heavier, more expensive knife.
Compare to the Endela/Delica, which are less expesnive true, but also lock-back style.
Compare to the Sage/Native, which are good knives, but also broader blades.
There’s a lot of good Spyderco knives. I’m definitely more of a fan of the Manix and Sage lines, personally, because I like those broad blades. But for an easy everyday carry, the PM2 and Para3 are just well rounded, good slicey, and fun to flick.
As someone who has not bought one but has been following the hype for years – wanting to get one and being able to walk away from the display case many times;
For most hand sizes (not mine) the handle and the forward finger choil fits like a glove, in a full fisted grip.
It’s the right length for most EDC, right around the 3 inch mark
the compression lock has good ergonomics (meaning it can be disengaged without gymnastics, and safely)
Spyderco has been hyped up more than any other production knife company.
It’s really that simple.
But unless you’re really susceptible to the social / community hype, you really need to see for yourself if it really fits your hand like a glove, For me, it doesnt, which is why I have been able to walk away. If you can get your hands on it before youve put your money down, its easier to objectively decide if one of its biggest selling points really applies to you or not.
Id personally get the pm2 but thats just me. I like having a small slipjoint and a larger locking blade. If youre not feeling spyderco, the hogue deka is great
Blade less than 3 inches. Makes it legal in states that limit blade length to 3 inches.
It was heavily hyped on social media when it came out and it was groundbreaking in its category at the time. It’s a solid knife that has good materials and ergonomics. I have one and it just works. It’s also very customizable!
the PM2 and Para 3 specifically are famous for their ergos and slicing performance. they just melt into your hands and cut real good due to their blade geometry. if you’ve only been carrying slipjoints up to now, you’ll notice the ergos right away. slicing you might not notice as much because slipjoints tend to have very thin slicey blades (probably thinner than a Para 3)
And honestly it’s not like they are crazy better than a lot of other Spyderco knives with extremely similar ergos and blades. However they are definitely good exemplars of what makes their folders popular.
Brand myopia and group think. It had some good features I suppose. Overall it’s a big handle for too small of a blade. I’d prefer a small blade but with a proportionate handle. It sits tall in the pocket, and overall I just don’t get it either. The only thing I like is the full flat grind and blade steel choices.
Blade length makes it legal across the majority of the US.
Available in a wide variety of steel, and in both the “standard” and lightweight version.
Solid aftermarket support.
Overall design and size makes it comfortable for a wide variety of hand sizes.
All that said, I personally prefer the Sage 5 in the same size range, but both are solid options.
It’s just so smooth opening and closing. Also I have big hands and it feels great to hold. I only have lightweight ones, they feel really solidly made.
I’m not on board with the hype.
I have large/ XL hands and if I open the pm3 any way other than a flick, the lock pinches my hand.
I sold my pm3 like 6 years ago and never bothered getting another… I currently have 2 PM2, 1 tenacious, and 1 drunken.
I didn’t think I’d like the Para 3 at all, not even a little bit. Love the Manix 2 . And was about to order a Para 2.
Grabbed a SMKW exclusive Para 3 and ended up loving it. It is my favorite Spyderco , and may just be my favorite knife period.
A Para3 lightweight is my most carried knife. Nice opening, good blade, light, nice locking mechanism, not too expensive, fun to flick open, great size, just a great combination overall. Is it the end-all-be-all of knives? No way. Are there better knives for any specific situation? Probably. But the combination of everything makes it my favorite “if you had to pick one knife for the rest of your life” daily.
I own like a dozen Spydercos, but the Para3 isn’t one of them. I’m not a fan of the non-button operated compression lock and the hump for the opening hole is too pronounced IMO.
I thought it would die down after a year of it being out. Its a decent little knife I like it but its not anything special just another knife they release in different colors and steels instead of actually coming up with new knife designs they haven’t anything great released for years.