Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight Compression Lock Knife Black FRN (3" Satin)

One of my son's gifted me this knife, engraved with my name, for Father's Day. A fantastic knife and gift.

First, BladeHQ got my order out quickly and it was packed excellent.This is the first Spyderco purchase for me. Long time Benchmade owner and buyer(Since 2004). I can tell any of you sitting on the fence about a Spyderco- BUY IT. The quality of this knife is awesome. The blade is razor sharp out of the box. The fit and finish is amazing. You are getting a lot of knife at this price from a company that obviously takes pride in their product. Do not be afraid to buy this knife. I also own a Bugout and can tell you this Para 3 LWT is leaps and bounds above it. The blade on this knife is what shocked me. A lot of attention went into that blade. Buy one, you won't be sorry! And to put the icing on the cake buy it from BladeHQ.

I carried this knife for about a year and it was a fantastic knife. It kept its edge relatively well, disappeared in my pocket, which unfortunately was its downfall since I did lose it. Needed some tweaking out of the box, but nothing to bad. The only real gripe I had with this was the wire pocket clip which although did not bend out of shape was a little flimsy.

I was so disappointed when I first handled this knife! It felt like a toy compared to my PM2; too small, too light, too plasticky, didn't swivel as smoothly...but at least it looked great. I decided to give it a go anyway and boy am I glad I did! Everything that I once hated about it, I now love. It completely disappears in my pocket, I can't even feel it. The blade is sharp and just the right size for every EDC task I've needed it for, the scales are deceptively super tough and feel good in the hand. The swivel broke in nicely and actually flicks more readily and smoothly than my PM2. Alas my poor, trusty PM2 has become one of the center console knives in my truck.

This knife fits perfect as an alternative carry to the para2. To me there is no advantage in the para3 over the para2, but the para3 lightweight is just perfect.

Bought this knife after seeing all the hype videos for the Para 2. Wanting something a little bit smaller I chose this and am loving it. The Para 3 is the perfect size for an EDC and is so light you don’t even notice you are carrying it. Despite the light weight the knife is super sturdy, and came out of the box exceptionally sharp. The one-handed opening and closing is a nice feature too. Highly recommend.

I have been carrying the Para 3 LW in my EDC rotation for a few weeks now and this knife is a beast. It disappears in my pocket to the point I forget it's even in there from gym shorts to hiking pants you dont even notice it. The deep carry wire clip I had my doubts about but no issues and it hasn't moved at all. The BD1N steel is amazingly sharp and easily handles paracord cardboard boxes and food prep. I also made some feather sticks for the bonfire and the blade is still hair shaving sharp. Shipping was fast and what else can I say except 5/5.

20 years of marriage deserves something special. I got this for my wife, also got it engraved. Blade HQ did a fabulous job on the engraving. It was smooth action out of the box, smoother than my Yojimbo 2 out of the box. I am glad I have it engraved as I am so tempted to just pocket this for myself. Spyderco is so awesome and fun functional knives. This is a total lightweight winner that is going to be appreciated and used for years to come.

Just the right sized edc knife for me. I liked how the frn handles are not too aggressive to the touch but still grippy enough for an easy slip proof grip. Rounded edges on handles makes them comfortable for long hard use. Blade came sharp enough to shave hair on my arm.

Just received my new Para 3 and I love it. This is my first real knife - I chose this one on the recommendation of a very knowledgeable family member, and it fits exactly what I was looking for. Big enough and textured enough that I can get a good grip, but thin enough that it conceals well in dress pants pockets. The blade opens easily and the compression lock is simple to operate. And at under $100, it was an easy decision. Very happy with it!

Sits in your pocket so light you forget it's there, but it's plenty sharp to handle any cutting task....

Received this knife a few weeks ago and love it. Came sharp out of the box and with only a few adjustments on the pivot screw it flies open and drops shut. The wire clip, overall weight, and compression lock are also great features. A great introduction to Spyderco knives for less than $100!

This was my first Spyderco. I just couldn't get my head around the odd design with the big hole in the blade. But I wanted to at least try one. I'm glad I did. This Spyderco is as light as a feather, with the injection molded nylon-backed handle and it's as sharp as any knife. It is easy to grip and hard to slip out of your hands. And the wire clip is the best I have experienced, because it goes on easy and won't damage my pants pocket like most others will eventually. Great knife!

Para 3 imho is the best deal currently available anywhere. Best combination of usability and edc friendly. Easily hides in the pocket. Great action and ergonomic.

This is my first Para 3, as I’ve previously owned Enduras and Delicas, and it’s my first compression lock. I love the fact that the lockup is solid, yet the blade swings free when the lock is engaged. All that in a knife that I forget is in my pocket. Speaking of pockets, I’m a new convert to the wire clip. Love it. The BD-1N steel sharpened very well, and we’ll see how it holds an edge, but thus far it is still sharp after numerous cuts on wire insulation and cardboard. All in all, I’m thrilled to carry this knife daily and I’ll likely buy another when new editions are released.

Fine blade, light weight, great ergonomics, and good clip. Can’t ask for much more.

i really like the style of pocket clip, the style of the lock as well. very smooth knife. now we just need more color options for these.

I usually tend to like slightly larger EDC knives. I never had any interest in any of the standard Para 3 knives, but when I saw the Para 3 Lightweight I thought it looked cool and bought one. I was shocked how much I loved it. It quickly became one of my favorite EDC knives and it has a regular rotation in my pocket. It opens smoothly, and although it is very lightweight, it still feels good and substantial in your hand. It is often compared to the BM Bugout and I have one, but prefer this over the Bugout (which is also a good knife). The PM3's handle just feels more solid in your hand. If you are thinking about getting one, pick it up. It's an awesome little knife for under $100.

This is probably one of my favorite knives right now. I wish I had gone with the black bladed one but that's just me (I love tactical knives). Mine came with a little blade play and I've tried to tighten it up but haven't gotten it yet. other than that I love it. Very lightweight although I don't have a regular Para 3 to compare. P.S also the blade centering on mine is a little off but no big deal.

It is my favorite EDC. It is incredibly comfortable, looks fantastic and cuts like a champion. It nearly disappears in your pocket! i have honestly forgot about it a couple times and nearly washed it. Lesson learned. Also, the compression lock it just wonderful. It definitely has the fidget factor! If you're on the ropes, get off them and buy the knife already

Great innovation on this knife. Kinda feels like where the Para 3 was always meant to be. I own the original Para 3 as well ( and a paramilitary 2). I find the grip is better and the clip is better (deep pocket) than the original para 3. I do think there is some strength lost in not having the steel liners, but I didn't buy this as a "heavy duty" knife. I think for the type of knife it is, it's just perfect. I haven't had time to see how well the blade steel holds up, but seems promising. I am a big fan of spyderco's compression lock and was happy to see them integrate it into their lightweight series. Thank you!

best buy under 100

Really enjoy carrying this light knife. It has taken the place of my Para 2. Now if I can only figure out how to skydive flick it!

This was my first Spyderco knife and it won't be my last. I got the hang of "the hole" pretty quick and it beats flippers and studs by a lot. The knife opens smoothly and is comfortable in my hand even holding it closely. I've used it for box cutting, big surprise, with no perceptible edge dulling. It's now my carry knife. Thanks Spyderco

If you have a Para 3 already, you'll love this knife! When i first got it, i was a little concerned that it was too lightweight and that the FRN handles needed to be chamfered a bit more, but after use it has proved to not be a problem at all. Ergos are even better than the normal Para 3 and despite its size, it vanishes in the pocket. I love it!

I've been carrying a Kershaw Clash for the last couple of years. This is my first Spyderco, and, other than learning how to deploy it quickly, and it being a little tight, being new, it is a really nice knife. I really like how lightweight it is and yet it is sturdy and seems to hold an edge well. My new EDC knife. Thanks!

This has very quickly become my favorite edc knive, getting more pocket time than many others in my collection. the size and weight are perfect for carrying around 24/7 and the pocket clip is one of the best on the market. action is phenominal i dont know how sypderco made a one washer knive this smooth and flip this well. mine is complety free swinging when the lock is depressed and there is zero blade play. my only complaint if it could be called one is that sypercos injection molding on the handles is so sharp and detailed and well done that the edges on the inside were a bit sharp but some 2000 grip sandpaper cleaned is right up and made it much for comfortable. This might just be my favorite knife.

This is my first Spyderco. Blade is awesome, super sharp and lock is fantastic, wire clip feels a bit janky, but we will see, overall wow light and sharp, wow

Absolutely wonderful EDC, its replaced my Benchmade for the time being until I need a skinnier carry for suits and the like. Love the weight and ergonomics.

Came out of the box shave ready(Literally) Great EDC, Glad I invested in it.

This knife has everything I look for in a great EDC knife. It has a great sized and shaped blade in a really decent steel. It has easy one hand opening and one hand drop close. Light weight at 2.4 oz. The deep carry wire clip is my favorite as well. The FRN handles offer plenty of grip. The jimping and finger choil are just-right too. What do I not like? I would of liked the option of other colors but I'm sure that's coming for this future classic.

Perfect knife for my daily needs. Edge was even and sharp. Quality build. Action was very smooth out of the box, more so now since a little break in. Great ergos. Highly recommend.

The FRN handles make this a great lightweight EDC. My favorite feature is the locking mechanism. The compression lock makes one handed opening and closing truly effortless. The only issue is that it is really right handed only. I used to keep my phone in my right (dominant) pocket and keys and knife in my left. I had to switch pockets because opening the blade with my left hand was awkward at best.

I'm very fond of this knife. Super lightweight of course and feels good in the hand. Plenty sharp out of the box. Good action overall. Can't wait till they release more colors!

This knife was sharp right out of their box and had great opening and closing without adjustment. The FRN is grippy and the knife fits well, even in my big hand. The engineering of everything is amazing for the price. A real winner. Big improvement with a clip for deep carry. Very lightweight.

Wish this was available 9 months ago when i purchased my Bugout. Small complaints about the Bugout with the axis lock breaking and waiting 3 weeks for a turnaround but in all fairness i did use it allot. This knife performs better in the food category for me and it is used for apples and that it does well. Not too much else to say besides the ergos on most any Spyderco are impressively well thought out and that the compression lock is a great lock mechanism at this price point. I am also enjoying the wire clip allot to I am always a but fan of the style.

Love this knife! I have the original Para 3 and I love it too, but this knife is so light and it feels like it can take a beating! Length of the blade is perfect and it feels really good in hand. The blade steel is good and this knife is very sharp out of the box. I have given it to others to use and they always ask about it and I send them to BHQ and tell them to buy it! It is a great all around user EDC knife. Spyderco has a real winner here.

Great size, lightweight, has a compression lock, great blade shape, carries well, great ergos. Its a small PM2 that is lighter than the para 3 G10 version, if you dont mind the FRN handles, this is a fantastic option.

Love this knife for edc. Light, sharp and great one hand open and close action. Wouldn’t recommend it for hard duty, but for my type of edc, opening packages, cooking and other light cutting uses it is perfect.

Here are my observations vs the Bugout (I own two 535's). Pros: -Hair shaving sharp out of box -Ergonomics is near perfection as far as FRN goes -Wire clip wins every time -Compression lock pin doesn't come up to your index finger when disengaging -Lightweight af (still not under 2 oz though) Cons: -Unproven new CTS-BD1N steel compared to CPM-S30V but looks very promising -Compared to the Bugout, it is thicker and wider in the pocket -Also heavier by about .50 oz. Not a big deal -Order back-log. Ordered this on Feb 5, 2019 got it on May 17, 2019

This knife came razor sharp and drop-shutty out of the box. I know it sounds cliche but the P3L really disappears in my pocket. I've been carrying this knife exclusively since I got it a week ago and I love it!

I have the para 3 g-10, which I love. Wanted the lw for something a tad slimmer and lighter. Came razor sharp, and yes, I knew about the blade centering issue. Was offset a good amount, after a little time loosening and adjusting the pivot screws and body screws got it slightly more center but it’s not rubbing on the scale and has no blade play. Not a fan of the wire clip but has no hot spots and it compliments the look of the knife. Overall happy with it, not too familiar with the cts-bd1n but excited to see how it holds up.

1st let me say that this is a well-built knife. Its lite weight is fairly easy to carry. It is NOT designed for lefties. The compression lock is almost dangerous to use properly because you have only your thumb and index finger holding the knife. The action is quite stiff when new, but it doesn't take too long to smooth out. Get a lefty model if you like this type of compression lock knife if you're a lefty.

I ended up returning this and ordering a full-weight para instead, as the scales felt a little too flimsy to me, but no complaints otherwise.

After a few years with a Para 2 I needed something lightweight for shorts and a T-shirt. Initially I wasn't too impressed after the G2 scales on the Para 2 but it has grown on me little by little each day to the point I'm swapping out my $300 cf ZT for it. The action is smoothing out now so it's almost as good as my Para2. Almost, ;)

Great knife, but it just seems a little imbalanced to me. The blade is relatively thick and heavy, which I like, but it feels odd with such a ultralight, and slightly slippery, handle. That said, the quality is top knotch. I love the Spydie hole and the compression lock.

Get this knife over the delicate. This knife has better steel (bd1n not just bd1) and the lock up is way better. It is a little over priced for a knife with a plastic handle and very little to it. That being said the steel is better than the delicate and you can really use it. Very light not sure if I would use it for hard work but for most edc uses this knife will do very well. Get this knife if you want to use it get the delicate if you want something pretty to look at. I do think for the price it should have G10 but spyderco has a lot of hype about their knives with good marketing so they get the price from the collectors. You could get a similar knife for less but if you like this style get it you can't go wrong.

If you are looking for a budget friendly knife to EDC then this is it. Comparing it to the bugout, the FRN handles don't feel as nice as the Grivory on the bugout but the price makes up for it! Love the compression lock but makes it hard to carry southpaw which I knew that. All in all its a nice budget friendly knife with an amazing brand behind it!

I bought this to see how I felt about the para 3 in general and the price point wasn't bad. I gave it to my mom because of its lightweight handles. She carries a lot of knives and multitools on her belt, so I thought one with a bigger blade that wouldn't weigh her down would be a good addition. I'll end up buying a heaver one at a later date. I liked this knife, but she'd get more use out of the lightweight aspect.

Nice size. Love the frn handles, very grippy. No liners and wire pocket clip make this very light. The only con is the steel. I have a few bd1 blades and they are just a bit better than vg10, but not much. Sharpens and hones easily, just wont hold an edge like something better such as s30v. It's a good steel for the price. In order to get premium steel ,it would probably cost alot more.

Mine came significantly off on blade centering, that's why I didn't give it five stars. It also has a slight bit of blade play. Very light and holds edge very well. If your skeptical about the cts bd1n dont be. I had a native 5 lightweight in s35vn and I can't tell the two apart as far as ease of sharpening and edge retention. I would say over all it's a solid tool, I just think fit and finish could be a little better.

Pros: The knife came sharp and is lightweight as the name suggests. It sits well in the pocket and works well in a light EDC roll Cons: I have larger hands and the ergonomics of this knife just don't work well for me. This is also my first spyderco knife and I have to say i'm not a huge fan of the blade shape of this knife either. The hole in the back of the blade hurts the ergonomics of the knife for me and creates a hotspot just behind it and at the base of the knife. This knife is a good knife for someone who has smaller hands, or just wants a smaller knife that's unobtrusive for light EDC type tasks.