Features:
Description:
The Para 3 is a more compact version of Spyderco's immensely popular Paramilitary 2. It features the same high-strength Compression Lock, textured G-10 scales, and a scaled-down, full-flat ground CPM-S45VN blade. This is another solid design from Spyderco that's sure to please those who love the PM2, but prefer shorter blades or live in areas with blade-length restrictions.
After carrying Kershaws from the time I was a kid (my dad gave me one of their old lockbacks as my first knife), I decided it was time to consider other options that weren't based on my sentimentality. While placing an order for some fixed blades here on Blade HQ, I decided to tack on a folder and order my first non Kershaw. Months of nerding out on YouTube had me ready to buy a Benchmade Bugout. It was in my cart and ready to go, but I just couldn't do it. I went back to the drawing board, looking at US-made folders at 3" or under (I'm a trucker, so that's very important). Spydercos never appealed to me, but their compression lock intrigued me. I settled on the Para 3 and placed my order in October of 2021. My Para 3 has been my daily carry ever since and has never let me down. I wear size medium gloves and the ergos are perfect for me. It cuts plastic trailer seals, cordage, apples, nylon straps, and a bunch more. My only real issue was that at some point I dulled it a bit, probably from over-sharpning. I was used to constantly having to touch up my Kershaws and kept that habit going unnecessarily. Thankfully, Spyderco does free sharpening. Mine just came back from that service and now has a perfect edge again. What a great company. What a great knife.
This is my first Spyderco knife, and all I can say is WOW.. It has a very good quality feel. I haven't used it to cut much yet.. But the edge came absolutely RAZOR sharp. I personally have never used or seen a knife this sharp. Definitely well worth the money.
Not much to add to what has already been said but I love this knife. Yes there are some sleeker options but the form factor of this is fantastic. Feels great in hand. Blade hq shipping was faster than expected and the knife was 100% out of the box. Perfectly centered with zero play. Only gripe is the clip is terrible. I put a lynch para 3 clip on and now it’s perfect!
This is my first Spyderco and won't be my last.
This isn’t my first Spyderco but it’s my favorite. It’s just the right size. BladeHQ got it to me fast. Blade centered, fit and finish is great, blade is shaving sharp. I didn’t know what the stonewashed would look like but I’m extremely happy with it. I like the G10 scales. Nice feel and grip. I’d definitely buy it again and recommend the knife and BladeHQ.
Fits perfect in the pocket feels great in the hand. I have giant hands and it's still very comfortable. It's in my top 3 favorite Spyderco's for sure
fits my hands perfectly
I now own five Para 3 and absolutely love the knives. They talk about the Para 2 and what a great knife and I have two of them and would take the Para 3. I will have to get this one with the CPM S45VN, but I need to wait I have spent my limit on knives for a little bit. Thank you Spyderco for building such a awesome knife. James A.
This was my first Spyderco knife and it is really really nice. The fit and finish are top notch and the action is buttery smooth. Some people have complained about it being too small but I think it is the perfect size for an EDC knife. Great job Spyderco.
My 2nd para 3. I can’t get enough of the paramilitaries!! They are so good. I love how many different mods you can put on these bad boys! I carry it all the time. It’s perfect for edc. I changed this one to denim blue micarta scales. With all black hardware and of course a Lynch NW deep carry black pocket clip! It really makes this para 3 so special to me. And always thanks to BHQ for the free fast shipping!
I just got this bad boy to go along with my Benchmade barrage tanto. I will say that even though I love my Benchmade and it is an amazing EDC knife I'm going to have to give it to this knife here. I am going to carry this one every day it is nice and lightweight and I forget it's even there half the time and let's not forget the CPM S45VN that's razor-sharp which is a huge step up from CM 154. 10/10 do yourself a favor and get yourself one!
I this really going to be a real problem! This knife is my first (Spiderco) EDC carry, and I love to fidget. I find myself just wanting to pull the knife out and flick it! The build quality is top notch, and stonewashing on the blade gives it a very different look. I was not sure I would like the G10 scales, but now handling the knife they have a nice texture and sturdy feel. The problem is, what knife to purchase next!
I really only use knives for fishing and opening packages. Cutting fishing line quickly, opening things that aren’t resealable, whittling small branches to pass time. This knife is actually OVERKILL. It’s very strong, I can just tell by the lock type, the blade thickness etc. it’s a forever knife that I don’t see myself needing to replace. Stays sharp for a very long time for my uses, only needed to sharpen it once, it still shaves hair. American made piece of art. I still use my dragonfly 2 more, but this is definitely an amazing folder. If I was lost in the woods, it would do it’s job exceptionally well with a little extra mindfulness. It does fold after all, so batoning makes no sense
I carried the PM2 for the longest time. Having larger hands there is actually room left over with the big brother. I love the ergo's, fidget factor the spydie hole and compression lock provide. So I finally decided to pull the trigger on the little brother and I have to say Spyderco found a way to scale down the size while working the handle and blade over to still feel really good in hand. It really does inspire confidence in hand despite JUST fitting in my large hands. I mean my pinky just makes it on, and thanks to the factory G10 being super grippy, I don't worry about using this knife hard at all. Highly recommend.
The hype is real! I held off for awhile getting this knife due to the fan boys always trashing every other knife. I still believe there are "other" great knives and manufactures out there. But this thing is unbelievable. The ergo's on this thing are spot on! Excellent blade, Feels perfect in the hand, and the action is second to none. The compression lock is a thing a beauty!
If you're reading this you probably already own or want this knife, so just get it. The one thing I wasn't sure on was what steel this knife was now using. Some pictures and descriptions said S30V, others said S45VN. You'll be happy to hear that Spyderco has upgraded the steel on this and it now sports S45VN, a welcome upgrade over S30V. According to the Spyderco pamphlet that came with it, the S45VN is new for 2021. So buy this knife, a deep carry clip, and an anodized backspacer and you'll have a beautiful knife to last a lifetime.
I wanted the pm2 first, but it was never available. I relented and purchased the para 3 instead. When it arrived I thought I was going to hate the size of the knife, it's too small, too much sticks out of the pocket etc. I was wrong, this is a great knife, well sized for edc. It didn't leave my pocket for weeks. Just a fantastic offering. If you don't have one yet, get this or the pm2.
This is my first Spyderco knife, and I am very impressed. It was razor sharp out of the box. The action is very smooth, even before break in. The scales are among the best I've ever felt, grippy without being too rough. Can't say I'm a huge fan of the pocket clip, but I've already ordered a replacement. I've accumulated a number of Benchmade and ZT knives, and none are better than the Para 3. Highly recommend this knife.
Is this the peak of EDC knives? In my quest to find a perfect everyday carry knife, I wanted something that gave me the fizz when I used it. That feeling of excitement and enjoyment while carrying it day in and day out. The Para 3 checks all of my boxes. It has excellent jimping and ergonomics, an excellent one hand deployment and closing system, the revolutionary compression lock, S30V blade steel, and the perfect cutting blade shape. The knife is light yet strong. I have owned and carried the Benchmade 940, and in my opinion, the P3 blows it away. At the end of the day it comes down to preference, but this knife has changed the standard for what an EDC knife should be and it has won the space in my pocket.
This is my 2nd Spyderco Knife, I started with a Dragonfly 2 with VG10 steel, and love that little knife, but thats it, its a very small knife, I wanted a something a bit bigger blade, with good ergos, and after much research, reviews, videos, I decided I needed to get this Para 3. I received it today from BladeHQ, and it came perfectly packaged, blade centered and overall impeccable. I also love the flick with my middle finger, the feeling overall and the blade is very sharp. G10 scales feels amazing in the hands, the only problem I see with this knife, and it was well known issue, its the pocket clip that sits very low, therefore the knife is hanging out of the pocket quite a lot for my taste. I shall address it with a deep carry pocket clip. Get this knife with CMP S30V Steel, you wont regret it over the CTS BD1N that comes with the Para 3 lightweight version.
I knew this was gonna be the perfect knife before i bought it. Such an easy on hand knife. small enough to edc but big enough to go to work. the edge is outstanding. My only issue is the pocket clip. it rides too shallow in pocket but its so easy to get an aftermarket clip i don't mind it.
I purchased the iconic para 3 after the sweet reviews on this knife. I was issued a totally different knife for work, an auto benchmade with 154cm that sells for quite a bit more than this para 3. Fit an finish on this knife seems to be a "cut" above. You can tell right from the first flip that it's a quality tool. I find myself using it much more than my issued knife.
I was expecting just a shortened PM2 but am pleasantly surprised at the size and ergos on this blade! It's pretty good.
From the ergonomics to the steel, this is one of Spyderco's best EDC knives ever! Fits amazing in the hand, and the smaller size makes it very EDC friendly. I love this knife!
If I have to get something done then this knife is the one I use. It slicey yet strong and sooo ergonomic. Very good for 130 bucks
Fit and finish are spot on. The G10 is a touch aggressive for my personal tastes, but pop off the pocket clip and take two seconds with some 500 grit sandpaper and it's perfect.The gimping looks agressive but they did a perfect job rounding it so it is grippy, not bitey. I can apply full force to the thumb ramp and there are no hot spots, just a sure grip. I have very large hands. I wear a 2x glove, size 13 wedding band, and my index and middle fingers take a size 15 ring. Choked up using the finger choil this knife fits perfectly and without choking up it is a comfortable 3.5 finger grip. The blade came razor sharp, as the new bald spot on the back of my hand can attest.This is my first compression lock knife and I am already in love. My fingers stay out of the blade path and it closes smoothly with just gravity.
I’ve owned a few Spyderco’s over the years, mostly the cheaper import stuff and have always considered them decent but not great. I recently purchased a Yojimbo 2 and almost instantly fell in love with the compression lock. The one hand operation and solid lockup inspire confidence in the hand. Having seen the military series everywhere but never owing one I decided it was time to try my own in the form of the Para 3. As the title states, I was pleasantly surprised. A great knife right out of the box. Drop shut action with better than average fit and finish. I definitely see a Paramilitary 2 in my near future. Keep it up Spyderco, Golden Colorado, USA, Earth and thanks Blade HQ for the fast shipping!
I use my knives every day, and am very happy with the para 3 for EDC. Spyderco's compression lock, is super sweet, and gives you great one handed action with this knife. It is also much stronger than traditional liner locks. The para 3 has a very high fidget factor, and is also a workhorse. The blade shape on Spyderco knives can sometimes seem funny, but they are super comfortable, and can handle very precise application. Only issue on this knife is the pocket clip. It is not positioned well, and uncomfortable in the hand. Easy fix is getting a Lynch deep carry clip, and wallah, one of the best EDC knives I own!!!
First time buying a quality knife with a quality blade. What a difference those two things make obviously. The G10 grip is amazing the S30V blade came extremely sharp out of box. Would prefer if it came with a deep pocket clip.
Just got this in the mail and the scales feel great and gives the knife a comfortable feel that won't slip. The blade flips out nicely with the "spidey flick", but I still need a bit of practice there. I have a LNW deep carry clip coming in the mail from you guys, so once that arrives this will be my new go-to knife!
I can't say anything about this knife that hasn't already been said, but it really is just an absolutely incredible piece. The ergos are great, the blade shape and steel are perfect for edc use, and the G10 scales are grippy enough to hold onto but not too much to rip apart your pocket. Came out of the box razor sharp and had no blade centering, lockup, or blade play issues, and I doubt it'll ever develop those issues no matter what I do to it. The compression lock is honestly the best part of the knife, and being able to flick knife open and closed in any possible way is so satisfying. The only thing really wrong about this knife is the pocket clip/lanyard hole screwup, which yeah is a bad design choice but after putting a Lynch Northwest clip on it I couldn't care less. In my opinion the positives of this knife easily outweigh the one negative, and it's well worth the price.
If its going it be a building, hiking, or harder use day, this is the knife in my pocket.
Great form factor and construction for edc. Just be careful if you plan on changing the clip position, the screws are soft and may strip on the steel liner.
Bought this for my sister, she loves it. very happy with this purchase
# Para 3 When I was 18 years old I bought a CRKT and have carried it almost every day since. But now 18 years later… it’s finally time to retire her. So it was no small effort finding another knife I loved enough to carry for the NEXT 18 years… and after a lot of research and picking through just about every brand and model available, I put a Para 3 in my pocket and could not be happier. It’s a beautifully designed object of engineering… the function, ergonomics and quality of construction are exceptional. The lightning fast spidey-flick deployment and frictionless compression-lock closure are ridiculously satisfying. I vetted the Paramilitary 2, which I realized is much-loved, but to me, the Para 3 feels more refined in the hand. With the Lynch deep carry pocket clip, she’s perfect.
I love carrying this knife, ok it needed the lynchnw clip I just picked up for it but still. This knife is an amazing cutting tool and is super fidget friendly.
This is the first knife I bought. Videos don’t do it justice, the flick of the blade is so smooth and the compression lock makes it so easy to close. I recommend buying a deep carry pocket clip but even if you don’t, it’s a fantastic knife.
I can't say enough good about the Para 3. This was a gift from my wife and an amazing one at that. The compression lock is quick, awesome, and solid. The blade steel is fantastic and this blade came razor sharp. The size is perfect. The G10 is very grippy. Ordered a lynch clip from blade hq to replace the stock one. I reach for this knife every single morning.
First compression lock spyderco. Smooth as butter, a little lock stick at first but with a touch of oil it is non existent. Can’t recommend enough. Go by yourself one!
Literally the best of both worlds! I’m not much af a “big knife” guy myself and I had a buddy who owned a pm2. He brought it to work one day and I was like nope! Not for me. I started buying slightly bigger cheaper knives here and there to see how I’d feel about carrying a big knife around. But then!! I don’t know how I never knew about the pm3 before but this gem came around and I HAD to grab it. I am so glad I did too. It is the PERFECT size and it still has all the great qualities that makes a paramilitary! 20/10 would recommend!
The Para 3 would be it , simply due to the ability to fidgeting and funtionality.
The fit and finish of this knife is amazing and very comfortable in the hands. It’s a perfect size for those sitting down a lot where you forget that you even have it in your pocket.
I carry a Para 3 most days. It’s light weight and dose not take up much pocket space. It came razor sharp right out of the box. The size of the Para 3 is also not to intimidating to most. I also recommend picking up a Lynch deep carry clip as well for it as it sits a little high in the pocket normally.
I mainly use my knives to cut open letters and my weekly Prime packages. No real heavy use. The knife right out of the box was super smooth! No adjustments to the pivot screw was needed to make it a fun knife to sit and annoy the wife flipping. I prefer the shorter blade on the Para 3 vs the Para 2. For my hands the fit is perfect. The blade holds an edge for awhile with my use. This is a USA made Spyderco and the quality shows. Blade centering was perfect.
for real tho, this has to be the greatest edc. Faster than most autos, one hand deploy/retract. Super satisfying to fidget with, looks awesome, just the right size, n most of all the lock & giant Spydy-hole!
I thought I liked the delica until I got the para 3 Great ergonomics the compression lock is perfect! Love it
This has quickly become a favorite. Great tough blade, sharp out of the box, easy to touch up. The G10 is the best feel in the hand of any blade I have. Only issue was the standard Spyderco pocket clip. Updated it to an MXG deep clip and the knife disappeared in pocket. That small change made me go from liking the knife enough to rotate on occasion to LOVING the knife and having a hard time carrying anything else. Additionally, the 3" blade is perfect since I can't carry any larger with state law where I work. This thing is perfect. One note: Came with some aggressive lock stick but give it some time. I used a little graphite and just worked it a bunch. Once it breaks in the compression lock is terrific and smooth. Now I can't stop fidgeting with it.
This is my first Spyderco knife and won't be my last. The blade was very sharp right out of the box. The lock up on the blade is very secure. The polish on the pocket clip was also a nice touch. As someone who carries a uses a knife every day I can appreciate the size for EDC.
The Para3 fits my hand just right! I love the size for EDC and it is a stout blade, ready for anything. The compression lock is my favorite (after years with the axis lock, I truly prefer this) I got my first one in black G10, one in jade G10 and will be getting the lightweight as soon as it’s here. This one is a must have!
This knive is perfect for your edc, whether you’re using it for simple or intricate tasks. Even office environment friendly to individuals that may give you a strange you down while using a full size folder. Does not draw attention, other than it’s a Spyderco! Awesome tool!
This knife is pretty much perfect in every way for EDC. Love the compression lock. Size and blade shape are great for all kinds of cutting tasks. And the price isn't too bad. Definitely will be getting some sprint runs of this model (and the Lightweight when it comes out).
I got the para3 recently, but it hasn't left my pocket since. My wife almost washed it. I like the para3 more than I thought I would. I have the para2 in s110v, Chaparral in xhp, and a sweet little delica, so the para3 has some stiff competition. Don't mind the s30v steel. The para3 is a nice compromise, taking the best features from some of Spyderco's best designs.
I have carried this knife everyday for the last two years. This is my favorite EDC and I own several Microtechs, Protechs and Benchmade knives. I purchased one for my son for his 24th birthday with his initials laser engraved on the blade. Thank you for the great job on that Blade HQ! I highly recommend this knife.
Just upgraded to a PM3 from a Salt Dragon Fly. Definitely a lot bigger in the pocket, but very sturdy.
My first knife in S30V and can definitely notice how much longer it holds its edge over my delica. I feel like it's the goldylocks in terms of size. Not too big, but secure enough you can really thrash on it and feels solid as a rock. Blade shape is perfect for EDC.
I don’t know why I waited so long to pick up a Spyderco, man do I love this knife! The PM3 fits great in the hand and in the pocket and I love the versatility of the carry options. The jimping on both sides of the blade allow for great control. Wish I would have picked one up sooner!
One of the best knives to edc because of everything about it. With s30v it is great and my only complaint is that it didn't come with a deep carry clip. But I bought one from MX gear that works great. One of the best knives to edc.
Fit and finish were outstanding. Action is great. Didn’t want something too large and this one was the perfect size.
If the pm2 is a little big in hand then this is perfect. Comfortable in hand and pocket. Compression lock is awesome.
It's the perfect size to fit in your hand but not be to big and cumbersome. Super sharp and holds a edge for along time. Great EDC knife and lots of cool things you can do to make it your own. Would recommend this knife to anyone.
As the title states, this knife is basically smaller version of paramilitary 2. It takes up smaller realestate in the pocket. Perfect for fidgeting and opening with iconic spydieflick. It's mini version of para 2
When I first got into knives my first premium knife purchase was a blacked out paramilitary 2, Awesome knife. Came with good steel, perfect grind, Ergos on these models are perfect for me (can't live without a finger choil) , spyderco g-10 is still the best I've handled and let's not forget the compression lock. So when I learned of the para3 and got my hands on one it was love all over again, perfection was perfected. I almost started collecting paramilitary 2's but now I know instead I will be collecting para3's. Perfect size, perfect ergos, just about perfect all around for me. If your on the fence about this vs a pm2 it all comes down to size other than that pretty much the same knife.
If you think the para 2 is too large then this is the knife for you. It has the same ergonomic. Same great fit and finish. Made in America in golden Colorado. I own this and a para 2, they are equally great. I carry the para 2 more because I like a larger knife.
I've carried the benchmade 940-2 for over two years everyday and loved it, until I bought the para 3 a couple months ago and haven't put in down since. S30v is the best and this knife is a worker. I've added a mxg gear titanium deep carry clip but other than that the knife is perfect. Very impressed overall!! Highly recommend!!
The size on the para 3 is fantastic and you never notice the knife when you're carrying it. The lock up is firm and solid but the action is buttery smooth. Would recommend to anyone and the price is reasonable!
I love this para 3 with the s30v steel its is the best size of knife it's big enough to handle any task you need it to do but doesn't take up your whole pocket. I have customized mine with flytanium brass scales that I had lazer engraved with the jedi logo and I put a blue titanium lynch northwest deep carry pocket clip on it just to make it my own. I cannot say enough good things about this knife
I have a pretty good sized collection. But this is by far my favorite EDC. Even though I have blades like the blade show Benchmade sequel which has an amazing action, this came PERFECTLY smooth out of the box which I know doesn't happen all the time but god this is such a nice blade. Can't wait to get a lynch clip and maybe even some new handles like the jade one on this website and dye them. No blade play, perfect centering. Good job spyderco!
Great knife definitely one of my favorites.
I have had this knife for almost a year now and I love it. I have carried it almost every day since I got it and it has never let me down. It holds a great edge and the fit and finish was great. The one thing I don't like is how much of the knife sticks out of my pocket. I would like to see them put deep carry pocket clip on it.
The para 3...when a great knife company makes their best seller available for those of us that live in 3 inch areas. Thank you spyderco and thank you blade hq. My most carried knife of 2017.
I own this and the digi camo. Love em.
After carrying an Endura for years I got this to try something new that is a bit more reasonably sized for daily carry. I can't think of any real complaints other than it rides high in the pocket and the compression lock feels a bit weird to disengage lefty
Small, lightweight, durable, carries well, wears well, great value. Definitely my favorite spyderco.
I've carried this every single day since I got it (almost a year now). Out of the box it was a little tight in the pivot, but after a tiny tweak, I have 0 blade play and a smoothly flicking knife. After a year of use and slight abuse, the lockup is still 100% solid. I added a deep carry clip from MXG Gear. I do wish Spyderco would do a deep carry clip for their higher end knives. This is my favorite knife in my collection.
It's a perfect EDC knife. More hand friendly and pocket friendly than the para 2. Great buy.
I love the Para 3! Compression lock with S30V blade steel makes a great knife every time. The all black makes a great look too. Not to mention the perfect EDC size blade. Great for the money. 100% worth it!!!
I’ve had the para 3 for about 2 months now, and I’ve enjoyed it so much. It came buttery smooth, and test somehow it has broken in even smoother! The knife is light, test has a solid feel to it. The only down fall to the knife that I can find is the pocket clip. The standard spydie-clip actually reveals about 1/8” in. of the blade while it is in your pocket. This issue can be resolved by getting an MXG gear clip, a Lynch clip, or any other deep carry aftermarket clip. Overall, this knife is a great addition to any collection, and a great lightweight edc.
And Blade HQ is awesome to deal with..
The only thing I ever do is spidey flick this thing. It’s so fun.
Due to laws a lot of people aren’t able to experience the PM2 and how amazing it is, but when Spyderco rolled out this model I knew it was going to be a hit. It’s a perfect size for people who can’t own a blade longer than three inches or just prefer smaller lengths. I absolutely love this knife, comes in razor sharp with super smooth deployment and extremely strong lockup thanks to the compression lock. Do yourself a favor and buy this knife you will not regret it
Been carrying one of these for about a year now with no complaints. Blade shape and ergos have worked well for everything from sharpening pencils to dispatching oppossums. The g-10 is in the goldilocks zone on grip. The knife comes up out of the pocket without a fight and stays fast in the hand, even when wet. The compression lock system is the best in the business. Easy one handed operation with no digits in the the blade path. No little springs or parts to inevitabley fail. No blade play and it's fun to use. S30v blade came hair popping sharp and has remained that way with minimal maintenance. Grinds are perfect. I have replaced the pocket clip with a deep carry option from MXG (love it). The factory clip carries well in the tip down orientation but does kinda suck for tip up carry. The action is outstandingly smooth.The combination of the bronze/phosphor washers and high end fitment often make me wonder if bearings aren't just overkill in a folder. Last but not least, Made in the USA baby. If I lost mine tomorrow, I would order another that night.
I really love this knife. I was super impressed by how flickable this knife is. The action is silky smooth and the lock up is rock solid. Perfect blade centering and no blade play in any direction. My only complaint is the pocket clip. Way too much knife sticking out of the pocket. Got a titanium deep carry clip from MXG and it's now perfect.
This knife came razor sharp out of the box and everything about it is great, only complaint is the pocket clip is in a bad position and shows a lot of the knife in pocket.
Until I received this knife I used to carry benchmade autos I still love the benchmade black class but now that has changed since I've felt this in my hands. The para 3 is a straight up knife that's meant to be used. It's sturdy, premium blade steel, no blade play, blade is centered perfectly in handle along with very smooth action. Lock up is tight and compression lock works great. Ergonomically amazing and I have medium sized hands. The blade is what really made me purchase this knife. Machining is outstanding. For the money I will highly recommend. Best knife for the money IMO. G10, cpm USA made steel from Crucible Industries. Stainless steel lining. Built strong.
This compliments my PM2 very nicely. Whenever the Pm2 is a little too big this one is perfect, has all the features and just a little smaller. My Para 3 lock was really sticky when flipping the blade open but I disassembled, smoothed out where the blade and locking lever meet with some 800-1000 grit and now it's perfect like my Pm2 came. The clip position is bad, more of this knife sticks out than even the PM2 does but easily fixed that with an aftermarket deep carry clip, all in all I really like it If I had no choice but to keep only the Para 3 vs my PM2 Id have to go with the Para 3 more all around however I don't have to so I'm keeping both in the edc rotation!
In search of a high quality and (reasonably) affordable EDC, I found this model on Blade HQ. And I'm SO glad I did. This knife is everything I had hoped to find, and the Blade HQ buying experience can't be beat. Ordered this past Wednesday, delivered cross country and arrived just yesterday. Packaging was superb, and you cannot beat the price. THANK YOU, Blade HQ!!
Absolutely love this knife. Mine came very sharp out of the box, took hair off the arm with no effort. Silky smooth opening with the flick of the wrist. Absolutely zero play in the blade when opened. Perfect carry size in my opinion, not too big and not too small. I love this thing! Some may call me crazy, but this knife may just barely beat out my Benchmade 940 as my new favorite knife. Barely.
I needed an EDC that fit my needs. I had an injury to my dominate hand and wrist, and do to a surgeon with very rough hands, my grip and hand strength is now very limited. I have a decent folder collection including a Lionsteel TRE CF and Sabenza 25, but for one reason or another, they are difficult for me to use now. I went to a big box sporting goods store that carries most of the big knife names like Kershaw, Benchmade and Spyderco and tried a bunch of their folders to see if I could find a model that felt comfortable, opened and closed easily and I could also easily grip. Most of the knives were too difficult for me to either open or close, but then one of the gentleman helping me pulled out his personal folder for me to try. It was a magical moment. The knife opened with ease and closed with ease. The handle felt perfect in my hand and was easy to grip. He told me it was the new Para 3 by Spyderco but they were all sold out. I was sorry to hear that, but considering my problem, he informed me I could get one online. I did some online and Youtube research and found BladeHQ was a trusted Spyderco dealer, so I ordered. They shipped it really fast and the knife arrived in perfect shape. The blade was centered, the action was smooth, and the blade was perfect. Some complain about the clip saying the knife sticks too far out of the pocket. I don't like to use the clips because every time I sit the knives usually push more and more out of the pocket and I think I'm going to loose them. I did try it and this clip does hold very tight and was even difficult for me to remove from my pocket, so I don't think falling out of the pocket will be a problem at all for those that do use the clip. They may want to buy an aftermarket deep pocket clip for a more concealed carry if that's their issue. My only nit pick would be the factory blade sharpness. I see some say "razor sharp" and some say "not so sharp" without giving many other details. Before my injury, I used to straight razor shave so razor sharp has a different meaning for me then some. The blade could not shave your facial hair (razor sharp for me), or arm hair (the sharpness I bring my knives up to on average), or push cut phone book paper (what many consider a good sharpness). The blade could cut thicker printer paper pretty easily with a small hiccup by the base. Not a big deal for someone with sharpening skills. All in all, this is my own personal grail knife. Everyone is different, but it is perfect for me.
This is a wonderful knife. It is perfectly sized and blade shape is great. I do think it is better (more pocketable) than the pm2. My one complaint is the overly shiny pocket clip that leaves a large portion of the knife sticking out of the pocket. I absolutely hate the clip configuration on this knife. I bought an aftermarket deep carry clip that is black. The knife is now perfect. Too bad Spyderco doesn't offer deep carry options for the Para 3.
Boy, did Spyderco hit the sweet spot on this one! The finish and ergonomics are the best I have ever seen from Spyderco. They have seriously upped their game. Fit and finish are better than my other folders from the same folks. The other ones I own are very good---but this is something elevated to a new standard. In terms of materials and size, the closest Spyderco folder I have to this one is the Native 5, with the same size blade (3"), the same handle material (G10), and very similar steel (S35VN). This Para 3 is immediately more friendly to the hand, and weighs considerably less. This is one of a very few knives I own that I will pocket carry in jeans and in a suit or dress pants. It's amazingly light for a knife with G10 sides and steel liners. The liners are thin, but the knife has plenty of rigidity. Basically, this is a Paramilitary 2, downsized and with ergonomic tweaks (e.g., The G10 is rounded off, not left with very square edges, as on the Paramilitary 2). Yes, I know that Spyderco insists that this is a new model into itself, and not really the 'Paramilitary 3'. Yadda, Yadda. Frankly, it's a downsized Paramilitary 2, with much better ergonomics. And I mean MUCH better ergonomics. I wear XL or XXL gloves, and this is still comfortable in my hand. Very smooth action, solid lock-up with the compression lock, and easy to close. The blade arrived arm-hair-shaving sharp, and bring made of Crucible's terrific S30V, will hold that edge quite well. This is one of very few folders that I didn't need to bring up the sharpness level as soon as I received it. Nice. And the flat grind makes it a great slicer. With only moderate pressure, it will push-cut through a corncob. This is one of the best EDC folders I've ever touched. A perfect balance between size and function. It's big and solid enough for tactical use in a pinch, and it's also small enough to fit, completely concealed, into the watch pocket in my jeans. GREAT folder. Buy one.
For the price you will not find a better knife, no other knife company is giving you AMERICAN made, S30V, g10 and the quality you will get here for $120 shipped!!! I'm long time pm2 owner and love it and have beat the crap out of it and it's eaten everything and spit it out... it is my go to carry... But just like the others when I first got my pm2 it was bigger than I expected and really wanted but I grew to love it... The Para3 is everything i wanted the pm2 to be.... And the exact same tough construction as my pm2 just a smaller package.... That being said you certainly still need both... Tell the wife I said it's cool. Diff tools, diff jobs, you own more than one golf club don't ya??
I’ve been a PM2 user for many years and it is my favorite folding knife. I own over 20 Spyderco knives and they are the best! Just got the Para 3 and the knife feels great. The ergonomics are very similar to the PM2, despite the reduced size. The texturing of the G10 and rounding of the scales have been improved compared to the PM2 and it is quite comfortable. The one criticism (like many) is the placement of the pocket clip. I personally don’t ever use lanyards on any of my folding knives and in my opinion the lanyard hole on this knife really screws up the carry; there is a ton of knife that sticks out of the pocket. Overall, this knife is fantastic! The fit and finish are everything you’d expect from a US produced Spydie!
Lightweight manual folders are my preference, and this folder is special. The compression lock on the spine and smooth action makes one handed opening and closing easy without needing the large SpideyHole. I would prefer a black clip that would allow deep pocket carry (impossible with large lanyard hole) - but this is a solid, well made, 5-star American Beauty. Enjoy!
As a long time Manix 2 owner I've been holding out on the para2 because I wanted something smaller- the para3 hits the sweet spot for me in terms of size and the compression lock is super strong. I agree with other reviewers about the lanyard hole being a little too big but it's not worth taking a star off honestly it's a small gripe
The G10 is contoured a bit on the sides so it is more comfortable than the PM2. The only knock is the clip being so far down because of the lanyard hole. Perfect size for my needs.
Snagged one of these when you first got them, however brief. Blade to handle ratio is better proportioned than the para 2. Digging this iteration and looking forward to some sprint runs maybe with m390 or something. Thanks bladehq for always having something I want...
This is everything I love about my PM2s in a much more EDC friendly package. Honesty one of my biggest complaints about the PM2 is the hard edges on the G10 scales and the way they rounded the Para 3s scales is perfect. I don't think the PM2 is large by any stretch of the imagination but this perfect 3 inch blade is perfection. My only complaint is the clip placement because of how much handle sticks out of your pocket. Get the Lynch deep carry clip and that problems taken care of though. If you like the PM2 the Para 3 is a home run and you HAVE to get it.
Ergonomics are great. The compression lock is excellent. Very slicy blade geometry. The edge is perfect and very sharp. The blade is clearly off-center but I'll call it acceptable. My only complaint is the clip and its placement. The clip is too large for the knife and it sits too low on the handle. Almost a quarter of the handle sticks out of the pocket. EDITED TO ADD: Thanks for the response BHQ. Excellent customer service as always. But the knife is still a keeper. I'll probably buy an aftermarket clip to solve the issue.
The knife itself is an excellent item and works very well. The size is perfect for an everyday carrying knife and the new S45VN steel is a nice upgrade. The only issue I had was with quality control at the factory. The knife pivot was assembled incorrectly resulting in a gap on one side and bad blade centering. Luckily this was easy to fix by taking the knife apart and reassembling it but it really should have been caught at the factory.
So after a lot of searching and struggling with if its really worth spending $130 on a knife, i made the leap. the action is buttery smooth. even if this was just a fidget toy, it would be very satisfying. the included pocketclip is a missed opportunity really. this knife needs a deep carry. either a wire clip or something like the Lynch clip. but other than that, its excellent. very sharp, quality steal, great craftsmanship, the compression lock is awesome. All around, and awesome knife. i am taking a star off for the clip, but the actual knife is just about perfect
I had a Para Military 2 before this, but decided to get the Para 3. This is a great EDC knife. Perfect lock up. The compression lock is so nice and easy to use. It has a decent blade for moderate to occasional hard use (had to have it sharpened after cutting some boxes down). The ergos are great. I really like how easy it is to open with that 'Spydie Hole'. Overall, it's a good knife!
This is my first SC knife. I am active duty USAF - and I approve of this as a small folding utility tool. The steel... I mean, come on people! The thumb hole and the lock are newer (to me) and take a bit of getting used to. In the end.. super worth it! Some are not going to love the handle/scale materials though. The scales feel a little hokey, IMO. Even still... an amazing little folder tool for EDC.
Honestly it is a great knife I love the compression lock but the g-10 just doesn't do it for me
This is a great smaller option compared to the Paramilitary 2. It is easier to carry while still providing a full grip. Once I added a Lynch clip for better carry, it became one of my regular rotation.
I like the size better than the pm2 fits great in my large size hands even for being smaller than the pm2. G10 is also well done and very durable, almost no wear after years of carry and use.
Absolute perfect size. Just wish they had a deep carry pocket clip!
It’s a great knife and i like that the blade length is 3 inches that’s about perfect for me. It’s probably one of the smoothest knives I’ve ever owned and one of the sharpest out of the box also. I don’t like the carry clip would be a lot better with a deep carry so you’ve got to spend another $20 for that. I don’t like how thin it gets at the tip. It makes me afraid to really use the knife because I broke the tip off me delica cutting a zip and don’t want that to happen with this knife so it’s just for slicing really.
I love everything about this knife, when I got it there was perfect fit and finish, blade centering, had a great action and for a first Spyderco (benchmade fanboy here) I must say I am very impressed. However, the only problem I see is how it rides in the pocket, you have to spend another 20 dollars on a deep carry clip, otherwise about an inch of the knife will be sticking out. I hope there is a future version where there is no lanyard tube to alleviate this one issue to a near perfect everyday companion
It's a great knife, great size, my only issue is that the pocket clip sticks out of the pocket too much, it's not an issue for me, but it is an issue for some people worried about concealment. The compression lock is smooth, and effective
this knife is almost perfect the only problems are at the end of the handle. the clip position and the swell at the end. the clip isn't bad because deep carry clips are available, the swell makes it uncomfortable if you have smaller hands.
I've had my Para3 for four months now and find it is still one of my favorite EDC's. The size works very well for me. Many say it is not that much smaller than the Paramilitary 2, but for me there is a big difference in how it fits and feels in my pocket compared to my PM2. The PM2 dominates my jeans pocket while the Para3 leave plenty of room for other stuff and access in and out of my pocket is easy. As a result, the Para3 is with me most days while the PM2 gets used only when I'm heading out to do some heavy duty work on the weekends. I find the ergonomics to be really good for a 3" blade knife. Multiple ways to grip it and all are very secure. The G10 handles feel very nice, due in large part to the nice rounding Syperco has done on the edges. The PM2 lacks this rounding and does not feel nearly as refined as the Para3 as a result. The whole knife feels really sturdy and substantial, from the handles, to the compression lock, to the steel liners and thick spine on the blade. It inspires confidence in hard use. Blade material is fine. S30V is a little brittle or "chippy," but I knew that going in, so it is as expected. A couple of downsides. Due to the unusual design of the lanyard hole, the knife rides way too high in the pocket with the stock pocket clip. I immediately bought a deep carry clip and solved that problem, but that does add to the cost of the knife and has to be factored in. Another drawback it the very thin tip of this blade. It looks fragile. While we all know we shouldn't pry or do anything with our knives but cut, most of us do anyway, me included. You have to really watch the tip on this one and do little, if anything other than slice and cut. One last thing, the action on mine was too tight for my liking, so I did heat it with a blow dryer to loosen the locktite so I could adjust the pivot bolt and set it to where I like it. A minor thing, but necessary. All in all, I really like the Para3. Fit and finish is top notch, it fits my pocket well, which more days than not is where you'll find it.
Recently received the Para 3 and this is going to be a great EDC. Out of the box the knife feels great in hand, love the forward finger choil. The G-10 handle scale are medium grippy and have some nice chamfering to the edges. S30V steel is wonderful. Out of the box sharpness was nice, not great, but very acceptable. The four position pocket clip is a nice feature, especially since tip-up carry leaves quite a bit of the knife out of the pocket. I noticed that the original action of the knife was a little stiff. I attempted to loosen the pivot slightly. Spyderco has secured the pivot and screws with red loc-tite. Beware of stripping the hardware because of the grip of the loc-tite. I replaced the original clip with a titanium deep carry version and pocket carry is now perfect.
Positives: Ergonomics. Great action from the compression lock. Smaller than PM2 Negatives: It takes up a lot of pocket space compared to other 3" bladed knives I have. Lanyard tube pushes the clip further away from the back end of the knife forcing it to ride so high that I actually thought it might fall out at one point. Overall I'm ok with this knife but it may get sold or traded for something else in the future.
Man, I read a lot of reviews on this knife, but not one review mentioned the issue I had with mine... the compression lock would continually bite my finger. If I wrist flicked the blade open, the lock would either slap the flesh of my index finger real hard as the blade locked into position, or it would actually pinch it and give me a blood blister. YOUCH! It happened whenever I did a light wrist flick (no harder than a thumb or finger deployment- Yes, I know a hard wrist flick is bad for a folder), and with minor grip changes. I couldn't deal with this, so I returned it and ordered a Manix 2 M4 even tho the blade length will end me up in jail in RI. Does Blade HQ offer any attorney services?
This knife is from one of my favorite brands. I found the detent is a bit softer than I prefer, but still acceptable. Too small for me though, large size hand just eats it up, and it dissappears in my paws.
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