One day maybe 1000 years in the future YouTube videos could be considered art. First we
have to settle if video games are art, then talk radio, then comes Vimeo, then PayPal
transactions, yelp reviews, Instagram views, YouTube comments then maybe YouTube videos
themselves.
(future guy voice)OH DID YOU SEE THE ADVANCED KNIFE BROS EXQUISITE YET SUBTLY ABSURDIST
PIECE ABOUT KNOCKOFF PURPLE CHINESE POCKET KNIVES.
(second future guy voice) What’s a pocket knife? I thought we were only allowed knives
in the Blue Apron area nowadays.
In that beautiful future, my videos might be properly appreciated, and that time where
I cut my ear off might be viewed as a sign of my tortured brilliance and not a horrible
mishap during the shooting of a video... that and this spyderco joke may be properly contextualized
within the youtube knife comedy genre. If we call this knife the military... and this
one is the para military because it's smaller, shouldn't this one be called the, two Dads
on a Saturday open carrying in a Star Bucks. (Future guy voice) WHAT A BRAVE SOUL HE LOST
TWO SUBSCRIBERS, FOR ART.
But before we think too hard about that last joke, and if that's really how assholes in
the future will sound let's look at the dimensions, and screw it we're doing all three... no blue
lines- like the overall length and weight. I know you knife bros are just getting used
to them being back after they were gone. Blade size and cutting edge. I've tried
other colors here, but blue seemed to show up best. Plus Blue is the color of Blue Sky
which is the purest of the pure. Handle size and grip area. I am not including choils
in the grip are measurement. Unless I found this video turned out to be under 10 minutes.
Spine thickness and handle thickness. While this review compares all three, it'll mainly
be about the Para 3 because I already did videos about the other ones. Tallness. If
perchance you missed those videos they'll pop up at the end for the 100 or so people
who watch that far.
The Spyderco Para 3 is a smaller version of the ergonomic every day carry formula popularized
with the large Military, the medium sized original Para Military and Para Military 2.
And as a point of clarification Para Military 2 replaced the original Para Military... however
the Para 3 isn't a replacement for the 2, because it's just a different sized class
of knife altogether. Does that make sense? (Far away voice: No) moving on.
For a while I've wanted something in all natural range free G10- but something that felt right
and in Spyderco... The Lums in natural weren't right for me. Mostly because I haven't gotten
the Youtube hits off the lesser Spydercos... and when Blade HQ offered this in M4, and
Natural G10, but mainly because subscriber Steve Brule, asked me over a year ago- I graciously
waited for all the other channels to get the clicks.
The blade.
This particular knife is that spyderco drop point, clip point, whatever the hell any particular
description calls it blade in M4 steel with a Satin finished full flat grind. M4 is a
pretty high carbon content tool steel, meaning it gets patina-ed easily or stain-ied quicker,
or rustified if left wet. I'll link a Cedric and Ada steel test at the end, but M4 despite
not being stainless is pretty wear resistant. What what might call a super steel- the word
super having a direct correlation to price. You'll notice my blade is has some discoloration
after use- which doesn't bother me in the slightest. Get the standard Para Military
in s30v or the blurple in s110v if you want something that doesn't discolor as easily-
I mean you have too now because the M4 is now sold out because it was a blade HQ limited
exclusive run. I could brag about it, but that would make me sound like buying a limited
run pocket knife when I have many other knives like a smart thing I should be proud of. Deployment
is handled by the spyderhole, using either the bird or the thumb. If you have watched
any of my folding knife videos you might know the compression locks and axis locks are my
favorite. That's because they lock up easy and the mechanism is designed that to disengage
you have too move your fangers out the way. They're fun to fidget with and this is no
different. It wasn't near as stiff as my Spyderco Caribbean compression lock, and I didn't really
adjust it. I found I can't flick it open if I just find it downward, however I have noticed
on some compression locks if you adjust the pivot for easier deployment, this sort of
makes you able to do this.
The handle. The handle is comprised of partial liners, with jade or natural or ghost G10
scales. It's a light green translucent, and looks like it glows in the dark, but it don't.
The G10 scales have a decent amount of texture, and if you're a filthy person who never washes
their hands, light green G10 shows dirt and or fecal matter kinda easily. So it might
be a good idea to start washing your hands. The grip area is barely big enough for my
hands. It's not uncomfortable... cand it has that choil up front so it gives you some extra
room if you wanna choke on it... You have some of that nice finely textured spyderco
jimping up top- which I like. And now I’m gonna name drop another channel twice… he
paid me a lot to do this.. but I recently was watching Cedric and Adas video, where
he mentioned knives with compression locks became uncomfortable for his push cut videos
while doing steel tests. Mind you most people do not use knives like this doing hundreds
of receptive cuts over a few minutes unless they’re cutting up all the bodies… but
if your one of those bros... just because overall my knives with compression locks feel
comfortable to me... like this one... doesn't mean everyone is the same. There handle is
an open backed design.. and my rule of thumb is don't carry keys or change in pockets with
opened backed knives- shit can ding your blade yo.
The pocket clip. All 4 positions... tip up tip down right or left pocket.... all the
possibilities. The stainless steel clip is nice, and smooth, but not deep carry- about
an inch and a quarter sticks out of my pocket of the handle. The clip I wanna say is stainless
steel and has the right amount of spring for me... G10 though can chew up the interior
of your pants because of it's texture... this isn't super aggressive- but you may one a
slicker handle if you wear dandier pants. I personally don't care though.
Comparisons. First the Para 3. This one will not replace my favorite spydercos but will
add a small alternative to them, that costs about the same. I like the steel and the scales...
and it has a fidget able lock. I prefer the Para Military 2 though... and if I could ever
find a reasonable priced jade PM2 I would have bought it. But I have the blurple in
S110V. A great knife, a steel that is long wearing and doesn't stain quite as easily
as the M4. It has a larger handle than the Para 3, and larger blade and it's only a fraction
of an ounce heavier. If you need more utility out of your blade stick with this one... if
you live in an area with dumb knife laws and you need a blade under 3 inches... go with
the Para 3. Now the Military. I probably carry this one as much as I would the 3. It's a
bit to imposing in the work cafeteria during lunch, unless it's process and cook your own
elk day- Thursdays. One guy just gave it a thumbs down because a folding knife makes
a terrible hunting knife. However it's super light for it's size and negligibly heavier
than the Para Military 2. This is also a limited version in a carbon tool steel... seems to
stain similarly to the M4 on the Para 3. All of theses knives do come in standard slightly
cheap S30V versions, which is what I recommend for most regular people who think spending
over $100 on a pocket knife is a wonderful idea. Now the Spyderco Caribbean. Not quite
as large as the Military so it's a bit friendlier for work environments where you have an HR
department. It's my new favorite Spyderco... but some people hate it's looks. This one
on the other hand is a rust free steel... so it's a very good utility knife for wetter
bloodier conditions. Benchmade 940-1. Haven't had this out in a while, which makes subscriber
Jake Disty do a frowsy face. Very very light compared to all the knives here... This is
a great knife too- although I have many more competing for pocket time these days. I like
the handle size a bit better than the PM3. How about a smaller knife or two like the
Rat 2 from Ontario. This is a lesser steel, although it comes in D2 now for about $40...
the Para 3 is about $140. I have always found this knife kinda ugly however it has a comfortable
handle and it's light and Nick Shabazz likes it. I’m not sure if more than Z Hunters
though. One other small knife- the Delica 4 Wharncliffe... this one is about $70. It
has a nice steel, slower deployment and not as fidget able. This has never been a knife
I carried much... a lot of people like it though. I bought it mainly as a Youtube comparison
knife. What do you do in your spare time… I review knives on Youtube. Ohhh… (trails
off)
Are we about done? If I had to briefly describe each of the knives from what I'll call the
Military series from spyderco. I would phase it as follows. The Military is a perfect large
weekend outdoor knife. Large as in size and not large three day weekend The Para Military
2 is a great all around every day carry. The 3 is a knife for need something smaller and
less America because of laws, work environment or maybe they have smaller hands. I'm more
of a Para Military 2 guy... but I see the reason people like the others. I like that
they like them. If Steve Brule wondered to himself why I had not reviewed this knife
until over a year since it was dropped... it's because it seemed like it was a smaller
Para Military 2, which is never something I had ever said I wanted… So all in all
a perfectly reasonable uhh reason spend $144 on something. If you like this sort of review,
subscribe to the channel. Give the video a thumbs up- although according to a comment
on one of my knife videos last week- requesting a thumbs up in addition to a comment is a
bit too much to ask for some people. I get it man. Leave a comment. Thanks for watching.