Spyderco

Spyderco Matriarch II Review

The Spyderco Matriarch’s predecessor, the Civilian, carries a somewhat curious warning. As the company writes on the knife’s product webpage, “Because of its distinctly specialized features it is not intended or designed for general utility or everyday use.” Reading this and knowing nothing about the Civilian, the layperson might wonder why a consumer might spend upwards of $250 on a knife that he doesn’t plan to use much—if ever. But if said layperson were to lay eyes on the deployed blade, an “ah-ha” realization would follow swiftly thereafter.

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In essence, the Spyderco Civilian is a pocket velociraptor claw. It has a thin profile and aggressive serrations to rip through clothing and soft tissue. Make no bones about it: the Civilian is explicitly for self-defense against human assailants. Designed in the 1990s for law enforcement officers who couldn’t carry a gun in certain situations, it is a brutally effective “second best” option that can be wielded by an inexperienced user to disable a combatant as a matter of last resort.

The Civilian, however, suffers a few well-known drawbacks. First, the tip is legendarily fragile (probably the reason for Spyderco’s warning not to use it outside of dire circumstances). Second, and perhaps more importantly: it’s expensive at MSRP, but combine that with limited production and a demand that never seems to abate, and it’s not uncommon to see them sell north of $300.

Enter the Matriarch II. If not a direct replacement for the Civilian, the Matriarch II retains the same purpose-built design of the Civilian at about half the cost. Some might hear “half price” and wonder if the Matriarch II is an inferior copy or an exercise in cutting as many corners as possible. Much to the contrary, the Matriarch is a knife that adds enough features that I’d consider it an improvement over its infamous big brother.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

Let’s not bury the lede: The Matriarch II gives you 3.57” of a “reverse-S” serrated blade, and a hollow, chisel-shaped grind further helps the knife to cut and slash. The reason for that “S” shape, incidentally, is that any kind of material (organic or inorganic) will be naturally directed from the tip into the hollow of the blade during a natural arc of travel. It’s a scary one-two. The thin tip digs in deep, and the remainder of the blade saws and cuts to extricate itself as the user pulls away.

In direct comparison to the blade of the Civilian, the Matriarch II has about a half-inch less of length to work with and a more robust tip. From Spyderco’s perspective, this likely cuts down on the number of broken knives returned for service while not losing hardly anything by way of self-defense effectiveness. It also means that the Matriarch II is more at home in an EDC capacity, where that last eighth-inch of tip can be used to dig into tape and envelope seams. Even given the changes to the profile, you have to look far and wide to find something more intimidating.

As for the rest of the knife, the Matriarch II mates its S-curve blade into just under 5” of handle and a weight of about 3.5 ounces. At only .44 inches thick, the Matriarch II is deceptively thin and light. As such, it easily checks that most coveted of boxes for any self-defense tool: you can carry it all day and forget it’s even there.

As you’ll notice from the photo, where it’s nestled between Spyderco’s Para 2 and Ontario’s Rat II, the Matriarch II offers significantly more length. However, that extra length is unnoticeable in most pockets and it’s a far flatter carry than either of the accompanying EDC stalwarts.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

One of the biggest factors that differentiates the Matriarch II from the Civilian is the use of fiberglass-reinforced nylon (FRN) over G10. Don’t think of this as a downgrade. In my opinion, the square texture Spyderco uses on its FRN is one of the grippiest and best in the business. This absolutely will not slip out of the hand, and the finger grooves further help the knife to stay anchored.

The ergonomics are quite interesting. The Matriarch II shares the same body and construction as the fourth-generation Endura, differing only in the blade itself. Never having owned or held an Endura, this was altogether new to me.

Basically, there are two good grip options. With the thumb placed on the back of the blade, you have more control over the tip and an extremely secure grip. However, one can also align the middle finger in the finger groove lower down the knife and place the thumb along the grooves on the back of the handle, permitting about another inch of reach.

Normally I look for a more pronounced index finger groove or some kind of guard on a self-defense knife. Here it’s a total non-issue. The Matriarch II is absolutely not made for making push cuts. If the blade stops on anything solid, it’s going to be pulled out and away from the hand during any kind of cutting task. Ergonomically, the handle is perfect for the intended use.

Onto the pocket clip. The tip-up carry design exposes about a full inch of handle, so people will see you have a knife if they’re looking. Fortunately, the aftermarket comes to the rescue: since this is again identical to the Endura 4, a variety of deep carry clips are available, such as those available from Lynch Northwest or MXG Gear.

Deployment and Lockup

The Matriarch II’s “wave” opener, licensed from Emerson and incorporated here, is an undeniable upgrade over the original Civilian model. As the knife is pulled out of the pocket, the wave protrusion hooks into the fabric of your pants and basically deploys itself. I’ve read about this several times, but this was actually the first knife I’ve owned to actually have the feature.

I’ll say this: it’s hard not to pull this knife out of the pocket without the blade kicking out. It is the fastest deployment system on a folder, bar none. You will want to be very careful when removing this from your pocket at the end of the day, lest you get bit or rip a hole in your jeans. I can only reliably get the knife out of my pocket in the folded position by holding the blade shut against the handle throughout the draw motion. This is an annoyance on a utilitarian EDC, but a welcome feature on a dedicated self-defense tool. If you need the Matriarch II, you will likely need it quickly.

Fortunately, the ease of deployment with the wave counteracts the biggest flaw of the Matriarch II: from the factory, the action is stiff as all get-out. This is a criticism I’ve heard leveled at a number of Spyderco’s back-lock designs, but those used to handling a Tenacious or a Paramilitary of any kind are in for a rude awakening when they try to middle finger flick this thing.

The thumb hole is functional, but only in combination with an aggressive, do it like you mean it wrist snap. The blade locks up bank-vault tough and is perfectly centered, but boy howdy does it require some force to overcome the lock bar tension, especially right out of the box. Again, this knife deploys fine with gross muscle movements, but it does not take kindly to the kinds of fine motor control manipulations that make a knife fidget friendly. Perhaps it wants you to really know that this is a tool, not a toy.

The tradeoff to the stiff action is faultless centering and lockup. Deployed, the Matriarch II feels very much like a fixed blade, and I have utter confidence in the action’s strength.

Spyderco Matriarch II Review – Final Thoughts

There’s often ample overlap between gun people and knife people, and it’s by no means accidental. I would wager that most of the members of either group have spent some time musing about the harsh realities of defending life and limb and at some point came to the conclusion that some options are better than others.

The Matriarch II is the most gun-like knife I’ve yet to come across. It’s the easiest crossover knife to convert someone who carries into the world of folding blades, and it’s a design that necessitates the same kind of respect and caution one would give to a loaded firearm. My desk drawer is filled with a lot of designs that are quirky and fun and I happily screw around with them. The Matriarch II is not one of those knives.

At the end of the day, and given the primary use of a knife like this, you’ll know if this is for you or not. And if you do need to draw the Matriarch II in defense of life and limb, may God help the poor son of a bitch who’s on the other end of it.

Spyderco Matriarch 2 Lightweight Knife with Emerson Opener and 3.57" VG-10 Steel Reverse S Blade - SpyderEdge - C12SBK2W

Dynamic Blade Design: Features a 3.57-inch VG-10 stainless steel blade with a unique 'reverse-S' serrated edge and hollow grind for exceptional cutting and slashing performance.
Superior Quality: Its SpyderEdge VG-10 Stainless Steel blade is scientifically designed to maximize cutting performance.
Dependable: One of the vital features of the Matriarch 2 are its sturdy back lock mechanism, four-position clip, and Trademark Round Hole.
Ergonomic: It ensures unmatched carry versatility and high-speed deployment with either hand.
Easy To Carry: By adding an Emerson Opener: a small integral hook on the spine of the blade: the latest version of the Matriarch 2 raises the bar even further by offering the ultimate in high-speed deployment.

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Matriarch 2 at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

Spyderco Rhino Review

by Grayson Parker 1 Comment

Expectations are a terrible thing to shake. As gear geeks, hopping onto the hype train is all too easy, especially because most of us are passionate about our hobbies. We see something cool – either the newest catalog or the latest teaser on Instagram – and start forming our own idea of what the end product will be like. All too often, those expectations proceed to get in the way of enjoying the product for it is.

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Enter the Spyderco Rhino. When it was first teased (long enough ago that I can’t remember the date), it was slated to be a refreshing new entry to Spyderco’s line-up, sporting G10 scales, BD1 steel, and a compression lock in a reasonably sized package. What’s more, its original street price was going to fall right around $50.00. That was a hell of a steal at the time, and honestly would still be a great buy today, even with the recent price drops in premium steels.

Unfortunately, that version of the Rhino never made it beyond the trade show demonstration booth. Apparently that package was too much of an ask for the factory, and the project was put on hiatus. The next time we caught a glimpse of the Rhino, it was a radically different product: the steel was upgraded to CTS-XHP, the handle scales were upgraded to carbon fiber, and the street price was upgraded all the way up to $140.00.

That’s the point I lost interest in the Rhino. It had morphed from a product that would challenge the market to yet another overpriced and oddly designed Spyderco, destined to hang out in the inventories of cutlery purveyors across the world.

In the months that followed its debut, I started to see it pop up online. Folks that I follow on Instagram (whose taste I respect) started including the Rhino in their daily updates. After seeing it a few more times, my curiosity was once again piqued. That’s when I started to realize that on paper, it was still a good product: high-end steel, carbon fiber*, a great lock, and the perfect size for everyday chores. It didn’t take too much speculation along those lines before I picked one up. I’m glad I did, but you’ll need to read on to learn why.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Spyderco Rhino is considered part of the “little-big-knife” family, a design ethos that seeks to pack the maximum amount of cutting power into a compact package. Other standouts include the much-acclaimed Techno as well as the Dragonfly 2. Like its cousins, the dimensions of the Rhino aren’t great on paper. Its 2.37” blade is housed in a 3.57” handle, and the overall package weighs in at 2.27 oz. Taken together, neither the blade to handle or blade to weight ratio is very compelling. Much like its cousins, however, these numbers don’t speak to the whole truth.

My tastes are depressingly pedestrian when it comes to blade shapes. Give me a nice drop point or modified wharncliffe and I’ll be happy; give me more than one angle to worry about when resharpening and I won’t. The Rhino’s trailing point walks a very thin line between being interesting and being a hassle, and – in my case at least – the jury is still out. When grappling with a clamshell package, it’s great: the refined tip and thin grind make short work of that modern headache. When it comes to spreading peanut butter or condiments (essential picnic tasks, in my view), the trailing point is uniquely unqualified. If that isn’t a concern for you, there are few downsides to this blade shape. The exaggerated belly also means that the cutting edge is longer than the listed blade length.

As expected, the grind that the fine folks at Taichung put on the Rhino is impeccable. The stock starts at .118” thick and is brought down to a very keen edge by a full flat grind. Between the stock and grind, the Rhino makes for a very mean cutter, passing the apple test with ease. If there’s a complaint to be made, it’s that the satin finish is slightly tacky and seems to attract gunk. Regular cleaning and a bit of extra vigilance is probably required.

This is actually my first experience with Carpenter’s CTS-XHP steel. If rumors hold true, it was designed to have the upsides of D2 (great edge retention and toughness) while mitigating D2’s chief drawback (poor rust resistance). My experiences with the Rhino generally reflect that: the edge rarely needs touching up, and it’s warded off rust handily, ever after I inadvertently stored it with fruit juice on the blade. Unfortunately, most users report that it can be a pain to sharpen, so I’ve been proactive with my strop, and actual resharpening hasn’t been necessary.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Carry

Unfortunately, the handle breaks two of my cardinal rules when it comes to knives: avoid finger scallops and Spyderco’s carbon fiber/G10 composite scales. The former rule is rooted in ergonomics; the latter in priggish snobbery. My experience with the Rhino has made me reevaluate both – to an extent. The composite scales are reinforced by a skeletonized and recessed steel liner, and have endured everyday wear and tear without showing it. Moreover, they don’t have the glossy, too-light quality I’ve felt in other knives with carbon fiber scales.

The composite scales are well-suited to the role. There is enough texture that your fingers don’t slide around, but not the rough kind of texture you’d expect from Spyderco’s normal G10 treatment. Additionally, the edges and corners of the scales have been chamfered to the point that they are very nearly contoured. I’m very glad they went the extra mile in the finishing process; otherwise the Rhino would be an ergonomic flop, and that’s entirely due to the finger scallops. Apart from those problematic little curves, the Rhino is really quite good in the hand. The dip in the spine of the blade is a perfect place to put your thumb when you need more control, and the organic curve of the handle means that the Rhino can be gripped in a number of ways.

To be frank: finger scallops should be avoided as a rule. They force the user to hold the knife in a set grip, despite the fact that all of our muscular and skeletal structure varies wildly person to person. They do not actually improve our grip on a knife’s handle, according to hand surgeon and knifemaker Kyle Ver Steeg; in fact, by forcing our fingers farther apart, it weakens our grip instead. Finally, why on earth were finger scallops “necessary” on a knife this size? The Rhino isn’t going to be someone’s last ditch boot knife, or stowed in a bugout bag. It’s going to be toted around in some gear geek’s chinos, broken out to to open packages and trim loose threads. The Rhino’s saving grace is that the finger scallops have been chamfered to the point that I hardly notice them.

The Rhino is equipped with Spyderco’s classic spoon-shaped clip. It’s a classic design for a reason: it doesn’t cause ergonomic issues, it keeps the knife in the pocket without shredding your pants, and it’s only a little bit of a paint scraper.

Deployment and Lock-Up

At this point, there’s not a whole lot that can be said about Spyderco’s trademark thumb hole. Even as flippers reign supreme, the thumb hole stands out: it’s simple, versatile, and only there when you need it. The Rhino has at least as much fidget factor as any of my flippers, in part due to the phosphor bronze washers the blade rides on and the excellent detente. Absolutely no complaints in this regard.

In keeping with the “quintessentially Spyderco” theme, the Rhino utilizes the compression lock, an in-house design that’s strong, simple, and lightweight. By using a locking leaf that wedges between the blade tang and the stop pin, the compression lock blends the convenience and strength of an axis-style lock with the snappy action and simplicity of a liner lock. Unfortunately, compression locks do tend to have a bit of vertical blade play, and the Rhino is no exception. It doesn’t register visually or audibly, but you can feel it if you wiggle the blade around.

Spyderco Rhino Review – Final Thoughts

Ultimately, the Rhino is a fine addition to both Spyderco’s catalog and my collection. Part of me still wishes that the original version would have made it to market, but to be honest, the extra finishing on the handle scales probably wouldn’t be feasible at a sub-$50 price point, and the finger scallops would go from a theoretical pet peeve to a very literal pain to deal with. That aside, there’s a lot to recommend here. The blade uses some of the best steel on the market and is ground to be a lean cutter; the handle is remarkably comfortable, in and out of the pocket; and the deployment method and lock are some of the most reliable and convenient available.

As mentioned above, the street price for the Rhino falls around $140. That’s nothing to sneeze at; most of the major production knife companies have strong entries at this price point, from Benchmade’s upgraded Griptilian line to a veritable dragon’s hoard of Kizer offerings. While the competition is fierce, I think the Rhino holds its own. The blade – from the steel to the grind – makes the Rhino stand out in its own way, especially if you like the funky design aesthetic.

There are some people who should pay special attention to the Rhino, and a few who should actively avoid it. The Rhino is especially well-suited to modern office workers: opening packages, breaking down cardboard boxes, and maybe peeling an orange at lunch. If you have more specific needs (like frequent food prep or a knife suited to harder use), look elsewhere, as the Rhino was clearly not designed with those tasks in mind.

Spyderco Reinhold Rhino Folding Knife - Black Carbon Fiber Handle with PlainEdge, Full-Flat Grind, CTS XHP Steel Blade and Compression Lock - C210CFP

plainedge blade - this knife has a sharpened blade with no serrations or teeth sometimes referred to as a smooth blade.
carbon fiber handle - graphic fibers (the size of a human hair) woven together then fused with epoxy resin. lightweight with a high level of tensile strength it is three dimensional in appearance.
full-flat grind - this knife features a blade ground with flat bevels that extend from the spine all the way to the cutting edge. this grind reduces drag during cutting and decreases overall weight.
compression lock - developed and patented by spyderco, the compression lock mechanism uses a leaf-like spring from a split liner in the handle to wedge laterally between a ramp on the blade tang and the stop pin (or anvil pin).
specifications - closed length (inches): 3.6, overall length (inches): 5.95, blade length (inches):2.35, blade steel: cts xhp, grind: full-flat

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Spyderco Rhino at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

Spyderco Moran Drop Point Review

by Travis Pike 3 Comments

I’m always amazed by what I don’t know. For example, before I got my hands on this Bill Moran and Spyderco collaboration, I never knew who Bill Moran was. That sounds like sacrilege on a knife website, but I’m being honest. This isn’t an article on the greatness of Bill Moran, but he makes some beautiful knives that go for a small fortune. He helped found the American Bladesmith Society, and has been making knives for decades. The Bill Moran and Spyderco collaboration seems to blend the simple but effective Moran designs with an affordable price tag.

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The Moran Drop Point knife is mass-produced, unlike Mr. Moran’s knives, and are made for heavy-duty use and not so much for collecting. This isn’t a wall hanger but a reliable and well-made working knife. I’ve had it most of hunting season, but sadly I’ve been an unsuccessful hunter. In the many months, I’ve been carrying it, and I’ve gotten a good bit of use out of it.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

Bill Moran’s designs are mostly known for their simple and elegant designs, and the Spyderco collaboration is no different. The blade is 3.875 inches long with an edge length of 3.375 inches. The blade is a standard .125 inches thick. The knife has a ¾ tang and the handle is molded directly to it. If you can’t tell by the knife’s name, it is a drop point design.

The stainless blade is quite shiny, but also very rust-resistant. The handle is made from FRN, and the overall length of the knife is 8.063 inches. It’s also one of the lightest fixed blade knives I’ve ever picked up. It weighs 3 ounces. 3 freaking ounces, holy crap is this thing light. I loved strapping it to my belt and never worrying about causing my pants slowly slide downwards on one side. I didn’t have to tighten my belt to an uncomfortable level to easily carry this knife.

From Spyderco, this knife was razor sharp. I always love it when companies send their knives out with a sweet edge, but get sad because I can’t replicate it. The Moran Drop Point is made from VG 10 steel, which is a very common kitchen knife steel. The main reason why is that it’s super resistant to corrosion. It’s stainless steel, but a solid and tough one. It’s perfectly suitable as a woods knife or a lightweight EDC blade for those working in more outdoor professions.

VG-10 proved to be a little challenging to sharpen for me, but to be fair, I suck at sharpening knives. Once you get it sharp, it stays sharp for quite some time. I only sharpened it, so I would have some perspective on sharpening it for this review. It’s also an ultra-sharp knife, and with a fine stone, you can get it very sharp.

I’ve used this knife for filleting trout, cutting chicken up for my famous chicken tacos, and doing typical knife work cutting tape, cordage, wire, boxes, and more. When it came to cutting up fish and chicken, I found the knife to be a delight. For the precise cuts required for cleaning trout, the knife was perfect. FOr cutting 4 pounds of chicken breasts into small chunks, it was a comfortable tool that made the task easy.

The same goes for your routine tasks. Admittedly when Christmas came and went, this knife got a lot of work. Why are toys so well secured in boxes? Holy crap, the number of cords, zip ties, and cardboard I had to cut before the day was over. The Moran powered through it with ease, though.

Handle and Ergonomics

What’s impressive is that the handle and the knife as a whole weigh about the same. This creates a super balanced knife that’s easy to control. The handle is made from fiberglass-reinforced nylon or FRN. This is a robust and lightweight material that provides a bit of grip to it. Spyderco is a master with FRN and uses it in some of their folding knives.

The FRN grips have non-removable Kraton panels. These are ultra-sticky panels that allow for a sure grip when working. Unlike most knives these days, there is no aggressive texturing. The combination of FRN and Kraton is enough to give you a no-slip grip under most conditions. I can testify that the grip is still strong even when your hands are wet and covered in fish slime.

Besides giving a sure grip, it’s also very comfortable. Aggressive texturing is excellent, but it tends to create hotspots. You’ll find no of those here. The grip is rounded off and ultra-comfortable in hand. The handle gives you excellent control of the blade and allows you to make fine cuts with little difficulty.

Sheath

The sheath is a lightweight boltaron model that comes with a multi-purpose G-Clip fastening system. The sheath’s G-Clip system is a polymer belt attachment with a sharp hook that connects under the belt to keep the knife in place. The system is reversible for lefties, and you can move the clip around quite a bit.

The angle of wear can be moved around for your comfort, and this includes wearing the knife horizontally if you so choose. The sheath comes up right over the blade and the knife locks in positively. It’s a good solid hold, and the knife stays put without the need for an active retention device.

The handle is also left with enough room for a good grip and an easy draw. The belt clip does its job well and hangs onto the belt without a hair of movement as the knife is drawn. The sheath is quite robust but keeps the theme of being lightweight, which keeps the entire knife system lightweight.

Spyderco Moran Drop Point Review – Final Thoughts

While the name Moran might not have meant anything to me before owning this knife, I can certainly see why Mr. Moran was such a popular bladesmith. This simple knife is far from tactical or high speed, but entirely practical. The ultra-lightweight and well-balanced design makes it an excellent tool. It’s one you can strap on and forget about, but when you need it, it’s there and razor-sharp. Plus, this is the only Moran knife I’ll ever be able to afford.

ESEE Knives 6P Fixed Blade Knife w/Molded Polymer Sheath

Editor: I recommend buying the Spyderco Moran Drop Point at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

Spyderco Atlantic Salt Review

by Dan Jackson 3 Comments

This review is a series of firsts. After over 400 reviews, this is the first time we have reviewed a knife with a fully serrated blade. It’s also the first time we have reviewed a knife with H1, an uber stainless blade steel. At first glance, that may hold some significance. But really, this is a purpose built knife. The Spyderco Atlantic Salt is designed for marine use. This is a mariner’s knife.

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Actually, according to Spyderco this is a rescue knife adapted for marine use. They took their Spyderco Rescue, and outfitted it with a high visibility handle and rust proof H1 steel. It’s a purpose built tool and probably not something most people are going to consider for their Every Day Carry (EDC) knife.

I have wanted to check out a knife in H1 for a while. According to Spyderco this is a completely rust proof steel. That’s different from a “stainless” steel, as even stainless steel can and will rust. Stainless steel will simply “stain less” than a non-stainless steel.

And as most steel enthusiasts know, blade steel is an exercise in compromise. Improving one quality of a knife’s blade steel, like hardness, often comes at the expense of something else, like toughness, ease of sharpening, or stain resistance. So what will be the compromise with H1? Will it cut like a butter knife and be impossible to sharpen? Let’s find out.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Atlantic Salt has an overall length of 8.25″, a 3.678″ blade, weighs 2.75 ounces, and is made in Japan. This is a pretty large folding knife, but it doesn’t feel overly big thanks to the unusual blade shape, high visibility handle, and ultra-light construction. EDC knives this big typically give off a tactical or “weapon” vibe, but this Atlantic Salt reads more like a tool and doesn’t strike me as being particularly threatening.

For these reasons I’ve actually carried the Atlantic Salt quite a bit. I don’t own a boat, and while I live in South Florida, I don’t get on to the water as much as I would like. So at the time of writing this review I can’t say I’ve used it as a mariner’s knife. But I have carried it and used it, and plan on keeping the knife for long term testing. It will join me on fishing trips and the occasional boat ride.

Here is the Atlantic Salt next to my Delica and Endura. As you can see, it’s only a little shorter than the Endura.

The blade is purpose built, and will take some getting used to if you are a fan of drop points. It’s a hollow ground wharncliffe with a fully serrated edge after all. Of course this was done for a reason. It’s a wharncliffe to reduce the risk of stabbing yourself on the pitching deck of a boat. It’s serrated to cut through line, and possibly clothing, and to take advantage of H1’s unique properties. It’s hollow ground because some believe H1 is “work hardened” rather than heat treated. What that means, is that as the blade is ground and the metal is removed blade steel hardens due to the force on the steel rather than a heat treat. This phenomenon is also referred to as “plastic deformation”. So they need to grind both sides simultaneously to avoid warping the blade, and they can do that with a hollow grind. Each aspect of the Atlantic Salt’s blade was done for a reason.

And lets turn to H1 itself. H1 is a high chromium austenic steel. The term “austenic” has to do with the crystal microstructure of the steel. I won’t get into a chemistry lesson, but if you want a deep dive on H1 I recommend this article by Knife Steel Nerds. You will learn all you want to know about H1 in that article.

The takeaway is that H1 is structurally different from the typical ferric stainless steels you find in most knife blades. It’s hallmarked by being completely stain proof, but the sacrifice is hardness. Bro science and anecdotal evidence suggest that a serrated blade best takes advantage of H1, and provides better edge retention. But modern metallurgy doesn’t explain why that would work scientifically. The Knife Steel Nerd even says that grinding a blade shouldn’t be enough to work harden it, and he’s the Knife Steel Nerd. So who’s to say?

All I can really do is test this stuff out, so that’s what I did. The knife came surprisingly sharp out of the box. It cut paper cleanly and easily. It tore through cardboard. I bought this knife on Black Friday, so it survived the holiday season with me. Lots of boxes lay broken in the wake of the Atlantic Salt. The serrated edge is surprisingly effective. I got a lot of work done with the knife before needing to sharpen it.

In fact, the knife was still tearing through things effectively, but I decided to pull out my Spyderco Golden Stone anyways to see what a sharpening session would do for the H1 blade. I used the rounded corner of the Golden Stone and zipped the serrated edges along the edge of the stone. Spyderco recommends sharpening both sides of a serrated blade, and that’s what I did here. The results were great. The knife got extremely sharp quickly. The Atlantic Salt slipped through cardboard as if it were butter. This is an easy knife to sharpen if you have a rounded stone for the serrated edge. I happened to use my mythical Golden Stone, but the Sharpmaker works beautifully for a knife like this.

Here is another size comparison. This time I have the Atlantic Salt next to my Para 2 and Tenacious:

The blade steel also exhibits excellent toughness. I didn’t test this in any particular manner, but noticed that the steel is so tough that it scratches easily. I noticed this immediately after cutting cardboard, and this YouTube video shows the wear on an H1 blade after 5 years. I think it’s interesting how the person who made that video compared the wear pattern on the H1 blade more to titanium than stainless steel. I would agree. My other blades don’t wear like this.

All said, I was surprised with the utility of the H1 blade. Now I know H1 to sharpens easily, keeps a decent edge, and has the benefit of being completely rust proof. The serrations may be important. I need to buy another knife with a plain edge in H1 to test it out.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clips

In contrast to the unique and alien blade, the handle of the Atlantic Salt is familiar territory. Anyone who has handled a Spyderco Delica or Endura will immediately recognize the construction and materials of the Atlantic’s handle. That said, there are still plenty of things to note here.

First of all, the handle is a shock of bright yellow. That’s great for marine use and work knives in general. It’s possible you could drop this knife in shallow water and still locate it. Certainly it would stand out on the forest floor. The handle design is also completely devoid of metal liners. Instead, it’s 100% injection molded FRN (Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon). It still feels sturdy without the liners, but I wouldn’t consider the Atlantic Salt to be a hard use knife.

Continuing with the Mariner’s knife theme is the inclusion of a shackle key. That’s the elongated teardrop shaped hole in the handle. This is used to tighten screw pin shackles that you find mostly on sail boats. The Glessers were sailors, presumably before they settled in landlocked Colorado, so they are especially sensitive to the needs of a mariner.

It shouldn’t come as a big surprise that the Atlantic Salt is comfortable in hand. The handle is generous, easily accommodating large hands, and balances high traction with comfort. There is contouring all around the handle feeding into the heavily textured flats. There is good jimping on both the forward “50/50” finger choil (meaning 50% of the choil is handle, 50% is blade), and the severely angled thumb ramp. Your fingers are unlikely to slip forward towards the edge, even if your hands are wet. The balance point of the knife is right behind the pivot, lending the knife a slightly blade heavy feel unless you use the forward choil. All said the handle is well considered and exceedingly comfortable.

Even the pocket clip of the Atlantic salt is different. Here it’s a spring clip made of powder coated titanium. That’s another first for the blog. It sits high on the handle in a tip up configuration, and can swapped to the right or left side. The screw that holds the clip in place is slotted and drilled through so you can run a thin lanyard through it. It’s an elegant approach to the typical awkwardly placed lanyard hole, and one I wouldn’t mind seeing in other designs.

In pocket the Atlantic Salt carries pretty well. It’s a lightweight knife, so that’s nice. It’s also relatively thin; about the thickness of a Delica. Where the Atlantic Salt falls a little short, is that it’s a very wide knife. That’s due to the unusual design. I definitely feel this knife in the pocket. That’s not the end of the world, but worth noting. There is some bulk associated with the Atlantic Salt.

The clip is secure and has excellent retention. While the knife rides low in the pocket, that canary yellow handle is tough to ignore. Here is your in the pocket shot:

Deployment and Lockup

The blade is opened by the prominent thumb hole. It is oversized and easy to access. I tend to take that granted on a Spyderco, but what caught me by surprise was how smooth the action is on this knife. It’s buttery smooth. I can’t tell by peering down into the handle, but this may be a washerless design. I don’t know, but whatever is going on works, so I’m hesitant to take the knife apart. Once you overcome that initial spring tension the blade opens easily and locks with a satisfying click.

Speaking of locks, the Atlantic makes use of a lockback. It’s secure, and my knife is free of blade play in any direction, but this is not a knife I’d use for serious woodwork or other hard use tasks. Sure, it can cut into a board, but where the Atlantic salt truly excels is in sawing through fibrous materials and cardboard. But the linerless design doesn’t inspire confidence with truly tough tasks, and I’d be careful not to test the limits of the design. That said the lockback performs flawlessly. It is secure when open, and disengages easily with the push of a thumb.

Blade centering is perfect on my knife.

Spyderco Atlantic Salt Review – Final Thoughts

As a collector, I find the Atlantic Salt to be a quirky and charming knife. It’s different. That’s for sure. As a purpose built tool I think it’s a success. Granted I have yet to take this one on a boat, but I grew up on boats so I have some understanding of the application. And I live a quarter mile from the Gulf of Mexico so I’m around salt water regularly. The Atlantic Salt is well considered and a practical marine work knife.

What surprised me was how much I enjoyed the Atlantic Salt as an EDC. It kept finding it’s way back into my pocket. It’s wide, which is it’s biggest downfall in my book as a daily carry piece, but it’s lightweight and carryable. The H1 steel is actually a pretty decent blade steel. It’s nothing like M390 or a super steel in terms of edge retention, but I got a lot of work done with the serrated edge, and the knife sharpened quickly and easily. I was expecting a bigger compromise from a completely rust proof steel.

In the end, I’d buy another knife with a H1 blade. I’d like to try out a plain edge, just to get a better feel for how well the steel holds its edge.

For now, the Atlantic Salt will remain in my permanent collection. It’s unique, well considered, and fully functional. I’d recommend it if you need a rust proof knife, or are simply curious about it like I was.

Sale

Spyderco Atlantic Salt Lightweight Folding Utility Pocket Knife with 3.68" Corrosion Resistant H-1 Sheepfoot Blade and Durable Hi-Viz Yellow FRN Handle - SpyderEdge - C89SYL

Superior Quality: It is made from H1-Steel which is a precipitation-hardened steel containing nitrogen instead of carbon, which cannot rust.
FRN Handle: It is textured with a Volcano Grip pattern, the molded fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN) handle is visible marine yellow, equipped with a reversible titanium pocket clip for right or left: handed use.
Game Changer: The serrated hollow-ground blade offers remarkable cutting performance in and around fresh and saltwater.
Corrosion Resistant: The knife is completely ambidextrous and utterly impervious to corrosion.
Specification: It has a overall length of 8.25", blade length of 3.6" and a weight of 2.75 oz. This knife is made from Japan.

Editor: I recommend buying the Spyderco Atlantic Salt at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

Spyderco Centofante 3 Review

by Seth Vietti 1 Comment

The Centofante 3 is one of Spyderco’s most long-lived designs. Introduced in 2004 and unchanged to this day, it’s been around long enough to witness most of the rest of Spyderco’s lineup either evolve or go extinct. I think the reason why is simple: the Centofante still looks good.

Buy the Spyderco Centofante 3 at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Even a diehard Spyderco fan will admit that the company’s design language can be… polarizing. The Centofante achieves broader appeal by standing apart from the typical Spyderco style: no bulging blade, no forward finger choil, no full-flat grind. It’s slim, simple, yet dramatic. If not for the round hole and the silver bug in the handle, it could easily pass as a knife from another brand.

I’ve long been tempted to pick one up for myself, but skepticism of its old-fashioned pinned construction always held me back. Until now. So, is the Spyderco Centofante 3 really as timeless as it looks?

General Dimensions & Blade Details

The blade on the Centofante is just shy of three and a quarter inches long. Thanks to a tiny ricasso and the absence of a finger choil, it has almost the same amount of usable edge as the significantly larger Paramilitary 2.

Despite all the edge, the blade still feels petite – no doubt due to its exceptionally thin blade stock. It’s the Centofante’s most noteworthy spec: at 1.95mm thick (according to my calipers), it’s easily the longest, thinnest folding blade in Spyderco’s entire catalog, if not the knife market at large. The only knives I own with thinner blades are either keychain-sized novelties or flexible kitchen knives. The Centofante makes the Delica’s blade stock look generous in comparison, and the Para 3’s, outrageous.

A hollow grind was definitely the right choice here. As much as I appreciate Spyderco’s full-flat grinds, they necessarily get quite thin towards the tip. The steady hollow grind on the Centofante has no such distal taper, preventing this sliver of a blade from being drawn too thin. There’s no flex, and the tip is narrow but not delicate. While I would never recommend prying with it, the blade seems better equipped for the task than, say, a full-flat ground Delica, since it’s supported by full thickness blade stock almost all the way to the tip.

My Centofante didn’t arrive as sticky sharp as I have come to expect from Seki City, Japan Spydercos. Thankfully, the neatly applied factory edge and sharpening choil made it easy enough to touch up. As you might expect with a knife this thin, it cuts quite well. It doesn’t have the shearing power of a broad, flat ground blade, but it’s much more agile – able to twist quickly mid-cut without much resistance. Whether it’s a drop point or a spearpoint, the blade shape just works: a stretch of flat edge, a gentle belly, and a focused tip.

The blade steel is VG-10, a time-tested alloy with excellent corrosion resistance and decent edge retention. While today’s best powder metallurgy concoctions outclass it in one way or another, I don’t really miss them here. The more knives I use, the more I appreciate well-balanced steels; especially ones that deliver good value like VG-10. Also, on a knife that can’t be taken apart for cleaning, VG-10’s stainlessness is a major asset.

Handle, Ergonomics, & Pocket Clip

At a glance, the handle of the Centofante looks like anodized aluminum. If it was cool to the touch, it would feel like it, too. It’s actually plastic (fiberglass reinforced nylon, to be specific) with a similarly smooth, light texture. The silver bug and “speed lines” molded into the handle seemed a bit odd at first, but they grew on me: they give an otherwise plain knife some personality without being ostentatious.

The Centofante is exceedingly comfortable in hand. The four and a half inch handle is lightweight, nimble, and well-sized for the blade. Its ergonomic features are subtle. No finger grooves or jutting guards, just gentle curves that suggest – not demand – how to hold it. I especially like how it bows down into the palm: it helps the skinny handle feel more substantial, and keeps the angle of the blade better aligned with the arm. If you’ve ever used a Spyderco Military, the Centofante will feel weirdly similar. Despite the size difference, the knives share the same sloping ergonomic geometry.

The pocket clip is highly functional, doubly so because the handles are smooth. It comes from the factory configured for tip-down carry. I’m no tip-up evangelist, but after carrying it tip-down for a few days it was obvious the factory got it wrong. The exposed tang, pointy thumb ramp, and aggressive jimping on the blade snag everything in their path. Front pocket, back pocket; didn’t matter – retrieving a tip-down Centofante from any pocket was awkward and unpleasant, as was reaching past it. Luckily, flipping the clip to tip-up instantly and entirely solved the problem.

The real snag with the Centofante – well, the one you can’t fix with a screwdriver – is the handle’s pinned construction. I understand why it’s a deal-breaker for some people, especially the tinkerers who like to modify their knives and those who need something 100% rust proof. Given the choice, I’d take threaded fasteners over pins myself.

Nevertheless, my experience with the Centofante was completely undiminished by the way it was put together. Honestly, I was fishing for a problem and still couldn’t find one. We knife nerds can get swept up in hypotheticals. What if the pivot comes loose? What happens if the knife gets filled with sand? In reality, most of the projected problems with pinned construction have simple solutions – just not the same ones as a knife held together with screws. The pivot came perfectly set from the factory, and, being incapable of twisting itself loose, it has stayed that way. When I got sharpening stone slurry all over the knife, I cleaned it with soap and hot water, followed by a squirt of penetrating oil. Basically, I used the Centofante with impunity and it’s only gotten better. So, why worry?

Deployment & Lockup

A back lock secures the Centofante open. Like many old-school back locks, there’s a touch of vertical flex in the lockup – not enough to hear or see, just enough to feel when bearing down into a cut. Spyderco’s newer back locks have stamped out this endemic blade play with tight manufacturing tolerances and refinements to lock geometry. It would be nice to see those improvements carried over to older designs like the Centofante, but since it doesn’t affect the lock’s strength or security, I didn’t let it bother me.

The blade has a springy self-close, and once broken in it was easy to thumb or spydie-flick open. There’s enough ricasso to allow for one-handed closing, so long as you’re mindful of where your fingers are on the handle.

Spyderco Centofante 3 Review – Final Thoughts

This is a chimera of a knife. It’s almost as if it was built to satisfy a bunch of contradictory design objectives all at the same time. A strong grind on a delicate blade. An upper class look for a middle class price. Traditional construction on a modern folder. Somehow, the Centofante manages to hit those opposing targets simultaneously instead of splitting the difference and missing them altogether – if the late Frank Centofante was a bowler instead of a knifemaker, the Spyderco Centofante would be a 7-10 split conversion.

Ironically, the contradictions that make the Centofante unappealing to knife enthusiasts are probably the exact reasons for the Centofante’s long-term success. It’s not a niche knife. It’s a classy, charming, low-maintenance workhorse of a blade that belies its price point. For me, that makes the Spyderco Centofante 3 the consummate gift knife: handsome enough to appeal to anyone, and uncomplicated enough to work for someone who’s never even heard of a “torx bit.” No instructions necessary, no setup required (well, maybe you should go ahead and flip the pocket clip before wrapping it up). Give one to someone who appreciates nice things but knows nothing about knives, or someone who appreciates knives but knows nothing about nice things.

Spyderco CENTOFANTE 3 Prestige Folding Utility Pocket Knife with 3.14" VG-10 Stainless Steel Hollow Ground Blade and Lightweight FRN Handle - PlainEdge - C66PBK3

One of a Kind: Designed in collaboration with Frank Centofante, longtime custom knifemaker and past President of the Knifemaker's Guild, the Centofante 3 captures the spirit of his custom designs.
Ultra-Lightweight: The Centofante 3 has a thin-profiled, lightweight FRN Handle. Two channels are furrowed out of the handle for better grip and a Palladium silver Spyderco bug is inlayed into its surface.
Easy-to-Use Lock: For added security and convenience the back-lock is positioned midway on the spine and David Boye Dent is cut from the locking lever.
Pocket-Friendly: To ensure discreet carry the Centrofante 3 has a black steel pocket clip positions for tip-up/down, right-hand carry.
Versatile: The VG-10 blade has both a hollow-grind and swedge-grind with non-sharpened spine serrations (jimping) to hold the thumb steady when cutting.

I recommend purchasing the Spyderco Centofante 3 at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out my review.

Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight FRN Review

by Dan Jackson 6 Comments

The Spyderco Paramilitary 2 may be the most popular knife in the last 20 years. It’s received near universal acclaim, and is revered by knife collectors and users alike. So when Spyderco released the Para 3 a couple years ago it was a big deal. Ben reviewed the Para 3, and he did a great job.

Buy the Para 3 LW at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

The Para 3 had some big shoes to fill with the Paramilitary 2. It may have come up a little short. Others seem to share Ben’s opinion. The Para 3 isn’t quite as loved as the original Para 2 for some reason, but it has still developed a loyal following and already boasts a number of sprint runs.

I never bought the Para 3, but felt like I should have. So when then the Para 3 Lightweight came out I bought one on the spot from GP Knives.

As a short aside, GP Knives is smaller than my usual preferred retailer, BladeHQ, but they have the knife in stock, offer fast shipping, and have a great Twitter account that has convinced me to make more than one impulse purchase.

I figured the Para 3 LW would allow me to gain some perspective on the Para 3, but also provide a knife that I could review on here. I should also note that this knife is also referred to as the Para 3 FRN.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Para 3 Lightweight has an overall length of 7.27″, a 3.00″ blade, weighs 2.4 ounces, and is made in Golden Colorado, in the United States of America, here on planet Earth. This is a Sal Glesser design. For those that may not know, Sal is the founder of Spyderco.

The knife feels exceedingly light for its size. I let my dad handle it a couple weekends ago and his comment was that it was “very lightweight.” You can always count on BladeReviews for the deep insights.

I’m no stranger to Spyderco’s lightweight designs. The Native 5 LW and Dragonfly 2 in FRN remain stalwarts in my collection, and at the top of my Best EDC Knives list.

Spyderco’s lightweight versions have gained traction for good reason. You get the same cutting performance of their heavier knives at a fraction of the weight. While the knives won’t be quite as strong, they are still serviceable for normal use. They are great choices for every day carry.

The blade on our Para 3 FRN is a classic Spyderco shape. It’s a shrunken down Para 2 blade. It’s taller and stubbier. It’s broad with a full flat grind. No swedge, no sharpening choil. It’s simple, but it works. The low tip is sharp and good for piercing. The low belly is fine for slicing. This may not be the best skinning knife, but I’m not a hunter.

Here’s a size comparison with my Para 2:

Spyderco selected CTS BD1N for the blade steel. I was a little surprised by this choice, figuring they would have went with S35VN. But they decided on CTS BD1N. This is a less expensive blade steel, which I’m sure helps keep this knife retail for less than $100. In my experience it’s a very easy steel to sharpen. It takes an edge quickly on my Golden Stone. The blade is capable of getting razor sharp and it tracks through cardboard without a problem. No issues with rust or corrosion so far.

I’ve used my Para 3 Lightweight extensively as a daily carry knife. This means I’ve opened lots of mail with it, broken down plenty of boxes, sliced and diced fruit while watching the last season of Game Of Thrones, and accomplished a myriad of small chores that require a sharp edge. I can’t complain about the blade shape or the blade steel. The full flat grind provides good slicing performance. The edge retention is decent.

When it’s time to sharpen up the knife it comes back quickly. It’s one of those fine grained steels that you can feel get sharper on the stone. Personally, I like knives that are easy to sharpen. I maintain my edges regularly and would rather touch up often then need to spend a half hour bringing back the edge on a knife with stubborn steel.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

This section is presumably why you are checking out the review. The handle of the Para 3 Lightweight is made of fiberglass reinforced nylon (FRN). That’s a high density plastic. There are no metal liners in the knife. The compression lock is just a small strip of steel. There are 2 substantial FRN standoffs near the tail of the handle, and the lanyard hole is reinforced, presumably to provide some structural rigidity to the handle.

Some may be skeptical of a plastic handled knife, but Spyderco has proven themselves before with their LW series, and I think it works here with the Para 3 as well. The handle is secure. There is a tiny bit of flex in the FRN if you try to squeeze the handles together, but it’s not bad. Everything appears to be well engineered.

“Engineering” is a term that has only recently come in vogue within the knife industry, but with a knife like this you can’t just slap it together. It takes a good deal of engineering to pull something like this Para 3 lightweight off. This becomes especially apparent when you take the knife apart (more on that later).

A major concern when you try to shrink down a knife, is how that will effect the ergonomics. The handle of the Para 3 is almost half an inch shorter than the Para 2. That’s significant for a knife, and could result in some ergonomic compromises.

All in all, I think the Para 3 is pretty good ergonomically. There is still enough room for a full 4 finger grip without using the forward finger choil, and the heavily contoured FRN feels good in hand. There is plenty of traction thanks to sharp jimping, and Spyderco’s bi-directional textured handle. This one won’t slip out of your hand in the shower.

However, there are a couple small ergonomic issues. First of all, I’m not a huge fan on the small “beak” on the tail end of the handle. My pinky lands directly on it. While the beak isn’t sharp, all things equal I’d rather not have it right there. Or at least see it smoothed out. If you have smaller hands I think you will be fine, and it may actually help you grip the knife better. For larger hands the beak gets in the way. Also, there are some slightly sharp edges on the inside of the FRN, especially up by the compression lock. Nothing that will cut you, but it’s noticeable and I want to point it out. It could easily be smoothed over with emery paper if it bothered you. I don’t notice it in use, more when I’m examining the knife.

All said I think the ergos are pretty good on the Para 3 LW. I’d lose the beak and maybe soften some edges, but beyond that there is little to complain about.

The Para 3 LW is equipped with the Spyderco wire clip that can be mounted for ambidextrous tip up carry. It’s a deep carry clip that has been positioned so that it buries 99% of the knife in your pocket. It’s a simple and elegant design, and continues to be a personal favorite. I’ve owned the Dragonfly 2 for almost 10 years now. It has a similar type of clip and have never had an issue with it.

I also view this clip as an upgrade over the standard spoon style clip found on the Para 2 and the original Para 3. It’s deeper carry and more discreet. They should implement this clip on the entire Para family.

The knife carries wonderfully. At 2.4 ounces, you don’t feel it in the pocket. It disappears and you quickly forget about it. It’s a great choice for daily carry for this reason. It stays out of the way until you need it. Can’t say enough good things about how this knife carries.

Deployment and Lockup

The Para 3 makes use of a 13mm thumb hole. This is the same size as the Para 2. This oversized thumb hole is easy to engage with your thumb or middle finger, and the blade flicks out easily. This begged the question of whether there were washers inside the knife. I peered inside and couldn’t see anything, so I took the knife apart with my WiHa drivers. Here is what I found:

Oddly enough there is only one phosphor bronze washer on the lock side over a steel plate. On the other side it’s just raised plastic. This could be a turn off for some, but I wasn’t too surprised given the construction of my Native 5 LW.

For lockup we have a new version of the tried and true compression lock. In the past, the compression lock has been integrated into the liner of the knife. Here, it’s a small stand alone piece. Here are a couple shots with the lock engaged and disengaged:

I think they successfully integrated the compression lock into the knife. It feels just as good as my Para 2. There is no lock stick. It’s easy to disengage, and provides the strength and convenience we have come to appreciate from the compression lock. No blade play or wiggle. No complaints.

Some may find the lack of metal inside this knife concerning. They want something more substantial. I haven’t noticed an issue. Again, the knife feels solid. I think with normal use you will be fine. I probably won’t take this one hog hunting, but it did a great job opening a bag of coffee the other morning.

Here is a shot of the Para 3 LW compared with my Spyderco Sage 5:

Blade centering is perfect on my piece. Even after disassembling the knife everything came back together smoothly. Again, I think it speaks to the engineering put into this knife. Gone are the days of guesswork hoping that tolerances are good enough that the blade will center. This thing just plain works.

Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight vs. Benchmade Bugout

Another interesting comparison is with the Benchmade Bugout. Both are ultralight full size folders. Both are made in the USA. At the time of writing this article the Bugout costs about $30 more. Here’s a size comparison:

As you can see they compare favorably in terms of overall length and handle length. The Bugout has substantially more cutting edge thanks to the lack of a finger choil, and it’s significantly lighter at 1.8 ounces vs. 2.4.

Personally, I like the Bugout a little more. I like the blue accents, Benchmade’s heat treat on the S30V blade, the ultra thin blade grind, the roomier handle, and the axis lock. But averaged out for cost I’d say they are close. Both are nice knives. Buy what you like.

Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight Review – Final Thoughts

Objectively I think the Para 3 Lightweight is another winner from Spyderco. It’s lightweight, highly functional, and embodies many of things we love about Spyderco knives. Plus it’s made in the USA and retails for under $100. In an era of expensive overseas made knives, the Para 3 LW is a compelling proposition. Personally, I see no reason to have the original G-10 version over this lightweight version, unless you want to collect them. This lightweight version will cut just as well. Maybe you sacrifice a tiny bit of strength, but unless you plan on batoning with your folder I don’t think there is much cause to be concerned.

If I had to some nit picking, it would mostly be directed to the small hump at the base of the handle near the pommel. I found that got in the way a little. Not enough to develop a hotspot, or make the knife unusable, but I didn’t care for it. Also, there are some slightly sharp edges on the insides of the handle. Nothing crazy, but again, I want to point it out. Some might gripe that the knife is “too” lightweight with only a single washer, and very little metal inside the hande. I’d suggest buying a regular Para 3 in that case.

Beyond that, a sharpening choil wouldn’t hurt, but you don’t see those on may Spydercos with this leaf blade shape. I can sharpen the entire edge if I use a rod style sharpener like the Sharpmaker. Spyderco has spent a lot of time considering their designs, and the Para 3 LW is well considered. I find it hard to fault the knife in any major way.

But I will take this moment to talk about the Spyderco line in general. They have so many good knives. Would I pick this one over the Sage 5 or the Native 5 LW or the Chaparral FRN? Frankly I don’t know. Every year Spyderco’s catalog grows more crowded. Some are cool collaborations for collectors that probably will come and go, but others like this Para 3 LW will be permanent editions.

For example, you have the Endura, the Delica, and now the Endela. And that’s in addition to the Stretch, Dragonfly 2, and everything else in that family of knives. It’s a lot to consider. It has become cliche to say we are “spoiled for choice”, but we really are. There’s a lot of good stuff out there. How do we decide? The Para 3 doesn’t make it any easier. It’s another great knife.

Personally, I think I like it more than my regular Para 2. The Para 2 will never leave my collection, but I like how the Para 3 FRN has a smaller, lighter footprint, and I also like the deep carry clip. The ergonomics are a little better on the Para 2, but unless I’ve got a big job ahead of me I’d rather have the smaller knife. The Para 2 remains a beast and will be a great choice for bigger jobs or those days when I want a meatier knife, but for most days I think the Para 3 LW will fit the bill.

Spyderco para 3 Lightweight Signature Folding Utility Pocket Knife with 2.92" Stainless Steel Blade and FRN Handle - Everyday Carry - PlainEdge - C223PBK

The New EDC: The Para 3 distills all the features of that best-in-class folding knife into a more compact, carry-friendly package. It proudly features all the key qualities of the Para Military 2 with a full-flat-ground CTS BD1N Steel Blade.
Superior Quality: Machined from premium CTS BD1N, a nitrogen-enriched high-carbon chromium steel, the Para 3 offers superior balance, edge retention, and low-friction cutting performance.
Pocket-Friendly: It features a lightweight, open-backed construction style and its Stainless Steel liners are nested into the FRN Handle. This reduces handle thickness and provides excellent support for the knife's Compression Lock.
Reliable High Performance: The Para 3 traces its history all the way back 2004 to the introduction of the Para Military design. It offers the same proven reliability and cutting performance, but in a more compact, easy-to-carry design.
Easy-to-Use Lock: Located in the spine of the handle, the Compression Lock's high-strength mechanism locks the blade securely open during use, yet allows it to be closed easily and safely with only one hand.

I recommend purchasing the Paramilitary 3 at Amazon, BladeHQ, or GP Knives. Purchasing anything through any of the links on this site helps support BladeReviews, and keep this review train running. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated.