Sal Glesser

Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight FRN Review

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.

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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.

Sale

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.

Spyderco Polestar Review

by Benjamin Schwartz 3 Comments

When you have a thing as simple and relatively unchanging as a folding knife, the most meaningful innovation we customers can see is quality brought to affordability. A few years ago my sincerest wish for the knife market was that manufacturers would turn their attention away from the high-end and back to the sub-$100 arena.

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In a way that wish has been granted, albeit in a mild monkey’s paw scenario. The value scale has not so much been reset as it has been smashed to pieces, shattered by products and practices we wouldn’t have even thought of in 2010, blinded by our Tenaciouses. Companies like Real Steel are pumping out affordable knives with great materials and low price tags. Steel Will, Ontario Knife Company, and even knife world-adjacent companies like Statgear have laser-focused on delivering major bang for buck. And on top of all this, Kickstarter and Massdrop allow for small runs of finely made knives with premium materials at two-figure prices.

The problem is no longer a lack of value knives, but rather a surplus of such richness that it’s difficult to identify the real winners amid the churning ocean of contenders. Going knife-by-knife would be a full-time project, so we have to pick and choose – and so I started with Spyderco.

I’ve already talked about the Chaparral FRN, but after that I wanted to go lower on the price scale. This naturally lead to the Polestar, a sub-$100 Sal Glesser design. Where does this Sal Glesser design fall in terms of quality and worth? Let’s take a closer look.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Polestar has a 3.3-inch blade, a 4.5-inch handle, and an overall length of 7.81 inches. It weighs just under 4 oz. and is made in China.

There’s something distinctly old school about the Polestar. With its homely lines and wide profile, it looks like one of those lumpy, charming Spyderco designs from the 90s. At the same time it comes across as a more refined Tenacious: skinnier, with a streamlined handle and narrower blade. Given its price, however, the more relevant comparison lies with the Delica and Endura. It falls between the two of them in edge length but is wider than either.

Do we call this a leaf shape blade? Whatever it is, it works wonders. I’m by no means a full flat grind zealot, but Spyderco has a particular mastery of the form. Here the full flat grind enables this medium-sized knife to slice aggressively and cleanly, while still imparting a feeling of durability and sturdiness. The closest analog I can draw is the Paramilitary 2. If you like the way that knife cuts, you’ll find a lot to love on the Polestar too.

The Polestar’s BD1 steel places ahead of the 8Crs and AUS-8, and keeps a significantly cleaner edge than either, even as it dulls. This makes it a viable cutter even at greater levels of wear than its competitors, which often get toothy and uneven as they work. BD1 also shrugs off both rust and staining/smudging.

We’ve seen S35VN and D2 at shockingly low price points recently, but if I had to forecast what will be the next de facto budget steel, CTS-BD1 (and its successor CTS-BD1N) get my vote. CTS-BD1 is a hassle-free steel anyone can manage.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Carry

Before I held the Polestar myself, I wondered if it would be all that comfortable. I shouldn’t have worried: the Polestar feels 100% like a Spyderco. Like all of their best handles, it feels like it’s rushing to meet your hand as you close it around the knife. Despite the plain appearance there are some super thoughtful touches. A dip just behind the thumb ramp accommodates the lower part of the digit more comfortably than a straight line would. An area around the pivot curves inward, creating a pinch point between your thumb and forefinger for detailed, high-control cuts. The Polestar is an unmitigated success in the ergos department.

Carry… well, not so much. This is a wide knife. At its widest point it’s about 1.5 inches across, and unlike other wide Spydercos it maintains most of the width for its entire length. I wouldn’t classify it as an unforgivable pocket hog, but you’re going to notice this one anytime you reach into your pocket, and it probably isn’t a great carry for shorts or slacks. There’s also an inch or so of knife that sticks out during carry; in the tip-up configuration, you get a massive lanyard hole and the Polestar’s little tail out for all to see.

These issues combine to be, for me, a nearly fatal flaw. During the testing period I often just didn’t feel like carrying the Polestar because I had so many other knives, some with equivalent (or greater) blade lengths, that took up significantly less pocket space. On the bright side it’s a thin knife across the spine, thinner than a Tenacious.

The pocket clip is that stalwart standby, the Spyderco spoon. It’s the right choice for this knife, keeping the Polestar in place as you walk. It’s also four-way positionable, so both righties and lefties have a second configuration if the default one irks them too much.

Deployment and Lockup

The Spyderco Round Hole plus phosphor bronze washers is rarely a bad combination, but it isn’t always a fast one. Depending on the lock and structure of the knife, you might have to slow-open whether you want to or not. My Polestar, however, does not present that problem. Its medium-strength detent allows for thoughtless flicking, but it isn’t so jumpy that you can’t roll it out if you want to.

One note: the overall fit and finish on the Polestar were great, but the detent ball did rub harshly against the tang as the knife opened. If I was slow rolling, it made a hoarse, scraping noise. A dab of Nano-Oil on the detent ball fixed this problem, making for a smooth, silky deployment.

I don’t think a lot of people associate Spyderco with liner locks, even though the Military, one of their classics, is a liner lock knife. In fact, according to Sal Glesser, the Polestar idea originated as a concept for a smaller Military designed for the Boy Scouts to use. With this in mind, you can see that influence in the larger-than-normal cutout to access the locking leaf. I thought I wouldn’t like this but over time I got used to it, and I never accidentally disengaged the lock even when gripping the knife hard. And regarding strength, I never lost confidence. The entire locking face contacts the tang, and there is not a smidge of play in any direction. You won’t ever have an issue with this knife during regular use.

Spyderco Polestar Review – Final Thoughts

The Polestar is a good knife. I like it, but I like it more than I’ll carry it, and much more than I can recommend it.

It comes down to that teeming body of sub-$100 offerings right now, and where this knife falls into that ocean. The Polestar goes for about $64 as of April 2018. That’s only $10 cheaper than a Delica or Endura, two knives that it doesn’t beat out in any category, and loses to in several. And it’s only $15 dollars cheaper than the FRN Chaparral, the best knife money can buy for under $100.

Part of what made the Tenacious such a success was its original $35ish dollar price point. Few people would’ve picked it over a Delica or Endura if they cost the same, but access to that Spyderco smartness in a cheap package was an unbeatable combo.

The Polestar is a better knife than the Tenacious, but it doesn’t enjoy the added edge of a good price. Compared to Real Steel’s myriad offerings, or Steel Will’s Cutjack line, it has an unimpeachable Spyderco design pedigree, but it’s also pricier. You’ll have to decide how much more you’re willing to pay for that pedigree – and again, if you are willing to pay for it, you may as well drop another $10 and grab a Delica, Endura, or Chaparral FRN.

A truth is that we, the consumers, don’t really get to know what goes on to get a knife made. We can guess, but until companies become more transparent that guessing will remain a fantasy, not particularly helpful. But I will say that it’s a shame the Polestar isn’t cheaper. Alongside its little brother the Alycone it could have been a real highlight, a great design and value. But with that awkward price I can only unreservedly recommend it if you aren’t interested in the Chaparral FRN, Endura, Delica, Cutjack, the RAT 1 or 2, the Skyline, or virtually anything in Real Steel’s lineup.

Sale

Spyderco Polestar Value Folding Utility Knife with 3.33" CTS BD1 Stainless Steel Blade and Durable Gray G-10 Handle - PlainEdge - C220GPGY

A Value Folder: Spyderco offers a unique breed of knives that truly live up to their name. They are perfect for novice knife buyers and as gifts for those you might want to "convert" into knife enthusiasts.
Superior Blade Steel: The heart of the Polestar is its full-flat-ground 3.33" blade, which is precision machined from American-made CTS BD1 Stainless Steel.
A Secure Grip: It has a gray scaled G-10 handle with a unique non-slip checked texture. Comfort in hand means easier use long-term.
Easy-to-Use: Its leaf-shaped profile includes a long, exceptionally capable PlainEdge working edge and a fully accessible Trademark Round Hole for swift, ambidextrous, one-handed opening.
Pocket-Friendly: The Polestar includes a Walker Linerlock and a 4-way pocket clip lets the folder be set in a variety of carry and draw positions: Tip-up/tip-down left-hand/right-hand.

I recommend purchasing the Spyderco Polestar at Amazon or BladeHQ. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Spyderco UK Penknife (UKPK) Review

by Benjamin Schwartz 3 Comments

Last Updated: August 12, 2019
For a long time I believed that the Delica was not a well-designed knife. I realized recently, however, that what I actually meant was that, compared to many other designs in the Spyderco catalog, the Delica is simply outdated. Everything that I find irksome about it – the compromised ergonomics, VG-10 steel, lack of a forward choil – has been fixed in other, similarly-sized designs.

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Not least among these better designs is the Caly 3. An improvement over the Delica 4 in just about every way, the only issue with the Caly 3 is that it’s two to three times the price of the Delica, depending on which flavor you choose.

But there’s a much less-well-known knife in the Spyderco catalog, a knife that is essentially a super lightweight, slipjoint Caly 3, and that costs only about as much as a Delica. It’s called the UK Penknife in FRN, a truly underrated knife, and one that I think is well worth checking out.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Spyderco UK Penknife lineup is kind of confusing. The first version, a G-10 model, was released in 2004, designed to conform to knife laws in the United Kingdom, which are stricter than those in the US. In 2005 the DKPK, a variant with a non-functioning Spyder Hole designed with the even stricter Danish knife laws in mind, was released.

In 2010, the Lightweight models were introduced, with FRN handle scales instead of G-10. These models came in three different handle colors, with two different blade shapes, each available with plain, partially-serrated, or fully-serrated edges.

In 2012, most of the color and edge options were discontinued, leaving only the black-handled models, and in 2013 the grind was changed from a hollow/saber grind to a full-flat one. My particular UK Penknife is from the discontinued generation, with maroon handle scales and a leaf-shaped, plain edge blade. The only difference between the currently available model and my own is the grind, which I will discuss below.

History aside, here’s what we’re looking at with the UK Penknife: a blade length of 2 15/16”, a handle length of 4”, and an overall length of 6 7/8”. It weighs just 1.9 oz; this weight is achieved not only because there are no liners beneath the scales, but because Spyderco rather brilliantly shortened the length of the spring, so that it only runs out to only about 60% of the spine; here’s a picture of it:

The UK Penknife is made in the Spyderco’s Golden, Colorado factory. On my particular knife, the fit and finish was superb. Everything was nicely finished and pleasing to the eye. The thing I could take issue with is the slightly sloppy edge grind: on side the bevel terminates earlier than the other. Of course, this doesn’t affect performance, so it’s not something I’m losing sleep over.

The Spyderco leaf shape blade has proven its utility over many years, across many knives. The UK Penknife’s particular rendition is almost exactly the same as that of the Caly 3’s, which means a narrower blade profile than something like the Sage knives or the Native, and with a better, more acute tip than the snub-nosed Delica. Like a traditional drop point blade, the leaf shape is a winner not so much because it excels in any one category, but rather because it has a such a wide vocabulary of use: cutting, piercing, mild prying, digging; the leaf shape can do it all.

As good as the blade shape is, the grind on my UK Penknife is a sticking point. It’s a hollow saber grind, and, like the similar grind on some Delica 4 models, it just doesn’t slice all that well. Compare it to the Caly 3’s full flat grind, and it isn’t even close. As Grayson pointed out in his Aculus review, there are definitely a lot of cutting tasks that don’t require slicing, but the fact is that in the case of the UK Penknife, a full flat grind would have just worked better: you would get slicing performance without losing anything. Spyderco must’ve realized this, because the newest model is full flat ground, and that knife, I am sure, would both cut and slice with aplomb.

The UK Penknife’s blade is made from CTS-BD1 steel. This is an American stainless steel that’s really only seen in Spyderco knives, but one that I really like. I think of it as a next-generation entry-level steel. It holds an edge better, and is less rust-prone, than AUS-8 or 8CR13MoV, and sharpens much easier than VG-10. The thing that I like best about it, though, is that it keeps what I call a ‘clean’ edge: that is to say, as it dulls it doesn’t get toothy or cut any rougher, even if it gets more difficult to make a cut. I’ve always cited N690Co as a steel that keeps a clean edge; BD1 is right up there with it. Also worth noting is the finish on my UK Penknife: a muted, mild stonewash, it’s something I haven’t seen on any other Spyderco knife, and it looks really nice.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Carry

The UK Penknife’s Caly 3 heritage really comes through in the ergonomics department. A handle with simple, unobtrusive contours, it manages the amazing trick of making any grip you care to hold it in seem like the one it was designed for. The forward half-and-half finger choil, a Spyderco staple, is characteristically excellent, giving you control over the blade during use.

Some people don’t like the feel of FRN. I can understand that: in some knives, it feels cheap, flimsy, a compromise rather than a considered choice. However, not all polymers are created equal, and the FRN that the UK Peknife is made from appears to be top shelf. I wouldn’t ever say it feels luxurious or anything like that, it exudes quality. I particularly like that the edges are all rounded over, imitating the smooth, comfortable feel of chamfered G-10 or titanium. In fact, I prefer the FRN scales of the UK Penknife to the CF laminate and steel liners of the Caly 3; they’re more comfortable and durable.

The wire clip is the same one on the Caly 3, the deep-carry wire clip. I don’t really know if I understand the ‘advantages’ of deep carry, but with so many terrible clip designs on the market right now, I’m just happy with something that works, even if I personally would prefer the spoon clip for its rigidity: I have broken two wire clips in the past.

Deployment and Lockup

Because it is a slipjoint, the UK Penknife opens a lot slower than locking knives: the tension of the spring against the tang remains all the way through the deployment process, generating friction. This doesn’t mean that you can’t flick the UK Penknife open; you can, but it takes a little finesse to do so, and really, I don’t mind just slow-rolling it open. There’s an interesting sort of very mild half-stop too, which I like because it, along with the audible snick you get when the knife is fully opened, gives you plenty of feedback while opening it.

When open, the UK Penknife feels very secure. Like the Pingo, it doesn’t take a ton of force to close it, which I prefer: I don’t like wrestling with my slipjoints to close them. I feel like the UK Penknife will be plenty safe in any reasonable role. But beyond this, holding the knife with your forefinger in the half-and-half choil, you create a sort of lock with your hand – a very nice touch that is echoed in many of Spyderco’s slipjoints. Needless to say, with any cutting tool, and in most real-life cutting tasks, good sense will do more work than a lock would in preventing accidents.

Spyderco UK Penknife Review – Final Thoughts

The version of the UK Penknife that I have is a near-perfect, lightweight, lockless version of the Caly 3, hindered only by a weird grind. The 2013 UK Penknife fixes that issue and might just be the best entry level-priced Spyderco on the market.

Once you get in the $80-120 range, the competition gets a lot fiercer, but even compared to the those knives – the Spyderco Native 5, the Chapparal, the Paramilitary 2 – the UK Penknife is not without its appeal. For a knife based off one of the perennial darlings of the Spyderco lineup, the UK Penknife is a surprisingly underrated gem.

Spyderco UK Penknife Leaf Lightweight Folding Utility Pocket Knife - Black FRN Handle with PlainEdge, Full-Flat Grind, CTS BD1 Steel Blade and SlipIt - Everyday Carry - C94PBK

Leaf Shaped Blade: A blade shape developed and refined by Spyderco. It is similar to a spearpoint, but not completely symmetrical, and has a more acute point and typically no swedge.
SlipIt: A non-locking system that combines the convenience of clip carry and one-hand opening with a socially friendly notch-joint mechanism that helps hold the blade safely open during use, but does not mechanically lock it.
FRN Handle: Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon is a polymer mixed with glass fiber then injection molded into formed and textured lightweight high-strength knife handles.
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.
Specifications: Closed Length (Inches): 3.95, Overall Length (Inches): 6.88, Blade Length (Inches):2.93, Blade Steel: CTS BD1, Grind: Full-Flat

If you want to buy a Spyderco UKPK, I recommend purchasing it at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.

Spyderco Chaparral Review

by Dan Jackson 9 Comments

Last Updated: September 28, 2017
They say that a good way to measure the quality of a production knife is to take it apart and then put it back together. A high quality knife will come back together just as easily as it comes apart.

Buy the Spyderco Chaparral at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

I recently took apart my Spyderco Sage 1. I have sung praises about the Sage 1 for years now, even going so far as to call it the “perfect EDC knife”. Whether the knife is “perfect” or not is debatable, but I have really enjoyed the Sage and it has remained in my collection for years now. But the action of my Sage had gotten pretty stiff. It was obvious to me that the pivot had become caked with dirt and the knife could use a good cleaning. I popped the Sage apart, and spent a good 15 minutes cleaning and oiling all the pieces. The knife came back together without a hitch, and the blade fell dead center as I gave the pivot a final twist. The action is smoother than it ever was. This, my friends, is still an excellent knife.

Which leads me to today’s topic of conversation, the Spyderco Chaparral. It shares many similarities to my beloved Sage 1: The profile is near identical, both knives have faux carbon fiber scales and a wire pocket clip, and both made in Taichung Taiwan.

The biggest difference is the size. The Chapparal is about an inch shorter in overall length, but the blade is less than a quarter of an inch shorter. Of course you also have different steel and different locking mechanisms, but in many ways the Chapparal can be seen as sort of a mini Sage 1.

As I’ve matured I have grown to appreciate a smaller knife for my kind of EDC needs. Could the concept of the “perfect EDC” be a moving target? Could the Chaparral usurp my fabled Sage 1 as best and brightest?

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Chaparral has an overall length of 6.375″, has a 2.812″ blade and weighs 2.5 ounces. Next to my Spyderco Sage 1, with its 3″ blade, the Chaparral is significantly smaller in every dimension. This knife is imminently pocketable and works just as well with jeans and a t-shirt or slacks and a tie. For those seeking a smaller pocket knife in the Spyderco lineup, but don’t want to go all the way down to a Dragonfly, the Chaparral fills the niche. Having owned both the Sage 1 and this Chaparral I personally prefer the size of Chaparral for office use.

The blade is a classic Spyderco leaf shape, complete with full flat grind. This blade shape has proven itself to me many times over, but what I especially like about the Chaparral’s blade is the 2mm thick blade. This is a relatively thin piece of stock that has been ground even thinner. This is a very slicey knife, and I really like that. This wouldn’t be my first choice to pry open an ammo crate, but its a great choice for cutting stuff. Especially stuff that you come across in the general suburban EDC context.

Spyderco selected Carpenter CTS-XHP stainless steel for the blade material. I have had some experience with CTS-XHP with my Spyderco Domino which oddly enough was the last Spyderco knife I have reviewed. This is a nice steel and I am glad Spyderco is rolling it out on more products. It has good edge retention, and decent corrosion resistance, but it’s surprisingly easy to sharpen and takes a very fine edge. Apparently these originally come in S30V, which is what my Sage 1 is equipped with. The S30V on my Sage 1 can be a little stubborn to get super sharp, so I think the upgrade to CTS-XHP was a smart one.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Chaparral is faux carbon fiber over full stainless steel liners. The carbon fiber has a quilted feel, providing just enough texture. The liners have been skelotonized to keep the weight down. Fit and finish of the handle is very tight, like all of the other Taichung Taiwan Spydercos that I have examined, with crisp lines, a flush backspacer, and polished steel. I like how Spyderco has only 2 exterior bolts showing; one at the pivot and the other securing the pocket clip (and rest of the handle) together. Underneath the scale there a couple hidden screws and even an internal stop pin – interesting construction for a lockback knife.

Spyderco also offers the Chaparral in a couple titanium handled variants. These retail for $200 and $300. Personally I purchased the Chapparal as a user, and had no problem with faux carbon fiber, but I want to acknowledge the fact that other more expensive versions of the knife do exist.

In hand the Chaparral feels like a Spyderco. The handle is unassuming yet receptive. The “50/50″ choil accepts the forefinger without issue and affords a very comfortable grip for an under 3” blade. The jimping on the spine grabs the skin of your thumb without irritating it. Spyderco has made a name for themselves designing “little big knives” so I am not surprised that the ergos are on point. Frankly, Spyderco probably considers the Chaparral a medium size knife in their lineup. There is plenty of room here to get work done and the ergonomics of the Chaparral are as thoughtful and refined as you would expect from any other knife designed by Sal Glesser.

Spyderco went with their wire clip for the Chaparral – the same clip found on the good ole Sage 1. This is a proven clip design. I noticed the clip on my Sage 1 loosen over time. I thought that was the metal losing its spring tension for some reason, but it turns out that all I needed to do was tighten down the pocket clip screw. This clip is discrete and it buries the Chaparral deeply. I can get away with clipping this knife to a pair of dark slacks if I want to and most people wouldn’t give the clip a second thought. Spyderco set this knife up to accommodate ambidextrous tip up carry, and I think that is a nice compromise between form and function.

Deployment and Lockup

It should come as no surprise that the Chaparral features a thumb hole. It is sharp and catches the thumb easily. The spring on the lockback is sturdy, and the action is smooth, although if I put any lateral pressure on the blade when opening I detect a faint grinding sound near the pivot. There are very thin phosphor bronze washers inside that can’t be seen unless you take the knife apart.

Lockup on the Chaparral is very sturdy. As I mentioned before, there is an internal stop pin that prevents the up and down flex you often get with lockbacks. This is similar in concept to the tri-ad lock Cold Steel uses, and it makes for a very solid lockup. The lockbar is a little sharp and the spring is strong, so this is not a knife you will idly open and close for hours on end, but it works well and is satisfying to open and close.

Spyderco Chaparral Review – Final Thoughts

I think the Chaparral is a great little knife. I may be a bit biased because I enjoy my Sage 1 so much, but the Chaparral seems to tick a lot of boxes for me. Small, slim, well made and carefully designed, the Chaparral is a sleeper EDC knife that straddles the gap between Dragonfly and Spyderco’s 3″ bladed offerings (of which there are several). I can’t find much to fault with this one; certainly not the performance. It’s an excellent cutter and vanishes in the pocket. It’s nice that the knife is fully ambidextrous as well.

Is it “better” than my Sage 1? Is it the “perfect EDC knife”? It could be, depending on who you are and what your preferences are. I will always have a soft spot for my Sage 1. Now that I cleaned it out the knife is just uber smooth, and the blade pretty much falls shut on its own after releasing the liner lock. For my needs the Chaparral is plenty of knife, but I love the smooth action of the Sage and the convenience of a liner lock. Both are worthy buys, and I don’t think the Sage 1 is ever leaving my collection.

If you are interested in the Chaparral or are looking for a small “do it all” EDC knife that doesn’t sacrifice blade steel or ergonomics then I recommend it.

Spyderco Chaparral Prestige Folding Utility Pocket Knife with 2.80" CTS XHP Stainless Steel Blade and Black Carbon Fiber Laminate Handle - PlainEdge - EDC Gear - C152CFP

Superior Blade Material: Crafted with a 2.80-inch CTS XHP stainless steel blade, renowned for its exceptional edge retention and corrosion resistance, ideal for a variety of cutting tasks.
Elegant and Functional Design: Features a black carbon fiber laminate handle, providing a sophisticated look while ensuring durability and comfortable handling.
Precision Cutting Performance: Blade is full-flat ground with a plain edge, offering optimal cutting performance and non-skid jimping on spine and choil for enhanced control.
Compact and Lightweight: With an overall length of 6.38 inches when open, and a weight of just 2.50 oz, this knife is designed for easy everyday carry and use.
Versatile and User-Friendly: Accommodates both right and left-handed users, making it a practical choice for a wide range of individuals.

I recommend buying the Chaparral at Amazon or BladeHQ. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Review

by Dan Jackson 50 Comments

Last Updated: July 13, 2019
Poll any knife reviewer, knife YouTube Channel, or knife forum, asking what the best Every Day Carry (EDC) knife is, and the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 is going to come up time and time again. It’s a rock star in the EDC world, and for good reason. It’s a form follows function design with great cutting ability, great ergonomics, and that difficult to describe “X” factor that keeps people coming back year after year.

Buy the Para 2 at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

I originally purchased and reviewed this knife in 2012. Looking back, the review is a little stale, but the knife continues to be in my personal rotation of daily carry blades, and it continues to have captured the hearts and minds of knife enthusiasts around the globe. So I am going to try to break down why the knife is so good in this updated Spyderco Paramilitary 2 review.

And let me assure you that this is not some flash in the pan hot take. I’ve owned this knife for over 5 years now, and have compared it to hundreds of knives. I’m giving the review a major update in 2018. So strap in and lets explore why this USA Made gem continues to hit all the buttons for edged enthusiasts.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Para 2 has an overall length of 8.3″, a 3.4″ blade, weighs 3.75 ounces, and is made in the USA. This is a larger knife, designed to be either a tactical knife or a heavy-duty utility folder. I also know that for many, this is an EDC knife. Personally, the Para 2 is a little bigger than what I typically like to carry, but my knife has seen plenty of use on the weekends.

I must not be alone in finding the Para 2 on the large side, because in 2017 Spyderco released the Paramilitary 3. Ben wrote a full review on it.

The Para 2 features a classic Spyderco drop point blade. It’s been given a full flat grind and is made from 3.5mm blade stock. The knife has a nice amount of belly, an excellent tip and has proven to be a tremendous slicer. Rounding things out is a well ground edge that came extremely sharp. I have found that this is a great knife for food prep. For example, I had to slice a lot of large ciabatta rolls, and the 3.4″ blade really made easy work of the task.

You have the option of a satin finish (shown here) or a diamond like carbon (DLC) coating for the blade on your Paramilitary 2. I like DLC coatings a lot, they are about as good as a knife coating can get, but I have no experience with Spyderco’s formulation. I can say that everything I read about their DLC coating was favorable, and I love my satin finished version.

Blade steel is the very capable S30V. Knife enthusiasts won’t need me to say much about S30V, it has been popular for close to a decade now. But for the uninitiated this is an all around excellent steel. It has been usurped by S35VN and other even more premium steels over the year, but S30V remains more than adequate for most people. S30V is relatively easy to sharpen, takes a very nice edge, and can hold a good working edge for a very long time. It’s also quite resistant to rust and corrosion.

Spyderco has released a number of sprint runs of the Paramilitary 2 over the years in a wide range of exotic steels and handle colors. I’d like to see them upgrade the standard Para 2 to S35VN or CTS-XHP at some point. For the time being a premium version of the knife in S110V with blurple scales is available (apparently as a non-sprint run on Spyderco’s regular lineup for the foreseeable future).

And here is a size comparison with the Para 2 next to my Sage 1:

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The Paramilitary 2 handle is black G10 over nested stainless steel liners. The liners have been milled out somewhat to reduce the weight, and at 3.75 ounces the knife is very light overall. The corners have all been nicely rounded and the liners sit flush with the G10. Everything is screwed together and you have an open construction design with 2 pillars and a very large lanyard loop. All in all, handle construction is top notch.

The ergonomics on the Para 2 are outstanding. Spyderco has once again made excellent use of a 50-50 choil to give you more options and better control over your knife. A 50-50 choil is a finger choil made from both the blade stock and the handle. What I like about this is that you have the option of setting your hand back on the knife to maximize reach, or you can choke up for more detailed cutting tasks. Either way the handle is plenty big and extremely comfortable.

The 50-50 choil is part of the reason why so many Spyderco knives consistently get excellent ergonomic ratings from me. Rounding things out is perhaps one of the best jimped thumb ramps I’ve ever come across. The jimping is just phenomenal on this knife. It practically super-glues your thumb in place without being so toothy it’s uncomfortable.

The pocket clip is a standard Spyderco hour-glass shaped clip. It’s large and has a bright satin finish. It offers good retention and a decently deep carry. The clip works, but I’d love to see a blackened deep carry clip to come standard. That would make the knife more discreet in your pocket. Casey Lynch has developed a deep carry titanium pocket clip for the Para 2, and frankly I think I should get one of these. The standard Spyderco clip works, but it’s not my favorite.

The Spyderco Paramilitary 2 carries great in the pocket. Although this is a larger knife, the Para 2 is thin and relatively lightweight, so it doesn’t weigh down your pockets and doesn’t create much bulk. It’s no Dragonfly II, a knife I routinely forget I’m carrying, but the Para 2 carries surprisingly well for a larger knife thanks to the thin design.

Deployment and Lock

Deployment on the Paramilitary 2 is accomplished via an oversized Spyder-hole. And I really do mean oversized. At 14mm in diameter it is really a much bigger thumb hole than I am used to – but I quickly grew accustomed to it and now I absolutely love it. Deployment is incredibly, fast, smooth and consistent. This is a great knife to use with gloves and it ensures a smooth and effortless deployment with every flick. Backing up that oversized thumb hole is a pair of large phosphor bronze washers. These washers are very smooth and only get better as the knife breaks in. So deployment is just outstanding.

The Spyderco Paramilitary 2 makes use of a compression lock to lock the blade open. This is my first review of a knife with a compression lock, and my impressions of the mechanism are extremely favorable.

At first glance this might just appear to be a liner lock on the back of the knife – in practice that really couldn’t be further from the truth. The compression lock works by wedging a piece of the liner between the tang and a stop pin. As force is applied to the knife (from either the spine or the edge) the lock compresses and the sandwich of tang, liner and pin hold the blade firmly in place. The harder you push on the knife, the tighter the lock gets. It’s an incredibly strong design and is really quite ingenious.

There is no blade play of any kind with my knife, and the compression lock is easy to use with one hand. I like how you can disengage the lock and fold away the blade without placing your fingers within the path of the blade.

Another thing I really like about the compression lock is how easy it is to disengage with one hand. It may take a little practice at first, but it’s easy to close the knife one hand without putting your fingers anywhere near the path of the edge – a total impossibility with a liner lock or frame lock. This makes the knife infinitely fun to manipulate. In terms of pure blade-flicking enjoyment I rank it right up there with an axis lock. I’ve heard some accounts of the lock being sticky, I have not experienced that personally and would think that any stickiness would go away as the knife breaks in.

Here is a parting shot of my Para 2 next to the Benchmade Griptilian. And while I’m at it, here is a link to an article I wrote on the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 vs. the Benchmade Griptilian if you are trying to decide between the two.

Blade centering on my knife is perfect.

Spyderco Paramilitary 2 vs. Para 3

I’m sure many readers are looking for a size comparison between the Para 2 and Para 3. Ben reviewed the Para 3 back in 2017, and I acquired and reviewed a Para 3 Lightweight in 2019. Here is a size comparison between the two knives:

As you can see the Para 3 is significantly shorter. Now, I’ve got the LW version of the Para 3 so this isn’t exactly an “apples to apples” comparison, but the major difference between the Para 2 and 3 that I noticed is the shorter handle of the Para 3. It’s a good deal shorter. I’ve found the ergonomics aren’t quite as good on the Para 3, but it’s much more pocketable. That’s the biggest trade off.

You sacrifice some comfort and blade length for a smaller, easier to carry knife. True Spyderco fans will inevitably acquire both.

Spyderco Paramilitary 2 Review – Final Thoughts

The Spyderco Paramilitary 2 is just an outstanding knife. It’s no surprise that this is the EDC of a lot of serious knife collectors. If you poll a group of people who routinely purchase $100-500+ knives, odds are very good that a Paramilitary 2 is a serious part of their EDC rotation. This is for very good reason. You have a tough knife with premium steel that is wonderfully balanced, highly ergonomic, and extremely functional. When you factor in the ~$100 price tag and fact that it’s made in the USA, well, the knife just speaks for itself.

If you want a workhorse of an EDC or a robust folding tactical knife, I think that the Paramilitary 2 should be very high on your list. It easily makes my best EDC knives list and receives my highest endorsement.

Spyderco Para Military 2 EDC Folding Utility Knife - 3.42" CPM S45VN Steel Blade and Durable G-10 Handle, PlainEdge - C81GP2

Robust Yet Lightweight Build - Weighing just 3.8 ounces with an overall length of 8.26 inches, the Para Military 2 combines durability with portability. Perfect for EDC enthusiasts, outdoor adventurers, and tactical users.
Superior Blade Performance - Features a 3.45-inch full flat-grind CPM S45VN stainless steel blade for exceptional edge retention, precision cutting, and corrosion resistance. Its razor-sharp edge excels in everyday and heavy-duty tasks.
Ergonomic G-10 Handle for Comfort - The black G-10 handle is contoured for an optimized grip, ensuring comfort and control during prolonged use. Lightweight yet durable, it balances functionality with a sleek, refined design.
Excellent Compression Lock System - Spyderco's innovative Compression Lock provides rock-solid locking strength with one-handed ease. It ensures secure blade deployment and prevents accidental closure during rigorous use.
Customizable & Versatile Pocket Clip - The steel clip supports both tip-up and tip-down carry options, ensuring convenience for right-handed users. Whether for work or casual use, it allows for easy access and quick deployment.

I recommend purchasing the Spyderco Paramilitary 2 at Amazon or BladeHQ. Purchasing anything through any of the links on this site helps support BladeReviews.com, and keep this review train running. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated.