Advice on a new folder....(Spyderco)

S

Slimman

Joined
Jan 9, 2008
Messages
198
Hello I was hoping to get some advice on wich knife to purchase. I own a few Benchmades and love them all. I was given a Spyderco Police as a gift some time ago and just have never liked it. I have decided that I would like to give it a shot with a different (Spyderco) one. Trouble is the few that I like I cant seem to find in the retail stores around here. So I guess I am going to have to purchase one without handling it first :(
Anyway I was looking at the Para Military, Sage and the Caly 3. I want a blade around 3 inches. I am sure some of you guys probably have owned or handled all three of these. Any thoughts, likes, dislikes that you could share with me would be appreciated. Thanks. Also I realy have taken a liking the the Al Mare mini Sere. I got a chance to handle one of those. Like the way it fits in my hand...(for a smaller folder).
 
I have a sage and the old frn zdp caly 3.

I personally like the sage...

What are you going to be doing with it?
 
It is going to be an EDC. I have been carrying Benchmades for some time now.....(and dont intend to stop using them) but would like to have something different to go to evey now and then. Thanks
 
Have you had a look at the Endura? I don't really care for folders in general, but the Endura Gen 4 is a no-nonsense lockback in a sensible design with an excellent blade design available in several great steels.
 
Slimman said:
It is going to be an EDC. I have been carrying Benchmades for some time now.....(and dont intend to stop using them) but would like to have something different to go to evey now and then. Thanks
Click to expand...

The sage is heavier but is a good strong knife and IMO might be better sutied for field use than the caly.

The caly is a lightweight high performance cutter.

If it were for city carry I'd go caly.
 
My first spyderco purchase in a long time was the recent S90V millie, it has not left my pocket sence. I did not like it that much when I got it but I have found it to be a very useable, well thought out design. If you get one get the P-millie CPM-D2, it will make you think differently about spyderco.
 
I've handled a Caly. It's supposed to be designed to fit the hand very well, but it felt kinda awkward to me :confused: I guess I'm just not used to having the index finger choil. That's just the feel, though, and coming from someone who isn't used to that knife.

The Para-Military seems like a more rugged knife, though, much more heavy duty.
 
I just don't like the blade shape of Spyderco knives. Especially that big bump in the thumb hole area. I wish the blade was slimmer and fit into the handle a little more. I don't doubt that they are high quality though. I'll probably get the Caly eventually.
 
mongomondo said:
I just don't like the blade shape of Spyderco knives. Especially that big bump in the thumb hole area. I wish the blade was slimmer and fit into the handle a little more. I don't doubt that they are high quality though. I'll probably get the Caly eventually.
Click to expand...

Have you seen one in real life? I thought the same thing until I actually saw and held one. The blade is, indeed, slim (as in not thick), but of course it's wider (from edge to spine) so that the hole can stick out enough so that the user can open it. They're good; I like them.
 
I have all 3 but i also have a hard time to choose one to carry, but Sage is by far the bang for the buck if that's what you are looking for. Seriously though, either one of them can be the icon of Spyderco's best slicer, you just can't go wrong with either Sage or Caly3
 
My recommendation would depend on how you use your knife.

The Paramilitary is much more rugged, with a large, hand-filling grip, and would be my choice for a heavy use knife.

The Sage is in between the Para and the Caly3. The handle is smaller and the blade is not as wide or thick as the Para, but it is still large enough to fill the hand well, the blade is a good slicer, and the textured carbon fiber provides a secure grip without shredding your pocket while still looking classy. It would be my choice for an all-around carry/medium use knife.

I don't have a Caly3, just the UKPK, but I find the narrow handle at the index finger choil to be less suitable for heavy tasks than the other two. It is more of a "gentleman's folder" and I would choose it for light duty such as an office environment.

I know what you mean about not being able to find these locally. Eighty percent of my knives were purchased without handling them first, which is a good way to end up with a lot of knives you don't carry.
 
the paramilie is the only knife there that i have experience with and it was my edc until i got my kulgera. I love that knife and it will work wonders for you.
 
May I ask why you didn't like the Police? I was actually thinking of buying one in the next few days.
 
Most Benchmades tend to lean towards the larger and more rugged style. If this is what keeps you with Benchmade, then you will probably prefer the Para, which only looks comparable to the other two, but is actually a much beefier tank of a knife, yet still lightweight and comfortable.

If you are looking for something completely new and different you aught to check out the other two. They are thinner and are good representatives of Spyderco's usual design philosophy for EDC knives (thinner, smaller, higher performance). However my favorite of the three is the Caly3, with the Para a close second.
 
colin8 said:
May I ask why you didn't like the Police? I was actually thinking of buying one in the next few days.
Click to expand...

I can't answer for him, but some find the slick stainless steel handle and lack of any jimping to give a...shall we say, less than confidence-inspiring grip. The thin handle also tends to dig into my palm during heavy cutting tasks. But if you want a big hunk of steel that you can slip into your waistband and not notice, the Police is the way to go.
 
I've owned a lot of different Spyderco's as they are my favorite folders. I carry two Endura's everday. I too don't care for the Police version in that it doesn't have any grip to it being all stainless. As for the three you are looking at I have a little experience with them but don't own any as the Endura fits my hand perfectly so I sold the other smaller ones. Some of the Walmart's have Spyderco's so you may want to try them just to get a feel and see what fits your hand.
 
yablanowitz said:
I can't answer for him, but some find the slick stainless steel handle and lack of any jimping to give a...shall we say, less than confidence-inspiring grip. The thin handle also tends to dig into my palm during heavy cutting tasks. But if you want a big hunk of steel that you can slip into your waistband and not notice, the Police is the way to go.
Click to expand...

Hmm, thanks for the input. Basically I'm just looking for a large folder, and I kind of like the look of the Police and it has a pretty good price. I was also looking at the Spyderco Military but I'm just not sure.
 
Colin, I just never liked the feel of it. I dont care for the stainless grips. For some reason it just felt out of place in my hand......I tried to like it but it just never grew on me. It is just not a good fit for me. I think Yablanowitz sumed it up petty good.
I would get rid of it in a heartbeat except when it was given to me (as a gift) the grips were engraved.
 
LowTEC said:
I have all 3 but i also have a hard time to choose one to carry, but Sage is by far the bang for the buck if that's what you are looking for. Seriously though, either one of them can be the icon of Spyderco's best slicer, you just can't go wrong with either Sage or Caly3
Click to expand...

Your right about that, either one is a great edc.
I purchased the Sage 3 weeks ago,its a keeper for sure,I am very very happy with this knife. I want more!!

icon_smile.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top