Chinook vs Paramilitary vs Persion

Artfully Martial

Artfully Martial

Joined
Jun 8, 2005
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Time to set my sights on a nicer Spyderco....I never really got along with the low end Spyderco range....in any case, what are you thoughts on each of these?
 
I would go with a Chinook or a Manix. I handled both of them at a show, and they were both beefy, solid, large folders, definily the kind of knife I like. If you want thin and light, go elsewhere!!
 
I really like the look of the Persian. I almost bought one the oter day, but instead went in pretty much the opposite direction and ended up with a karambit form Spyderco.

Paramilitary looks pretty sweet too.
 
I have the chinook 2 it is a great knife open one and hear it lock, it really sounds like a safe locking
 
Regarding the Persian: I have never been a big fan of bolsters personally but they do give this knife a distinctive look that is a step up in class. I've had a Manix, and Chinook. Both were nice but the Chinook was my preferred choice of the two.

I would suspect the Persian carries in the pocket a little better and is probably less noticed than the other two would be. Probably better accepted in public also so it is most likely the one I'd pick knowing what I know now.

Ed makes some pretty great stuff and this design he came up with in collaboration with Spyderco could double as a great skinner blade also. For that matter so would the Chinook. For GP use the Manix and the smaller Para-Military are hard to beat because of that great blade they sport though.
 
Well, the military is cool but I'm trying to get a new lockback....I normally don't like lockbacks, but I'm cycling though the locking mechanisms so I'll have a fresh supply of each. I just wish the Spydercos that I visually like weren't so expensive...it's like the opposite of Benchmade....
The manix is cool too, but for some reason, it just doesn't have that appeal....I mean, I get it, the manix is tough, but that could describe any Spyderco....anything else make it unique?

Still, the focus is on these three. Not that I can afford any of them ;-)
 
STR said:
... is probably less noticed than the other two would be.
Click to expand...
The Chinook I carried tended to freak non-knife people a lot more than the Paramiliary which still was more "tactical" looking than the Persian which tends to get more of a "that is a nice knife" rather than "who are you going to kill" viewpoint. The knives are very different in cutting and handling ability though if that matters.

-Cliff
 
Yeah, the Chinook does look pretty hardcore. The para is definitely tactical, but nonetheless understated. I'm definitely feeling the para, but I'd just have to add it to my other high end 3 inch EDC-esque folders--which would be great, but I mean, there's just no need for it right now. Conversely, a knife like the chinook is definitely limited in its day-to-day uses (at least, in my line of work). It might end up like my 560C, kind of a display piece.....just don't really have the need for the big knives.

Just trying to help balance out the collection...I've got one spyderco versus several benchmade/crkt/buck/sak. I'll probably get a vagabond before the summer's over though.

Well, it's no immediate concern. It's going to be quite awhile before I recover from the spyderfly. Maybe by Christmas.
 
Artfully Martial said:
Well, the military is cool but I'm trying to get a new lockback....I normally don't like lockbacks, but I'm cycling though the locking mechanisms so I'll have a fresh supply of each. I just wish the Spydercos that I visually like weren't so expensive...it's like the opposite of Benchmade....
The manix is cool too, but for some reason, it just doesn't have that appeal....I mean, I get it, the manix is tough, but that could describe any Spyderco....anything else make it unique?

Still, the focus is on these three. Not that I can afford any of them ;-)
Click to expand...

The Paramilitary isn't a lockback. Handle a Manix or Chinook in person, they are by far the toughest and most overbuilt of Spyderco's knives.
 
The manix is a beast, but also very heavy. The paramilitary is a nice size for me, thats why I got it. It slices like mad and performs really well for general utility. Also I like the comp lock, you can flip it around right handed almost as well as an axis (using index finger on lock).

The persian is a beauitful knife. It really fits well in hand and fills the hand nicely. It is not nearly as grippy as the G10. If you use the front choil, move your thumb up on the spine or it wont feel right, but when you do, it melts back into your hand. The back choil works really well for a further back grip with the thumb behind the hole.
 
Compression lock para? It's all the same to me. I've never had one available to me to try...but if it's like the axis, it really simplifies the process. Para.

Now, the ATR has a compression lock also, right?

Let's talk about ATR versus Para.
 
I don't care about the mechanics. It just has to work. If it makes me feel like I'm using an axis lock, then it's working.
 
Darn. That's too bad...got my hopes up......wish I could try some of these...no one carries the high end spydercos in stores here.
 
As for being able to handle these, are there any knife shows around where you are? Granted, they probably only happen a couple times a year, but that's actually how I go about handling new Spyderco models. In ultra-liberal "oooohhh NOOO! A KNIFE!!!" :rolleyes: Massachusetts/Connecticut, even here there are knife shows 3 or 4 times a year, and there are always participants selling almost all of the Spyderco/Benchmade line..
 
In waco, there is at least one gun/knife show a year. I'll probably try harder to go this year (I live in Arlington most of the year, so a couple hours drive). Arlington I don't know about...the city is just so huge...I mean, it only has half a million folk, but geographically, it's mind boggling. There could be all sorts of stuff going on I don't know about. But, probably to a less degree than your place, it is also hyper liberal. I can't imagine what it'll be like when I transfer to UT. Yeah, sooner or later, I'll be able to go to a gun/knife show. Also, there is that place, house of blades in Fort Worth, that's not too far away...they say that guy has everything (but that he's expensive). I mean, every folder fan knows about the para, surely he has one.
 
Yeah, I hear ya - living in or near a city - :barf: :D

I'd go for the Paramilitary myself, and that's an opinion based on owning (at some point in time) probably most of those in the Spyderco line which are not liner locks. I traded away almost all the other Spydies to get 2 Paras. I did keep my Delica, though (first Spydie I ever bought, 3 yrs ago; definately a keeper forever).

The Para is the most functional, grippy, non-threatening (well, the aside from the 2 Kopas I have; they are good for weddings, social functions, etc.) EDC I've ever owned.

Good luck in your search to find a place to handle them...
 
Here is a link to the website associated with the New England knife shows. There's a link to the schedule of their shows, among other things - but there's also a "contact us" link. Perhaps an email to one of them might result in a reply that would point you towards a similar organization in TX ? Maybe..

http://home.att.net/~nrmint/index.htm
 
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