Comparison of Military vs. Para-Military

L

lpd10574

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Feb 25, 2007
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This may have been covered somewhere but I am trying to decide whether or not to get a Para-Military Spyderco. I have a Military and love it but there are sometimes I with it was just a bit smaller.

Can anyone with both chime in on which they prefer and why?

Also if anyone has photo's of them together for comparison that would be awesome. Thanks.
 
I prefer the Military. Being able to grip the knife out of the choil and the longer blade give it much more reach, which I find very useful when using the knife as an improvised kitchen knife. I also find the Military more comfortable overall. I've considered modding my Para so it offers two grips instead of the one grip using the finger choil. I think I might carry it more often then. I do like the compression lock on the Para and have always wanted the same on the Millie. Both good knives, but the Military suits my uses better. Both my Military and Para are modded with tip up clips, something I'd do to either knife were I too purchase them for the first time. I find myself wanting to carry a Police 3 or Military and a Cricket, Spin or UKPK. While the shorter blade of the Para offers great control over cuts, I'd rather carry something more compact like the UKPK which offers a very similar blade in a less noticeable package, then carry a "full sized" folder like the Millie as my primary knife.







 
Vivi, you my friend are awesome. This is exactly what I was looking for. I will take your experience into consideration. I don't know anything about the compression lock but I have heard good things. thanks for the pics. The shots of each in the hand are the most telling for what I was concerned with. Thanks.
 
I've got both, and I find myself pocketing the Para a bit more often. It rides smaller, had the handle and blade shape I love on the Military, but it's just more compact. Easier to open in public. Love the compression lock though.
 
Vivi said:
While the shorter blade of the Para offers great control over cuts, I'd rather carry something more compact like the UKPK which offers a very similar blade in a less noticeable package, then carry a "full sized" folder like the Millie as my primary knife.
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I agree with you 100% on this comment. I had gotten the Para-Miltary first thinking I would like it better because being shorter and smalller it would be easier to carry. However I felt the handle and footprint were too large for the size blade. Then I got a Bg-42 Military and completely fell in love with it. The size, light weight, overall ergos and feel were superior for me compared to the para. Para is a great knife but if I am going to have around a 3 inch blade I would prefer other knives
 
The lock is compression on the Para, which I like best of any Spyderco lock.
But, the Millie is a shining star in the Spyderco line-up. If I could only have one or the other I'd have to go with it.
Here's my D-2's
ilhunt.jpg
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I have both, and I EDC my para D2. It's got the best lock spyderco has to offer! The size of the Para is more manageable in the pocket. I guess I got smaller hands and I find the military handle an inch too long for my taste but military shines in the kitchen

pjmaxm said:
Para is a great knife but if I am going to have around a 3 inch blade I would prefer other knives
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I respectfully disagree, I actually prefer the Para as a 3 inch blade to the others
 
I have discovered that the extra length of the Military handle, makes it easier to insert into my pockets. Sort of counter-intuitive I know, but that is how it works for me.

Where the Para-Military shines is in detail work. The shorter blade compared to the handle, seems to give one greater control.
 
I have both and find myself carrying the Military more often. I love the liner lock on the Military, just a super smooth knife and a great piece of design:)
 
i don't think you will find the para to be much smaller in the pocket.

the handle is a bit shorter, but the blade is much smaller relative to the handle compared to the military.

as mentioned, the major draw to the para is the compression lock, which is nothing short of genius. like vivi, i await the day of a compression lock military!
 
Hey Spyderco, how about a Military with a compression lock?(or a
Para with a longer blade, depending on how you look at it). :)
 
I wonder why a compression lock Military has never materialized. To me they seem like the perfect fit for one another.
 
Vivi said:
I wonder why a compression lock Military has never materialized. To me they seem like the perfect fit for one another.
Click to expand...

im sure its in the works somewhere, for sometime.

but it seems more people are interested in a framelock millie, the ril sage, etc. sal ends up producing so many variations that were borne of request from from us (well, not me, but...), that it must be difficult to keep up.
 
MORIMOTOM said:
im sure its in the works somewhere, for sometime.

but it seems more people are interested in a framelock millie, the ril sage, etc. sal ends up producing so many variations that were borne of request from from us (well, not me, but...), that it must be difficult to keep up.
Click to expand...

A framelock Mili? I'd buy at least 3..:)
 
I EDC a Military CF/BG-42. I have never, ever wished I had a smaller EDC. I have never, ever worried that the liner lock was insufficient.
 
Twindog said:
I EDC a Military CF/BG-42. I have never, ever wished I had a smaller EDC. I have never, ever worried that the liner lock was insufficient.
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The liner lock does not make me worry, but a nice 0.135 thick titanium frame lock would just be cool.
Can't get enough titanium.:)
 
The Para and Military are built about the same so I think the Para is a stouter, tougher knife than the Military. Not to say the Military is weak but the longer blade and handle means you can put more leverage on it. The Para is an incredible all-around EDC and the Military is a great slicer. Since I have a whole range of knives to choose from for various tasks I prefer the Military of the two but if I could only have just one knife, it would be a toss-up between the Para and a Small Sebbie.

Here's another comparison picture for ya:
2373071172_c0f4ff8e14.jpg
 
carrot said:
Since I have a whole range of knives to choose from for various tasks I prefer the Military of the two but if I could only have just one knife, it would be a toss-up between the Para and a Small Sebbie.
Click to expand...


If you prefer the Military for an EDC, why would you prefer the Para if you had to choose just one knife?
 
If I had to choose, I would take the Para. I really like the compression lock, and I find the Para to be the easiest to open and close of all my many knives. For me, the ergonomics of the Para are better than the Millie. I carry my Millie fairly often, when I want a longer blade, but I like the overall design of the Para better.
Knives003.jpg
 
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