Due for another Spyderco.. which should I choose?

C

creativeoutlethobbie

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Apr 9, 2009
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Here is what I'm looking at for a new EDC. I tend to have my knives in my pocket rather than clipped. The hardest use for my knives is typically on plastic containers and boxes.

1) Caly 3 - Great reviews / looks very sharp OOB.
2) Para military - Great styling, concerned about the size and unique lock.
3) Sage - Looks cool, but I haven't seen much about it. Is the liner lock machined the same way as the tenacious?

I'm not a huge fan of the lock backs, but I know the Caly 3 has great reviews.
I currently have the Tenacious, Delica, and Byrd Cara-Cara. I'm ideally looking for a blend between the Delica and the Tenacious. The Tenacious is a little too "industrial" for me. The liner lock is a little difficult to push for me.

Any thoughts? Thanks
 
If you can get your hands on one, I'd say the Spyderco to go for right now is the Lum Chinese. It's a great design, in ZDP-189, and is guaranteed to be collectible, if that interests you at all. Mine just arrived today, and it's easily the sharpest knife I've ever received out of the box. It's literally hair-whittling sharp, and quite well put together. It's in the size range you're looking at, with a 3.125" blade.

Of the three you've listed, I like the Caly 3 the least. I've handled them several times, and never liked the design, it's a bit small and delicate for my big meathooks. Both the Sage and the Paramilitary are excellent knives. The current Sage is very nice, well finished etc., but I would hold off until the framelock version is released later this year. The Paramilitary is my favorite Spyderco overall- it's superb. It's not overly large or bulky. Though it's tough as nails, it's actually quite elegant, and lighter than you would think. The compression lock is my favorite of all of Spyderco's locking systems. It's very robust, comfortable, and easy to use.
 
Para is a tough knife, the handle is roughly the size of the Endura's. Lock is easy to use but takes a little practice.
Caly3 is a more gentleman's type knife. I love it but it just does not feel robust like the Para. Some other users have used it good and hard and it holds up fine (like any Spyderco should be expected to).
No idea 'bout the sage.
 
I have all 3 that you mentioned. Like Carrot said, the Caly 3 is more of a gentleman's folder and I'd say the same thing about the Sage. The para is a lot beefier than the other 2, but carries real well in my pocket. Soooo....Get all 3!!

-Tye
 
You're missing a Golden made Spydie. I say go for the Para. The Caly 3 is also an excellent knife. I've handled a Sage once, and it had great F&F. Like Ty said you'll love all three, so pick the one you want now and get the other two later. :)
 
I have all three Spydies. Like the others said the the Sage and Caly 3 are more of a Gentlemans folder. The are tough but that is their style. I have 3 Paras. While you can, get the Para in the D2 steel. The Para is in a class of its own. It is not a collectors knife. It is an everyday user and will serve you well for years to come.
 
Go para, you won't be disappointing.

And to save another thread when you decide to get the para, go with the one in D2. ;)
 
yeah, I have owned all 3... all GREAT knives. I traded my Para away for something (don't remember what), Just traded my Sage away for a Captain (can't wait til it gets here), Traded my g10/vg10 caly for a UKPK... Now I traded another knife back into a CF/ZDP caly. I still have the UKPK as well.

My rankings of the 3

Para: GREAT knife, of the three, it's the beast, but also the lightest I think. Big, tough, begs to be used hard, and performs GREAT!! I want to get another one, but I need to find a D2/FG one I think, something a bit different. Only big complaint for me is the Tip Down carry and how much is exposed, oh, and that i had an early model with the hand ripper jimping.

Sage: GREAT knife as well, I LOVE S30V (and in the para as well) so love that, LOVE FFG, the CF had an interesting grippy/rough feel to it, very different from G10, but nice anyway, LOVE the wire clip, liner lock was great, Handle is bit bigger than the caly3, smaller than the Para. Great knife and I'll probably pick one up again some day, but current funds do not allow me to keep knives I won't carry much around.

Caly3: a TRUE Classic, not just a Spyderco classic, but just a classic knife in EVERY sense of the word, it always seems a bit heavier than I expect it to, because it really does look like a nice gentleman's knife. The G10 and Vg10 on mine was great and took a razor edge like NOTHING. the CF/ZDP one is just a beautiful piece of art with a great feel, the CF is much smoother than the sage, but still nice to hold on to. The Ergos on this knife are as good if not considerably better than any other knife I think I've ever held. Yep, it's not made in golden (although the ukpk of the same design sans lock is) BUT, almost as important to me as the USA logo, it has the SAL logo on it.
 
moonwilson said:
If you can get your hands on one, I'd say the Spyderco to go for right now is the Lum Chinese. It's a great design, in ZDP-189, and is guaranteed to be collectible, if that interests you at all. Mine just arrived today, and it's easily the sharpest knife I've ever received out of the box. It's literally hair-whittling sharp, and quite well put together. It's in the size range you're looking at, with a 3.125" blade.
Click to expand...

This is very sound advice, I just got a Lum Chinese and it is amazing. It takes sharp to another level, the best edge I have ever seen. It is perfect for the uses you are describing because that is what I use it for. For me I don't need something I can pry with, I just want the sharpest knife possible in my pocket and that is the Lum Chinese in ZDP189.
 
Of the three you mentioned I would get the Caly III. The Para's choil is simply too small for my hand. If it fits yours, that would probably be the best choice for you. Regarding the Sage: very nice knife but I don't like liner locks.
 
I have the Para and the Sage, and have had the Caly3. I traded the Caly3 because it was too similar to the Sage. And between the two, I preferred the Sage. It just filled my hands a little better, and had a more significant choil.

The Para is entirely a different kind of knife from the other two. It carries quite different too. For my personal use, I would pick the Sage over the Para if I was forced to choose between the two. I don't really put my knives up to much hard use though, so keep that in mind.

I just like the discrete carry of the Sage, the way the CF scales feel, and man that blade is SHARP!
 
All depends on your preferences.
Out of your three choices para is heaviest duty, 4mm stock. Made in Golden, S30V. I never had this knife, but handled and used on numerous occasions, my friend has quite a few of them. Personally I do not like handle to blade ratio:big handle/medium blade. Tip down carry.
Sage. Made in Taiwan, great fit and finish. Blade S30v, IMHO the best looking CF, nice knife, very smooth action. Low riding wire clip. Tip up carry.I have one, but not a big fan of the blade shape.
Caly3 (VG10/G10, made in Japan), one of my favorite knives. I EDC it since they come out. IMHO, one of the best production EDCs ever made, everything is top notch, also looks good. Low riding wire clip. Tip up carry.
Good luck. new knife is fan
 
I Totaly disagree that the caly is a gentalmans folder whatever that means , the caly 3 (not in ZDP) and the sage are my fave knives. I use my caly 3 every day for everything and it is like new so gentalmans folder my a$$. Also the low rider clips of the caly and sage are awsome. For the price there is not a better deal than the sage , liner lock is solid and strong fit and finsh are nice.

I dont like zdp, (takes to much effort to sharpen) and i have never had a para.

I say go Caly3 for for everyday use or the sage but it is to pretty to use hard (for me anyway).

I wouldnt wait around for the new sage its gonna be pricy.

just my 2 cents.

Sixheads
 
Thanks everyone. Lots to think about. Everyone responded with good data. The votes seem to be leaning towards the para. I have to say the handle length is scaring me a little bit though. Decisions... Decisions..
 
i've owned all three as well.
i would prefer the paramilitary or sage over the caly3. paramilitary is cool, but the compression lock is kinda whatever--i'd prefer a trusty liner lock over that, but it's a real nice size on the handle.
sage is nice, but i never carried mine. sharp as hell though.

right now i'm looking into a khukuri :)
 
kenthenoob said:
i've owned all three as well.
i would prefer the paramilitary or sage over the caly3. paramilitary is cool, but the compression lock is kinda whatever--i'd prefer a trusty liner lock over that...
Click to expand...

Even Spyderco admits that their well made liner lock isn't as strong as their lock back or compression lock, and that's saying a lot. I'd say their compression lock is the finest lock they've ever made. It's a pity their para-military doesn't fit my hand.
 
shangchi108 said:
Even Spyderco admits that their well made liner lock isn't as strong as their lock back or compression lock, and that's saying a lot. I'd say their compression lock is the finest lock they've ever made. It's a pity their para-military doesn't fit my hand.
Click to expand...

This is not a critisisum , just a question. Why would you need a lock thats that strong? Really for edc is there a reason the liner lock or any other lock would fail?

Sixheads
 
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