First Spyderco suggestion

I have a Para2 and a Shaman. I like them both equally, for different tasks. The PM2 is definitely the better EDC, and the Shaman is great for work/hard use.

If you've ever handled the ZT0562, the Shaman, to me, feels just like that but the Spyderco version. Hefty, overbuilt, similar thickness, handle and blade length.. some may disagree.
 
You cannot go wrong with a PM2 in s35vn for all around EDC versatility. I love the compression lock. The PM2 is really dialed in, the Para3 not so much IMO. I feel the Para3 will evolve and only get better.
 
I got a para 3 (also my first spyderco) a couple of weeks ago. I love it. Feels good in the hand and pocket. The blade size is perfect for me.

I still want to get a PM2, but for edc a >3” blade feels a little unwieldy to me.
 
Roikyou said:
Without having them in hand, it's just a picture.

The ones that comes to mind are Sage 5, PM 3, Manix 2, Shaman, PM 2, probably in that order.
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What size glove do you wear?

I wear a size L glove, and I've owned three of your picks: Manix 2, PM2, and Sage (not a 5, but good enough for a size comparison). The Manix 2 and PM2 are both a great fit for my hand, while the Sage was too small. You mentioned loving the Mini Grip, which I suspect I'd find too small (I love the full-size Grip's ergos).

The Manix 2 has an insanely comfortable handle, versatile and beefy, and I love the CBBL. I do prefer the lightweight (my EDC is the LW in S110V) because while it's still wide in pocket, it's so light that it carries well anyway, but both are fantastic knives. Of your picks, that's the one I'd go with.
 
The mini is quite small but still works and great for EDC at work.

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full size grip

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818 I carry quite a bit

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and the 808 that I carry early morning walks or sometimes weekends just cause it's big and would scare the locals

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I bought the Shaman a couple months ago and really, really like it. I too have been a Benchmade guy and the Shaman was my first Spyderco.

The contoured G10 is amazing, the blade shape and choil are really practical, and it is a very solid knife. It carries well despite its size and the smoother G10 seems easy on the pocket.
 
Based on how your hand looks on the two sizes of Grip, I think you will enjoy the Manix 2 a great deal. If you're used to the more contoured handles on the Grip, the PM2 might be iffier; it's a great size for me, but the flatness and lack of chamfering on the handles scales eventually led me to sell it. (I bought a Military instead, and it's everything I wanted out of the PM2 and then some.)

Never held a Shaman, but based on your preferences and what I've read about it here, that also seems like a good fit.
 
Para 3 is the way to go and they can be had pre-owned for a $100-ish. The best pocket practical premium Spyderco. Do it right the first time and don't cheap out and end up wishing for a more premium model. a lot of models in this size group from Spyderco, but none better than the Para 3.
 
Out of your choices listed, I'd go with the Para 3. It is available with a wide variety of blade steels and scales.
 
So, considering I'm compulsive but get military discount, I picked up the Para 2, Para 3, Shaman and Sage 5. So I'll be able to figure out what all the hubbub is about. Sage 5 if I saw correctly has the wire clip, so I'll see what that is about. I've ordered the deep carry clips for the other three as that is my preference so far. Thanks for the input.
 
Great choices, you’re biggest problems will be figuring out which to carry each day. The wire clip is my second favorite clip, first being the Casey lynch clips. If you haven’t gotten one of those you should definitely try it.
 
I went with the mxgear clips with two screws on the side versus three in the middle. My experience with BM makes me believe the two screw might be easier to work with.
 
Roikyou said:
So, considering I'm compulsive but get military discount, I picked up the Para 2, Para 3, Shaman and Sage 5. So I'll be able to figure out what all the hubbub is about. Sage 5 if I saw correctly has the wire clip, so I'll see what that is about. I've ordered the deep carry clips for the other three as that is my preference so far. Thanks for the input.
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Damn. No Fing around! Buy a Sebenza!
 
Just finished my Sebenza learning phase. Military discount lets me get three or four Spyderco's or Benchmade’s vs one Sebenza. I dont mind practicing sharpening on a hundred dollar knife versus a four to five hundred.
 
Roikyou said:
My other question is “how is the KME for sharpening Spydercos?”

Tried the wicked edge twice and it just does not work for me, lots of hours and never successfully sharpened anything but the device. Im at the point if the KME does not work for Spydercos then the Spydercos probably wont work for me.
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Been using the KME for years, perfect edges every time. The wiked edge works for pretty much anything also and is tried and tested, are you sure you're fully understanding all the fundamentals of angles and apexes?
 
Last three months with the KME, 28 knives later, what looks to me like even bevels. I’ve posted in polished edges. I believe ive got the angle down. Apex is when the edges come together. If they didnt come together, you wouldnt get a burr. Ive gotten the burr and good edges. I just dont get the WE.
 
Got all four knives in today. Plus mxgear clips for pm2, pm3 and shaman. mxgear sent three screws instead of four and one of the pm’s has a strip screw. Spyderco is sending new screws, no word from mxgear yet. So pm2 will have a normal clip and pm3 will have a deep carry clip. The clip on the pm3 is really long from mxgear, would have preferred a shorter clip. The black powder coat scratches up fast. I like the deep carry on the shaman.

The action out of the box was great on pm2 and pm3. The shaman is really sticky and the action is fair but its new. The sage clip is good, the action stiff and there is a detent or something that makes it difficult to close. Not sure if this will change over time. The shaman and pm2 size is close to the full size benchmade griptillian. My grip has the sheepsfoot and excellent action. The benchmade 818 has excellent action on on par size wise to mid range.

So, my favorite so far. Pm2, pm3, 818 and full grip sheepsfoot. Pocket time during the week will probably be between pm3 and 818.
 
Shaman, Sage 5, or the regular Manix 2. I dont personally own the Shaman yet, but its at the top of my list and the other 2 are fantastic.
 
The short clip is the go to for the P3 and to me looks better. Most seem to favor the short on the P3. Looks and functions better than Spyderco clip. It kind of has a little bit of class to it. It makes the knife look a bit more high end as opposed to having Spyderco logo showing on the stock clip. BTW I don’t get paid from Spyderco to show their logos and if they want to pay me ,I’ll show all kinds of Spyderco. To show their logo is to be advertising and I don’t do it for any thing. People willfully free advertise for companies and even pay for products that promote , such as t-shirts and stuff. Those should be given free because a person becomes a billboard for a product. Pay to be a free advertiser !!! Not Me and many a sucker do it
 
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