Recommendation? Para 3 Lightweight vs CJRB Pyrite

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benhar

Joined
Apr 17, 2012
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Torn between these two... assuming the fit/finish/quality is better on the Spyderco, but keep reading how the CJRB punches above its price point.

Any recommendations/input? Looking for something to comfortably share a jeans pocket with an iPhone. The Pyrite is intriguing there, looks to be slimmer in pocket but still has a choil.
 
The titanium Pyrite would be pretty good, the lightweight Para is too but you get a much coarser texture that might chew on lighter fabric over time. Shouldn't be an issue for jeans but maybe you only switch between one pair of slacks and a pair of linen shorts, I don't know
 
I don't own the Pyrite but the Para 3 lightweight is utilitarian perfection in my opinion, and the best representation of what Spyderco does well (especially if you get it in a supersteel). The compression lock can be quickly and safely closed, doesn't have much to go wrong, and is one of the stronger ones out there due to the way it's designed to distribute loads. The handle is very lightweight and won't crack if dropped. The blade has a high flat grind that slices exceptionally well. The main downsides are that the handle is small if you have thicker fingers and it doesn't feel as sturdy as it actually is.
 
Para 3 is pretty wide if you’re sharing the pocket with your phone. I’m a big fan of the native 5 for this exact reason. Pyrite looks nice for sure at that price but I don’t often buy Chinese cutlery
 
Oh and I'd also suggest the liner locking Ekko, I just like proper liner locks a lot more than the average button lock. I know the Pyrite has a little better than average button lock, but the liner lock is great and the Ekko is a sweet knife.
 
Tsujigiri said:
I don't own the Pyrite but the Para 3 lightweight is utilitarian perfection in my opinion, and the best representation of what Spyderco does well (especially if you get it in a supersteel). The compression lock can be quickly and safely closed, doesn't have much to go wrong, and is one of the stronger ones out there due to the way it's designed to distribute loads. The handle is very lightweight and won't crack if dropped. The blade has a high flat grind that slices exceptionally well. The main downsides are that the handle is small if you have thicker fingers and it doesn't feel as sturdy as it actually is.
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Thanks! I’m close to getting one I think.
Sagandavis said:
Para 3 is pretty wide if you’re sharing the pocket with your phone. I’m a big fan of the native 5 for this exact reason. Pyrite looks nice for sure at that price but I don’t often buy Chinese cutlery
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Yeah the width does concern me, and why I have a Bugout now. My problem there is preferring a choil and worrying about Axis lock spring durability.
NG VI said:
Oh and I'd also suggest the liner locking Ekko, I just like proper liner locks a lot more than the average button lock. I know the Pyrite has a little better than average button lock, but the liner lock is great and the Ekko is a sweet knife.
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I’ll check it out!
 
Casting aside my aversion to Chinese knives and therefore lack of experience with the CJRB, it would be hard for me to find a reason to steer you away from the Para 3 if you were considering one. "Utilitarian perfection" as mentioned above sums it up well.

Worth mentioning, there's a S90v version going around right now at a price not much above the regular version that you can still likely find in stock at a couple of places (if you don't mind the teal/light blue color).
 
I'm a huge Spyderco fan, cannot lie about that. But it's hard for me to recommend the Para 3 over the Pyrite if you're worried about pocket space. As Sagendavis mentioned, the Para 3 is wide. Although the LW version is pretty darn light, it still carries like a big knife. Many Spyderco fans dislike the Para 3 for this reason; they would rather carry a PM2 since they basically carry the same (besides the weight savings of the LW version).

I'd suggest looking at another Spyderco. The Native 5 or Delica are good options. Right now National Knives has the Delica with K390 steel for less than $100 (must be signed in to see that price). That's an absolute steel (punny).

Now if we were talking about cutting performance and ergos, Para 3 LW all day. But it sounds like pocket space is our main concern?

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minimag03 said:
I'm a huge Spyderco fan, cannot lie about that. But it's hard for me to recommend the Para 3 over the Pyrite if you're worried about pocket space. As Sagendavis mentioned, the Para 3 is wide. Although the LW version is pretty darn light, it still carries like a big knife. Many Spyderco fans dislike the Para 3 for this reason; they would rather carry a PM2 since they basically carry the same (besides the weight savings of the LW version).

I'd suggest looking at another Spyderco. The Native 5 or Delica are good options. Right now National Knives has the Delica with K390 steel for less than $100 (must be signed in to see that price). That's an absolute steel (punny).

Now if we were talking about cutting performance and ergos, Para 3 LW all day. But it sounds like pocket space is our main concern?

​

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I thought about it, but the Native looks about the same size and I was hoping for something easy to close one handed without putting my finger in the blade path. Did consider the Lil Native though, and haven’t ruled it out.
norcalAF said:
Get a manix lightweight in maxamet!
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That’s bigger than the Para 3, right?
 
benhar said:
I thought about it, but the Native looks about the same size and I was hoping for something easy to close one handed without putting my finger in the blade path. Did consider the Lil Native though, and haven’t ruled it out.

That’s bigger than the Para 3, right?
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I'm a huge fan of the Lil Native. I didn't mention it because it's a much smaller knife. But if you're looking for something that's useful for every day tasks, like opening packaging, cutting a stray thread off our clothes, etc... the Lil Native is hard to beat (in the mind/high end range).

I own 4 compression lock Lil Natives and all have aftermarket scales and/or clips. That's because I carry one more often during 'normal life' than any other knife. They're super comfortable for such a small knife (full 4 finger grip), stout enough to pry a bit, thin enough to decently slice, and I could go on and on lol

Honestly, get a knifecenter smooth G10/ DLC Cru-Wear exclusive for $140. I'm thinking about picking up a second one lol

The only complaint I have about the Lil Native is the choil guard partially blocks the compression lock tab when closing (similar to the Shaman, but more difficult since the Lil's blade is so light). You'll get accustomed to it eventually but it's not as easy to manipulate as a Para 2 or PM2.
 
For what is worth I've had 2 Pyrites and both had button lock issues.

I have another Para 3 coming to me this week. I know Spyderco knives look weird but they just work really well. The Native 5 and Delica are also great and can be opened and closed one handed no problem.
 
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