Para 3 LW vs PM2

D

db98

Joined
Mar 7, 2022
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I’m between the Para 3 LW and the PM2 right now , both all black, and I like the fidget factor of the compression lock but is BD1N better or worse than S45VN? This will be my first quality knife as I got my last one from Walmart for $35. That one is a Gerber assisted opening but the steel needs sharpened once a week (I’m mainly cutting apart boxes at work with it). Budget is below 150 atm but I can save for a couple more months if necessary
 
This one is more about the difference in how they are built.
The PM2 has full liners and is MUCH tougher than the PM 3 LW.
Do you need strength... or ease of carry?

And welcome to the Forum also!
 
BD1N is not bad but it is a "kitchen knife steel".It's a class below VG-10 and kind of like AUS-8 I heard it put once recently. I would definitely say, for the average dude, S45VN is a better steel. BD1N would serve a specific purpose.

It would help to know what your needs are. The PM2 is not as big as it seems, but has a more ergonomic, large handle. I like it. Are you trying to save every single oz that you can, do you notice the difference between a 2oz and 4oz knife in your pocket? Or are you like me, where short of a pound or two, I don't care about weight if I like a knife? Because, the base model of the PM2 in S45 is super light to me (3.75oz is the G-10 for ref, my heaviest PM2, copper scales, weighs almost 8oz, like a Buck 110 or Leatherman and I don't see those as heavy). Or you could get the Cruwear PM2 for like 5 bucks more than the reg. S45, that is production, not a sprint.

That one is groovy. Super tough, cuts well, but not as long as S45, sharpens really well. Better than VG-10 or BD1N and is "friendly to beginners" compared to S30 series while still being great. Lots of people love it. One issue, cannot switch scales yet on Cruwear Micarta cause of full liners, but the Micarta looks great. Give us some more info, what are you looking for in a knife? I know when I got my first PM2, I just wanted a Spyderco and a super-steel! Ha. Welcome here 🍋👋
 
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Bob Denman said:
I've got SPY27 in my Para 3 LW, and it's holding up VERY well...
Click to expand...
Yeah, if I were going to go for one of those easier to sharpen steels, BD1N, VG-10, SPY-27, SPY-27 is the clear pick. This is a wise decision of he feels like he wants to go small or LW like your knife or the Manix 5.
 
PM2 > P3 >>>> P3LW.

Unless you have small hands, you will not be able to get a full four-finger grip on the P3 without using the forward choil. The P3LW feels flimsy, has a worse action than the PM2 and P3 G-10, and most examples have unresolvable off-center blades.

S45VN is a modern mid-range powder steel, and BD1N is a budget ingot steel. S45VN has much better edge retention.

If you want a 3" blade, the Native is a better design than the P3 (lightweight or fullweight), but it doesn't have a compression lock.
 
Para 3, just not the LW version.

Not a fan of the one washer/liner on only one side. It's a bitch to dial in, if even possible at all..
 
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If size is not an issue, if you’re looking for a knife to be your main go to carry knife, The PM2 is the knife you want. It’s a well rounded knife. Perfect? No, but what really is. The handle is a little bigger than it needs to be. Hold the knife though and it feels great.

I held and played with a pm3. It was too small for me. But others love the size. It does come down to personal preference.
 
I personally prefer the PM2 over the PM3. I just picked up a Cruwear micarta PM2 for $149 after brief negotiations at a local shop I frequent over the weekend. So, they can be had in your price range if you look around. You might also want to check out the Native 5. I got the light weight version of it with CPM S110v steel for less than $150 last year. As far as the two steels you listed, I’d probably lean towards S45VN. Spyderco has a lot of great options in your price range. Good luck picking just one!!!
 
Pay the extra and get something not BD1N. I would equate it to VG10 in actual use, which is a noticeable step down from S45VN, which will have moderately higher edge retention and good toughness.

If you have big hands, get the pm2, otherwise the pm3 is more than enough knife. The Maxamet pm3 is actually my first over 200$ knife lol.

Good luck!
 
Bob Denman said:
This one is more about the difference in how they are built.
The PM2 has full liners and is MUCH tougher than the PM 3 LW.
Do you need strength... or ease of carry?

And welcome to the Forum also!
Click to expand...
Thank you! And the boxes will be heavy duty for the most part. My glove size is XL too
 
Hashishiin said:
BD1N is not bad but it is a "kitchen knife steel".It's a class below VG-10 and kind of like AUS-8 I heard it put once recently. I would definitely say, for the average dude, S45VN is a better steel. BD1N would serve a specific purpose.

It would help to know what your needs are. The PM2 is not as big as it seems, but has a more ergonomic, large handle. I like it. Are you trying to save every single oz that you can, do you notice the difference between a 2oz and 4oz knife in your pocket? Or are you like me, where short of a pound or two, I don't care about weight if I like a knife? Because, the base model of the PM2 in S45 is super light to me (3.75oz is the G-10 for ref, my heaviest PM2, copper scales, weighs almost 8oz, like a Buck 110 or Leatherman and I don't see those as heavy). Or you could get the Cruwear PM2 for like 5 bucks more than the reg. S45, that is production, not a sprint.

That one is groovy. Super tough, cuts well, but not as long as S45, sharpens really well. Better than VG-10 or BD1N and is "friendly to beginners" compared to S30 series while still being great. Lots of people love it. One issue, cannot switch scales yet on Cruwear Micarta cause of full liners, but the Micarta looks great. Give us some more info, what are you looking for in a knife? I know when I got my first PM2, I just wanted a Spyderco and a super-steel! Ha. Welcome here 🍋👋
Click to expand...
My glove size is XL so idk if that means the Para 3 will be too small or not. My current knife has a 3 inch blade and 3.5 inch handle and I can wrap 4 fingers around it. I’m going to be tearing apart heavy duty boxes most of the time and the rest will be tape. I’m looking for good edge retention that’s also relatively easy to sharpen, and I don’t care about weight as both of them will be lighter than my current edc
 
If you need something with a larger grip: pop for the Military model... it's a big beast!
And you can get all kinds of Super-Steels in them!
Mine has S90V, and it rocks!
 
Hashishiin said:
Yeah, if I were going to go for one of those easier to sharpen steels, BD1N, VG-10, SPY-27, SPY-27 is the clear pick. This is a wise decision of he feels like he wants to go small or LW like your knife or the Manix 5.
Click to expand...
I would prefer not to go small but my current edc is smaller than the pm2
 
HP2114B said:
PM2 > P3 >>>> P3LW.

Unless you have small hands, you will not be able to get a full four-finger grip on the P3 without using the forward choil. The P3LW feels flimsy, has a worse action than the PM2 and P3 G-10, and most examples have unresolvable off-center blades.

S45VN is a modern mid-range powder steel, and BD1N is a budget ingot steel. S45VN has much better edge retention.

If you want a 3" blade, the Native is a better design than the P3 (lightweight or fullweight), but it doesn't have a compression lock.
Click to expand...
Makes sense, I have to go all the way up on my Gerber
 
ScarFoot said:
I personally prefer the PM2 over the PM3. I just picked up a Cruwear micarta PM2 for $149 after brief negotiations at a local shop I frequent over the weekend. So, they can be had in your price range if you look around. You might also want to check out the Native 5. I got the light weight version of it with CPM S110v steel for less than $150 last year. As far as the two steels you listed, I’d probably lean towards S45VN. Spyderco has a lot of great options in your price range. Good luck picking just one!!!
Click to expand...
I’m definitely not looking for S110V as I’m a novice sharpener at this point, but I’ll definitely look around for some other S45VN spyderco’s too
 
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