Para losing favor in my eyes.

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kgriggs8

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After carrying my Para at work and using it, I am starting to feel it is not as great as I thought. I have chipped the tip when I didn't think it should have. I am not hard on my knives so when I damage one, I am dissapointed. It is just a small chip but it seems brittle.

After cutting a plastic bucket in half, the lock-up went pretty sloppy. It was fine until I cut the bucket and now it has some rattle to it. Is there a pivot that I can adjust to make it lock up tight again?

I hate the compression lock and wish Spyderco never went down this strange road. What was the need for a compression lock again? I just loved the Para so much that I would put up with the stupid compression lock but now I am sure I don't like it. I have not had a compression lock that I liked. The Yojimbo allowed the blade to fall open. The Vesuvius was sloppy. My first Para was very hard to unlock. The Para I have now is getting sloppy. The Lil Temp Pinched my finger every time I opened it. They are harder to close than any other type of lock and they are not even ambi. The sooner Spyderco dumps this loser lock style, the better it is going to be for them AND us. Just pay Benchmade for the AXIS lock and go back to the back lock until something better comes along.

Sorry about the long rant but the Para was my favorite knife but now it starting to dissapoint me.
 
Personally, I love the compression lock. The engineering is rock solid and I have not problems with it or with using it with either hand. If you have some rattle all you have to do is adjust the pin behind the lock. Slightly loosen the screws at either end with a T-6 torx but you do not have to take them out. Use some needle nose pliers to turn the pin then tighten the screws back down. You can also tighten the pivot screw of the blade with a torx T-10 if that's too loose for your purposes.

P.S. The main reason for the compression lock is strength and reliablility. In my mind, I think of it as a liner lock that is MUCH less prone to failure in a lot of instances. I personally wish that Spyderco would use this particular lock more than they already do as opposed to getting rid of it.
 
Hi KGriggs,

Sorry for your disappointment in the model. We've had very few complaints.

Regarding your particular model, we can check it out for you. Might be particular problem?

We can test the blade for hardness. Brittleness in steel is usually an indicator that it might be too hard at the tip.

Regarding the Compression Lock itlself, we believe their is much potential in the concept. True, it is a faily new lock and has not had the develoment time of lock-backs, linerlocks and Axis locks, but refinement will come over the years as we continue to learn about the locks and get input from those as yourself.

Regarding "paying Benchmade for the Axis lock". Benchmade has never given any indication they had interest in sharing their lock, at least not with Spyderco.

However, we have 3 fairly new patented locks (Compression, Ball bearing & Stop-lock) that are all being refined as they evolve.

I think you will find the 2nd generation ball bearing lock with our new "release" (as being tested on the Shivworks P'kal) will serve your "ambi needs" more effectively.

2nd generation Compression locks will also be more "friendly".

Thanx for your input. It helps us improve. What would you do to improve the Para?

sal
 
The Para Military is my favorite EDC knife, but I have found it to be finicky. First of all, I love the compression lock. I put the most trust into the comp lock, there are no springs to break like the axis lock, it would be extremely hard to foul up like a back lock, so I believe it to be the strongest most dependable lock in use. But, I must admit that my Para came with some play that I had to tweak out. It wasn't until it was broken in and I had adjusted the torx screw several times that it started locking up tight. Now I don't seem to have any problem with it, but wish it came that way from the factory. I am not a big fan of S30V. After using steels like H1, ZDP 189 and 154CM I don't really think the edge holding of S30V makes up for it being a pain with sharpening and chipping.
Having said that, the Para is such a wonderful knife that it makes up for its faults, I believe it has the best ergos for heavy use, and I love that finger choil. If Spyderco upgraded the steel, and fixed the quality control on it, it would be THE knife for me.
 
I like the Para and it's compression lock. Not only is it like a valt, I can flick it open and closed. It is the easiest Spyderco to use, and carry.
 
Im another one of those few who dislike the Compression-lock.

It is an interesting lock, and I'm all for trying new designs and innovations, but their comes a time when you just have to admit that the design is'nt better than what you already have.

The Ball Bearing lock is very promising IMO.
And Spyderco makes some of the very best Lock-backs and Liner-locks in the industry.
But I would let the Compression-lock become just another chapter in the Spyderco history book.

Just my 2 cent's worth,
Allen.
 
I think the lock would be great, one of the best, if it were executed with the same solidarity as their lock backs.

My Para has also been very annoying, even after I sent it in. I've out right given up on it.
 
i havent used the compression lock, but im definately looking forward to seeing the evolution of the new locks, especially the ballbearing.
 
J85909266 said:
I think the lock would be great, one of the best, if it were executed with the same solidarity as their lock backs.

My Para has also been very annoying, even after I sent it in. I've out right given up on it.
Click to expand...


From some of the things I've heard I could understand where you're coming from a little bit. But, I still love this lock and have faith in its potential. I myself have never had anything but great experiences with this particular lock and I have a great amount of respect for it in general.

Do you think that the solidness of Spyderco's lock backs or even their liner locks were there overnight. They may have had a higher degree of said solidness in Spydies simply because of the fact that they had already been in use for many years at the time. Now, as Sal posted above they are working on refining the compression lock. I think with time, the dedication of the great minds at Spyderco, and the loyal support of ELUs like us that the Compression lock will become/remain (choose which based on your point of view) one of the best knives on the market.
 
I didn't mean to insinuate that they have made unacceptable progress with the lock, and I realize it is very new still. I have all intention of sticking with the lock as it progresses because I love the action and ease of use on it. I find it to be easier to flick open and closed than some Axis models.
 
J85909266 said:
I didn't mean to insinuate that they have made unacceptable progress with the lock, and I realize it is very new still. I have all intention of sticking with the lock as it progresses because I love the action and ease of use on it. I find it to be easier to flick open and closed than some Axis models.
Click to expand...

That above post wasn't aimed at you particularly, and I quoted you cuz I misread your statement about outright giving up on it. I realize now that you were talking about your Para and not the compression lock. That's my fault. But the sticking with the comp lock statement was just a reminder about the evolutionary process of manufacturing and invention to remind everyone out there that the way a product looks in the beginning is not indicative of how it will end up.
 
I think the compression lock has a lot of unique strengths and is an extremely good lock. Of course, like any lock, it's not for everyone.

My only real complaint about the para is the QC. I'll send it in to spyderco and hope they can tune it up for me, along with my spyderfly.
 
I compare the compression lock to a lockback. Similarities are obvious. Intead of a pushing down on a lockback, you push sideways to release the blade! I myself do not like the complock. I do own a Lil temp and I like it inspite..For me a well designed framelock is best. IMHO.
 
Read some more of the criticisms.

The comp lock is ambidextrous. I can use it in either hand--I can even do axis flicks with it in either hand. It didn't take practice. I'd never used a compression lock before (or seen one used) and I could pick it up and do it with both hands.

It's not the hardest to close lock available. I doubt you could even argue that.

I personally agree with most of the criticisms, provided we're talking about the lockback instead of the compression lock.
 
Dang it, I wish I could jump on this bandwagon and flame my Para's compression lock, but I have had no problems with it at all. I own 4 different types of lock backs (including an axis lock) and the compression lock is my favorite.
 
I love the compression lock. Better than the axis lock. To each his own, I guess. I also love the paramilitary. Mine has been very reliable. The only quibble is that I chipped the edge a little (not the tip). I'm sure I dinged something hard and that is the cause, but I have had more trouble with S30V than with VG10. That said, it is still my favorite folder for strength, ease of opening/closing, reliability (it stays open when it is open, and it stays closed when it is closed (not something I can say of my axis locks), and carriability (light weight, slim profile). Not perfect, but the current best approximation IMO.
 
Sal,
Let me first say that even with all the faults that the Para has, it is STILL one of the best all around single bladed folders I have owned. It is only because I have held it in such high regard that I was dissapointed when it started to get loose.

As for the chipping on the tip edge, I think that may be due to the nature of S30V and not a true fault. I didn't relalize that S30V was more brittle by nature than VG-10 or ATS-34. I am one of the ones that will put up with a little brittleness to get the edge holding ability that S30V has. I like S30V and think it is a real improvment over VG10 which I also like. The chips are small enough that I think I can fix them myself. It is a work knife now so beauty is not important.

The lock-up getting loose does bother me however. It was nice and tight for the first few months and then I cut a plastic bucket in half and it was loose. I didn't put all that much force behind it because the blade was sharp and I cut the thinnest part of the bucket to make the job easier. I am not sure if the Para has an adjustable pivot or not. If it does, I will just adjust it and probably be happy.

I didn't mean to come off like I was bashing the knife or your compression lock. I understand that they are both new developements and may not be perfect. That is what I love about Spyderco, they are not afraid to try something new and come up with new models. I support Spyderco for various reasons and I will continue to do so. I buy 10 Spydercos for every other knife I buy.

I am not impressed with the compression lock but I do think it is a solid and safe lock. I just don't like the ergos of it. It is a right hand only type of lock and it just isn't as natural as some of the other locks to unlock. The liner lock or the frame lock is still the best in terms of ergos for me. The Axis lock is a close second. The compression lock or back lock are about the same if the compression is working well and designed correctly. I supposed placing the compression lock on the front side of the grip would be out of the question? It would feel like a liner lock but would have the added strength of the compression lock. I would really go for that!

Other than the lock, the main thing that I would change about the Para is to give it a handle that is simple. There is a lot going on with the Para handle. I know many find it the most comfy handle in the world but for certain grips, it just feels bad to me. I think some of the best grips are the most simple. The Police, Endura and Rescue style of grip seems the most comfy in all tasks. The Para has too many finger grooves and they are in stange places. I would just do away with the finger choils and make the grip something like the Endura grip but keep it in G-10.
 
kgriggs8 said:
Other than the lock, the main thing that I would change about the Para is to give it a handle that is simple. There is a lot going on with the Para handle. I know many find it the most comfy handle in the world but for certain grips, it just feels bad to me. I think some of the best grips are the most simple. The Police, Endura and Rescue style of grip seems the most comfy in all tasks. The Para has too many finger grooves and they are in stange places. I would just do away with the finger choils and make the grip something like the Endura grip but keep it in G-10.
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I have absolutly no doubt that the Endura handle is more comfortable than the Para for you. I have noticed time and again some people think one knife is ergonomic while others don't, it just comes down to the fact that some peoples fingers are longer, skinnier, shorter or fatter, just a million different possibities. I personally find that the point between the indents on the Endura is just in the wrong spot rubbing on my fingers wrong in a tight grip, where the Para fits my hand excelently. But its not hard at all to believe you might find the opposite true. Thats why I love the fact that Spyderco knives come in a myriad of handle shapes.
About the Paras blade play, that is kinda annoying. I had to fiddle with mine for quite some time to get it right.
 
I have the Military and, since its handle is basically a "no compromise" design, meaning one must live with the shortcomings of "no compromise" such as being very large, handling this knife is like second nature. There is no stress or awkwardness evident when griping and handling this knife. It has such a relaxed, yet secure feel in the hand. And, such an awesome blade.

Anyway, I like the Para too and, am very interested in acquiring one. Its just a bit further down on my list right now. It certainly seems to be more controversial as far as preferences are concerned. Perhaps its time for the next iteration of this knife. The Endura has certainly benefited from its evolvement. I am sure the Para can too.

And speaking of the new Endura, I really like it. Very ergonomic and easy to handle.
 
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