Para3 LW Blade straightness

M

MarkN86

Joined
Sep 3, 2012
Messages
619
I just picked up a Para3 LW and I love it, seriously great knife and a great design, I can't believe how light it is! I gave it a good look over and is perfect with one small exception, there's a very mild bend in the blade that the pictures I took can't quite capture. Looking down the spine I can see very slight curvature on both spine and edge, and I can feel a dent on one side and a bulge on the other about halfway down the blade if I run my fingers on either side of the blade. I can see a crease in the reflection if I hold it up to light. This didnt bother me much until I sharpened it and it became apparent that theres a wavy spot in an otherwise straight edge bevel

Is this within spec or should they all be straight as an arrow like my other Spydercos? I feel like now that I've sharpened it I'm not so sure its returnable anyway..

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You might not be able to return it, but spyderco should warranty it and replace it. Give them a call and ask. I see the bend.
 
Give spyderco a call or email. They'll want to know about that and make it right for you.
 
I took some time and carefully checked all of my other knives from Spyderco and other manufacturers, there is zero bend in any of them. I checked them by laying the flat of the blades on a flattened bench stone and could not see any light at all under them. Returning to the Para3, I laid the blade flat on the stone and could clearly see light under it, so I went ahead and sent it off. I'm really hopeful that they will agree that it's severe enough and fix it for me. I wouldn't care if it were a factory second where imperfections are expected, but at full price I really want it to be straight.

I feel like I'm going crazy and being way too picky. I order from reputable online knife retailers but I've just not been having much luck from any knife company lately.

Thanks for the input guys.
 
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That is hard to see. I got this a few weeks ago new from reputable dealer. Had to return it. Not a Spyderco.

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MarkN86 said:
I took some time and carefully checked all of my other knives from Spyderco and other manufacturers, there is zero bend in any of them. I checked them by laying the flat of the blades on a flattened bench stone and could not see any light at all under them. Returning to the Para3, I laid the blade flat on the stone and could clearly see light under it, so I went ahead and sent it off. I'm really hopeful that they will agree that it's severe enough and fix it for me. I wouldn't care if it were a factory second where imperfections are expected, but at full price I really want it to be straight.

Maybe they'll throw a hat in too or something if I'm nice and smile real big..:D

I feel like I'm going crazy and being way too picky. I order from reputable online knife retailers but I've just not been having much luck from any knife company lately.

Thanks for the input guys.
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I really wouldn't worry if they are going to fix it. @Sal Glesser and the Spyderco team will get you taken care of, I am sure of it!
 
Yea they will definitely reblade that ... unlike Kai who will claim the pics you posted of a horribly warped Natrix blade are fake then ban you from their forum
 
John_0917 said:
Yea they will definitely reblade that ... unlike Kai who will claim the pics you posted of a horribly warped Natrix blade are fake then ban you from their forum
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Can't hardly blame them. There are some real PITA people out there. And hardly any company has the saintly patience of sal.

Plus, the OP is doing the right thing and sending it in. Hard to deny something you have in hand.
 
I got a call from Spyderco Warranty dept and apparently it is within spec for this knife due to it being a cheaper model. They said they usually don't fix these issues but that if I wanted they would replace it this once if I wanted, but there is no guarantee that it would be better. I went ahead and had them replace it so I'm pretty much rolling the dice.

I think I've become one of those PITA people. Moving forward I'll learn to be happy with whatever I get.
 
MarkN86 said:
I got a call from Spyderco Warranty dept and apparently it is within spec for this knife due to it being a cheaper model. They said they usually don't fix these issues but that if I wanted they would replace it this once if I wanted, but there is no guarantee that it would be better. I went ahead and had them replace it so I'm pretty much rolling the dice.

I think I've become one of those PITA people. Moving forward I'll learn to be happy with whatever I get.
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What steel is it? Also, they said it was "in spec" for a knife at that price point. If it was a more expensive version of the Para 3, would that make a difference? Not sure if you know the answer to the 2nd question, but I am genuinely curious.
 
on_the_edge said:
What steel is it? Also, they said it was "in spec" for a knife at that price point. If it was a more expensive version of the Para 3, would that make a difference? Not sure if you know the answer to the 2nd question, but I am genuinely curious.
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CTS-BD1N steel on this one, they did say the G10 model is held to a higher standard. Wish I'd have known that going into it but that's ok.
 
MarkN86 said:
I got a call from Spyderco Warranty dept and apparently it is within spec for this knife due to it being a cheaper model. They said they usually don't fix these issues but that if I wanted they would replace it this once if I wanted, but there is no guarantee that it would be better. I went ahead and had them replace it so I'm pretty much rolling the dice.

I think I've become one of those PITA people. Moving forward I'll learn to be happy with whatever I get.
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That is a horrible response. I'm honestly shocked. No way should that be acceptable. @Sal Glesser @tazkristi I know you all are busy and there is a lot going on right now but can you take a look at this?
 
I also find that a bit hard to believe. I have multiple Spydercos in that price range, and none have bent blades.
 
I received a replacement knife and it is absolutely perfect. The blade is dead straight, it is centered, great lockup and action. Exactly what I would expect from a Spyderco. I am very thankful that it was replaced and I was taken care of.

What upsets me is that in addition to being told a bent blade is normal and in spec, I received a letter stating that *I* damaged the knife and that it was not covered under warranty, but were doing me a service by replacing it, and that in the future similar requests may be denied. I thought bent was in spec? The knife was bent from the box and in no way did I hurt it. This must have been a form letter.

While I understand the problem was relatively minor and I am grateful that it was replaced with a properly built knife, I am considering whether or not to take a break from buying Spyderco products for a little while after this experience, it could have been handled better. Very stressful experience and it seemed like I was more of a problem than being valued as a customer.

I am not putting this on the forum to bash the company or deter others from buying these products, I just wanted to document my experience where Sal and other management may possibly see it in the event that it slipped under the radar.
 
If they replaced your knife with a perfect one, I would just let it go and be happy. All's well that ends well. It certainly wouldn't make me want to take a break from buying from this company. I could see that if they had not replaced the knife maybe.
 
After taking a few hours to think I can see from the service department's perspective. There are probably quite a few people who something dumb and then try to pull a fast one on the company to fix it.

Water under the bridge, it got fixed in the end. I will say nothing more of it, except that I doubt that this Para3 is leaving my pocket anytime soon.
 
I hope you love it, and I bet you will. I plan to get one eventually, after we are back to work and things get closer to normal.
 
MarkN86 said:
I received a replacement knife and it is absolutely perfect. The blade is dead straight, it is centered, great lockup and action. Exactly what I would expect from a Spyderco. I am very thankful that it was replaced and I was taken care of.

What upsets me is that in addition to being told a bent blade is normal and in spec, I received a letter stating that *I* damaged the knife and that it was not covered under warranty, but were doing me a service by replacing it, and that in the future similar requests may be denied. I thought bent was in spec? The knife was bent from the box and in no way did I hurt it. This must have been a form letter.

While I understand the problem was relatively minor and I am grateful that it was replaced with a properly built knife, I am considering whether or not to take a break from buying Spyderco products for a little while after this experience, it could have been handled better. Very stressful experience and it seemed like I was more of a problem than being valued as a customer.

I am not putting this on the forum to bash the company or deter others from buying these products, I just wanted to document my experience where Sal and other management may possibly see it in the event that it slipped under the radar.
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Without hearing spyderco's side of this, that is very disappointing. I have always held spyderco in high regard as a company, and without an explanation from them on this, they have moved a peg down in my book. I tagged them twice in this thread with no response.
 
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