- Joined
- Feb 4, 1999
- Messages
- 5,786
Wel;l, I just got my Paramilitary and my initial impression is "wow, what a knife!" After my recent not-so-great luck with the Dodo, the Para has me floored! I have #078 with a fully serrated edge and it's the first run, maybe, with the black notch cut in the choil to serve as a detent for the Compression Lock.
I guess I have had one previous experience with the Compression Lock via my BIL's Salsa. I wasn't totally impressed with the lock at that time because his knife was tight in the closed position, so the only way to open was with the thumb (i.e. no gravity opening, etc). I'd have to take a closer look at his, but the lock on this Para opens and feels just like a liner lock to me, locks up nicely and closes easily. Everything I would expect from a Spyderco.
The first thing that really surprised me was the weight and stout feeling of this knife. I will have to weigh these two at home, but the Paramilitary feels heavy to me. It could be a perception difference, in other words, because the Military looks like a heavy, big knife and it is so light, it seems light and airy, maybe even fragile (although it's been proven that it is anything BUT fragile!). So, perhaps because the Para is 2/3 the size of the Military I figured it would be 2/3 the weight, too, it seems heavier than it is? We;'ll see when they hit the scale.
If I remember correcly the Military has a titanium liner lock, and when you look at the metal involved in the stainless steel compression lock of the Para as well as the substantial partial liner on the other side of the handle it makes sense that this has some extra weight. If I had to take a bet I'd say the Paramilitary weighs a bit more than the Military, but we'll see.
The handle of the Para fits my hand MUCH better. The Military handle is way too big for my hands, although still comfortable to hold, carry and use. I like the smaller handle, which is perfect for my hands, but the fact that the blade retains the same grind, the extra large SpyderHole, etc. The weight is perfect for the knife and whereas the Military has a sort of float-away feeling to it the Paramilitary feels really perfect in my hand.
Both are great knives, and I'm sure Military users all have Paras, too, but if you haven't gotten one of these yet then make it a priority. Now I just need to find a plain edge one, too!
All in all an A+ and if I had a PE version it would be my EDC, for sure.
PS: should I avoid using a numbered Spyderco because of some sort of future value?
I guess I have had one previous experience with the Compression Lock via my BIL's Salsa. I wasn't totally impressed with the lock at that time because his knife was tight in the closed position, so the only way to open was with the thumb (i.e. no gravity opening, etc). I'd have to take a closer look at his, but the lock on this Para opens and feels just like a liner lock to me, locks up nicely and closes easily. Everything I would expect from a Spyderco.
The first thing that really surprised me was the weight and stout feeling of this knife. I will have to weigh these two at home, but the Paramilitary feels heavy to me. It could be a perception difference, in other words, because the Military looks like a heavy, big knife and it is so light, it seems light and airy, maybe even fragile (although it's been proven that it is anything BUT fragile!). So, perhaps because the Para is 2/3 the size of the Military I figured it would be 2/3 the weight, too, it seems heavier than it is? We;'ll see when they hit the scale.
If I remember correcly the Military has a titanium liner lock, and when you look at the metal involved in the stainless steel compression lock of the Para as well as the substantial partial liner on the other side of the handle it makes sense that this has some extra weight. If I had to take a bet I'd say the Paramilitary weighs a bit more than the Military, but we'll see.
The handle of the Para fits my hand MUCH better. The Military handle is way too big for my hands, although still comfortable to hold, carry and use. I like the smaller handle, which is perfect for my hands, but the fact that the blade retains the same grind, the extra large SpyderHole, etc. The weight is perfect for the knife and whereas the Military has a sort of float-away feeling to it the Paramilitary feels really perfect in my hand.
Both are great knives, and I'm sure Military users all have Paras, too, but if you haven't gotten one of these yet then make it a priority. Now I just need to find a plain edge one, too!
All in all an A+ and if I had a PE version it would be my EDC, for sure.
PS: should I avoid using a numbered Spyderco because of some sort of future value?
