Sold the Phoenix

B

bearcut

Joined
Sep 3, 2006
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I just didn’t like it.

I tried to like it, but it just kept annoying me with its various idiosyncrasies.

Too bad, it sure looked cool.

A bought a ZPD Caly at the same time as the Phoenix. This knife is pretty nice despite the fact that the blade came with a factory chip in it.(This is their high-end stuff?) Not thrilled with the pinned CF handle slabs either, but, oh well.

ParaMilitary on the way.

If this one doesn’t work for me, I will have to put Spyderco back on my ‘don’t bother’ list.
 
I wouldn’t worry. For me the Paramilitary only has one flaw and the good things about the knife are so good that its easy to over look. Really its one of the best knives I’ve ever handled. Pure function over form.

Did you send your Caly 3 back? Spyderco will take care of you.
 
Send the Caly3 back.

It's pinned to keep cost down. $150 for a CF/ZDP-189 folder is pretty good.

You should try the millie after the para. :thumbup: Both are exceptional knives. The para you will find has a disproportionately short blade and long handle. Some love it, some don't. I think it's extremely functional, especially with gloves on.
 
I have heard many good things about the Para.
Someone just posted something about a new Para coming out this year. Doh!
Any truth to this?

The military doesn’t have the compression lock or I might have considered it.
It is just a bit too big for my needs as well.

I know I could have sent the Caly back to Spyderco and they would take care of it.
I touched it up myself on the sharpmaker.
I was disappointed that the knife ever left the factory that way in the first place.

The Phoenix had a scale that looked like it had been slightly misshapen compared to the other side. It actually looked like it had been burned or melted during manufacture.
It wasn’t terribly noticeable, but it was there.

I’m not super picky, but gee, these are two of Spydercos most expensive models.
I would think QC might have their radar set a little higher for these offerings.

I was buying $80-150 Benchmades just a few years ago that had higher quality / less defects than these last two Spydies. (Benchmade seems to be lowering their standards lately; I’m not at all impressed with that company anymore)

I am trying to give Spyderco a chance.
I do like the upscale Caly quite a bit. It is much nicer to use than the Phoenix was. The lockback is unhandy though, which is why the compression lock interests me.

I will post my feeling about the Para soon.

I will really like it. I hope.
 
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As said send the Caly 3 in and that chip will be gone. How big of a chip is it? I'm guessingit is miniscule and would be gone in a sharpening or two, and I'm not sure where you bought it but I've seen plenty of display models in stores chipped out from handling and bumping around the knives. If it is a tiny chip I wouldn't care since I sharpen my knives pretty much first thing when I get them to an angle and finish more to my liking, but I can understand wanting a nice razor edge on your new Caly 3. The knife is a wonderful knife with great ergos and tremendous blade geometry for some of the best cutting ability you are going to find in a pocket knife. The steel gets really sharp and holds an excellent edge at very thin angles, I would give it a chance by sending it in for a sharpening at Spyderco if you don't feel up to sharpening out the chip yourself. I really am interested in seeing just how big this chip is, though.

The Para is good but if you have larger hands the bump to the rear of the handle may or may not be a bit uncomfortable when you grip it without using the choil. In a choked up grip with the choil it isn't an issue for anyone that I know of, otherwise it is an excellent design. Very strong and reliable lock and a very nice cutting blade that is tough as well.

Mike

Edit: I see the chip came out on the Sharpmaker, so it couldn't have been that bad. It is annoying, and probably left the factory that way, but I would wonder if it happened at the dealer you bought it from. Probably not, but if a chip is small enough to be easily taken care of by a Sharpmaker on ZDP 189 steel it must have been somewhat small.
 
Aren't all lockbacks pinned together? The caly has an adjustable pivot screw that many lockbacks don't have.
 
IIRC, the CF Stretch II is screw construction, not pinned.

Also, the upcoming FRN Stretch II will be screw construction like the E4/D4.
 
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