Spyderco newbie needing some advice on a para 3

[David Mary]

bidirectional frn

the stuff is simply brilliant.

 

[S35VN_DLC]

Thanks so much Sal-- appreciate you weighing in. I didn't realize you were not only active on the forum, but a moderator. I'm loving my Manix 2 salt in Magnacut btw.
What I'm having a hard time deciding on the para 3 is this: since the blade stock is thicker at 0.145", I'm simply trying to find the 'sliciest' of the available steel options. I understand the trade offs with hardness, edge retention, toughness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance.
If I'm willing to give up some of the toughness and wear resistance I would get in some of the tool steels like Cruwear, is there a SS that would maximize being able to get the sharpest edge possible for the para 3 (knowing its limitations given its thickness) and make it as 'slicey' as possible? And perhaps that's oversimplifying it since many have said they can get a great toothy edge with 15v if sharpened correctly, while also getting other benefits. Do you have a favorite steel for this particular knife?

thanks,

Not to make things more difficult, but if slicey is what you're looking for you might consider a Sage 5 instead of a Para 3

They are almost exactly the same size and handle shapes are similar. But the Sage 5 is essentially a more highly refined Para 3 with thinner blade stock

My Sage 5 LW in SPY27 is a true work of art. The fit and finish is flawless and the action was perfect right out of the box. The Taichung factory takes knife making to the next level. And I love the look of the blade finish with horizontal grind lines on the ricasso and vertical grind lines on the blade. Absolutely beautiful.

Mine is FRN, but it's available in G10 too

https://flic.kr/p/2rTyY6J

https://flic.kr/p/2rTyr8R

 

[Wowbagger]

The factory edges on my Manix and Para 3 15 V have both been perfect . Good and sharp and I swear they are making the sharpening bevel a touch more acute than the other knives .
Perfectly pleased with the edges out of the box (usually I head for the Edge Pro knife sharpener and lay the angles back a bit ) but these 15 V have been cutting WELL ! Very pleased .

I have several Spydercos with SPY 27 . Good stuff . I have not had to sharpen them yet so can't say about that but most likely not much difference than any other mid tere , low vanadium , stainless . = got to mess around with a bur more than the 15 V .

One of my favorite knives , of late , has been the Para 3 Cobalt Blue G-10 which happens to have the Spy 27 (I bought it for the blue handle ) . I modded the heck out of the blade , looks basically like a box knife now . Have been using it everyday at work for several weeks . Has been holding up well edge wise ( is dulled some but still doing the job) . I can't tell you how great this knife feels to me in hand though . Lots of negative edge angle . REALLY LIKE THIS MODDED EDC ! ! ! !

 

[Wowbagger]

Hi Fatherguidosard ucci,

When it comes to blade steel, my attitude has been; "All good, just different". Favorite depends on where I am and what I'm doing.

sal

You said it .
Hey Sal :
is the Spyderco Forum down ?
Haven't been able to get it to come up for a while now .
Love the Para 3s more than I could have ever imagined !
Thank You !

Nah I got it to come up finally but crazy slow slow slow .

 

[Wowbagger]

This image is a very long story (had to have a coworker put it up from his big boy device as well )
reason I am dumping it here is it shows the Para 3 Cobalt Blue G-10 with Spy 27 modded blade . . . and a few other some what similar mods .
Not that I am partial to Spydercos or anything .
Tha's a joke son .

PS : S90V blades swapped into those coarse G-10 Sirens .
M4 ditto into the Tenacious .

 

[Skar]

This image is a very long story (had to have a coworker put it up from his big boy device as well )
reason I am dumping it here is it shows the Para 3 Cobalt Blue G-10 with Spy 27 modded blade . . . and a few other some what similar mods .
Not that I am partial to Spydercos or anything .
Tha's a joke son .

PS : S90V blades swapped into those coarse G-10 Sirens .
M4 ditto into the Tenacious .
View attachment 3087442

What the front ?
You’re turning them into utility knives ?

 

[DA170]

This image is a very long story (had to have a coworker put it up from his big boy device as well )
reason I am dumping it here is it shows the Para 3 Cobalt Blue G-10 with Spy 27 modded blade . . . and a few other some what similar mods .
Not that I am partial to Spydercos or anything .
Tha's a joke son .

PS : S90V blades swapped into those coarse G-10 Sirens .
M4 ditto into the Tenacious .
View attachment 3087442

 

[Wowbagger]

I have several Spydercos with SPY 27 . Good stuff . I have not had to sharpen them yet so can't say about that but most likely not much difference than any other mid tere , low vanadium , stainless . = got to mess around with a bur more than the 15 V .

OOOOOOOOOHHHH !
I just sharpened the Para 3 SPY 27 and
my gosh it debured nice !
Wasn't expecting that !
(basically used the same sharpening angle from the factory = pretty darned great ) :
All ceramic stones ; Shapton Glass (white stones) for the Edge Pro.
Progression :
The first one is the only odd one = Gritomatic "Boride" AM-K Series 220 (is a white stone similar to the Shapton Glass stones ).
SG 500
SG 1000
SG 4000

Debruing strokes as I went . But still if this was a Case SS I would still be trying to get the bur off rather than typing this .
resorting to a strop . . . you know the drill . . .

No strop for this SPY 27 just some very light very limited edge leading both sides then an edge trailing both sides then . . . like that a couple times and hair splitting and pretty darned polished .

HAPPY DOG !

 

[edgelion]

Note to self: never let Wowbagger "sharpen" a knife for me. ...but send 'em one with a broke tip just to see what shape comes back.