Spyderco Paramilitary w/ Mod

Lenny

Lenny

Gold Member
Joined
Oct 15, 1998
Messages
2,487
para1.jpg


para2.jpg


Just acquired this from a fellow member and thought I'd post a quick review.

First the bad:
- I hate the lock mechanism for convenience. No way is it easy to close one handed.
- No option for tip-up carry, which I prefer.
- Didn't like the bump in the handle. That's why God invented the Dremel. About 30 minutes of shaping, then some hand finishing with sand paper has made it both more comfy, and aesthetically pleasing to me
- When locked up, there is a tiny bit of vertical blade play. There's more room for the lock bar to travel to the right, but it doesn't seem to want to. I took the knife apart and made sure everything was clean. Also put a little more spring tension in the lock bar. It still doesn't want to move further to the right. Maybe with use it'll start to lock up tighter. This is a minor annoyance as I bought this knife as a real user.
- The clip is slightly uncomfy in a tight grip.
- Badly finished thumb grooves
- Too wide to clip in the front pocket and get your hand in also. This is characteristic of many Spydercos and is intrinsic with the Spyderhole design.
- Handle scales are slightly too thin for a really comfy feel in the hand.

Now the good:
- Zero horiz blade play when locked up.
- Killer blade! Beautiful shape, just the right amount of belly, great point, and frickin' sharp as hell. Plus, it's very simple to keep it sharp on the Sharpmaker. It's a great slicer, plus, since it's relatively thick, has all the strength I'd ever need.
- Nice grippy G-10 handle
- Super strong lock. Easily passed the spine whack test. As a matter of fact, I bashed the heck out of it on the spine, no movement.
- Although the thumb grooves look awful, they have great feel.
- Love the placement, shape, and size of the choil.
- Love the thinness of the knife.
- Medium comfy in use.
- After my handle mod, I think the knife looks great.

Overall, I like it. It's not perfect, but then, what knife is.
Let me know what you think of yours.
Anybody else have the vertical play when locked up?
Has it gone away, increased, or lessened?
Lenny
 
Lenny, nice mod. and review. On the blade play, mine has just a hint,just a tiny hint, of vertical. I don't even notice it in use. It has not gotten any worse over ~1 yr.

I chopped my handle down to 3 3/4" and the blade to 2 1/4" with an opened length of ~6 1/8". It has a ultra low ride tip-up clip(something like you would see on a SOG) I use this knife IWB with the clip tucked under my belt. The only thing finding this sucker is a metal detector!:D

Nice to see someone else making a knife the way you want it to be!:thumbup:

MilitaryandParaMilitary002.jpg

MilitaryandParaMilitary001.jpg
 
Since we are posting modified Para Military pics. I couldn' t resist. Not the best pics but its the best my cheapo scanner can offer with black knives.

STR
 
Good review.

However, the compression lock IS very easy to close one handed. I sometimes do it in my sleep. Just hold the compression lock down and axis flick closed.

Place your thumb on the inside scale (the one closest to you) and hold it with your pointer finger out and it'll be held in the palm of your hand between your other three fingers and thumb. Obviously, make sure those three fingers are out of the way. I like my bottom three fingers to hold onto the clip. With your free pointer finger, hit the compression lock. You should be bracing the pressure with your thumb which is on the exact opposite side. Push and hold the compression lock open--then, whilst open, flick closed.

I also have slight vertical play...if anything it has decreased over its life, but it's still there...also have an off centered blade and unfinished thumb steps.

The bumps half way down the handle of a lot of spydercos feel a little weird to me..it doesn't bother me, so I wouldn't cut it off, but it does feel a little strange.

Thanks for the review, try the one hand closing trick.
 
Lenny said:
First the bad:
- I hate the lock mechanism for convenience. No way is it easy to close one handed.
Click to expand...

Thank you! Finally, someone else that agrees with this.

It's just too awkward.
 
Manifest said:
Here's a video I made with the different methods of closing one handed:
Click to expand...

Wow, impressive.

I still find other locking mechanisms simpler, though. Must be a personal preference.
 
Thanks all.
Now I have to practice the one hand closing trick.
I took the knife apart and smoothed the locking bar out where it engages the
tang of the blade with light filing.
It's a bit better now w/ respect to vert play. I have a feeling that it'll get better with wear.
I did bugger up the tiny torx screws, however because I don't have the proper size driver. Is it a T6?
I'll have to call Spyderco to see if I can get some replacements.
Anyone ever ask them for replacement screws before?
Will they do that?
Thanks all for your comments.
Lenny
 
They've sent me screws before and washers too for that matter.

I like the Para Military. Thats why I have two of them but both are for sale. The one thing I don't like about them is the tang of the blade sticking out there to get your hand if you reach deep into your pocket for something other than your knife. Thats why I most always immediately change them to tip up carry even though that mode is a bit awkward to get the knife out in the proper grip because it is too long of a handle. Even still it is more comfortable sliding your hand down in your pocket in tip up carry because all you feel with your hand is the smooth spine side of the knife as you slide it in your pocket.

STR
 
STR said:
They've sent me screws before and washers too for that matter.

I like the Para Military. Thats why I have two of them but both are for sale. The one thing I don't like about them is the tang of the blade sticking out there to get your hand if you reach deep into your pocket for something other than your knife. Thats why I most always immediately change them to tip up carry even though that mode is a bit awkward to get the knife out in the proper grip because it is too long of a handle. Even still it is more comfortable sliding your hand down in your pocket in tip up carry because all you feel with your hand is the smooth spine side of the knife as you slide it in your pocket.

STR
Click to expand...

How do you do the tip up mod?
Which clip do you use.
The Para clip curves the wrong way.
I'd like to do this too.
Do you just drill 3 small holes and the screws self tap in?
Lenny
 
The way I see it, the compression lock is just a liner lock with lock on top instead of below. I cut my fingers twice using one handed closing using thumb and forefinger but it's the only way.I still prefer the regular liner lock to the compression.
 
Lenny. I've done it several ways. I make a lot of custom clips so making one is not a problem. On the one pictured I had three of those fold over clips I had picked up at knifekits laying around in the shop forever that I couldn't get rid of because guys always opted for me to make a custom one over taking one of those so I just stuck one of them on one of my own knives.

The way I normally do it is as follows:

First you need to get the clip you want. Figure out the optimum spot to mount it and once you get it mark and drill the first hole with a 1/16 drill bit.

Then using a taper 2-56 size threader and mounting that threader in the proper wrench you thread that hole. Make note here because normally you would never use a 1/16 drill bit for a 2-56 tap. 1/16 is too small. Try this in steel you will break the tapper. Normally you would use a number 48 or a number 51drill bit for the 2-56 threads.

Once that first hole is threaded you screw down the clip. Not so tight that it lifts up the other side but secure enough that it helps hold it in place. Now drill the second hole. Thread it and put the screw in. You can do this if the holes are big enough in the clip to allow it. If not the clip has to come off each time. Now if there is a third screw, simply repeat. Now you effectively have it mounted on there pretty darn good.

But take the screws out one at a time and put some super glue on the threads and screw it back down. Do each one. You now have a secure clip. I've never had on pull off doing it this way. G10 and Micarta and even FRN hold threads pretty well this way because you are making the threader bite a bit deeper by using the smaller drill bit.

In the event that one did strip super glue would fix it but if you are really stubborn about details simply take the liner off on the clip side and screw the screws through the G10 into two or three threaded washers for the same size. You can make these yourself by using a thin sheet of brass or aluminum or titanium and then cut them out once you have three holes drilled and tapped for the threads. I've heard of other guys buying a commercial thumb stud and simply partially mounting it on a blade to hold it and cutting off slices of it to use for the washers as backing plates.

One thing about the Para Military, there is plenty of space between the G10 liner and the blade when its closed. Any piece of metal you thread and use for a backing plate around the same thickness as a pocket clip will fit in there without interfering with the operation of the blade or causing fears of scratching it.

Hope that helps.

Steve
 
Dude, Manifest, that reminds me of the way the BM grips flip, but it's spydercoooooooooler... Part of me says, "GET A PARA" and part of me says, S30V is prone to chipping... and well, the debate goes on.
 
I didn't realize how much I loved my Para until I shipped it off to Spyderco, now I'm having bad withdrawl:(
My Para was my first Spyderco purchase, and I thought there was now way I hit jackpot on my first try so I kept buying different knives from different makers.
I still come back to my Para everytime, and don't feel right unless I have it on me.
 
Follow up:
Spyderco sent me replacement screws for free.
Nice!
Anyway, since I've bought the Benchmade 806D2, I figured I could go without the Para for a while.
The vert blade play was just nagging on me so I sent it back to Golden, CO for repair.
I wonder if they can also fit another clip on it to make it tip up carry.
Can't wait to get it back.
I really love that thing.
Lenny
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top