The Caly 3 or the Para Mili

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bitter1

Joined
Mar 3, 2008
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I have both of these knives in fact they are both lying in front of me open with some RemOil on the blades and I was just wondering which one I like more and I am just so in love with the D2 Para Mili and it is just every thing I want in a folding knife wright now. I have had this knife for about 6-9 months . I also do now have a Caly 3 that I have had for about a week or so and I am really liking it. The Para Mili makes for a great knife with it's large handle and excellent G-10 and ergonomics with great jimping on the choil and blade hump make a great knife for any situation except maybe dress then that is where the Caly 3 would come in with it slim and svelte lines and low riding wire clip make the knife appear almost invisible. For some time there all I was carrying was the Para Mili and now that I have the Caly 3 that is what I am carrying now, except when I was carrying both of then in my 5.11 tac lites.Read about my little Caly 3 review here.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=672827

But the question in this thread is what do you gentlemen/women love about either of these knives, or if you plan on getting either of these models then say so and I fully endorse both models and can not choose a favorite over each other but they have their moments and situations when they really shine and they both EDC very well the Caly 3 a little easier being smaller but the Para Mili is also awesome EDC.
 
You have hit upon what I consider my favorite (equally so) two models (well, 3 really if you include the Caly Jr.). If I had to get rid of any of them, I would have a great deal of trouble deciding which to keep. My Para is S30V though whereas yours is D2. Still, all of these are grand slams for Spyderco IMHO. :thumbup:
 
For awhile I was carrying a UKPK for work and my P-Mil was reserved for home and weekends. It just worked out better because of the deep pocket clip on the UKPK, it drew less sheeple attention.

I am sure neither of them will mind if you split the carry time.

But if there can be only one, it's pretty simple. Go P-Mil for the better steel, better lock, and the cool "Golden, CO, USA Earth" logo. :D:thumbup:
 
My FG Para Military is my favorite EDC for all around use and my micarta Calypso Jr. is my favorite dress EDC.
 
Those were my two favorites untill I got the SageII.
I still like them, but this Sage fits my hand better than any knife I've ever held.
 
The Para I like better. :) Of course, nothing matches the real deal.

IMG_0023-4.jpg
 
I vote Caly3, but in the CF/ZDP version. Great steel, ergos, and low-riding clip. The Para is nice, but I always thought the blade/handle ratio was a bit off. And I prefer tip-up carry.
 
I think the Caly 3 three fits the hand like a glove,it's the most comfortable folder I own.But the para military gets all the pocket time. It's just such a wicked slicer,has better steel,G10,and I love the compression lock.
Plus check out that blade stock :eek: I'm lovin it!
 
Caly 3 fits my hand the best. Lock-back is idiot-proof, the choil is perfect, the hump on the blade is perfect and VG10 is perfect (takes a nice scary sharp polished edge).

Para is a little big off in the term of handle/blade ratio and I don't like the compression lock as much as a framelock or linerlock.

Now if they shortened the handle of the Para by half and inch and changed it to a framelock, that would be PERFECT.
 
raindog101 said:
I vote Caly3, but in the CF/ZDP version. Great steel, ergos, and low-riding clip. The Para is nice, but I always thought the blade/handle ratio was a bit off. And I prefer tip-up carry.
Click to expand...

I vote for the Para... It's just such a sweet knife.

My real dig on the CF/ZDP version is the sandwich line of the combo steel. Just hate that thing :mad: Love ZDP knives tho...
 
I think the Caly 3 is perfect. The edge is so thin. One of the thinnest factory edges I've seen. Handle ergos are great. It's a classic that makes me wonder why I have so many other, inferior folders.
 
I carry my ZDP Caly 3 in my left front pocket, and that's where it's been 99% of the time for the past two years.

Forget about choosing one over the other, it'll never happen. Switch your Caly 3 to left hand carry and it will never move from that spot.
Even when you get some fancy new knife, those go on your right side, you never even think of putting the Caly down.

In the end I suppose this means I prefer the Caly 3. Even though I say the Military is my absolute #1 top dog favorite, the Caly 3 probably gets twice as much carry time.
 
caly 3 for me because of its nice size but tremendous cutting ability. I love the wire clip, its lock, and the caly's blade shape just makes me warm and fuzzy inside when I look at it. For lighter cutting chores, it is the absolute perfect knife for me. If I could only keep one knife ever, it would have to be my zdp cf caly 3. I would be a very happy customer if Spyderco made some sprint runs with SUPREME materials used. If not, thats ok, I have enough caly;s to last me a lifetime.

PS. The para rocks.
 
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