- Joined
- Apr 11, 2021
- Messages
- 275
I’ve been using the Spyderco Para 3 S45VN (new) production black DLC blade/digi camo G10, and I honestly bought this knife to take the liners and scales for my Rex 45 blade (sprint run with FRN handles) But then…
The S45VN Para 3 arrived with a perfect grind and perfectly centered - I got a unicorn. How can I mess with it? So I decided to use it as-is for a while and I’m really impressed with it’s edge holding and how easy it is to strop back (JRE strop bat with 3x compounds and leather) This is my only S45VN blade but I have several S35VN knives (cold steel) and the difference in ease of stropping back to life is noticeable. s35VN isn’t “hard to sharpen” but in my experience, it goes dull faster and is harder to maintain. Of course this could be the difference between cold steel and spyderco‘s heat treatments because even the same steels can vary widely - or it could be the edge geometry - the Spyderco Para 3 is thinner than the cold steels (AD15, Recon 1, BT2) - or it could be all of the above. But as my latest EDC I’m thinking I may keep this and just give it some linen micarta scales. The Rex 45 satin blade may need another home, this DLC coated S45vn is really growing on me. Another home run from Spyderco. Make sure to check your retailer’s page for the Spyderco you’re stalking because some have the S45VN but you can still find S30V many places, which you may prefer - so read the fine print before you click “Buy”.
The S45VN Para 3 arrived with a perfect grind and perfectly centered - I got a unicorn. How can I mess with it? So I decided to use it as-is for a while and I’m really impressed with it’s edge holding and how easy it is to strop back (JRE strop bat with 3x compounds and leather) This is my only S45VN blade but I have several S35VN knives (cold steel) and the difference in ease of stropping back to life is noticeable. s35VN isn’t “hard to sharpen” but in my experience, it goes dull faster and is harder to maintain. Of course this could be the difference between cold steel and spyderco‘s heat treatments because even the same steels can vary widely - or it could be the edge geometry - the Spyderco Para 3 is thinner than the cold steels (AD15, Recon 1, BT2) - or it could be all of the above. But as my latest EDC I’m thinking I may keep this and just give it some linen micarta scales. The Rex 45 satin blade may need another home, this DLC coated S45vn is really growing on me. Another home run from Spyderco. Make sure to check your retailer’s page for the Spyderco you’re stalking because some have the S45VN but you can still find S30V many places, which you may prefer - so read the fine print before you click “Buy”.