Which one, Para or Delica?

Which one, Delica or Para 3?

  • Delica

    Votes: 23 71.9%

  • Para 3

    Votes: 9 28.1%
  • Total voters
    32
H

Hjalmar69

Joined
Aug 3, 2019
Messages
172
I really want a a Spyderco and I'm getting a tax refund, so now I got some cash. . But which? I'm currently interested in the Delica K390 and the Para 3 but don't know how to choose. I like the coil on the Para.... But I've never had them in my hand.
 
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Delica if you want to carry a laser beam that is so light and compact that you'll hardly notice it in your pocket.

Para 3 if you want a little more substantial handle and slightly easier one-hand operation with the compression lock. The Para 3 may also be a tad bit thicker behind the edge, so perhaps a bit more robust but still a great slicer.

Get both in whatever flavor of steel you prefer, I know I did.
 
So, I think you should go hold both. Because I have large glove size hands and the para 3 handle doesn't work for me, the delica does. The para 3 when you hold it the rear bump out of the handle hits right under my pinky and would be annoying.

I think the delica definitely cuts better. It has thinner blade than the thick blade on the para 3.

I think the para 3 is annoying with its choil and handle. Always making you choose between too far backwards or too far forwards. The delica has one handle position and it's always right. The delica disappears in your pocket better. Nice thin design. The only thing the para might be better at with its thicker handle is a bit more to hammer grip. But I carried my delica as a work knife for 6 months and used it in serious work and it was always enough. With the benefits of a better cutting blade.

The k390 is a seriously good steel, can't go wrong there. But if you can get a 15v para 3, it's a mute point.

I prefer the lockback over the compression lock. It's quick and easy to use and unlock abd fold back one handed and is ambidextrous. I do like the compression lock on my paramilitary2, but not quite as much as the back lock.

To me the para 3 looks "nicer" but the delica is going to outperform it in cutting things. I carry an endela everyday now in case you were wondering. Same good design as the delica, a little bigger, still thinner blade than the para 3. Sometimes I take the delica for a spin. The PM2 is in the middle of a fight with a belt grinder loosing its choil.
 
For me between those two, Delica, hands down, no contest. If I wanted a different lock or didn't want FRN, I'd get some flavor of Sage.
 
Hjalmar69 said:
I really want a a Spyderco and I'm getting a tax refund, so now I got some cash. . But which? I'm currently interested in the Delica K390 and the Para 3 but don't know how to choose. I like the coil on the Para.... But I've never had them in my hand.
Click to expand...
I finally have something constructive to add to this beyond my signature : BUY BOTH, YOU WILL EVENTUALLY ANYWAY .
and that is :

how big are your hands ?
Factually the Delica was designed for women's hands . I am not saying ANYTHING derogatory about the truly great Delica ! I have a whole pile of them from basic to Titanium . . . from VG10 to HAP40 and M390 (and K390 love that stuff too !) .

I have size 9 / large man hands and though I get along with the Delica handle I prefer the next size up ; that being the Salt which has a slightly thicker handle but very similar blade .
That said I carried my Delica HAP40 all last work week and like it .

If you have larger hands it MIGHT be Para 3 time for you . I have a few of those as well though I tend to reach for my Para 2s first .
 
Personally for me the Delica all day everyday over the Para 3. The Delica is a better cutter and the Delica disappears in pocket and carries better imo. The back lock is easy to operate one handed.

For me personally, although it may seem that the opposite is true, the Delica fits my hand much better than the Para 3 which just feels awkward. I wear an L or XL glove.

That said I prefer the Native 5 over both.
 
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Wowbagger said:
I finally have something constructive to add to this beyond my signature : BUY BOTH, YOU WILL EVENTUALLY ANYWAY .
and that is :

how big are your hands ?
Factually the Delica was designed for women's hands . I am not saying ANYTHING derogatory about the truly great Delica ! I have a whole pile of them from basic to Titanium . . . from VG10 to HAP40 and M390 (and K390 love that stuff too !) .

I have size 9 / large man hands and though I get along with the Delica handle I prefer the next size up ; that being the Salt which has a slightly thicker handle but very similar blade .
That said I carried my Delica HAP40 all last work week and like it .

If you have larger hands it MIGHT be Para 3 time for you . I have a few of those as well though I tend to reach for my Para 2s first .
Click to expand...
That's why I have an endela now. The handle is a better size for my hands. But I loved the delica for it's design
 
I'd recommend a Delica. It's a solid all around knife and the K390 is great. The Para 3 is also a great knife, but I feel that the Delica is a better introduction into the Spyderco design ethos. It is also very thin and about as slicey as any pocket knife out there. Won't be as fun of a fidget toy as the Para 3, but it's up to you to decide if that's a deciding factor.
 
I’m voting both. The Para for a “nice” knife and the Delica for a harder use knife. I like having hard use knives and also somewhat classier knives so it’s nice to have a few in the same size range but a few different “class” levels.

Edit: Not to say for a second that you can’t have a Para as a hard use knife at all. It’s just a higher quality level is all.
 
Looks like I’m in the minority here.

If I could only keep one, I would keep my Para 3 but I would hope for a time when I could get another Delica. I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t miss it.

Thank goodness, I can keep both of them.
 
I have several of both, and the Delica gets a lot more pocket time. It cuts better because it has thinner blade stock and is thinner behind the edge. It also has a smaller footprint in the pocket. I prefer the K390 and PD#1 variants.
 
Delica k390 is awesome, but if you are new to Spyderco there's currently a 15v run of pm3s and now is the time to get them, they are limited. You can get lw pm3 version and upgrade scales after or get g10 version, they are both good. You will have compression lock Spyderco already and later it's easier to buy the cheaper Delica and find out why we have a special place in our hearts for it.
 
Delica is thin and light, Para 3 is a little more substantial and smooth.

If pocket space is your #1 priority, Delica in K390 100%.

If knife ‘feel’ especially opening and closing, is important to you, Para 3. The 15V in G10 and Crucarta versions are tops. Personally I would not bother with Para 3 LW…we have Para 3s and have handled the LWs at the SFO and the G10 versions felt so much better.

Correct answer is both, in multiple versions.
 
I was in the market for a smaller knife for rotation and settled on a Spyderco. I have a LKS that has tons and tons of models. I settled on the Para 3 in Crucarda.
para-3-partial-fold.jpg
 
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