Ergonomic : Delica vs Para 3 LW ?

[Xformer]

I had both, but I resold the Para 3 LW before using it heavily.

For people who had experience with both, how would you compate their respective ergos ?

[JonLeBlanc]

Well unfortunately I've never handled a P3 LW, but I do own a P3 G-10 and a Delica, and I can say that when choked up, the Para3 is one of the most ergonomic knives I've ever held (definitely moreso than the Delica).

[Wartstein]

These similarely sized two knives are really different in their "concept of ergos", and you'll find very differing opinions on them.

I am pretty much the opposite of friend John above: For me the Delica beats the Para 3 in ergos.
I gave a Para 3 LW SE a try and evaluation over the last two month, exactly BECAUSE I never fully "understood" this model. And I must say: I liked it a lot more than the firsr time I could (briefly) try one, but compared to a Delica/Salt 2 I still don t have to think twice to choose the latter - for several reasons, one being ergos.

Funnily enough I found the "squeezed in" grip on the actual handle not that bad on the Para 3 (the grip area there is just too short for my hand, my fingers partly go one over the other when I try to fit them in there). Somehow locked in in a weird way.
Still I think they transferred that "hook" at the end of the handle (shortening grip area) from the larger PM2 to the smallee Para 3 mostly for the looks, rationally speaking a flat handle end would have allowed also somewhat larger hands to fit on the handle (see Sage).
The Delica/Salt 2 is great for me in that regard: Lots of grip area to work with for the overall size on the actual handle, very comfortable for me.

Choked up on the choil the Para 3 feels very good indeed, also for me. If one most times uses the choil anyway this is not a bad choice.
I do choke up on the Delica ricasso too quite frequently, and while it would be silly to say that this is more comfortable than the Para 3 choil, the "ricasso grip" on the Delica gives me more control. More important to me in the typical, not hours in a row long folding knife use.
And in prolongued, "harder" use the comp.lock cutout and open back of the Para 3 come into play and make it less comfortable than the closed back, no cutout backlock Delica anyway.

One slight ergo plus for the Para 3: The thick blade which I othetwise don t like, makes it a tad more comfortable to put the finger on the spine than on the more performance oriented, thin Delica blade

[kennethsime]

Great question.

The Delica uses the classic Spyderco "points" handle, much like the Endura and the Police. My theory is that the "points" handle is useful for quickly acquiring a secure grip. The downside is that those points become hot spots for me, and probably other folks with larger hands.

Personally, I'm a much bigger fan of the "swell" handles, such as those used in the Native, Stretch, and Para families. While it may not be as "tactical," I find the swells much more comfortable for sustained use. Further, all of these knives have a 50/50 choil, which offers a whole heck of a lot of control over the knife when you want to choke up. I think the Shaman might be my favorite of the bunch, because the "pinky bump" is less pronounced. Actually, the Para 3 also has a less-pronounced pinky bump. Again, large hand problems.

If you haven't tried one yet, you might consider the Native 5 LW, which features the "swell" handle shape but a classic mid-back lock like the Delica.

If you're not a fan of choils, you might also consider the Rock Jumper (or the upcoming Leaf Jumper), which features a "swell" handle but no choil.

[Doc Dan]

The Delica has more actual room for an adult hand. The PM3 is too short in that regard. The Delica is fully ambidextrous. The PM3 is not. I feel the lock is better on the Delica, and more secure. The Delica is trimmer and easier to carry all day.

[Wartstein]

.....
The Delica uses the classic Spyderco "points" handle, much like the Endura and the Police. My theory is that the "points" handle is useful for quickly acquiring a secure grip. The downside is that those points become hot spots for me, and probably other folks with larger hands.

Personally, I'm a much bigger fan of the "swell" handles, such as those used in the Native, Stretch, and Para families. While it may not be as "tactical," I find the swells much more comfortable for sustained use. Further, all of these knives have a 50/50 choil, which offers a whole heck of a lot of control over the knife when you want to choke up. I think the Shaman might be my favorite of the bunch, because the "pinky bump" is less pronounced. Actually, the Para 3 also has a less-pronounced pinky bump. Again, large hand problems.
....

Really goes to show how subjective this all is and that there can't be no generalization:

- I have L to XL hands
- The "Delica handle points" never create any hotspots at all for me (while features like a comp.lock cutout or certain clip placements do). They just make the knife more stable in my hand
- Choking up on a Delica ricasso gives me more "a heck of a lot of control" (not the same as comfort!) than most choils. The Para 3 choil is actually pretty good in that regard, as are the Chap and Stretch 1 choils, while the Native choil feels good when just holding the knife but offers less "control" in real use for me.
- The "pinky bump" for me is nice on large enough handles, but close to a design flaw on short handles like the Para 3 has (for larger hands). It is not on the longer PM2, but as said: I really think the Para 3 has it more in order to look like a Mini PM2 than for rational ergp considerations (unless it is deliberately designed for smaller hands or one always grips it choked up on the choil).

[Wartstein]

Deleted cause not enough on topic

[Matus]

Because of the rounded butt on the P3 (LW or not), it is too short for a full grip when not choking up - this becomes noticeable when one tries to apply a larger amount of downward force (like when cutting something stiff). Other than that I personally prefer P3 LW handle over Delica even if the Delica is overall a more practical knife with the thinner blade.

[knifemovieguy]

After p3lw everything else feels sloppy in hand. Delica has a "neutral" handle compared to it because of lack of finger groove and hook on the end of the handle, thinner blade stock which is not that comfy for thumb.