Paramilitary refinement - Need input.

[TheKnifeCollector]

I think the handle to blade ratio is perfect. I would like to see a low ride clip, and it be a framelock.

[speyederlover]

Sal,
The 4 way clip would be great. I like the idea of the ball bearing lock because I'm lefty and that would make it ambidextrous. But, the compression lock would still be fine because it is very lefty friendly. I would like to see it in the peely carbon fiber as a sprint run with whatever changes you make. But, it would be cool in an olive drab G-10 in production models. The handle could be slightly shorter and I like the idea of the nested liners. Thanks for the opportunity to provide some input.

[Irish Lager]

Ted, Post that Pic of the OD Green Para that we were thinking of having for the 2005 forum knife,

I still think an OD green G-10 para would be the best looking spyderco ever.

agreed,
OD green w/ 4 way clip, problem solved.
J

[J.B]

Sal,

the Paramili is still THE ONE for me, because it´s higly reliable, ergonomic, sturdy, lightweight and has the best materials.

1. Please don´t change length or thickness of handle and blade or weight because in my eyes they are absolutely perfect. A shorter blade could add customers in 3" limit juristictions but can keep off others from buying a knife that they consider rather short bladed in relation to the handle and for the main tasks as the ultimate mid size survival folder.

2. Overall thick demountable screw construction like on Delica 4 and Endura 4 would be an appropriate evolution.

3. Thick pivot screws with at least T10 heads could be of help. My first Paramili had T10, the 2nd and 3rd one have T9 which I consider a bit delicate.

4. Torx or hex clip screws that do not lose color or show copper after rubbing the black color off would be fine, e.g. the Adventura clip screws look great.

5. A strong detent as the one of my Lil T or the strong (ball) dentent of my Mili would increase safety.

6. The square end of the clip sometimes bites the palm of my hand a bit. A round clipend like Delica 4, Endura 4 and Adventura have which is slightly bend to the grip scale would be perfect.

7. A low rider and/or maybe wire clip could also be a very nice option for inconspicuous carry.

8. I had a special maybe personal problem with the compression lock which for me is the best lock I know. In hammergrip I tried to find more resistance (like one has on the Lil T handle end) and put my index finger on the butt end of the knife. While increasing grip pressure I noticed that I suddenly released the lock with the side of my right hand that sat exactly on the locking liner release. To eliminate this the release maybe has to be lowered or a microbar spring like Microtech has could keep the liner in or a LAWKS kind of safety like CRKT uses could prevent the lock from beeing released unintended. An other idea was a slide that covers the lock release.

9. Thank You for asking and reading this, Sal, Sir, and thanks for reading, all others! It is outstanding how Spyderco cares for wishes and tastes of their customers. :eek:

Best wishes,
JB

[Senate]

a better blade/handle length ratio, the blade is too small for that big handle :)

[kgriggs8]

Dump the compression lock idea altogether. Some people tolerate it, some people hate it. I am getting to the point where I won't buy a Spyderco with a compression lock anymore. It is a real turn off for me.

[trout #2]

I don't have a Para yet, but it's on the list. I would suggest these upgrades from the pics I've seen:

* low-ride wire clip
* clip doesn't have to be 4-way, but left/right would be great (4-way is just fine too)
* compression or ball-bearing lock
* keep the nested liners, the slim lightweight profile like the Military is great
* peel-ply carbon fiber would be really cool, but not if it adds significant cost
* colored G-10 is also good, but nothing very bright; OD green, dark grey, navy blue, etc

[redhawk44p]

The Para is very nearly perfect. I would wish for a low ride clip and a little more balance between the blade and handle length. If it had these improvements I would probably never need another knife, it would be simply ideal for my needs.

[Michael Cook]

:spyder: 4 way clip like the e4 and d4 and I'm in. I'll finaly join the club. Millie too, lack of 4 way carry is the only reason I don't have at least one. :spyder:

[Fred Sanford]

I now have 2 Para's. I love them big time.

The knife is pretty much perfect. I love the blade to handle ratio. I love the length of everything on the knife. I love the detent. I love the compression lock. I love the fact that it's light due to partial nested liners. I love the G10 and the texture. I love the "high ride" clip because then at least it's not "concealed" and it's easy to retrieve.

Obviously if too much is changed it will no longer be the Para.

I only would change 2 things.

1. Tip up clip positioning.

2. Excentric pin so that as the compression lock wears I can adjust the pin to let it go more or less across the tang. I've heard that it's already like this but I've tried it and it only helps a very tiny bit.

Please KEEP the compression lock! :D

Please make sure to not change the nature of the Compression Lock. I LOVE the milled-tang version, as I dislike and for some reason can't come to trust ball-bearing detents.

Overall, the Para Military is a spectacularly good knife, even just as it is.

-Jeffrey

I totally agree with Jeffrey here too though.


Thanks for asking.

[peacefuljeffrey]

Wow, have I had an eyeful from the rest of the replies!

- It appears to me that the reason the blade is "short compared to the handle" is that the pivot is a significant distance from the pivot-end of the knife. I would not change this, as pushing the pivot closer to the end means less of the tang would be sandwiched between the handle scales, and possibly invite horizontal blade play. If people want a longer blade, why not just get the Military?

- Please don't EVER dump the Compression Lock! Especially not when those who speak against it don't articulate any good reason to do so -- or any articulated reason at all. The Compression Lock is a stroke of genius.

I was just examining my Para Military (and this thread has made me decide to put it into EDC rotation!) and I realized the edge it has over liner locks is that a tight grip in saber orientation will not cause the lock to release! That is a tremendous virtue of this lock.

- Of course I would love to see the Para Military done with a Ball Bearing Lock, which is the only lock I like more than the Spyderco milled-tang Compression Lock.

- Please don't ever switch from milled-tang to ball-bearing detent. What can fail about a milled-tang? A ball bearing can wear away or even come out, possibly.

- Please don't ever add needless parts and complications like a LAWKS redundant lock release switch. One huuuuge reason for many of us to love Spydercos is that they are the "GLOCKS of the knife-world," in their elegant simplicity. Throwing too much crap into a knife will ruin it.

Seems that it's only in the (I presume rarely used) hammer grip that there is any issue (and it is anecdotal) with the C.Lock inadvertently disengaging. Install a LAWKS-like switch just for that? I can't see it. Drawbacks of over-complexity outweigh the potential safety gained for hammer-grip use.

- I definitely now see the need for setting the clip to ride lower in the pocket. For front pocket carry (which is how I will now carry my Para), the current clip is fine. For back pocket carry, it can have a swinging tendency because so much weight is above the clip attachment point. I was not aware of this because, frankly (and embarrassingly) I had never really put the knife into my pocket!

-Jeffrey

[peacefuljeffrey]

and I'm sure I speak for everyone here, actually:

Sal, THANK YOU for even ASKING us for our input.

We really appreciate that you are the kind of man and knifemaker who comes directly to his customers (the "ELUs") and actually asks us what we would like from his company!

Although I thought nothing could have increased the respect I already had for you and Spyderco, you just managed to do it.

Thanks again. :)

-Jeffrey

[bowarrow2000]

I have two Paras, 1 user & 1 waiting to be used someday. The only thing I would like to see changed is the clip, low rider type.

[talonturbo]

I hate 4 way clips. Sorry for being a righty (and fan of tip down) but extra holes keep me from buying certain models.

The only complaint with the para is the blade to handle ratio, which means moving the pivot closer to the end of the handle.

Otherwise I still think it's perfect.

[thombrogan]

You had me at 4-way carry.

Maybe a sprint-run in FRN with a fully-serrated H-1 blade?

[peacefuljeffrey]

I hate 4 way clips. Sorry for being a righty (and fan of tip down) but extra holes keep me from buying certain models.

I agree with you on that, and posted to that effect recently (it might have been on BF, though).

I just thought that it's pretty rude of right-handers to be so catered to and leave left-handers with slim choices of knives. I myself do not want extra holes that I'll never use on my knives, but in fairness, I have to support the notion.

That, or just make a small portion of dedicated left-hand versions of major models.

-Jeffrey

[peacefuljeffrey]

I forgot something I thought of before: a slightly enlarged lanyard hole.

Most knives, if they have one at all, have lanyard holes that are just barely wide enough to admit a single strand of paracord or other utility cord through, let alone the two strands that have to go through if one wants to Lark's Head the lanyard through the hole so that it can be easily removed.

-Jeffrey

[J Smith]

Make it a liner lock or even better a CRK style ti frame lock.
The compression lock is why I don't have one now.
Tip up clip.
The scales are a little long for the blade length.
A larger pivot more like the Military would be nice too.

[Harry White]

i don't own one, but i've handled one. and it's near perfect! please DON'T change the blade shape/size -- it's fits with harmony with the size of the handle.

i would like to see slightly more textured g-10 scales, and a brushed SS, low-ride clip. and the larger lanyard hole was a good idea too.

[Fred Sanford]

I wonder when the "refined" model will be released?

*can't wait* :D