Paramilitary refinement - Need input.

[Fred Sanford]

Man I would love to test this bad boy out. Can't wait...

[26.2Madness]

Changes are small refinements on the ergos. I believe it is a better knife with the refinements Eric made.

sal

Do you think the release date will end in and 09 or 10 (hopefully not a 11)?

[spyderHS08]

Changes are small refinements on the ergos. I believe it is a better knife with the refinements Eric made.

sal

Hey sal do you have any colors picked that you can share with us yet?
Im guessing black..hoping orange or digi cam though!! :D

[noddy]

Can't see a release date in the thread - any ideas? Middle of next year, or sooner do you think? Got to plan these things, you know, otherwise my kids end up hungry some weekends

[Noble]

This thread is killing me. Need to know more!

[tomcrx]

1. Deep carry clip
2. defang the tang
3. Get rid of the pommel at the back of the handle.

[DrSpeed]

Blade, lock and handle construction are great, don't change them.
I may be the only one, but don't make the handle shorter, the relatively large handle was one of my main reasons for buying it. To improve grip for people with larger hands when not using the choil you could make the hump somewhat smaller to elongate the grip part of the handle.

[Tactical Edge]

1. Tip up carry a must for ease of deployment. Thus a 4 way carry option would be nice.
2. Deep pocket carry for concealment which a wire clip would help to do although I feel that aesthetically it would not help the overall design.
3. Keep the open back G10 scales for its purchase, light weight, and ease of cleaning for feild or edc use.
4. S30V Would be nice but an H1 for the feild would serve nicely.
5. Slightly larger finger choil for gloved use or just to be able to adequately choke up on the blade in general.
6. Compression lock would do just fine.

[noddy]

Since the excitement abut the Para is still raw with me I thought that I'd add something.

The chracter of the Para says workknife. Defines it. It looks uncompromizing, rorty (a word that used to describe particularly ripped and muscular looking British bikes Nortons, BSA - some Triumphs and Vincents - but mainly Tritons)

The handle is perfectly sized and proportioned - I wouldn't touch a hair on it. I might slightly deepen the choil - a tiny amount. I might slightly flatten the belly of the blade as it comes back to the pivot.

Much more than these kinds of miniscule tweaks and I think the knife runs the risk of a kind of castration - a bit like the disastrous (IMO) revision of the small Sebenza.

I'd keep it black

I think I am going to have to buy another of these - getting all antsy now :D :D :D

I love the idea of a new one, but really not sure abut the idea of the old one being discontinued. (I neary chucked myself off a bridge when I had to sell my MiniManix, only to find I couldn't find a replacement 18 months later :) ) It is a basic human right and liberty to be able to buy a black G10 S30V ParaMilitary

[stonetone]

I just got done sharpening my D2 Para for the first time, a matter of no small trepidation for a couple months now. Perhaps it's just the afterglow, but I can't think of anything that would improve this knife in any significant way.

Some context: I did my ZDP D4 first, then the Para, so maybe it benefited by comparison. But this thing tuned up with literally half the work, and it fits my hand better than any knife I own, except maybe the Stretch 2 FRN. The tang bothers me not at all.

Sorry to totally fail the purpose of this thread, but except for maybe some new G10 colors, I'm honestly at a loss. It's a great blade.

[Jay_Ev]

It sounds like the decisions are already made but I've never been on board with the big handle / small blade ratio.

[carrot]

Well, I was thinking... this one over again...

And I have to say I can't imagine improving the Para very much. It is already perfect! However, there is this one complaint I've always had about it, and that is that the tang sticks out a bit when the blade is closed, and is a sharp corner that hurts when digging into your pocket.

While a deep pocket carry clip would be nice (and an excellent accessory option), it is forgetting what the Paramilitary is... the younger sibling of the Military, which is a quick-access, all business knife.

The blade is absolutely perfect, being stout and robust as it is, but still a formidable slicer and I love the blade shape -- it just performs so well and is so versatile. Love the splinter picker tip... which is tougher than the Military's but still thin and usable.

The handles... are excellent... not spectacular like the Caly's or the Stretch's but it is also a very comfortable shape for many hand positions and nicely sized for big hands or gloves. The butt of the handle is excellent, and I have used it a few times as an improvised hammer.

Honestly, I think the Para is a winner as it is and to deviate too much from the formula is truly unnecessary. I can see that small refinements would be improve it, but it's difficult to imagine that it can be made drastically better than what it is now.

If the Para could be carried as a more compact knife... without sacrificing much handle size... I could sell off my Small Sebenza. But the size it is now feels right when it's open and in my hands.

[Jazz]

Awesome! Now that I know you guys are watching, here's my 2 cents :D :

- slightly narrower and less of a hump in the handle will give it a more sleeker look (a la sebenza), and will be more in proportion with it's big bro.
- shorter handle/better blade to handle ratio
- Less pronounced butt-end of the handle (more like the civilians end would be nice)
- A change in color perhaps
- Most definately, get rid of the sharp corner on the blade when the knife is closed

And just for kicks, a photoshopped image :D :

[ATTACH]13280[/ATTACH]

That hump in the handle is one of Sal's best design credits. It fills the cup in the palm, making it so much more comfortable in use. I dislike designs without it immensely. Thanks, Sal! I think a bit larger choil (on the handle side - leave the blade shape like it is) is my only complaint with this great design.

- best wishes, Jazz.

[jezabel]

I've really put my D2 Para through it's paces over the past year EDC'ing everyday until very recently.
I honestly can not speak highly enough of this design.
The blade to handle ratio is perfect as is.
The blade tang sticking out when closed ...who cares? Spyderco's are made to be used not to look pretty.
The ergo's suit me perfectly, I really hope these don't change, although opening up the 50/50 choil more would be nice.
The clip style and carry height also work perfectly for me although the lefties out there are missing out....
Closed retention needs to be improved if a tip up carry option eventuates.
My only real criticisms are that closing the comp lock on the Para with gloves can be tricky at the best of times. Gloved operation is where the Millie really shows up the Para. And lastly could the SE version sport shallower less aggressive serrations??

My 2 cent

Jez.

[jesse2205]

IMO its hard to make the para much better :) . Some small changes to the para I would like to see is the foliage green and also orange color g-10 being in regular production.

[Knifewing]

Hi Sal,

I've been offline for while but saw your post re improving the Para and wanted to respond. I had my D-2 Para with me on a hike yesterday (I also own an older black bladed SE) and was thinking about a couple of ways it could be better (although it's pretty great as it is). I really appreciate the improvements you mentioned about the clip and, especially getting rid of the sharp point at the back of the blade spine.

Two things I would like to see:
1) Because I think of the Para as the ultimate compact outdoor folder, I would love to see it with an orange handle (like the Millie's) for obvious visibility. I live in N. AZ and the foliage green matches the sage and brush too well if somehow it got left on the ground. If you only offered this one change I'd be happy.
2) I really prefer front or back locks and think they're easier to use in outdoor situations. But that's personal preference...

Thanks, as always, for asking for Forum input.

jim

[iwolf81]

I have always wished that my D2 Para had a clip that allowed for tip-up carry... that is, until today. I got a rude awakening this morning by a very sharp knife tip stabbing my finger. I reached into my pants on the floor for my Para, which was pocketed tip-up, and somehow the knife opened up enough for me to stab myself. This puppy is going to be carried tip-down from now on!

Maybe a little extra resistance when opening the knife isn't such a bad thing after all, especially if the new Para will allow for tip-up carry. Also, please include an SE version as well!

Regards,
Ira

[DMgangl]

The only thing I can think of outside of the changes listed in the original post, would be back beveling the blade like the Police 3. I would like to see this on the Military as well.

DM

[gull wing]

It should be hard to change much on this knife, it's so good.
I know it won't happen but, (a change in the handle shape) might nice.

[Leatherneck]

A lower riding clip would be my only request. Have come to love tip down! Seems to me it's what you get used to. After carrying my tip down Para for a month I couldn't get my mini grip back in my pocket without thinking about it. :confused: