Choosing Para 3 Steel

[Oogie]

Trying to choose just one Para 3 to start with - and there appears to be a few great options either currently or soon available. I’m hoping to avoid buyers remorse in working my way up the range of super steels. Any thoughts on the pros/cons or overall hierarchy from what I seem to find out there: S110V, Maxamet and the M390??

Somewhat blindly going by MSRP, the Maxamet seems to be the premier steel, but I can imagine that likely isn’t a linear consideration to just look at the retail pricing of super steels. My main consideration is to still retain rust resistance, but otherwise I don’t have any driving requirements and don’t have any other knives with any of these steels.

[Sharp Guy]

Honestly, the basic S30V model is an excellent place to start. All around good knife steel IMO.

[Slumblor]

For a standard EDC knife, and if you're looking for corrosion resistance, I agree with Sharp Guy that S30V is a good all round steel. The S110V is good too, but it can be tough to sharpen. I would probably go with the M390 myself though

[SharpieB]

Honestly, the basic S30V model is an excellent place to start. All around good knife steel IMO.

This.

Good value, easy to sharpen and holds an edge well. I love mine.

[farnorthdan]

Cruwear for the win, I also have a S30V and it's nice too.

[ZrowsN1s]

My vote would be the S110V. Love the handle color, the steel is stainless with impressive edge retention and wear resistance. It takes longer to sharpen than some steels, but it takes longer to dull it too :D

edit* if you can find a cruwear para like Dan suggested, buy it.

[Sharp Guy]

Cruwear for the win, I also have a S30V and it's nice too.

I do love edge Cruwear that takes! I'm also very happy with how S30V sharpens too. I said that I was buying the M390 Para 3 as an upgrade for my first run S30V version. After thinking about it, I'm not so sure I'll be so quick to get rid of it. It's become one of my favorite work knives.

[blueblur]

I was lucky enough to get a cruwear Para 3 and love it. I wasn’t sure how I would like the model and when I had the chance to try it in cruwear I jumped at the opportunity. After primarily using steels like cruwear, M4 and s110v over the last year or two, I’ve been carrying the sliverax in S30V a few times a week since I got it and it’s really brought me back to “reality” with how great a steel the “standard” choice really is. If you have a chance to try out a sprint run steel that interests you it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try. You could likely sell it and make most of your money back but don’t turn down S30V just “because”. It really is a great all around option, and it’s readily available in a handful of flavors.

[Mstach07]

I have a para 3 in all blade steels offered. All good. Honestly, I find the darker g10 colors better for my edc especially when wearing my tight skinny jeans... gotta carry the blade in back pocket. Not kidding. Hey, I wear what my wife buys me. I rather spend my time shopping for knives than shopping for clothes. Food for thought. You could get the s30v and buy an mxg gear deep carry clip for the same price as the s110v model

[FK]

Really like how Cruwear sharpens up to very nice edge.
Use and when fells like time,,, then light stropping on diamond coated hard thin leather strop.

Regards,
FK
Member since Feb 17, 2001

[Ric]

S110V you can get now everywhere for low money.

Other supersteels are harder to get and costs more.

I recommend S110V.
Also the blurple handle color is nice.

[steelcity16]

Are there any retailers who still have the Cruwear in stock?

[Igi964]

S110V for sure. Great edge retention, unique colour, cheaper than other two:)

[standy99]

Hang out for M4

[ross8425]

Right now, I would get the m390. S110v is only $10 less from KC. And if you don't like it, you can always sell the m390 on the secondary market for a small to medium house once it is sold out.

[Smooth_Operater]

S110V for sure. Great edge retention, unique colour, cheaper than other two:)

I agree. I found mines easy to sharpen, with diamond stones of course. All I used was the medium and fine diamond stones on my lanksy sharpener, then finished with the sharpmaker.