Para 3 vs paramilitary 2

[Smaug]

Guess a better question would be is has anyone bought either one of these thinking,”man if it only had a blade in xxx steel it would be perfect”, yeah I know it’s a tall order subject to less than objective thinking but hey, such is life. Stainless means less to me than endurance. Greatly appreciate all the responses I appreciate every suggestion.

Maxamet is what your want, given the above. In edge retention, it's unbeatable.

[Dornbox]

I've been on a bender for both these knives and so far I can't say I can tell a whole lot of difference between the steels but my knives mostly cut up boxes from appliances, furniture, and Amazon. I will say my first Para was a 2 and it felt large in my hand. Then I purchased a 3 and fell in love. In short order I purchased a few Para 3s and another Para 2. Neither of the Para 2s saw any action. Then I purchased the Millie because I had to have the Rex 45. After holding that for an evening it was just too big for me for anything outside of use in the woods. Strangely after that evening my Para 2's feel really nice and now I find myself with a Para 2 in my pocket... and on my mind as in "I must get another Para 2 in XXXX steel"! I figure the size thing is all relative. The 3 still feels really nice in hand but the extra blade on the Para 2 is awesome and it feels nice too.

[TkoK83Spy]

Same as above. I have multiple knives in each model and enjoy both for different tasks, or what steel I feel like testing for the day. I prefer the PM2 one week, the Para 3 the next. Their both great models

[Tucson Tom]

I like the bigger blade of the PM2, but that is my personal preference. Your choices of steels seem spot on to me, though there is nothing wrong with S30V all around. I have a PM2 in S30V, probably my first Spyderco ever, and it is a tremendously useful knife. I got the Para 3 to see what all the fuss was about, and I rarely feel the compulsion to carry a smaller knife, so I don't grab it often. But you have to find out what works for you.

[Soup]

Steels aside, you ultimately need to hold each knife in hand and decide what feels better and fits better in your hand. I appreciate the Para 3, and own the Cruwear model, but will not ever buy another, and will probably sell the one I have eventually. For my grip the PM2 is so much more comfortable and natural in hand (and that is why I have 10 different models, more than i can justify). Neither knife is better than the other on the whole, it just needs to be held and then you will know what is best for you.

[Forest Green]

Steels aside, you ultimately need to hold each knife in hand and decide what feels better and fits better in your hand. I appreciate the Para 3, and own the Cruwear model, but will not ever buy another, and will probably sell the one I have eventually. For my grip the PM2 is so much more comfortable and natural in hand (and that is why I have 10 different models, more than i can justify). Neither knife is better than the other on the whole, it just needs to be held and then you will know what is best for you.

I love that you have ten PM2's, there are days I feel like selling all my non PM2's, such a perfect knife! Even it's silhouette is iconic.

[Doeswhateveraspidercan]

S30 V is a good steel but I have had S30V rust and even worse pit on me in the heat of summer drenched in sweat with a Para3.

If the decision comes down to blade Steel go with S110V The blade holds an edge longer and I have never had S110V rust on me ever. I gave my Girlfriend the choice of picking a knife from my collection she chose one of my S110V Paramilitary 2 knives.

She uses it for gardening cutting open mulch bags and cutting roots etc... I laughed and said thank God you chose The Super Steel S110V.

She just smiled and said I use knives like a tool what did you expect? Besides that I know you will sharpen it for me.

I have seen this knife covered in wet soil and left dirty. Never once has it rusted and despite her rough use it remains sharp a few licks on the brown stones of the sharpmaker and it is good2go again.

I do however prefer S90V it just feels right, the two are pretty close but I think S90V is the toothier of the two. Right now I have had an S90V military on my Hapstone7 sharpener for closing in on 3 weeks, the steel is so hard it takes forever to re-profile down to 10 Degrees, with extra wide bevels. ( I bought it on eBay where someone had screwed up the blade with wildly uneven bevels down to 10 degrees in places so this is the only remedy.)

The blade has been kept wet and held in place magnetically and only now where the side of the blade is in constant contact with metal dust and water has it even began to show any discoloration. I consider this neglect yet it will not rust. Will hit it with Flitz tonight to get rid of the minor discoloration.

[colin.p]

A year ago, I bought my first Spyderco knives, an all black s30v PM2 and an all black s30v Para 3. My P3 is in my rotation and my P2 rarely sees the light of day. That's MY take on the two.

[Pelagic]

I definitely like the pm2, but there's something to be said about the Para 3's blade geometry. I’ve never owned one, but I'm thinking about getting into woodcarving, and I feel a Para 3 in Cruwear would be perfect. Short blade for excellent tip control, a strong tip for detailing, and Cruwear takes an incredibly sharp edge and beautiful polish easily. I did just buy a Military in s90v because I just had to have that ti/cf model before it disappeared, but I think from now on I'll be sticking to tougher steels for my millies/paras. It's always a bummer to make a mistake and break the tip off.

[Doeswhateveraspidercan]

I definitely like the pm2, but there's something to be said about the Para 3's blade geometry. I’ve never owned one, but I'm thinking about getting into woodcarving, and I feel a Para 3 in Cruwear would be perfect. Short blade for excellent tip control, a strong tip for detailing, and Cruwear takes an incredibly sharp edge and beautiful polish easily. I did just buy a Military in s90v because I just had to have that ti/cf model before it disappeared, but I think from now on I'll be sticking to tougher steels for my millies/paras. It's always a bummer to make a mistake and break the tip off.

I would not consider the tip on the para3 to be strong at all, it is similar to the tip on the Military and the PM2. In fact the only tip to ever break on any of my Spyderco knives was on a S30V, Para3 while breaking down a DELL Server box and no there was nothing in an empty box flap that could have caused this.

[Zatx]

I prefer the PM2 over the 3. Maybe it was just because I got one of the first 3's to come out of Golden, but the action on it wasn't as smooth as my PM2's. For myself, the extra length and weight of the blade on the PM2 results in a more satisfying flipping action and balance overall. Plus, I figure they both feel the same in my pocket, so why not have a more substantial blade?

[Outdrfrk]

I prefer the PM2 over the 3. Maybe it was just because I got one of the first 3's to come out of Golden, but the action on it wasn't as smooth as my PM2's. For myself, the extra length and weight of the blade on the PM2 results in a more satisfying flipping action and balance overall. Plus, I figure they both feel the same in my pocket, so why not have a more substantial blade?

That seems spot on to me, well said!

[Outdrfrk]

I like the bigger blade of the PM2, but that is my personal preference. Your choices of steels seem spot on to me, though there is nothing wrong with S30V all around. I have a PM2 in S30V, probably my first Spyderco ever, and it is a tremendously useful knife. I got the Para 3 to see what all the fuss was about, and I rarely feel the compulsion to carry a smaller knife, so I don't grab it often. But you have to find out what works for you.

exactly right, I carry smaller knives but when it comes down to actually using one for work much prefer one that is as large as local law allows so the pm2 seems to make more sense from that standpoint

[Pelagic]

I definitely like the pm2, but there's something to be said about the Para 3's blade geometry. I’ve never owned one, but I'm thinking about getting into woodcarving, and I feel a Para 3 in Cruwear would be perfect. Short blade for excellent tip control, a strong tip for detailing, and Cruwear takes an incredibly sharp edge and beautiful polish easily. I did just buy a Military in s90v because I just had to have that ti/cf model before it disappeared, but I think from now on I'll be sticking to tougher steels for my millies/paras. It's always a bummer to make a mistake and break the tip off.

I would not consider the tip on the para3 to be strong at all, it is similar to the tip on the Military and the PM2. In fact the only tip to ever break on any of my Spyderco knives was on a S30V, Para3 while breaking down a DELL Server box and no there was nothing in an empty box flap that could have caused this.

I was referring to the cruwear model in thinking of getting.

[Doeswhateveraspidercan]

I definitely like the pm2, but there's something to be said about the Para 3's blade geometry. I’ve never owned one, but I'm thinking about getting into woodcarving, and I feel a Para 3 in Cruwear would be perfect. Short blade for excellent tip control, a strong tip for detailing, and Cruwear takes an incredibly sharp edge and beautiful polish easily. I did just buy a Military in s90v because I just had to have that ti/cf model before it disappeared, but I think from now on I'll be sticking to tougher steels for my millies/paras. It's always a bummer to make a mistake and break the tip off.

I would not consider the tip on the para3 to be strong at all, it is similar to the tip on the Military and the PM2. In fact the only tip to ever break on any of my Spyderco knives was on a S30V, Para3 while breaking down a DELL Server box and no there was nothing in an empty box flap that could have caused this.

I was referring to the cruwear model in thinking of getting.

Doubt the steel is going to make that much of a difference with a thin sharp tip, a thin sharp tip is still a thin sharp tip. Hope it works for you.

[Pelagic]

I definitely like the pm2, but there's something to be said about the Para 3's blade geometry. I’ve never owned one, but I'm thinking about getting into woodcarving, and I feel a Para 3 in Cruwear would be perfect. Short blade for excellent tip control, a strong tip for detailing, and Cruwear takes an incredibly sharp edge and beautiful polish easily. I did just buy a Military in s90v because I just had to have that ti/cf model before it disappeared, but I think from now on I'll be sticking to tougher steels for my millies/paras. It's always a bummer to make a mistake and break the tip off.

I would not consider the tip on the para3 to be strong at all, it is similar to the tip on the Military and the PM2. In fact the only tip to ever break on any of my Spyderco knives was on a S30V, Para3 while breaking down a DELL Server box and no there was nothing in an empty box flap that could have caused this.

I was referring to the cruwear model in thinking of getting.

Doubt the steel is going to make that much of a difference with a thin sharp tip, a thin sharp tip is still a thin sharp tip. Hope it works for you.

It works a lot better in my cruwear pm2 versus s110v. Thanks.

[James Y]

I've owned a PM2 for years, and got a Para 3 this year. Of the two, I prefer the Para 3. It just feels better in my hand. And my hands are medium-sized, not small. I also prefer the Military to the PM2. I don't know why, but I've never warmed up to the PM2 like so many people have. It's still a keeper, but I don't carry or use it much.

Jim

[grant_lee]

Hi there,
Could someone tell me the color of this para 3 ?
Is it some foliage green ?

[Crux]

That is not a Spyderco color for the Para 3. See for yourselves.

[Doeswhateveraspidercan]

That is a crazy collection of para3