Favorite 3” in house spyderco folder?

[JSumm]

I voted Caly 3 though the Sage is not too far behind for me. In this size though, it is tough to beat the UKPK. The finger choil is slightly deeper than the Caly and has a more defined guard. Plus a thinner blade stock which is nice for a 3" model.

Personal rant. If the Caly 3 is not coming back anytime soon, why in the world not make a locking UKPK in addition to the current model. The design is a classic Sal Glesser design. No more no less and fantastic ergos. Needs to stay in the lineup forever in my opinion. Generally speaking of the Caly Line and family (cousins).

[Bolster]

Personal rant. If the Caly 3 is not coming back anytime soon, why in the world not make a locking UKPK in addition to the current model. The design is a classic Sal Glesser design. No more no less and fantastic ergos. Needs to stay in the lineup forever in my opinion. Generally speaking of the Caly Line and family (cousins).

x2! Totally agree. I think I might even like a locking UKPK more than a Caly3, because I like the subtle choil/guard mods on the UKPK. The choil on modern UKPKs look more like a 1/3 on blade and 2/3 into handle, which is headed in the right direction if you ask me. It still has the deep carry clip mounted very close to the rounded butt so it disappears. Well done Sal. It's just--I need a locking version of it!

[Albertaboyscott]

Wow. I thought the native would of cleaned up

[Manixguy@1994]

Sage 5 I just recently purchased just nails it for me . I do have Delicas that I enjoy but the Sage fills my hand so well ergonomically. I normally carry two knives and three inch and under are usually in my right and large in my left . The Sage is one of the few knives I carry in left side . MG2

[Tristan_david2001]

Caly Jr in tight second place to Caly3. Maybe I should have given it first place.

The calypso jr. is a very tight second place for me too. I slightly prefer the ergos of the Caly 3 due to the larger tighter radius on the thumb ramp and deeper choil. I’m a sucker for the aesthetics and thinner geometry of the calypso jr blade though, that spine swedge is the cherry on top.

[vivi]

I don't carry this size any more, but if I did I'd go with a lil temp, caly 3 or ukpk. ukpk actually has better ergos for me than the caly with the deeper choil, but lil temp is even better in my grip.

ukpk/caly 3/caly 3 cf/caly jr/para 1 was my main rotation once upon a time, believe it or not.

[Bemo]

What a tough decision. Can I vote "all the above" plus some mentioned in the comments?

[Sharp Guy]

I voted for the Mantra but it could've easily been any of the first 6 choices.

[Tristan_david2001]

I don't carry this size any more, but if I did I'd go with a lil temp, caly 3 or ukpk. ukpk actually has better ergos for me than the caly with the deeper choil, but lil temp is even better in my grip.

ukpk/caly 3/caly 3 cf/caly jr/para 1 was my main rotation once upon a time, believe it or not.

That sounded like a great rotation. I agree the lil temp has a phenomenal grip, I’ve only owned the original 1 leaf, it’s a little unfair for me to compare the ergos of it to the ukpk because the lil temp is whole other beast and style of user, handfilling ergos are it’s game.

[cycleguy]

I voted Delica …. Surprise!!!

CG

[anycal]

Native for me, but I don't discriminate. It is my most used in this category, but any of these will do when a smaller knife is in rotation.

And I just realized the Para 3 is missing from this lineup...

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

I voted Native but now I’m really wanting to handle a Caly of any size and the ukpk

[skeeg11]

Surprised to see the Mantra on the list. It's been a while.

[Mrj]

Para 3 is king! If not just because of this steel.

[Tristan_david2001]

Native for me, but I don't discriminate. It is my most used in this category, but any of these will do when a smaller knife is in rotation.

And I just realized the Para 3 is missing from this lineup...

Awesome, love that photo! Do you own yourself a para 3?

[Tristan_david2001]

Para 3 is king! If not just because of this steel.

I love that patina yours has gathered. I’m really fond of the para 3 model myself, it actually was my first midsize spyderco I bought myself, so probably like my 3rd spyderco. While nowadays I much favor the leaf or a drop point for edc that nice stout clip shape on the para 3 still has a special place in my heart.

[Bolster]

Caly Jr in tight second place to Caly3. Maybe I should have given it first place.

The calypso jr. is a very tight second place for me too. I slightly prefer the ergos of the Caly 3 due to the larger tighter radius on the thumb ramp and deeper choil. I’m a sucker for the aesthetics and thinner geometry of the calypso jr blade though, that spine swedge is the cherry on top.IMG_2916.jpeg

Agree. I like the smaller radius/deeper choil of the Caly3, the end-of-butt wire clip placement, and as you say, a more comfortable thumb ramp (it's a little abrupt on the Calypso Jr). Both have great blade shapes, though different. The Calypso Jr looks more aggressive, the Caly3, "friendlier." But the FRN on the Calypso Jr makes it melt into the pocket so that you don't even know it's there until you need it. And it has the awesome, never-bettered (IMO) fish scale pattern on the scales. The Jr. is a nearly ideal knife to take jogging/hiking/backpacking. Blade:weight and even edge:weight ratios are fantastic for the Calypso Jr., one of Spyderco's best. Caly3 has a very respectable blade:closed ratio (but is bested by the Caly 3.5, for sure, another one of Spyderco's most efficient ratios.)

Someday I want to calculate a "pocket hog" statistic...I know my beloved Manix will not fare well...but the Calys would.

[Tristan_david2001]

I just wanted to drop this knife in here instead of resetting the poll to add it as an option. This is personally my favorite Eric Glesser design in the category of knives in discussion. I love this design, I haven’t held one yet personally but I’d certainly love to. Maybe some day.

[cesma]

The Bradley Air

[wrdwrght]

There’s much in this list to like (I have multiples of the Delica4 and Natve5 and the first five Sages, and I think the Leaf Jumper is wonderful), but I’ll give my vote to the Lil’Temp. I happily have all its iterations, save for the early SE version, which I hope to find one day.