Been in the shadows for a while, figured it was time to create an account. I'm a longtime Spyderco nerd with a small collection hovering around 25 folders.
That said, I tried searching, but couldn’t find anything solid on this: Why hasn’t the Para 3 ever gotten the official wharncliffe treatment? It seems like a no-brainer!
Is there a design or production limitation, or has it just never been on the roadmap due to demand? Apologies if this has been covered ad nauseam.
You don't know how it warms my heart to hear such phrases as 'small collection hovering around 25'.
I know your feeling. I keep seeing the Spyderco.com splash page which right now is full of pictures of their exclusive runs, a couple of which look like wharncliff PM2s...and given the utility of the wharncliff, I'm wondering where they are at!
One of the guys at the SFO showed me a knife he built from a PM2 blade housed inside of a PM3 handle - he chopped it and ground it down so it resembled somewhat of a wharncliffe. Was pretty neat. I guess he would like to see one of those as well.
I think it is a legitimate question. There really is no "Policy" answer to your question. The Wharncliffe blade shape has been around for a long time. The recent demand for Wharncliffe blades to be used on Spyderco knives was primarily the result of Mike Janich. Mike is not only a brilliant designer, and a smart guy, but he is also a brilliant Martial Blade Craft instructor.
Mike did a lot of testing of blade shapes used to penetrate a soft target and he came to the conclusion, and proved that a certain blade shape was more effective as a Martial Blade Craft tool. That blade shape was the Wharncliffe, which is more or less a Sharp pointed Sheepfoot". While a Sheep-foot blade shape is more effective for a variety of cutting, like rope, or any type of cut where you don't want the force of the cutting edge to be less at the tip, than at the heel of a blade. That way the material being cut will not "roll off of the edge" when getting to the tip. That is why Spyderco uses Sheep-foot blade shapes for Marine and Rescue type of applications.
Based on Mike's conclusions, Spyderco makes many Wharncliffe bladed models His conclusions even modified some of my my own designs, like the "Swick. The Para 3 is a fairly new design that Eric Glesser designed, and will undoubtedly see a Wharncliffe version in time.
I am sure it would cut great. Out of my ‘small collection’ of Spyderco knives (I can’t even pretend to say that with a straight face ….), my two most used knifes around the home and garage are both Delica Wharncliffe models (K390 and LC200N). If the blade shape was a similar style to the Seki Delica line, it would be a little too wide for pocket carry. Which is why my Delica Wharncliffes don’t see much carry time. Opinion only - They are not horrible in the pocket, there are just better knife profile options around.
I never bought one, but the PM2 Wharncliffe blades appeared to be a ground down on the spine to get around the larger pocket profile. I am not sure how effective that was. I always thought a Para 3 model would follow. When it didn’t I presumed the Yojimbo (family) covered that niche and provided a more pocket space friendly carry option.
MNOSD 0002 / Do more than is required of you . Patton
Nothing makes earth so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes.
Henry David Thoreau
I think it is a legitimate question. There really is no "Policy" answer to your question. The Wharncliffe blade shape has been around for a long time. The recent demand for Wharncliffe blades to be used on Spyderco knives was primarily the result of Mike Janich. Mike is not only a brilliant designer, and a smart guy, but he is also a brilliant Martial Blade Craft instructor.
Mike did a lot of testing of blade shapes used to penetrate a soft target and he came to the conclusion, and proved that a certain blade shape was more effective as a Martial Blade Craft tool. That blade shape was the Wharncliffe, which is more or less a Sharp pointed Sheepfoot". While a Sheep-foot blade shape is more effective for a variety of cutting, like rope, or any type of cut where you don't want the force of the cutting edge to be less at the tip, than at the heel of a blade. That way the material being cut will not "roll off of the edge" when getting to the tip. That is why Spyderco uses Sheep-foot blade shapes for Marine and Rescue type of applications.
Based on Mike's conclusions, Spyderco makes many Wharncliffe bladed models His conclusions even modified some of my my own designs, like the "Swick. The Para 3 is a fairly new design that Eric Glesser designed, and will undoubtedly see a Wharncliffe version in time.
sal
Hi Sal!
Thanks for responding, it's an honor.
I appreciate the insight and back story. Looking forward to that PM3 wharnie lw, in K390 or 15V!
Since you mentioned Eric, one of my favorite clips of him is a recent 2025 Shot Show interview with SMKW, where Eric talks about growing up at flea markets with you, and how he still considers himself a "carnie", and even throws in a few sentences in Pig Latin, it’s hilarious!
Right about the 12:00 minute mark:
Thanks,
Chris
Last edited by MOPs_Overlord on Sat Jun 07, 2025 2:31 pm, edited 2 times in total.
I will try out a wharnie para 3. I just ordered a microjimbo to try out but fell in love with the Endura wharnie in K390. I’d like to try out the PM2 wharnie but by the time I was interested in them I couldn’t find any. I wish they were regular production or readily available.
I absolutely think there should be a wharnie blade on the Para 3. An lc200n or H2 version with serrations would be amazing.
I wonder if CS has ever considered an exclusive Para3 Wharnie ? Jeff emailed me no plans for a M2 Wharnie at this time . Since the Para 3 has been around a lot longer I am shocked the Para3:has never been considered to go with the PM2 releases . This sounds like a mission for the Guru of Para3’s to raise the banner ! Dan
MNOSD 0002 / Do more than is required of you . Patton
Nothing makes earth so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes.
Henry David Thoreau
I don't own any Para 3's because I prefer the larger PM2, but I would make an exception for a Para 3 wharnie!
I don’t have any Para 3 models but a Wharnie would be an exception. Dan
MNOSD 0002 / Do more than is required of you . Patton
Nothing makes earth so spacious as to have friends at a distance; they make the latitudes and longitudes.
Henry David Thoreau
PM3 Wharncliffe Where Are You?
Been in the shadows for a while, figured it was time to create an account. I'm a longtime Spyderco nerd with a small collection hovering around 25 folders.
MG2
Dan
