Para 2 or Caly 3.5?

[markg]

I am pretty pumped about the Caly 3.5 and will jump on one.

Since the Para 2 is pretty sparse at the moment, that might make your decision for you. :)

[The Mentaculous]

My end all beat all advice is to handle both before you buy them, if possible. I didn't care for the Caly 3 at all until i held it in my hand, at which time i was utterly shocked at how good it felt and how great the ergos are. Maybe i need to handle the military more...but the size just put me off. Really i think i just have a deep seeded inner love for 50/50 choils.

I know what you mean about the choil, it looks so beautiful in combination with the leaf shape and I love jimped, curved choils (the stretch is my favorite knife so far).

Unfortunately though, i live in a rural area, and I don't believe there are any knife dealers to speak of within a reasonable driving distance. Plus, I'm not inundated with income(or else I would just buy all these knives). I assume that in general prices I get on the internet would beat a retailer, probably by a decent margin.

I honestly trust spyderco and think all these designs would be a pleasure to own, and I think I can at least get a sense of the ergos from pictures and videos (although obviously handling it is the only way to know for sure).

Anyway, at this point I'm still considering whether I should get the Caly 3, or the 3.5. I was leaning toward the 3, but now looking into the laminated ZDP thing, I think I'd probably scratch it up. Also, I think I prefer a blade size of around 3-3.5", although I still might get the Caly 3.

[dorfinator]

I have both. I'm carrying the Para 2 and the Caly 3.5 is still in the box. Both are great. I've not taken the time to really compare them but the Caly may stay in the cabinet.

[BlackNinja]

I would have to go with a Para-1, as they will be out of production soon.

If there was no lock issue on the Para-2, I would vote for that one.

[Evil D]

Well...all i can say is if the 3.5 is anything like the Caly 3, i can't imagine how you could be disappointed, though there have been a few people on here who say they weren't as blown away with the Caly 3 as myself and most everyone else.

Then again, those same people are shocked that i'm not in any hurry to buy a Para 2. I guess i'm just into the more ergonomic knifes, like the Caly and Native, that have heavy sculpted handles and i love the leaf shaped blade. I do feel that i need to handle the Para2 more, and i'm probably biased towards the 3.5 just because i love the Caly 3 so much...

My comparison of the two is like, the Para2 is like jeans and boots whereas the 3.5 is like cargo shorts and running shoes. I hope that makes sense lol.

[wongKI]

I'm in a similar dilemma, only throwing in a Stretch2 ZDP and a BM Rift.

[Knifewing]

The Caly 3 and Para are my two all-time favorite Spyderco carriers/users. I agree with the comments that the Caly is more refined and the Para is more aggressive. I prefer the original Caly 3 PE in the G-10/VG-10 version as an EDC. I really like my SE Paras for outdoor carry (the only SE's I've ever really appreciated). When finances permit, I plan on getting both updates, but haven't handled either one yet. I imagine the new versions are even more amazing than the originals.

[The Mentaculous]

So it looks like I'll be ordering both the Para 2 and Caly 3.5 in the next week or so...I can't wait. I am a sucker for jimped choils, and I freaking love when the thumb blends perfectly with the lines of the handle (that's a new improvement of the Para and something caly 3.5 does awesome. The stretch comes to mind as another one that blends the lines perfectly.) I'm salivating just thinking about slicing up a tomato with that sleek caly leaf blade...

[SaturnNyne]

Para2
* Thicker drop-point
* Deep carry barrel clip

Good feature comparision, but wouldn't it be a clip-point? It's pretty much the same shape as the Military, which is described as a "modified clip-point," and they both lack the convex arc and instead are ground "in an angled line downward." (Taken from edge-u-cation.) And what's a barrel clip? I always thought they were the clips that fastened with a single barrel bolt, like the Salts; am I mistaken?

Are you a jeans or slacks type most the time?

That's a really good way to look at the difference in their personalities. (I wear BDUs. :) )

I bought 2 - would they now be 'Super-Leaves'?

Yup!

The Caly3.5 would be the EDC knife, the PM2 is the tank.

Uh oh, remember what happened the last time we all started calling a knife a tank....

Then again, those same people are shocked that i'm not in any hurry to buy a Para 2. I guess i'm just into the more ergonomic knifes, like the Caly and Native, that have heavy sculpted handles and i love the leaf shaped blade. I do feel that i need to handle the Para2 more, and i'm probably biased towards the 3.5 just because i love the Caly 3 so much...

Did someone just say that the Para2 is not one of "the more ergonomic knives"? The reports coming in on its ergos have been extremely positive, with some saying it's the most ergonomic knife Spyderco has ever made (likely hyperbole). I haven't handled a PM2, but I've tried the original and it seems like it probably has great ergos if your hand fits it (mine doesn't). The same basic design with the problems fixed *should* have great ergos, just like everyone's been saying it does. I haven't tried a Caly3 but I've carried the Calypso Jr. and UKPKs and I'd say their ergos are *very good* for how small they are but not astoundingly remarkably so. They're way better than "generic" feeling ergos, but a little too compact and pocket-oriented to be the very best. In my opinion and experience so far, the more ergonomic models, the ones that you stop and look at in admiration when you first grab them, are the Manixes, Lava, Military, Bushcraft, and Stretch. Native struck me as unremarkable; thicker NativeIII decent but a little small and constrained. I'm going to agree that you're probably a little biased toward the Caly right now, but maybe they really are just perfectly suited to your particular hands. Just my thoughts on it.

[Evil D]

Hence the part about "heavy sculpted handles". More ergo was a bad choice of words...i don't mean that the P2 isn't ergonomic, i just meant i prefer deeper finger choils...i'm not sure how else to describe it? lol. I have enormous hands and when i first went after the C3 i expected the handle to be a bit on the small side but it fits me perfectly. The Paras that i've handled weren't BAD, i just liked the feel of the Caly more.

[SaturnNyne]

Hence the part about "heavy sculpted handles". . . i prefer deeper finger choils.

Hrmm, that's interesting, but I'm not sure quite what to make of it. You prefer deeper choils, but isn't one of the main complaints about Caly ergos—at least relative to the UK—that the choil is too shallow? Or, if not "too shallow," not as deep as many would like to have it? Just comparing the photos, it looks like the PM2 has a deeper choil than the Caly3? I'd also say the Caly isn't that sculpted, as sculpted handles go, since it's just flat sides, smooth arc on top, and some modest grooves and swells below. It's about as sculpted as the PM2, less so than the PM1, less so than the Manixes, and much less so than something like a Lava. It doesn't matter and I'm not trying to pick apart your descriptions or anything, I just find it interesting that your descriptions are the opposite of mine when looking at the same (set in steel and G10) objects. :confused: I definitely believe that the Caly happens to fit your hands well and is preferable for you, but I'm just having trouble matching your explanation of why to the characteristics I see in the models in question. :)

[sixheads]

Caly 3 is my fav knife all time. i will buy a 3.5 , but hopefully 2 .

I dont want to use my caly 3 seeing as how there hard to find now. I will get a 3.5 for edc and a back up.

I did not like ZDP so another 3 is out.

As far as the caly not being as tough as the para 2 , I bought a couple discoed native 3s cheep and i have a couple meadowlarks for outdoors and work. I personaly wouldnt pay 100 bucks for a knife for outdoors or work .

just my 2 cents

[dsmegst]

Until recently, I was not a fan of the Para. In fact, I didn't try out a Military until a few months ago. I liked the Military just fine, it was just too big for my every day needs. And the shorter size of the Para 2 was just what I needed and add to it the changes and improvements in design, I had to give the new one a chance.

I like my Caly3 and will eventually get the Caly3.5 but the Para 2 was the one that won out. Anyone that has doubts about the Military's size should try the Para 2.

[MCM]

I plan to own both, but will wait for the Sprints! :)

[gbelleh]

I just got a Caly 3.5, and I've been carrying a Para 2 for over a month. It's a close call. The Caly 3.5 is slightly slimmer in the pocket, and I like the wire clip, but the Para 2 fits my hand better, and I prefer the comp lock.

I guess, so far, I'd say I prefer the Caly 3.5 when carrying, and the Para 2 when cutting. YMMV.

Still looking forward to a bolstered Caly 3.5 and the Para 2 sprints!

[AKWolf]

The P2 is barely .5 oz more than a Caly 3.5 which is 3.1 oz.. I also will wait for both in better steel/CF materials .

[toomzz]

Not familiar with both yet, however I have a Para (S30V) and the Caly3 in VG10. There is less to add to what was already stated (good points guys) so I speak of my own experience.
As an EDC I really like the Caly3. It sits deep in my jeans and has a great grip in my (large, size 10) hands. The knife simply sits in your hand; both in a high grip close on the blade as in lower grip because of the deep fingerchoils.
I really like the 'gold' glare of VG10 over the 'blueish' glare of S30V.
Half an inch more (Caly 3.5) makes is even better and slightly bigger than the Para. I really like the japanese polishjobs!
For the lock I prefer the compression lock of the Para. Once the disengagement-move is part of your system it is a fine lock. It is not a big deal compared with the backlock but the CL has my preference.
For the steel I prefer VG10, since I sharpen my own blades. IIRC VG10 is slightly softer than S30V and easy to sharpen with Spydies Triangleset.
One detail of the Caly3 I really like is the deep bug on the blade. The spyderbug on the Para's are more on the surface. Those one the Caly3's are deeper engraved.

Both the Para2 and the Caly 3.5 are on my wishlist.


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[dorfinator]

I have both and like them equally well. The 3.5" blade length and tip up carry make both of these knives. The Caly 3.5 deep carry is a major plus too. It has become my new "gentleman's" EDC when I dress up a bit.

Looking forward to the CF versions and digi-camo for the Para 2.

[Blerv]

Good feature comparision, but wouldn't it be a clip-point? It's pretty much the same shape as the Military, which is described as a "modified clip-point," and they both lack the convex arc and instead are ground "in an angled line downward." (Taken from edge-u-cation.) And what's a barrel clip? I always thought they were the clips that fastened with a single barrel bolt, like the Salts; am I mistaken?

Good points Saturn. Sorry about te late response.

You are correct on the clip. I prob should have said something like "basic hourglass clip" or looked up the real name. It's certainly not a barrel bolt even though the shape is similar.

As for blade shapes that one always seems up for discussions. Once you put "modified" in there the definitions even become more obscure.

After reading the edge-u-cation again and thinking it over that makes more sense. I guess it's a matter of where you clip the blade, since it's "modified" it's far more gradual/wide.

[Chris_H]

After receiving both and handling them, I likened the comparison of the Caly 3.5 & Paramilitary 2 to the comparison made between the Police and Military models. The Caly 3.5 is thin, sleek, conceable while the Paramilitary 2 is more robust.

To paraphrase Sal & Spyderco philosophy, neither one is better... just different.