Spyderco Forums

I would like to try a Para 3, but I am scared to buy one. I am afraid it will be too small for my mitt.

How much actual grip area, excluding the choil, is there compared to the Paramilitary 2 and a Delica 4?

I cant measure anything right now but unless you have small hands you need to use the choil grip.

Im sure someone will say that you can use tge behind the choil grip with larger hands but your pinky will be on the "hook" at the butt of the handle.

Doc, I could handle a Para 3.
And while it is generally just not for me, I am sure using the choil (!) there is enough grip area even for big hands (mine are "a small XL").

There is a tiny bit less space for four fingers than on the Sage, but it is still good enough (I have L sized hands).

Heres a pic of what I happen to have in my pocket.
Unless you have a lot of room left using a behind the choil grip on a manix 2 ltwt, then the behind the choil grip on a para 3 ltwt is going to be cramped if you dont put your pinky on the "hook".

Doc Dan wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 08, 2021 11:18 pm

I would like to try a Para 3, but I am scared to buy one. I am afraid it will be too small for my mitt.

How much actual grip area, excluding the choil, is there compared to the Paramilitary 2 and a Delica 4?

I think of the Para 3, especially the LW, as an EDC-sized Dragonfly. In that role, it works great, and is one of my most-carried knives. That said, if you were looking to get a full four finger grip behind the choil, I think you'd be picking the wrong knife. A Native 5 or Sage 5 would probably be better options.

If for some reason I decided that I couldn't make use of the choils on my knives, let's say they felt like a hot stove burner or something, then I'm pretty sure that everything but the Military would be "too small" for me. In this grip, the Native 5 would offer me more room than the Para 3, as the handle is a bit more neutral and the "hook" near the end is less-pronounced. For the same reason, the Stretch is a better fit than the PM2.

Edit: OK, I pulled them all out. The Stretch, PM2, Shaman, and Military all offer a reasonable 4-finger grip for me behind the choil. The Manix almost does, but the hook is extremely pronounced which impedes my pinky, and then the "secondary choil" is kind of a choil, so I'm not sure whether or not I'm allowed to use that. Without that section of grip area being "on," the Manix mights offers even less "actual grip area" than a Para 3. :rolleyes:

And for reference, I tend to wear XL gloves.

I have M-sized hands and can barely fit four fingers behind the choil on Para 3.
Grip behind choil (similar feeling to Delica) feels better for me because firmer grip and position of thumb on ramp.
Para 3 has a really nice rounded handle butt.
So I guess if your pinky rests behind the handle it might be relative comfortable.
You might like to look at the Watu: has a larger handle than Delica 4 & Para 3.

Doc Dan wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 08, 2021 11:18 pm

I would like to try a Para 3, but I am scared to buy one. I am afraid it will be too small for my mitt.

How much actual grip area, excluding the choil, is there compared to the Paramilitary 2 and a Delica 4?

I have normal sized hands and it's too small for me to use behind the choil with my fingers in the grip area.

vivi wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 08, 2020 12:25 pm

Today I received an S110V Para 3 to sharpen. I figured it'd be fun to take some time to see how the ergonomics work for me and share some photos.

Right now I don't have enough time to do anything but post a few in hand pictures. So, here's how a Para 3 looks in my hands:












For reference, here is my Police 4 Lightweight in the same grips, which is my preferred folding knife size - viewtopic.php?p=1459455#p1459455

Unlike the Para 2 I can't quite squeeze my full grip in behind the choil unless my pinky hangs off the rear end of the handle, which is what I expected having handled a LW version a few months ago at SMKW.

Overall it kind of reminds me of a really beefed up Caly 3. The ergonomics have a lot of similarities to that design, but its definitely more of a tank. Smaller than I prefer, but I understand the appeal.

Using the index choil its more ergonomic than I remember. The part of the handle behind the index choil is sized well for locking my middle, ring and pinky fingers in, while using the same grip on the Para 2 there was a bit of a gapbetween my pinky and the rear handle hook. So for people that prefer the index choil grip, it feels more secure for draw cuts in that sense..

Para 2 is as small as I can go while being able to get a full grip behind the choil, and even then it feels a bit cramped.

Doc Dan wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 08, 2021 11:18 pm

I would like to try a Para 3, but I am scared to buy one. I am afraid it will be too small for my mitt.

How much actual grip area, excluding the choil, is there compared to the Paramilitary 2 and a Delica 4?

I wear size 8-9 gloves. Holding the P3 / P3 LW in a hammer grip I get enough room (though it feels tight) without using the choil. But as soon as I put my thumb on the spine/ramp my hand intuitively moves a little back and my pinky ends on the very butt of the handle and does not really grips the handle well. Trying to push down harder in such a grip does not feel great as I am loosing some of the force. I wish the handle was shaped a little differently (I understand they were shooting for optics that follows the PM2). It would take custom scales to make P3 fitting my hand better.

EDIT: Check out this video: https://youtu.be/xdc3qOO9SBA

Just got mine yesterday!! I’ll post pics tomorrow. Definitely too small to use comfortably with four fingers behind the choil. I have xl hands. With the choil, I have far more than enough room for my fingers.

Another comparison.

I take a size large glove and find the pm3 too small. It's not like it isn't functional but I'm used to larger knives now like pm2, shaman, manix etc. I think what you're "used to" makes all the difference. I carried smaller knives for years without complaint, it's just my preference has changed.

I very much prefer the ergos of the Native5 over the Para3 in that size range. On top of that, the stock is thinner, it’s smaller in the pocket and I prefer the blade shape.

Worker3 scales, made by Cerberus and sold through Cutlery Shoppe, are an excellent option for bigger hands.

I have XL hands and found the Para3 a little cramped. The LW is more rounded and felt better, but ultimately the thick blade stock didn’t work for me in this size.

For me, the linerless g10 Native 5 hit the spot.

aquaseafoamshaman wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 09, 2021 6:57 am

Worker3 scales, made by Cerberus and sold through Cutlery Shoppe, are an excellent option for bigger hands.

I have been looking at those and they look super cool, just seem to have nearly zero rounding of any kind ... and of course add a non negligible cost to the knife.

XL gloves here, para 3 and para 3 lw are my most-carried knives by far. My only gripe is that the ramp cramps my ape thumbs which would naturally sit further up the blade, but that’s the same on the pm2, manix 2, benchmade contego and pretty much any other knife with a ramp.

If you're as comfortable with knives like the Roadie and Urban as it seems, I don't think the Para 3 should be a problem for you.

Matus wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 09, 2021 7:02 am

aquaseafoamshaman wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 09, 2021 6:57 am

Worker3 scales, made by Cerberus and sold through Cutlery Shoppe, are an excellent option for bigger hands.

I have been looking at those and they look super cool, just seem to have nearly zero rounding of any kind ... and of course add a non negligible cost to the knife.

It's my "one and done" Para3 because it turned into an expensive knife, but it is dang cool, and it gets carried multiple times a week. Cerberus Worker scales will give the Para3 and Shaman a less-contoured, blockier shape which works pretty good for larger and/or gloved hands.

VooDooChild wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 08, 2021 11:29 pm

Heres a pic of what I happen to have in my pocket.
Unless you have a lot of room left using a behind the choil grip on a manix 2 ltwt, then the behind the choil grip on a para 3 ltwt is going to be cramped if you dont put your pinky on the "hook".

Thanks! There is no doubt, looking at that picture, that it is waaayyy too small.