Would greatly appreciate some help & Advice??

[Foggy Dew]

Good morning,

Thank you for having me on this forum I know I'll learn so much from fellow members.

Apologies if this question has been asked before. I currently own a spyderco ukpk while I really like the design, blade etc I just can't warm to the slipjoint mechanism.

I would like to purchase potentially my most expensive knife so far and as there is no physical store I can go to I'm hoping you guys can keep me right. For a long time I've lusted after the para 3 lightweight I'm now financially in a position to buy it however before I do I have some small reservations due to believe it or not Arthritis.! I love everything about the pm3 the only thing I'm unsure is the compression lock. Can some of you guy's comment on the lock in terms of stiffness or lack of and if it can be easily operated without using much finger force.? I own several liner and frame lock knives and have no problem using those for reference.

Finally as this is quite a big investment for me do I look for a few alternative models which have liner locks and maybe a more suitable knife. I would only be using this knife around the house for diy and opening some parcels etc so maybe the para is too much.! My only requirements are a sub 3 inch blade and preferably liner or frame lock. I'm sorry for writing a short story and look forward to hearing from you.

[sal]

Hi Foggy Dew,

Welcome to our forum.

The UKPK was developed by a group of British forumites on a British forum. There is a lock-back version that came out of the design called the Caly 3. (and a larger version called the Caly 3.5) I'm sure the group here can help you. Lotsa really bright folks here. Way smarter than me.

sal

[Wartstein]

....

I would like to purchase potentially my most expensive knife so far and as there is no physical store I can go to I'm hoping you guys can keep me right. For a long time I've lusted after the para 3 lightweight I'm now financially in a position to buy it however before I do I have some small reservations due to believe it or not Arthritis.! I love everything about the pm3 the only thing I'm unsure is the compression lock. Can some of you guy's comment on the lock in terms of stiffness or lack of and if it can be easily operated without using much finger force.? ...

Hi Foggy Dew, welcome to the forum!

While I personally generally prefer other locktypes over it:
- If you are looking for something "not stiff and to be easily operated without using much finger force" I think it hardly can get any better than a good comp.lock!

I actually had the comp.lock - among on other models - also on on a Para 3 LW - so the model you´re planning to get - and the lock was extremely easy and smooth to operate.

So I would not worry in that regard, and also generally it is a great lock design and the favorite of many experienced knife folks here.

So go for that Para 3 and let us know how you like it!!

[Wartstein]

Added to my post above :

If you can´t try and choose the knife yourself in a brick and mortar store, you can always ask the (online) dealer to check for you and send you a piece with particularly smooth action.

I am in Europe, so I don´t know much about US online store, but over here many dealers will do this for you.

[Evil D]

I have had some hand injuries and am already getting arthritis and I have pretty bad carpal tunnel too, but your own personal challenges with this might be different than others, so have you handled a compression lock before? Do you think you'd have problems with that kind of dexterity? Maybe a back lock would be easier to manipulate?

As far as model suggestions go, and considering what I've felt in my own hand, I would want something with a thumb ramp because it generally makes opening the knife much easier, so for example a Para 3 is going to be noticably easier to open than a Native 5, in part because it's a back lock but also because it doesn't have a thumb ramp, and that makes the distance your thumb travels during opening further and requires you to bring your thumb further in towards your palm to open it, both require more strength than a Para 3 would.

That doesn't necessarily rule out back locks though, because something like a Rock/Leaf Jumper has a thumb ramp and is a completely different opening action. This is also something that can even be modified on a back lock if you really love a model but struggle with opening it, and we can talk further into that if you're interested.


Besides all this there are also steel/handle to consider, so it's a big discussion. I would probably recommend you look into a Mantra 1/2 but the blade is a bit over your sub 3 inch requirement, and it's M4 steel which isn't stainless so it depends on what you like.

If operating a compression lock is doable then definitely check out the Para 3 and maybe also the Sage 5, but I believe the Para 3 comes in more flavors so you have more to choose from.

A Sage 3 may also be easy to operate, but they're discontinued so you'll have to find one on eBay etc. The Bolt Action Lock is much easier to operate with just your thumb than something like a CBBL/Manix 2, and the Sage series comes in right at 3 inches. If you're dealing with blade length laws I would buy one and grind the tip of the blade down a wee bit so it's technically under 3 inches.

A Temperance 3 might also be worth looking at, I find larger models are easier to manipulate when my hands are acting up, and it has a taller/more hand filling grip and will be much more forgiving during opening. It'll also be wider in your pocket though so just depends on your preferences.

[elena86]

Welcome. I also prefer liner or frame locks but unfortunately there are not many choices for us in the Spyderco line when it comes to a sub 3 inch blade at a good price. I would recommend the lightweight Spyderco Persistence. It’s affordable and you could choose between two steels: 8Cr13MoVn or S35Vn if you want a “super steel”. I would pick the LW Persistence in 8Cr if I were you. It’s very easy to sharpen and it keeps the edge long enough I would say.

[chriscrawfordphoto]

I had a stroke when I was 37 that left the right side of my body partially disabled. I'm right handed, so opening and closing traditional pocket knives is hard for me to do safely. I've collected pocket knives since I was a kid, when my dad got me interested in them. I'm 47 now, and struggled to us my knives all those years after the stroke. Earlier this year, I decided to try a Spyderco. The Spydie-Hole looked like it would make opening the knife easy for someone with a crippled hand.

I bought a Para 3 with S45VN blade, and I love it. It opens smoothly and easily and closes easily. I can push the compression lock's lever/button easily holding it in my right hand, and the blade falls shut. Even when I was healthy, a slipjoint was a two-handed knife; the Para 3 opens and closes with one hand. Get one, you'll love it!

[Wartstein]

One thing I did not consider: Does your Arthritis perhaps effect some fingers more than others?

If not: I still think the (Para 3 LW, but also general) compression lock is perfectly suited if one can only apply very little finger force.

If though your index finger is more affected than your thumb, a good linerlock might be the better option.

[Bolster]

Have a look at the Sage series.

It's the best substitute I've found for the mostly discontinued but much beloved Caly series.

[sal]

Hi Chriscrawfordphoto,

Welcome to our forum.

Hey Foggy Dew,

You may also look at the Polestar and Alcyone.

sal

[spydergoat]

Closing a Para 3 with the comp lock doesn't take a lot of force to push in. It's less force than the back locks I have but be aware that because of where the lock is placed you'll generally use your right index finger to push it in and not thumb. Opening is easy with the detente being fairly light.

[TSINGA]

Have a look at the Sage series.

It's the best substitute I've found for the mostly discontinued but much beloved Caly series.

+1

[kennethsime]

My take would be that the compression lock requires less force, but more coordination, to close. The backlock may be a better option if you're losing dexterity.

My Para 3 LW was just a touch stiff when brand new. It certainly broke in just fine, and is very smooth now three years later.

Another consideration would be that a bigger knife might be easier to handle with arthritic hands. The PM2 or Shaman are two great options.

[chriscrawfordphoto]

Hi Chriscrawfordphoto,

Welcome to our forum.

Hey Foggy Dew,

You may also look at the Polestar and Alcyone.

sal

Thanks, Sal. For the welcome, and for your knives. Like I said in my post above, they've allowed me to carry a pocketknife again. Since I bought my first in January, I now have six Spyderco knives and a Sharpmaker! They're quite addictive. Right now, my "Sprint Run" PM2 with 15V blade is in my pocket, and I've used it several times today.

[mongo1958]

Good morning,

Thank you for having me on this forum I know I'll learn so much from fellow members.

Apologies if this question has been asked before. I currently own a spyderco ukpk while I really like the design, blade etc I just can't warm to the slipjoint mechanism.

I would like to purchase potentially my most expensive knife so far and as there is no physical store I can go to I'm hoping you guys can keep me right. For a long time I've lusted after the para 3 lightweight I'm now financially in a position to buy it however before I do I have some small reservations due to believe it or not Arthritis.! I love everything about the pm3 the only thing I'm unsure is the compression lock. Can some of you guy's comment on the lock in terms of stiffness or lack of and if it can be easily operated without using much finger force.? I own several liner and frame lock knives and have no problem using those for reference.

Finally as this is quite a big investment for me do I look for a few alternative models which have liner locks and maybe a more suitable knife. I would only be using this knife around the house for diy and opening some parcels etc so maybe the para is too much.! My only requirements are a sub 3 inch blade and preferably liner or frame lock. I'm sorry for writing a short story and look forward to hearing from you.

Hello there Foggy Dew.
I have a few compression lock knives, and by far, the easiest one to use in my collection is the Sage 5 LW. The compression lock action on the Sage 5 LW is not excessively strong and easy to use during one or two handed operation. For you, I would recommend the Sage 5 LW over the Parra 3 for this reason.
However, in your situation, I think the Back-Lock would be your best option for opening, closing, and safety.
The Back Lock is on the spine of the knife and easy to get to, it isn't tucked in-between the liners like the compression or liner locks. A Native 5 LW, as an example, fits you criteria and is easy to open and close with one or two handed operation, assuming your fingers and thumbs are strong enough to push in the Back Lock to unlock the blade.
Edited for clarity.
Good luck.