Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight Signature Knife with 2.58" Stainless Steel Blade and Durable FRN Handle - PlainEdge - C223

I'm a huge fan of the PM3. Having a lightweight, high viz, magnacut version with a compression lock... fantastic. Made in America, the build quality is what you'd expect. Sharp as all get out. This is a do it all blade. Can flex into a lot of roles.

Spyderco’s in general are expensive but are made from the very best knife steels. This one in magnacut offers an extremely sharp and salt water environment working knife! It is very light, grippy, high vis and well worth the money if you play in or around the salty sea! Also available are many different scales & hardware kits which allows for incredible customization & personalization as illustrated by my Manix 2, most favorite model in BD1 steel! Note that i left my Magnacut knife stock, which I carry on every surface fishing outing!

In my opinion the Para 3 Lightweight is the best EDC pocket knife around. Not too heavy and still heavy duty. Spyderco has some of the best grinds from the factory. When you look at the blade being made of Magnacut this knife becomes an incredible value. Almost rustproof and holds an edge very well. Yellow might not be for everybody but the rest of the package is above reproach.

I didn't think the Para 3 was for me. I prefer a longer blade like the Para 2. I have a pile of those. Still . . . they got me with the cobalt blue handle color. My favorite FRN handle color that I have missed out on when other “Sprint Runs” have sold out before I found out about the knife.I wanted to try the new SPY27 blade material so I figured I would “put up with” the shorter blade.I still feel the same about the blade length, give me a longer blade or a much thinner much smaller knife for this blade length, that said this Para 3 is really well made : blade pivots well, the steel alloy is better than I expected in my standard blade alloy test of which I will elaborate later, the color is so nice, the handle really fits the hand, the knife is light and very pocketable, the price works for me, the lock works great.If I were to ding it I would wish for a thinner blade. This is as thick as the Para 2 up near the pivot. If you want a little, very stout, knife this will work. If you want a knife that blows you away with how it slips through what ever you cut then grind it thinner, get it ground thinner or buy the Chaparral or the Centofante ( I have all three in my stable ).My test ? At work I make the same carving / sliver trimming cuts over and over on the same abbrassive hard rubber material. This puts some side load on the very edge and some alloys get sick from it.For instance :Basic blade alloys like Case or Swiss Army go dull and or roll the edge in a few cuts.Spyderco alloys do this :S110V can’t take it and gets dull relatively quickly (it’s the side loading)M4 can take it all day and goes for ever and stays quite sharpMaxamet goes as long as M4 but M4 retains that silly sharp edge longer even over Maxamet.VG-10 does alright no big deal (much better than Case or Swiss Army).HAP-40 almost as good as M4SPY-27 some where in between VG-10 and HAP-40 leaning toward the latter which is really quite good ! ! !In spite of my self I like this knife quite a lot and the SPY-27 alloy is a real winner !

Good blade made of a great CPM Magnacut steel, came extremely sharp. Handle is too light, would be five stars if handle had full length metal liners, or was made from a more solid plastic/composite.

A steel upgrade to my first Spyderco (the Persistence l/w combo knife -- a slightly bulkier 1/2 serrated blade). Feels much better in hand (the ergos being only complaint about my Persistence). Action is quick enough to spidey-flick out the box, even better w/a couple drops of gun oil. Really enjoying that aspect so far. Wire clip is exceptionally sturdy. Finish on the blade is excellent. And Para 3 spider hole and jimping is noticeably more comfortable than the sharp edges on the Persistence out the box. Excited to give its proprietary SPY27 some use. Feels razor sharp and expect that it will stay that way. Bought for EDC.

I carried the Spyderco Dragonfly as my EDC for many years before deciding to upgrade to the Para 3 Lightweight (P3L). And, wow, what a difference! Most notable is the increased size of the P3L, as well as the blade thickness. Though obviously bigger, the P3L is relatively lightweight and doesn’t crowd my pants pocket. The blade steel (Spyderco specific CPM Spy27) and the locking mechanism are much improved with the P3L too. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention I bought this P3L not for the steel but for the blue FRN handle! BTW, the FRN handle scales, as well as the outstanding handle ergonomics, provide a sure grip. The only thing that did not appeal to me was the wire clip (it’s a functional deep pocket clip). Instead, I purchased an aftermarket Lynch NW titanium clip. Lastly, the P3L is not only made in the USA, but feels like it’s built to last. You’ll find the P3L is not a cheap knife—both in cost and construction. Still, if you’re looking to upgrade your EDC pocket knife, the P3L is a solid choice.

I bought this as a present for my son, a wildlife biologist, who works outdoors all summer long in all kinds of conditions and environments. I played around with the knife a little bit before giving it to him and honestly I wish I would have bought one for myself. It is definitely very light but also very sturdy and very well made. The perfect combination.