Popularity alone is a strong testament to the quality of a knife or tool. Tons of people wouldn’t buy, let alone carry, a knife that didn’t perform.
That’s one of the things (but not the only one) that makes the Para 3 with FRN scales and a BD1N blade a strong contender for the title of the best Spyderco knife.
Is it the best? There are a lot of good models in their catalog, so ultimately we’ll leave that up to you. But there certainly is a lot that this version of the Para 3 offers. Here are some of the best of them.
What Makes It a Great Spyderco Knife
Popularity aside, there are many material attributes of this Para 3 variant that make it an excellent Spyderco knife even if it isn’t patently the best.
Let’s run these down.
- Scale material: The FRN material that Spyderco has used in the scales of this knife is strong, abrasion resistant, surprisingly durable, and shockingly light. It’s so light it almost feels flimsy – but it isn’t. On top of that, it offers a sure grip in a wide range of conditions.
- Blade steel: The BD1N blade steel used in this variant of the Para 3 is a real winner even if you don’t consider it a super steel. It’s a nitrogen-bearing steel, which is a relatively rare thing but which is enjoying growing popularity. In low quantities, nitrogen can be added to steel in lieu of chromium, which accomplishes a few effects. For one, nitrogen atoms are physically smaller than chromium, which results in a finer grain structure and the ability of the steel to take a finer edge. Nitrogen-bearing steel is also capable of taking a solid heat-treatment for excellent edge retention, although that sometimes comes at the expense of making the steel a little more brittle. Perhaps most importantly, adding nitrogen to the alloy massively improves the steel’s corrosion resistance.
- A full flat grind: Even if the steel alloy used in this Spyderco Paramilitary 3 wasn’t a winner (and it is) the full flat grind results in an edge that slices effortlessly, and which is easy both to sharpen and to maintain.
- High thumb ramp and sure control: This is an ergonomic feature that’s relatively common among Spyderco knives, but nonetheless, it is a boon here and offers the bearer sure control over this folding knife.
- Ambidextrous opening: You can love thumb studs or a flipper tab on a pocket knife all you want, but Spyderco’s Spydie holes are naturally ambidextrous, relatively easy to learn to use, enjoyable to use once you’ve learned how, and they lower the weight of the knife, rather than adding to it, as studs do.
- No-nonsense design and ergonomics: Not much else can be said other than the fact that this Para 3 is simple by design; intended to perform, not to impress by way of aesthetics.
- The lock: This Spyderco Para 3 is equipped with a Compression lock, a favorite of Spyderco and stronger and surer than common alternatives, like liner locks.
- Overall size and weight: This Spyderco knife weighs a mere 2.4 ounces yet has an even 3” leaf-shaped blade. This makes it exceptionally lightweight while still sized appropriately to take on most daily tasks with confidence and capability. It’s right in the sweet spot for most “EDC” pocket knives in terms of size and weight, which are just two more things that make it an excellent knife overall.
It Might Be the Best Spyderco Knife: Where to Get It
Whether or not you think this is the best Spyderco knife, if you’re interested in getting one, get it online at White Mountain Knives. The reason is this. If you determine at the eleventh hour that it is not in fact your favorite, there are tons of other Spyderco knives in their online collection for you to get instead.
