Spyderco Equips Its Best All-Around EDC Knife with a Surging Material

A few weeks ago, Spyderco teamed up with Blade HQ to launch an exclusive take on what might be its most beloved (or at least its most recognizable) folding knife, the Paramilitary 2. Unsurprisingly, that launch was a huge hit, as PM2s often are, and it sold out very quickly.

While that knife isn’t coming back just yet, and it’s unclear if they’ll do another run, there is some good news for folks who missed it: the two brands have come together once more for a similar launch.

Chances are, however, that the Spyderco Para 3 Diamond Mesh Natural G-10 will sell out just as quickly, if not faster.

Blade HQ

More of the same, but that’s a good thing

With how popular and fast-selling the Blade HQ-exclusive Paramilitary 2 was, it makes sense that Spyderco would want to try and catch lightning in a bottle once more. The thing is, they did not even have to do anything all that different.

So they really didn’t. And while that might seem like a cop-out in other circumstances, the rarity of that first launch makes this feel more like a golden opportunity for those who missed out.

In fact, for some, this might even be a better deal, as the new platform, the Para 3, is arguably a better overall EDC knife. Largely, this is because of its size.

Blade HQ

The Paramilitary 2, for reference, is a hell of a knife, measuring 8.26 inches long from tip to tail. And while it has the pedigree and reputation to back it up, that’s a pretty big knife. Granted, it’s still fairly light, weighing up to 3.9 ounces with a G-10 handle, and less for the Lightweight version, but it’s still quite big.

The Para 3, by contrast, is much more manageable, measuring 7.27 inches in this case. It also weighs less, at 3.36 ounces. By any measure, that’s a more carry-friendly knife. But beyond that and the slight shape differences, these builds are pretty much identical.

Blade HQ

Get jaded

Now, onto the good stuff…

It’s undeniable that natural G-10 is a trending material for EDC knife handle scales. We’ve seen a bevy of knives released with this lightweight, stable, durable material recently (like this Japanese-inspired Civivi, which has turned out to be a big hit).

This Para 3 keeps that trend alive, but not in the way most others do. It’s not just a plain G-10 handle; this knife, like its sibling, gets a diamond mesh pattern on its scales that adds a bit more character and depth. I’d even call it more industrial, such is the spirit of this robust knife.

And yet, the handle is only one enticing element. The other, which might even be more exciting, is the blade. Like the PM2 before it, this knife has a fan-favorite MagnaCut steel blade. Furthermore, it comes in a satin or black finish.

Of course, the knife also has Spyderco’s legendary Compression Lock mechanism, which is still among the strongest EDC locks ever made, as well as a Round Hole deployment, four-position reversible pocket clip and a lanyard hole. Of course it does, as it’s still very much a Para 3.

Blade HQ

Availability and pricing

The Spyderco Para 3 Diamond Mesh Natural G-10 is now available exclusively through Blade HQ, with your choice of a satin or black-finished blade starting at $210.

However, if the PM2 that came before it is any indication, it won’t be around for very long at all.

Blade HQ

Spyderco Para 3 Diamond Mesh Natural G-10

• $210 at Blade HQ

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