Para 1 Appreciation Thread

[nirvanero]

Para 2 came with improved ergonomics but Para 1 always fitted my hand nice. The shorter blade felt a bit unbalanced with the overall length, on the other hand less holes in G-10 always looked great. At first I was like "Para 2 beats the older design in every aspet", but currently I love both knives.

[kbuzbee]

Yes, the D2 para is one of my favorites as well.



Wonderful knife. Takes a great edge.

Ken

[Talum15]

Love the Para 1 . I may currently have the Para 2 but can't let go of the Para 1's either! It's a different handle on it's own that it's nice to come back to all the time.

[cckw]

I still carry a para1 and ma very fond of it. I own several para 2 but never carry those.

[sharpguitarist]

Hey guys,
I'll probably be scoffed at, but after having and used my black on black para 1 for over a year now, i have no urge to even handle the new para 2.
I think the 1 was an iconic design from the get go!
Everything just works for me, handle ergos, blade length, and tip down carry clip.
I'm still searching for a d2 para, and would gladly take one of those over two para 2's of any variety.
But thats just me!
Later,
Don

[xceptnl]

Yes, the D2 para is one of my favorites as well.



Wonderful knife. Takes a great edge.

Ken

What's it gonna take to get one of those fancy clips made for my Para 1?

[Evil D]

Hey guys,
I'll probably be scoffed at, but after having and used my black on black para 1 for over a year now, i have no urge to even handle the new para 2.
I think the 1 was an iconic design from the get go!
Everything just works for me, handle ergos, blade length, and tip down carry clip.
I'm still searching for a d2 para, and would gladly take one of those over two para 2's of any variety.
But thats just me!
Later,
Don

I was the same way about my Para 1 when the 2 came out. I even handled one twice at the knife shop and both times posted here that i wasn't at all impressed and didn't see the big deal. Then one day i went in with the intention of buying a Military, and i handled a Para 2 and something finally clicked and it all made sense. The same thing happened with me and the Military, i've handled them probably a dozen times or more and every time walked away sure that i never would own one. I've been EDC'ing my Military for about a month now and love it lol.

[JNewell]

I really lilked the Para1 (still do) and didn't really see any need for the Para2 when it was introduced. I didn't think there was anything that needed to be fixed and the "improvements" seemed like quite a yawn. Nevertheless, S90V is irresistable so I bought a couple of those and started using one of them...wow, very impressive, I thought then and still think now. It's one of those cases of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. 1+2+3=8. So, I keep and really like my CPM D-2 sprint and Spyderedge black G10 (wish there were a Spyderedge Para2 sprint!), but they get less use now than they used to.

[Knifewing]

This thread reminded me that if I could change one thing about my Para 1s it would be the lack of carry options...and maybe the little gap at the back of the blade when the knife is closed (I guess that's two things). I know they both were addressed in the Para 2 improvements, but somehow, somehow, I just love my collection of 1s. One of them, a vintage black-bladed SE model with the thicker jimping, is the smoothest opening Spyderco in my collection--just "butta." And speaking of SE, I never was an SE guy until my first Para 1. It had such a generous PE section near the tip and the SE cut so well, I started looking again at other models in SE. But the Para 1 is still the best, followed closely by the Caly 3 G-10 SE.

[TyJo]

I guess ignorance is bliss... I'm new to knives and I'm not a steel nut. After I got a taste of knives with the Tenacious, I realized I wanted something a little better to EDC (similar to what happened to me with lights). I loved the compression lock and finally decided to get a Paramilitary 2. I guess I don't get what's so special about the PM 1 except the D2 (but with steels everyone has their favorite flavor so I don't see that as an advantage, just a different steel with pros/cons). I kept hearing about the ergos of the PM 2 when I was looking for a knife and I didn't really get it until I held the PM 2 in my hands. I guess I don't see the advantages to the PM 1 over the PM 2 except steel and ergos, which are personal preference (so I guess personal preference is the advantage).

[Chopping Broccoli]

I thought I lost my Para 1 the other day. Just found it wedged in the car between the seat and center console. Glad I didn't lose it as it will probably be tough to replace the Para 1.

[phillipsted]

Plus, the Para1 came in a couple of Spyderedge versions as well...

TedP

[Rwb1500]

Add me to the Para 1 camp. I love it, I'm on my second and I'm shopping for a D2. I really like the handle to blade ratio, call me crazy.