Spyderco Head to Head: Para 3 Lightweight vs FRN Chaparral

[@bobgox]

i am very pleasantly surprised to discover your unique channel, no weird gimmicks, obnoxious intros, loud or fast talking, and/or cringe-worthy attempts at standup comedy, etc like some other YT knife & gear reviewers ...just very articulate intelligent detailed analysis & user perspective. quite refreshing, i sincerely look forward to upcoming vids from you in future. subbed & big thanks !

[@bobgox]

@@RybosWorkbench you are most welcome, i was simply making a truthful observation. look forward to your future content, all the best !

[@JeffBruenderman]

bobgox agree 💯

[@JeffBruenderman]

Great comparison video man. I have a bunch of para 3’s and it’s my favorite knife…until the chap Lw…this thing is just so carry-able and the thin blade is amazing

[@pauljosephbuggle3722]

Fit and finish is much better on Taiwan Spydercos. When comparing one could point out if the knife has the perfect matching of quality for the particular knife in question. The texturing on the Chaparral is perfect for the Chaparral as is the strong backlock. You couldn't have an access lock on such a light blade. For what it is and what it's supposed to do, the Chaparral is a wonderful design. The Para 3 is a great knife and works well in the toy/fidgety category but the Chaparral stands alone as a great integrated design which is also better suited to average urban edc practical needs. That's where the intangible focus should fall. My Chaparral closes much easier and with less effort, although that did take some time. Equally, my pocket clip is perfect.

[@danielcluley870]

IMO the "thin blade" is the biggest benefit to the Chappy for EDC. It is a FANTASTIC slicer if you don't need hard use. Generally, I don't have EDC for hard use, I have it for small tasks, cutting, slicing food, etc. If I know I will need a hard use knife, I would usually go get my beater Mora.

[@wrxtc82]

Thanks for making this comparison. Love the thinness and size of the Chap (pocket friendly) but the fidget factor is hard to deny! The Chap seems a bit more office friendly.

[@richardvirchow3390]

Great comparison review. My Para 3 LW was my favorite for the longest time until I got a Sage 5 LW. Spyderco makes so many damn good knives…! That’s why I have gone into an EDC rotation of about 2-3 weeks per knife.

[@andrewmorris301]

I am really confused by your channel. You are so professional and supply great information in your videos yet, you deserve more subscribers

[@ronaldroberts1992]

Thanx for the cool video RW...I just ordered the chaparral and should be in shortly. I was never really into spydercos cuz of the hump by the thumb hole but theres couple I do like chaparral and native 5 looks ok.

[@thatogcoolname]

I’d say choose based on size and lock type. I like smaller knives and I trust backlocks way more than compression locks. The only thing that keeps the Para blades closed is the little detent ball.

[@trlarosa]

Great comparison. So professional. I love your channel. I just bought the Para 3 Lightweight and am looking forward to trying it. Take care and good luck with your channel.

[@wartstein8814]

Very good comparison (though I personally clearly prefer the Chap)! Some remarks: - There is an easy mod to make the rather stiff backlock of the Chap more enjoyable: Just relocate the spring of the lock by 2 or 3 mm - The honeycomb texture of the Chap actually IS bidirectional too! Just not as clearly to see, but clearly to feel if you try - You forgot to actually give the point ("badge") for "size" to the Chap. Still the Para 3 would have been your winner, but not by 5:3, but 5:4 (you have 9 categories, but only gave 8 points... ;) ) Keep up the good work!

[@twai8036]

What do you mean relocate? I’m not very knowledgeable in mods and adjusting springs

[@timrice5342]

Scoring be damned! 😆 I mean some of it is subjective. Especially blade thickness. example I have a super thin and sharp carbon opinel paring knife. Love it! But sometime that thinness is annoying. Same here, a thin blade is better slicer but, if I'm camping or multi using a folder, I might want a more robust blade. Neither blade in this video is better but it should be noted and let purpose choose the winner.

[@timrice5342]

Then again I'm just here to pick my first spyderco. Love my crtk m-16 form factor. If it only had vg10 blade or better! Perfect knife. Oh and it needs deep carry clip! My other knife boker urban trapper. Absolutely love it paid $65 for it. Its now $110 or $120... its a gentleman knife vs what i want etc for. So it sits on desk. I obviously love long slender knives! Jumping to a fat spyderco will be a leap of faith....! I need to choose para3, chap, or delica 4. If delica4 had bottom finger gimping it'd be #1 (if price stayed same)

[@pauljosephbuggle3722]

The Chaparral is a design great. It's beautifully made and we'll thought out. When talking EDC for the normal urban carrier it's the best knife of all. And the price is right. The Para 3 is just another Spyderco. You just like the toy factor. By the way, the frn on the Spyderco Chaparral is perfect for the Chaparral, that's the idea!

[@creone.knifeoholic7818]

For me chap win this comparison. Steel are better, size is closer to p3 and price is good for this slicer. Bout knives are light use tools but construction of para3 is more plastic. For fidget fun are flippers, this little guy is for great cut agression. and we're not lying, but para3 got its popularity thanks to marketing.

[@Belgarathe]

You for a great job describing para3. I tried both pm2 and para 3. The ease and reliability of liner lock makes it predictable to use. It’s lightness make me almost forget that I carrying it and more grip options really made me use it so much more than pm2. The only love I have pm2 is edge length but for over 90% of my usage para 3 Lw it awesome with it “disadvantages” only being a minor irritation. Truth be told both knives you reviewed are awesome

[@ronaldroberts8515]

I don't have a para 3 let alone the 2 but I have 2 chaparral s and love em. Also my next knife I'm thinking is lil native as I prefer smaller knives also have 5 DF lol take care.

[@janmakal2445]

Subscribed. Your channel has great potential.

[@wstar72]

I hope you do a head to head with the Sage 5 LW when that comes out. Also, do you have any centering issues with your para 3 LW? Mine is shifted away from the lock side.

[@Mrsingingdude1]

I've heard that from quite a few people which is weird to me because mine came with almost perfect centering and the smoothest action. I almost couldn't believe how well it was done

[@alexandretestoni]

I watch yours reviews of the delica 4 vs lighweight and this. Now the question, chaparral or delica? Thanks for the video.

[@0scartheCat]

Yep . . I have the Chappp as my food knife when working away, fab slicer . . . Great video well done . . .

[@esoteric5277]

Chaparral is way better than Para 3. But it is a small thing, and a knife with a backlock will take some breaking in. And even then it might never be your preferred plaything😑 If you'd like more blade and really want that compression lock, go for the Sage 5LW. You won't regret spending a bit more money on a much better knife!

[@timrice5342]

If I'm opening 50+ boxes a day , cutting string or often in a one handed use situation I can see para being winner. But at the moment for me I think chap is winning. I hate stuff in pockets. Thin small with max blade is best.

[@AlexanderSLeBlanc]

Subscribed. Excellent review and well-presented.

[@tonydavis5053]

The Chaparrals have so many scales to choose from!

[@TismFishing]

Best spyderco combo is the chaparral and a shamen or manix. If you select based on their easy to get knife. Chaparral is my favorite grab and go, it’s not fun to play with so that’s great if you’re in church, at a funeral, or wedding. You won’t have your wife telling you to put your knife away. If you want a knife to fidget with then bring a secondary.

[@alastairtreasure7419]

Hmmm.. gonna go for the Chaparral in Africa. Thanks for the informative review.

[@JeffBruenderman]

Nice job. I just subscribed. Even though I’m still going to end up buying both 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@Volkmannx]

Thanks!

[@6pistons]

I have the Para 3 LW and it is a good knife. I like the aspects of the knife except the BD1N steel. Much prefer the CPM-S30V

[@paddyspotatopeelers2154]

Nice head to head. I find the para 3 confusing. As yet I'm still conflicted. I wish the para 3 had the blade steel of the chaperal. I think it is a knife for lighter use and doesn't need xhp. Atb paddy. 👍😀☘️

[@anthonyarnold9087]

The only thing i dont like about some spydercos is that gigantic hump. good video, new sub

[@GediMarko]

Nice review, thanks.

[@havegregory]

Well done. That auto zoom on you camera is quick!

[@AlexeyPRG]

please use SI units.

[@Pukindog12]

Seems like you had your mind made up before this video was made. Apples and oranges comparison.