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Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight Voted Best New Folder 2019

December 11, 2019

Presented by: Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpeners

The Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight is the KnifeNews Readers’ Choice Award for Best New Folder 2019! The Para 3 LW won the big one competing against knives like the Benchmade Bailout, Cold Steel AD-10, CRKT Provoke, and Three Rivers Manufacturing Atom.

Few knives got the hype train treatment as much as the original Para 3 did when it released in 2016. A smaller redesign of a stone cold classic and absolute fan favorite, the Para 3 was probably the most talked about release of late 2016 and a good portion of 2017. Despite an overall positive reception, there were areas in which users saw room for improvement – and talk began about a possible lightweight variant as happened with the Chaparral and others.

The Para 3 LW debuted with all the right changes. First, of course, were the FRN handle scales, completely linerless and sporting that popular Bi-Directional texturing. This change took an entire ounce off the original Para 3’s weight. Spyderco also overhauled the clip situation. The standard Spyderco spoon clip was a common criticism of the original Para 3, and the deep carry wire clip Spyderco chose for the lightweight model made much more sense from an ergonomic and carry perspective.

Spyderco, always a pioneer in the production implementation of steels, also settled on an interesting choice for this expansion to the Para 3 line: CTS-BD1N. This nitrogen-enhanced stainless blends performance and cost-friendliness in new and interesting ways. In conjunction with the FRN handle scales, this allowed Spyderco to release the Para 3 with a street price underneath $100 – making what is arguably the best version of one of their most popular recent releases the most affordable one.

The head-to-toe revisions speak to classic Spyderco values and make the Para 3 LW a successful, admirable, and affordable sequel to one of their recent hits.

Visit KnifeNews.com tomorrow to find out the winner of the KnifeNews Readers’ Choice Award for Most Innovative New Knife 2019.

AWARDS SCHEDULE

Monday, December 2nd: Best New Tactical Fixed Blade 2019 (WINNER: Spyderco Respect)

Tuesday, December 3rd: Best New Fixed Blade for EDC 2019 (WINNER: Ferrum Forge Lackey)

Wednesday, December 4th: Best New Outdoors Fixed Blade 2019 (WINNER: ESEE Knives AGK)

Thursday, December 5th: Best Knife Upgrade 2019 (WINNER: Kershaw D2 Emerson Models)

Friday, December 6th: Best New Slipjoint/Non-Locking Knife 2019 (WINNER: Chris Reeve Knives Impinda)

Monday, December 9th: Best New High-End Knife 2019 (MSRP of $300 or more) (WINNER: Spyderco Paysan)

Tuesday, December 10th: Best New Value Folder 2019 (MSRP of $100 or less) (WINNER: Civivi Anthropos)

Wednesday, December 11th: Best New Folder 2019 (WINNER: Spyderco Para 3 Lightweight)

Thursday, December 12th: Most Innovative New Knife 2019

Friday, December 13th: Work Sharp Knife of the Year

Monday, December 16th: Best Overall New for 2019 Lineup

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