Easily one of the most anticipated products in Spyderco's history, the Para 3 is the latest generation of their immensely popular Paramilitary family of folding knives. It traces its history all the way back to the first-generation Paramilitary model, which was introduced in 2004 and even further to that knife's inspiration: the iconic Military Model. The original design intent of the Paramilitary was to provide the same proven reliability and cutting performance of the Military but in a more compact, easy-to-carry package. The design also showcased Spyderco's patented Compression Lock—a high-strength lock mechanism housed in the spine of the handle that offered a number of significant advantages over the Military's liner lock.