C81 Para-Military

The C81 Para-Military was introduced in 2004. It is two-thirds the size of the C36 Military.

Appearance in catalogs

The C81 Para-Military appeared in all annual Spyderco product catalogs since 2004 (older, newer).

Designer

Sal Glesser

History, mentionings etc. from the forums

• Review by "The General"
• Discussion about CPM-S30V vs. CPM-D2 as used in the Para variations
• Disassembling/assembling was described e.g. here and here

Information from the Spyderco catalog on the web

C81G:

"The most awaited mid-sized survival knife of 2004. When Spyderco initially introduced our Military Model critics claimed it too large and more knife than the average user needed. Likewise, fans enthusiastically heralded the knife's big performance attributes. We arrive at the question knife manufacturers often ask themselves, "How do we satisfy both worlds and create a mid-sized knife that acts, cuts and performs like a larger knife?" Our answer was the Para Military."

"The PM is two-thirds the size of the original Military Model. Its flat-ground CPM-S30V blade stretches 3-3/32" long with the Spyderco Round Hole generously sized at 14mm for gloved or large hands. Furrowing above the hole presents a positioning spot for the thumb that's texture, keeping slipping to a minimum. Nested into the G-10 scale is a top-seated Heavy duty rated Compression Lock. By inlaying (nesting) the lock we increase its strength without adding thick and bulky liners. The handle expands at the front and back for advanced grip retention, eliminating forward or backward sliding. All steel and curved to keep it pinned in a pocket, the clip attaches for right-hande tip-down carry. The ultimate mid-sized survival knife."

See also C81GBK, C81GCMO , C81CMOBK .

Variations

All variations are made in Golden, Colorado and have

• a top-seated, nested Compression Lock,
• a screw together construction, and
• a Modified Clip Point Blade.

SKU	Handle	Edge(s)	Steel	From/To	MSRP	Note	Number made	Grind	Clip	Clip positions	Collectors club
C81GP	Black G-10	PE	CPM-S30V	2004-2010	199.95$ (2008)		N/A	Full Flat	Metal	RH, TD
C81GS	Black G-10	SE	CPM-S30V	2004-2009	199.95$ (2008)		N/A	Full Flat	Metal	RH, TD
C81GPBK	Black G-10	PE	CPM-S30V black	2005-2010	219.95$ (2008)		N/A	Full Flat	Metal	RH, TD
C81GSBK	Black G-10	SE	CPM-S30V black	2005-2009	219.95$ (2008)		N/A	Full Flat	Metal	RH, TD
C81GPFG	Foliage Green G-10	PE	CPM-D2	2008	189.95$	Sprintrun	?	Full Flat	Metal	RH, TD
C81GPCMO	Digital Camo G-10	PE	CPM-S30V	2009-2010	219.95$ (2009)		N/A	Full Flat	Metal	RH, TD
C81GPCMOBK	Digital Camo G-10	PE	CPM-S30V black	2009-2010	239.95$ (2009)		N/A	Full Flat	Metal	RH, TD
C81GP2	Black G-10	PE	CPM-S30V	2010-	169.95$ (2010)	2nd generation	N/A	Full Flat	Chrome Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Main
C81CFP2	Black Peel Ply CF	PE	CPM-S90V	2010	289.95$ (2010)	Sprintrun	600	Full Flat	Chrome Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant
C81GBK2	Black G-10	PE	CPM-S30V black DLC	2011-	189.95$ (2011)	Black hardware	N/A	Full Flat	Black Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant
C81GCMO2	Digital Camo G-10	PE	CPM-S30V	2011-	169.95$ (2011)		N/A	Full Flat	Chrome Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant
C81GCMOBK2	Digital Camo G-10	PE	CPM-S30V black DLC	2011-	189.95$ (2011)	Black hardware	N/A	Full Flat	Black Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant
C81GGY20CP2	Gray G-10	PE	CTS-20CP	2011	219.95$ (2011)	Sprintrun	?	Full Flat	Chrome Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant
C81GBLM3902	Blue G-10	PE	M390	Jan. 2012/Dec. 2012/Nov. 2016	179.95$ (street 2012), 189.95$ (2016)	Bento Box Shop dealer Exclusive. 2nd run released Dec. 2012. A 3rd run came out in 2016. While BBS didn't comment on the production size of the second or third run, it was likely 800 for the second run and another 800-1200 for the third run.	800 (1st run)	Full Flat	Chrome Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant
C81GPBN2	Brown G-10	PE	CPM-S35VN	Mar 2012, Nov 2015	$199.95 (2012), $222.95 (2015)	Moteng distributor Exclusive. First batch released in March 2012. A second run was produced and released in November 2015.	Limited	Full Flat	Chrome Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant
C81GPOR2	Orange G-10	PE	CTS-XHP	2012 Apr.	194.95$ (2012)	Cutlery Shoppe dealer Exclusive	800 .	Full Flat	Chrome Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant
C81GPGR2	Dark Green G-10	PE	CTS-204P	June 2013	189.95$ (2012)	Blue Ridge Knives distributor Exclusive, it appears that Knife Works acquired the whole run, as no other dealers carried the knife. Originally slated for delivery around June 2012, it was delayed by a year. The initial run was for 800 knives. An additional 400 were produced and released in March 2014.	1200 .	Full Flat	Chrome Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant
C81CFPE2	Peel Ply CF	PE	CPM-154/S90V	Feb. 2014	$469.95 (2014)	Sprintrun. First Spyderco to offer the CPM-154/S90V composite. The core is CPM-S90V sandwiched between CPM-154CM. There are plans to offer additional models using the same blade composite.	300	Full Flat	Chrome Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant
C81GFGP2	Foliage Green G-10	PE	Elmax	June 2014	199.95$ (street)	Bento Box Shop dealer Exclusive.	800-1200	Full Flat	Chrome Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant
C81GPDBL2	Dark blue G-10	PE	CPM-S110V	Sept. 2015-	$249.95 (2015)		regular production	Full Flat	Chrome Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant
C81GPORBK2	Orange G-10	PE	Black DLC coated CTS-XHP	Oct. 2015-Feb. 2016	$175.00 (street), $249.95 (MSRP)	Cutlery Shoppe Exclusive, black hardware. Sold out as of Feb. 2016.	1200	Full Flat	Black Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant
C81GM4P2	Jade G-10	PE	CPM-M4	July 2016	$159.99 (street), $217.95 (MSRP)	BladeHQ dealer Exclusive, uses natural "Jade" G-10, which is a translucent green color. Initially sold out within hours, but popped in and out of stock for short times during the next day.	2300 (2200 + 100 CC)	Full Flat	Chrome Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant
C81CFM4P2	Peel Ply CF	PE	CPM-M4	Aug. 2016	$219.95 (street), $294.95 (MSRP)	Knifeworks dealer Exclusive	1200	Full Flat	Chrome Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant
C81GPGY2	Dark grey G-10	PE	Cru-Wear	Oct. 2016	$239.95 (2016)	Sprintrun	1200	Full Flat	Chrome Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant
C81GPNP2	Light pink G-10	PE	CPM-S30V	Dec. 2016	$216.95 (2016)	JP Outman Distributing Exclusive. As with all Spyderco's pink knives, a portion of all sales are donated to Guardians of the Ribbon/Pink Heals Tour (www.pinkfiretrucks.org).	1200	Full Flat	Chrome Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant
C81GS2	Black G-10	SE	CPM-S30V	Mar. 2017-	209.95$ (2017)		Regular production	Full Flat	Chrome Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant
C81GPLE	Black G-10	PE	CPM-S30V	Apr. 2017 -	$209.95 (2017)	Left hand version	Regular production	Full Flat	Chrome Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant
C81CFP52100	Peel Ply CF	PE	52100	Not yet released	$295.95 (2017)	Sprintrun	600-1200?	Full Flat	Chrome Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant
C81PSCFP52100	Peel Ply CF	PS	52100	Not yet released	$295.95 (2017)	Sprintrun	600-1200?	Full Flat	Chrome Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant
C81GPDGY2	Dark gray G-10	PE	Maxamet	Not yet released	(2017)		Regular production	Full Flat	Chrome Hourglass	LH/RH, TD/TU	Variant

Most collectible variation

Questions regarding collecting the C81

Some interesting questions we are looking for an answer to:

Questions with an answer:

Technical information

Measurements (mm and grams) of the C81 Para-Military:

Model	Length overall	Length closed	Length blade	Length edge	Hole Ø	Blade thickness	Weight
C81GP	200mm	121mm	81mm	74mm	14mm	4mm	108g
C81G2	210mm	122mm	87mm	78mm	14.5mm	3.5mm	111g

Measurements (inches and ounces) of the C81 Para-Military:

Model	Length overall	Length closed	Length blade	Length edge	Hole Ø	Blade thickness	Weight
C81GP	7 7/8"	4 3/4"	3 3/32"	2 15/16"	9/16"	5/32"	3.75oz
C81G2	8.281"	4.812"	3.438"	3.078"	0.569"	0.141"	3.9oz

Pictures