4 inch folder - 710 vs Milly

Agree with Buffalohump on spine whacking. What sort of cutting task might come up where this would be a factor? Most of us have used slip joint knives since we were kids and any cuts we got weren't from the knife folding up on us. If that happened our Totin' Chip would have been pulled. I view the lock as simply a bit of insurance against the knife folding when you don't want it to. If you have a reasonable expectation that it would fold if it were a slip joint, then you should be using a fixed blade, IMHO. That said, pick the one that is handiest for you. Seems like the Spyderco hole outweighs the small thumb studs in this case, for you.
 
I have each, and prefer the 710. It opens like butter, has a locking system I much prefer to the liner lock, and is configured for tip-up carry like God intended :). It also has an aesthetic appeal which I find lacking in the Military, but that is purely subjective. Nothing wrong with the Military by any means, and it is thinner, but I prefer the 710.
 
Both are great knife designs! A person could have either one and be happy with it for the rest of their life. In the city or in the backcountry, both knives do their thing well.

Having said that... the 710 fits better in my pocket than the Military. The latter is a LARGE footprint in the pocket.

The Axis lock IMHO is a better lock and I have Spydies though that have never given me a single bit of problems with their locks.

I have the M2 version of the 710 and the steel is phenomenal. Two of the M4's on current order with the limited release.

Buy either or both... you cannot go wrong! ;)
 
I saw pics of a Military on the Spyderco forum that had broken at the spyderhole when the user had been cutting up a cardboard box. heat treat problem?
 
I wasn't there when it happened, but his description of the incident sounded like he wasn't really cutting, but slid the blade under a box flap and lifted the handle to pry the flap up. It snapped the blade instead. I've done similar things by accident with the same result.
 
Both use excellent materials
Both are large knives that can take whatever you throw at them
Both have well-made locks
Both will last a lifetime of everyday use

But...

The Military will out-cut the 710 all day long. Spyderco knows how to put an edge on a knife. Benchmade puts a 40 degree inclusive angle on their knives - combined with the D2 steel the 710 uses - it would be an absolute nightmare to re-bevel and sharpen to an equivalent edge that comes on the Military.

The Military was designed as a high-performance cutting machine, and it really excels at what it was designed for.
 
I would say the Military. The only thing I don't really like about it is the lack of a backspacer.

As far as locks go, I've heard of Axis lock springs failing, but I've never heard of the Military's liner lock failing (unless the knife was abused).
 
I have both, and have carried both quite a bit.

You can't go wrong with either one. Both are classics of their separate brands, both are very well made, and both are very dependable knives.

It really comes down to which one feels better in your hand or pocket.

I usually end up carrying the Military or Para-Mlitary, because I find the tip-down orientation easier and faster to deploy.
 
710 has the better lock, and carry better
Military has the better blade for both push or slice cutting
 
All,
Thanks for the info. Both knives sound great. I still can't make up my mind. Since I have a Para Military I may go with the 710 because it
is so different. On the other hand I really like the Milly thumb hole and s30v blade. Also the 710 has a recurved blade. How hard is it to sharpen a recurve with a lansky or sharpmaker?

Thanks for all your help.
 
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The only reason I'd say it's hard to sharpen the 710 on the sharpmaker is because the sharpmaker uses ceramic. Get the diamond rods for reprofiling, if that's on your agenda.
 
THG said:
The only reason I'd say it's hard to sharpen the 710 on the sharpmaker is because the sharpmaker uses ceramic. Get the diamond rods for reprofiling, if that's on your agenda.
Click to expand...

LOL. You get what you pay for, its not that you cant reprofile but plan on not doing anything else for the rest of the afternoon. But this goes for any of the new super steels like D2, S30V not to mention the S90V that most maker dread and will not touch with a ten foot pole.
 
710

+tip up
-thicker grind
-no choil
-recurve is more of a pain to sharpen
-smaller selection of steels to choose from
+Axis lock is great
-G10 a little smoother than I like

Military

-tip down
+very ergonomic
+choil
+full flat grind with thin tip
+lots of steels to choose (440V, S30V, BG42, S90V, CPMD2)
+Best liner lock ever
+spyderhole > thumbstud
+Rough G10 texture


Both are large knives that carry well for their size and show quality manufacturing in the final product. I'd give the nod to the Military for more steel / scale options, better ergos, better grind, the choil and better grip security overall. The 710 has a tip up clip and the axis lock, which are the only two things that stand above the Military IMO.
 
Vivi said:
710

+tip up
-thicker grind
-no choil
-recurve is more of a pain to sharpen
-smaller selection of steels to choose from
+Axis lock is great
-G10 a little smoother than I like

Military

-tip down
+very ergonomic
+choil
+full flat grind with thin tip
+lots of steels to choose (440V, S30V, BG42, S90V, CPMD2)
+Best liner lock ever
+spyderhole > thumbstud
+Rough G10 texture


Both are large knives that carry well for their size and show quality manufacturing in the final product. I'd give the nod to the Military for more steel / scale options, better ergos, better grind, the choil and better grip security overall. The 710 has a tip up clip and the axis lock, which are the only two things that stand above the Military IMO.
Click to expand...


All good points. I have both and I prefer the 710 but I don't know why. On paper the Mili should be better. My brain says Mili but my heart says 710. Oh the struggles we endure. Glad I have both.
 
That happens sometimes. The Stretch 2 looked perfect to me on paper but when I held it I didn't like the choil as much as other Spydercos. Always best to be able to hold what you're buying beforehand.
 
When you guys say choil, what are you describing? The Military doesn't have a choil.
 
They mean the finger choil.

But of course, the real answer for 710 vs Milly is to get a Sebenza.
 
Here's why I don't like the 710
- heavy
- bulky
- slippery G10
- strangely shaped handles
- thumbstud

Which is exactly why I like the Military:
+ lightweight
+ slim
+ grippy G-10
+ flat ground blade for optimum cutting performance
+ comfortable, large handles
+ Spyderhole
 
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