AFCK vs. Spiderco Military

Dave Hunnicutt said:
I have been carrying the full size AFCK for 15 years. I have been looking at the Spiderco Military just for the heck of it.

Which do you think is the better knife?

One thing I don't like about the Military is that the liner lock tab (?) is not hidden well. When you grip the knife, you feel it. It seems like it could accidentally release under stress at the wrong angle (self defense). The AFCK hides this better in the handle. The AFCK seems stronger and better lined too.

I like the Spiderco ergonomics better though.

Any opinions?
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Dave, these are my exact feelings also. I bought an AFCK in the '90's and loved it. I carried it for a couple of years in the Army till I heard all the fuss about the Military. I decided to sell my AFCK and buy a Military. I liked the handle on the Military slightly better, not much, but slightly; however, I never trusted the liner lock cut out! The AFCK seemed much safer. Whether the Military was less safe or not was not the issue as it seemed less safe to me so I didn't trust it. I sold the Military at the same time Benchmade changed the AFCK enough that it wasn't the same knife. This is one of those times one wishes they hadn't gotten rid of something to get the latest and greatest. It wasn't so.

I wasn't just concerned my that hand would unlock the Military, I was concerned "anything" that touched that large exposed piece of liner could unlock it. If you don't trust your equipment, it's no good to you as a tool, especially in high stress situations.
 
The AFCK is a fine knife, but rare as snake's teeth these days. I've seen these fetch big bucks on Ebay.

I'm thinking that there were at least a couple of design changes over a period of a few years. Went up and found 2 with PE black blades. 1st is an original with the round blade hole and liner lock. Later version is identical except it's got an eliptical blade hole and an axis lock. I'm thinking there was another version with liner lock and eliptical blade hole, but I just can't remember. To me at least, it's got a more streamlined profile than the Military, but why not buy both! :D
 
I guess I got lucky. My everyday carry is a round hole AFCK. I also have a new one in the box from 15+ years ago.

I took a knife fighting class at Cold Steel 8 years ago. We did alot of sparring. There were a few things that I learned.

1. Bigger is better
2. Your hand gets bumped alot.

Like the above poster mentioned, it may never happen. But, I don't trust Mr. Murphy with the way the lock is on the Military.
 
If the need ever arises [highly unlikely] that I'll need to use my knife as a self-defense tool, I'm not going to care what kind of lock is on my knife - as long as it's sharp, has a point, and that it can be opened quickly and efficiently are about all I'll be concerned about at that time.

Both knives carry well and can be opened fast if you practice. The Military is a much better slicer and I find it way more ergonomic [love the finger choil]. The AFCK handle design forces your hand back too much for my tastes. Both have strong locks and are great designs - the AFCK was dropped from the Benchmade line for a reason, though [poor sales].

You can do all this hypothetical posturing all day, but it won't make a world of difference if/when it comes down to your carry knife being used in a self-defense situation.

Carry a knife to cut things first - worry about the self-defense aspect last.

[Or just get a CCW permit if you're in a state that allows it :p]
 
symphonyincminor said:
If the need ever arises [highly unlikely] that I'll need to use my knife as a self-defense tool, I'm not going to care what kind of lock is on my knife - as long as it's sharp, has a point, and that it can be opened quickly and efficiently are about all I'll be concerned about at that time.

Both knives carry well and can be opened fast if you practice. The Military is a much better slicer and I find it way more ergonomic [love the finger choil]. The AFCK handle design forces your hand back too much for my tastes. Both have strong locks and are great designs - the AFCK was dropped from the Benchmade line for a reason, though [poor sales].

You can do all this hypothetical posturing all day, but it won't make a world of difference if/when it comes down to your carry knife being used in a self-defense situation.



Carry a knife to cut things first - worry about the self-defense aspect last.

[Or just get a CCW permit if you're in a state that allows it :p]
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I agree. Not to diminish the OP's concerns but I just don't look at my knives each morning and decide which one to carry based on self defense. I never have. Actually, I don't even look at a knife as a weapon . . .

P.S. - I have a CCW :D And I aways have one on me when I can, and certainly there is another one in my portable BOB at all times and two others in my truck at all times, one in my door and one in the passenger's door with a spare mag adjacent to each one except my carry piece - heh heh
 
First, let me begin by saying that I love Spyderco. They are my favorite knife maker and I own more of their knives than any other brand.

OK, now that's out of the way. First, we must remember that there were two entirely different knives that were called AFCK. The original was a liner lock and the later one was an Axis lock. I have a specimen of each, and I also own a Military which has never been used. I like the liner lock version better than the Military because it has full liners and because it is slimmer. I carried a FS version of the AFCK for a while and felt very comfortable with it as a SHTF knife.

Now let us discuss the other one, the 806D2. IMO there is no other factory knife above it. I own a crapload of sport utility knives from a variety of makers and my 806D2 is the very last one of them I would give up. To me it remains the single best production knife to ever be made. The only way it might ever be equalled would be if Spyderco released the Ti Military in a tip up model. Fully lined, blade hole opener, 4 way carry, axis lock---just doesn't get any better.

Oh, later Benchmade literature referred to the AFCK as the Advanced Folding Camp Knife.
 
symphonyincminor said:
Both knives carry well and can be opened fast if you practice. The Military is a much better slicer and I find it way more ergonomic [love the finger choil]. The AFCK handle design forces your hand back too much for my tastes. Both have strong locks and are great designs - the AFCK was dropped from the Benchmade line for a reason, though [poor sales].
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I wouldn't be so sure about that. There was a real big stink between BM & the designer of the AFCK that I'm sure helped to the discontinuing of the knife.

When Mr. Caracci designed the AFCK he designed it for one thing and one thing only, fighting/self defense. You're not going to find different grip positions or a fine slicing utility blade. This is definitely where the Military shines, it sacrifices some of the "combat" features but certainly makes for a better user for every day use. At least in my opinion it does.
 
tjsulli790 said:
Except we will have all that plus an CPM-M4 blade soon. :D
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I've been hearing about the 806M4 for quite a while but I've never seen anything other than a few words quoted from the Benchgmade forum indicating that it's actually going to be produced.

It this a fact? If so, when is it coming and who will be allowed to sell it? Inquiring minds want to know!

I'm starting to think this knife is the cutlery version of G&R's Chinese Democracy: it's coming, but you have to wait for years.
 
elkins45 said:
I've been hearing about the 806M4 for quite a while but I've never seen anything other than a few words quoted from the Benchgmade forum indicating that it's actually going to be produced.

It this a fact? If so, when is it coming and who will be allowed to sell it? Inquiring minds want to know!

I'm starting to think this knife is the cutlery version of G&R's Chinese Democracy: it's coming, but you have to wait for years.
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The only details about is that there will be a 806M4 produced. In late April it was "a couple months away". I really hope it is handled like the 710-801 was, a Knife Works exclusive in a limited run.
 
tjsulli790 said:
The only details about is that there will be a 806M4 produced. In late April it was "a couple months away". I really hope it is handled like the 710-801 was, a Knife Works exclusive in a limited run.
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A limited run would be the last thing I would want. Restricting availability to inflate collector value might be good for the collector but it certainly isn't good for users.
 
elkins45 said:
A limited run would be the last thing I would want. Restricting availability to inflate collector value might be good for the collector but it certainly isn't good for users.
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exactly; I would buy it and flip it even if I had to borrow the money to do so.

otherwise I would pass since its not really to my taste.
 
elkins45 said:
A limited run would be the last thing I would want. Restricting availability to inflate collector value might be good for the collector but it certainly isn't good for users.
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what inflation? price goes up on the secondary market, but the knifeworks prices were in line for the M4 gaucho and 710.
 
elkins45 said:
A limited run would be the last thing I would want. Restricting availability to inflate collector value might be good for the collector but it certainly isn't good for users.
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The 806 isn't something that exactly screams "user", as has been said already it was pretty much a single purpose knife. It follows the AFCK styling which was BMs flagship model. It's been discontinued for a while now. I'd like to see this reincarnation of the AFCK be kinda special and be in a limited run. But maybe that's just me.
 
hardheart said:
what inflation? price goes up on the secondary market, but the knifeworks prices were in line for the M4 gaucho and 710.
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You know, you're right about that. They weren't outrageous at all. I completely let that slip my mind. OK, then let me retract my previous objection and substitute a new one:

"I don't want it to be a limited run because I'm afraid they might sell out before I know they are available!":D
 
elkins45 said:
You know, you're right about that. They weren't outrageous at all. I completely let that slip my mind. OK, then let me retract my previous objection and substitute a new one:

"I don't want it to be a limited run because I'm afraid they might sell out before I know they are available!":D
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thats always a consideration. I personally have been pretty lucky in getting in the queue for these special runs (710 m4 and the new bob lum chinese) but I suppose I could just as easily miss the next one (bladeforums helps though).
 
The Military is better in every regard EXCEPT the lock. They have a tendency to unlock if you grab the knife firmly.
 
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