All-around hard-use Spydie...

Flood

Flood

Joined
Jul 31, 2000
Messages
274
Recently people have been making certain observations about the Military. I was especially intrigued with the comment that the Military is for hard-use cutting, rather than prying or chopping. I also remember recently reading Jeff Randall's (Jungle Training) comments, on admiring the Military after Sal gave him one to test, and being his favorite carry. Recently, he "supplanted" the Military and gave his full endorsement to the Al Mar SERE 2000, which certainly looks like it has a "stronger" blade for these functions mentioned above.

Of course, these functions would be best carried out with a strong fixed-blade, but I'm quite taken with the idea of having a strong and secure FOLDER handle these tasks. I would especially like for it to be a Spyderco, since it is by far my favorite knife-producing company for production folders. I am certain that they could easily beat Al Mar's offering.

Thus, I started podering about which Spydies would fit the bill for these "abusive" tasks. Besides the Chinook, I could not think of a heavy-duty Spydie knife which could handle these requirements. And even then, the Chinook does not look like it was designed for this purpose.

So, any of you have any idea about what folder could handle these tough tasks? Also, if there aren't any in production, would you want to see a model which can compete with the "tough-tank-like-blade-and-lockup" featured in knives such as the Al-Mar SERE 2000? I was thinking of a bowie-style or Spearpoint shaped blade, and an "industrial-strength" lock-type such as an integral lock, a Chinook-type lockback, or better yet, a compression lock.

In fact, I think it would be a great idea to produce! It would certainly compete great against those already out there, what with having a superior lock and one of the greatest of all Spydie-assets and innovations: the Spydie blade hole!

So, lets see all those opinions and suggestions! Sal's comments and observations are, of course, most effusively welcomed.
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-Flood
 
Actually, when I first got my Military I felt that when holding the handle as far back on the handle as possible, stopping where the busk begins, that the knife practically asks to be chopped with. When I posted this, several other forumites claimed that they in fact used their Militaries for light chopping tasks. I don't have any first hand experience though. Not too many shrubs or pesky trees in/around my apartment building
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Wouter
 
Although it has a rather fine tip, I think the Chinook is by far the heaviest duty Spyderco currently being produced. It has a massive frame, a super strong lock, and a rather thick blade that looks like it could take some abuse. I can't imagine the Chinook not being able to do anything that one would ask of a folder.
 
If you want a tool for prying, use one that was specifically designed for it, like a screwdriver.
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Seriously, I think when it comes to sharpened prybars spearpoints, drop points, and tantos are good, but Spyderco tends more towards clip points, which I think are better for fine work and poking stuff, but are a little less robust. I would guess that when the ATR comes out it will fulfill a lot of these strength and toughness requirements, with the modified dagger grind, which I'm guess will leave a decent thickness at the tip, and an integral compression lock.
 
I have to say that my Wegner is really good for hard use.

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Dennis Bible

mylogosmall.gif
 
STARMATE!!!!!!!!!

It is a pity that Jeff has not taken one of those into the jungle yet, I would send my own Starmate to him if that would do. It is exactly what you are trying to find: very strong point (thanks to Bob T and his excellent design) and "almost-Military" cutting performance with the hollow ground blade. The CPM-440V really works, if you don't believe me, try chopping a pine log. Not a very scientific test, but after 40 cuts, both the Mil and the Starmate still shave hair, where the ATS-34 folders have lost their fine edge.

Let me say it again: STARMATE!!!!
 
If the Wegner isn't a hard use knife, I don't know what one is. That knife is incredible. *But I still want a Wegner II .. hint, Sal, hint*
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It's not the pace of life that concerns me, It's the sudden stop at the end.
 
The old Standard Model is a tough knife too.
You can get them for around $45 from Smoky Mountain Knife & Tool.
But, not for long. They have been discontinued.
Bill
 
Juan,

Amigo, it'll take six Enduras to handle the task of one Military. My daily carry is now a toothy one. But of course, the Endura is always there for backup. The millie has a very interesting blade geometry which enables it to serve in various cutting techniques. The CPM S60V steel is capable of taking the worse punishment, spare some chipped bits which can be rectified by a few strokes on the sharpmaker. Speaking on corrosion resistance, the military had impressed me in its overall performance. In the hot and humid conditions of Malaysia's rainforest, this knife had survived. The only hard-core action, is when my millie was used to scoop mud in an attempt to recover a vehicle's wheel.. To my surprise, the knife survived without a scratch. The tip was nicked off a bit, but edge retention remained superior. Only lots of cleaning chores on the blade's spacer to rid off the grime, sand and mud got the blade back in shape for more hard-use chores...
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I'm glad to have a 204 all the time for those maintenance chore!! One thing I must hand to Papa Spyder Sal Glesser, is the constant desire to improve the Military!! Kodus Sal!!
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You've done a great job in producing a fine utility blade!
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Sam

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have spydies
will travel...
AKTI Member #A001148
 
Frankly, I don't think there is a really heavy duty Spyderco folder offered now. Of course, you can argue that the term "heavy duty folder" is an oxymoron, but I don't think Spyderco has a knife that has all of the characteristics of a super tough folder. (Not that I would especially want a knife like that anyway, but...
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)

The Military is too light and thin at the tip to be considered a really hard-use knife in my book. The Chinook is heavy and stout, but it's got a hollow grind and the edge is thinner than Calista Flockhart. The Wegner is about as heavy duty as they come, but it still has a hollow grind and only one liner.

An extremely tough, heavy duty knife would, IMHO, have characteristics like: a saber or convex grind and a thick edge, a metal handle or two metal liners and a metal back spacer, compression lock (not liner lock), and a carbon or tool steel (not 440V!) blade.

The problem is that such a knife probably wouldn't appeal to a lot of people; it would take a lot of commitment to carry it. There are always trade-offs. For example: a thick edge is tough, but it won't cut as well... metal liners make the handle thick and heavy and difficult to carry... tool steel is tough, but it corrodes... etc..

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Cerulean

"We cut things to create things" - J.K.M.


[This message has been edited by cerulean (edited 02-05-2001).]
 
Sal, here we go, we can work with this and kill 2 birds with one stone. I guess I'm not the only one that wants a hard use, heavy duty Spydie
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How about, nested compression lock, Crucible D2 enhanced blade steel, G-10 handles, badass spearpoint blade, of course have a large hole and the angled handle/blade joint. And tip DOWN please
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tique, I would buy that knife. What about VG-10? I've heard that's a pretty tough steel.
 
I'm going to throw in a vote for the Chinook as good heavy duty utility knife.

I particularly like the partially serrated version, as the 'belly' of the bowie gives a carving surface that sits before the serrations so one can carve bagels and cheese et al without worrying about the serrations, and have the serrated portion to cut ropes and stuff.

It is CPM 440V so theoretically it is brittle, and it does have a thin tip (though thicker than one thinks, it is well designed one of the reasons the swedge is so thick) so it will chip, or lose the tip when abused.

As I have an almost instinctive aversion to abusing my knives, gained from a father and uncle that would swat me if they saw me playing mublety-peg with my SAK, and then make me sharpen it to *their* sataisfaction, and not being afraid of the hollow ground, I'll retouch it when necessary. I say get a Chinook!

It actually is a quite practical blade design in the balance, I've been using it as my daily carry knife since September, and I have yet to be disapointed. It skins a deer, it cuts kindling, it handles rope, packages, and corn stalks with elan.


Best wishes,
Todd (edgedance)
 
IMHO, folder and chopping/prying are mutually exclusive. In an emergency, whatever works, works. Otherwise, if you need a pry-bar, bring one. If you need to chop, an axe, hatchet or big fixed blade should do nicely.

And let me make sure that I say that Spydercos are up to hard use. Hard use as a knife that is. I've carried the same Police model daily for approaching 13 years with no loosening or other problems. Properly cared for, it should easily last the rest of my career and then some. My Wegner is no slouch either!!
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Ben

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"If you're upside down and burning, you probably went too fast."


[This message has been edited by Fozzy (edited 02-08-2001).]
 
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