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BM 710HS or Spyderco Military PE S30V?
- Thread starter cmd
- Start date
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- Dec 12, 2001
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- 939
I would get the BM first then the military solely because the BM allows for a tip-up carry, and that's the carry type I prefer. I haven't noticed the recurve being really that much harder to sharpen and even though the steel (M2?) is not totally stainless, I haven't observed any rusting.
the military is a great knife and fills the hand better than the BM, but the tip-down only carry reall doesn't sit with me. still, I have one here in the drawer...
the military is a great knife and fills the hand better than the BM, but the tip-down only carry reall doesn't sit with me. still, I have one here in the drawer...
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- Feb 7, 2004
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Starfish said:This might help - I asked this exact same question way back when I first started here at BFC. I'm embarrassed to say that I have owned neither!
Good luck on your decision,
Matthew
Thank you, it has good information but was from the time before S30V, which I see as a very significant improvement for the Military.
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2002
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- 343
I have both, except my S30v Millie is a comboedge.
The 710HS is a great knife, but slightly bulky compared to the Millie, and I find the handle on the 710 a bit less comfortable. The 710 is smaller, but chunky.
My EDC's are the Military, Al Mar Sere 2000, and a MT Amphibian MA. The 710 usually gets left in the drawer.
I'd pick the Millie, but not because the 710 isn't a great knife - for me it's a subjective decision based on how the knives work, in my hand.
OTOH, I trust my liner locks. If you don't, the 710 is hard to beat.
The 710HS is a great knife, but slightly bulky compared to the Millie, and I find the handle on the 710 a bit less comfortable. The 710 is smaller, but chunky.
My EDC's are the Military, Al Mar Sere 2000, and a MT Amphibian MA. The 710 usually gets left in the drawer.
I'd pick the Millie, but not because the 710 isn't a great knife - for me it's a subjective decision based on how the knives work, in my hand.
OTOH, I trust my liner locks. If you don't, the 710 is hard to beat.
Esav Benyamin
MidniteSuperMod
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- Apr 6, 2000
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He saved me the trouble of saying itciulkwens said:
Normark made me a sheath for the 710 that opens it up with a snap when I pull it out, faster even than the Wave.
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2001
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- 423
I have both, and I much prefer the Spyderco Military.
For it's size it's a very light knife and the blade grind makes it a supurb cutting tool. "Maybe" (I certainly wouldn't say it's so), the 710 is a fraction more robust, but IMHO it doesn't compare to the Military for cutting ability, which surprisingly is my main requirement for a knife
.
I have no problem at all with the liner lock, but from the gadget point of view, I would love the Military to be equiped with an Axis lock
Also Spyderco give you the choice whether you want black gunk on the blade or not. I'd probably like my 710 twice as much if it had a plain satin finish, instead of only that black cr@p coating.
For it's size it's a very light knife and the blade grind makes it a supurb cutting tool. "Maybe" (I certainly wouldn't say it's so), the 710 is a fraction more robust, but IMHO it doesn't compare to the Military for cutting ability, which surprisingly is my main requirement for a knife
.I have no problem at all with the liner lock, but from the gadget point of view, I would love the Military to be equiped with an Axis lock
Also Spyderco give you the choice whether you want black gunk on the blade or not. I'd probably like my 710 twice as much if it had a plain satin finish, instead of only that black cr@p coating.
glockman99
RIP Dann, you were a good guy.
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- Jun 12, 2000
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- 21,269
Get the 710...Especially if you happen to be left-handed, or ever think you might want to carry it on the "other" side (if you're right-handed). I've had a Mili, and as a "lefty" it didn't work very well for me, but my 710 carries and works well with either hand as it's totally ambidextrious.
ok here are my uneducated thougths on these guys:
Blade: for all intents and purposes, S30V is better overall IMO. YMMV. the millie has a thicker blade and is flat ground with mucho belly. it looks like it's made for slicing. tip strength of the millie has been suspect as it gets thin up there. the 710 looks to have a more robust tip.
lock: axis lock is far superior to the millie's liner lock. it's strong and ambi. the millie uses only one liner to decrease weight, and the liner isn't even the whole length of the handle. the left scale looking from the back of the millie has a cut out to help disengage the liner lock. this makes the lock susceptable to torquing forces undoing the lock.
handles: the millie is one big knife. the handles were much larger than i'd imagined. the front of the handle has a nice swell for the fingers which makes things comfy. the butt is where all the bulk is. the tip of the blade tapers to a fine point but the butt of the millie is huge. the lanyard hole takes up some of that space. the net effect is a very comfy handle in the hands, but a big bulky knife in the pocket. of note is that the millie is only set up for tip down, right handed carry. the clip is not positioned for deep carry either. the mille has no appreciable guard to keep the fingers uncut but it does have a useable choil and ridges on the spine for sabre grip. reverse grip is very comfy. also of note is that the G10 back spacer does not run the entire length of the handle. it has no adverse effect on comfort as the G10 scales themselves are rounded nicely.
the 710 is smaller and more compact. it is also a bit heavier. it has dual liners like all axis BM's. the G10 is smoother, almost "oily" compared to the spyderco G10 on the millie and chinook. the rear of the handle features a nice ramp with ridges on the liners for sabre grip. the front has no appreciable guard or recess. in fact it has a ramp like quality that is quite scary if you plan to stab hard with this knife. a loss in grip strength during a hard stab may mean a loss of a few fingers! the front of the liners also have ridges to help tractility but they don't do much of anything IMO. there is no appreciable choil. the clip is set up for tip up, left or right deep carry in the pocket. it has a full G10 backspacer. it's comfy in all grips (front, reverse, sabre). it relies on the increasing width of the top of the handle to act as a "guard". the thumb pin is small and close to the handle and so may make it hard to open with gloves, though the axis flick is always an option.
again these are my uneducated thoughts, take them for what they are: :footinmou
Blade: for all intents and purposes, S30V is better overall IMO. YMMV. the millie has a thicker blade and is flat ground with mucho belly. it looks like it's made for slicing. tip strength of the millie has been suspect as it gets thin up there. the 710 looks to have a more robust tip.
lock: axis lock is far superior to the millie's liner lock. it's strong and ambi. the millie uses only one liner to decrease weight, and the liner isn't even the whole length of the handle. the left scale looking from the back of the millie has a cut out to help disengage the liner lock. this makes the lock susceptable to torquing forces undoing the lock.
handles: the millie is one big knife. the handles were much larger than i'd imagined. the front of the handle has a nice swell for the fingers which makes things comfy. the butt is where all the bulk is. the tip of the blade tapers to a fine point but the butt of the millie is huge. the lanyard hole takes up some of that space. the net effect is a very comfy handle in the hands, but a big bulky knife in the pocket. of note is that the millie is only set up for tip down, right handed carry. the clip is not positioned for deep carry either. the mille has no appreciable guard to keep the fingers uncut but it does have a useable choil and ridges on the spine for sabre grip. reverse grip is very comfy. also of note is that the G10 back spacer does not run the entire length of the handle. it has no adverse effect on comfort as the G10 scales themselves are rounded nicely.
the 710 is smaller and more compact. it is also a bit heavier. it has dual liners like all axis BM's. the G10 is smoother, almost "oily" compared to the spyderco G10 on the millie and chinook. the rear of the handle features a nice ramp with ridges on the liners for sabre grip. the front has no appreciable guard or recess. in fact it has a ramp like quality that is quite scary if you plan to stab hard with this knife. a loss in grip strength during a hard stab may mean a loss of a few fingers! the front of the liners also have ridges to help tractility but they don't do much of anything IMO. there is no appreciable choil. the clip is set up for tip up, left or right deep carry in the pocket. it has a full G10 backspacer. it's comfy in all grips (front, reverse, sabre). it relies on the increasing width of the top of the handle to act as a "guard". the thumb pin is small and close to the handle and so may make it hard to open with gloves, though the axis flick is always an option.
again these are my uneducated thoughts, take them for what they are: :footinmou
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- Jul 20, 2002
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- 4,187
I own both.
Buy the BM 710.
Reasons?
1. Balance. Not the physical balance; the balance of features. The Spydie has the better steel, but compromises have been made to balance that and keep the knife affordable. The scales are made of cheaper material and the lock is not as good as the...
2. Axis lock. Everything you've read is true.
3. Ergonomics: The Millie feels over-light and too long. The 710 feels...right. The 710 feels...solid.
4. Blade shape. The Military has an excellent blade, but the tip is - to me - too fine to be robust. The 710 is just gorgeous. The Military is Naomi Campbell; the 710 is Kate Winslet: Tall & thin vs. shapely & proportionate.
Believe me, you won't go wrong with either; I just prefer the BM 710. I think you will too.
maximus otter
Buy the BM 710.
Reasons?
1. Balance. Not the physical balance; the balance of features. The Spydie has the better steel, but compromises have been made to balance that and keep the knife affordable. The scales are made of cheaper material and the lock is not as good as the...
2. Axis lock. Everything you've read is true.
3. Ergonomics: The Millie feels over-light and too long. The 710 feels...right. The 710 feels...solid.
4. Blade shape. The Military has an excellent blade, but the tip is - to me - too fine to be robust. The 710 is just gorgeous. The Military is Naomi Campbell; the 710 is Kate Winslet: Tall & thin vs. shapely & proportionate.
Believe me, you won't go wrong with either; I just prefer the BM 710. I think you will too.
maximus otter
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2004
- Messages
- 1,207
glockman99 said:
I'm actually close to being ambidexterous - preferring to learn most everything with both sides. That said though, my SS Cricket works very well in either hand. The hands just learned to work it their own way.
My left hand actually likes my Cricket better than my 705 even though the 705 is perfectly symetrical.
- Joined
- May 23, 2004
- Messages
- 1,175
I don't own a Military, read too many comments on this furum regarding breakage of the tip, but by all other accounts an excellent knife. The BM710HS is a real favorite of mine, such a perfect knife for my requirements.
I think the Manix is worth a look, its a big strong bruiser that slices a dream.
I think the Manix is worth a look, its a big strong bruiser that slices a dream.
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2000
- Messages
- 2,116
After reading all the debates about the Military compared to other knives I never bought one. I have the 710 and it has been my EDC for like 4 years now, or more. I think I got it in the summer of 2000. I'd have to search through my old posts here. Keep in mind this KNIFE has been almost exclusively my EDC for this time and it has never failed me or had any issue. If anything it operates better (smoother) than when it was new. I have never had an issue with rust either, but I do use a Tuf-Cloth on it from time to time.
(edited to replace the word "nice" with "KNIFE" doh!)
Keep in mind this KNIFE has been almost exclusively my EDC for this time and it has never failed me or had any issue. If anything it operates better (smoother) than when it was new. I have never had an issue with rust either, but I do use a Tuf-Cloth on it from time to time.(edited to replace the word "nice" with "KNIFE" doh!)