Carbon Fiber or G-10 Military?

K

kshaw07

Joined
Dec 15, 2007
Messages
48
Help me decide.. I wanna get a Milli but can't decide on which type handle. Any suggestions and reasons why? Please help.. or else I'll just have to get both! :(
 
Personally, I think (polished) CF looks a lot nicer than G10, they are also shinier and looks a whole lot better.

But, I think G-10 could just be stronger and gripier.
 
I've owned all three (G-10, shiny CF and grippy CF, in the forms of the Lil'Temperance, Delica and the new ZDP Stretch respectively.) The Shiny CF is truly beautiful, but it does take scratches, much like stainless steel handles do. The G-10 handles on my knives have held up under regular hard use and still look new. I don't really have the heart to put the Stretch to hard use, but its CF handle is just as grippy as G-10 and I believe would be just as durable if not more so.

If you're planning on putting the knife to hard use, I recommend G-10. If you're just a collector, then carbon fiber is the way to go. Either way it'll be tougher than nails.
 
Well, the only reason I can think of for specifically getting a CF handled Military is if you really like the stuff, are willing to pay an extra $70 for a slightly stiffer handle, or if you are like me then you just wanted the CPM S90V blade.
Otherwise G-10 works very well.

As for shiny CF, I've EDC'd a ZDP Caly 3 for a year now and the steel backspacer is all scratched up, but the CF shows no marks.
IIRC people were saying that the old stuff was more polished, and the new shiny CF has a bit of a diffused look to it, probably hiding the scratches.
 
If you are looking at the Military, I suggest basing your decision on the steel rather than the handle material. The peel-ply carbon fiber is nice, it is grippy, it is a little stiffer and stronger than the G-10, but not enough so to justify paying extra in my opinion. On the other hand, there were only 400 S30V/carbon fiber Millies made, so from a collector's point of view, I suppose it would be the one to get. I carry the S90V/CF model every day, but it isn't for the CF.;)
attachment.php
 
Hmm... still a tough choice. I will be putting it to use but was kinda thinking the carbon fiber would look good as I'm using it! I guess I can't lose either way.. but I could save a bit on the G-10. I'll sleep on it and hopefully, I won't do any sleepwalking with my credit card in hand and order both :o And thank you all for the help! Hearing from those with what's on my wish list helps a whole lot.
 
All of the Millies in CF so far have been peel-ply. Except in very bright light, it really doesn't look that much different than G-10, just a little lighter. The texture of the surface hides the cool holographic effect of the carbon fiber in most light. In the picture above, the two gray-looking handles at the bottom of the picture are the carbon fiber, the one on the right is foliage green G-10 and the other three are black G-10.

Edit to add: reducing the size of the picture to post it really messes up the detail. If you want, I can e-mail the original to you. It shows the details much better, which might give you a better idea of the differences between the materials.
 
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Go for the Carbon fiber- you'll save money in the long run, since if you buy the G10 you'll just end up buying the CF down the road.

The CF is also more NKP friendly, since it looks way classy and thereofore, less meancing (slightly, the thing is still a pocket sword)
 
With proper light and angle it looks like this:
mili_in_hand.jpg


But without these it looks like G-10:
texture1.jpg

texture2.jpg



So the question is which steel do you want :) G10 and CF are about the same...
 
i can always tell carbon fibre from G10 myself, & i prefer CF's looks but G10 isnt bad either.
 
I carry the S90V/CF model every day, but it isn't for the CF.;)
Click to expand...

I agree, the carbon fiber feels nice but the steel is what its all about. S90V is the steel you dream about when cutting something with an elcheapo knife.
 
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