? for current Military and Police owners.

B

Brandon -B-

Joined
Aug 11, 2001
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I am thinking about getting a Spyderco Military but man is that folder huge. I was wondering. do owners of the Military and the POlice ever get used to the size of it? Did any of you ever look at it when you first got it and say "holy crap that thing is big!" but later wonder how you ever did with small folders in the first place?
 
really, they arent that big - have a police and did have a millie, either one carries fine in the pocket, no problem at all.....

i used to carry a REKAT sifu, a 5.5" blade knife, and it was BIG, but it still carried well in the pocket, ya forgot about it after a while.....

now BIGGEST/WIDEST has to be a buck/strider (not counting the custom AR/GB) it is a THICK BIG knife, it is hard to get used to, but not impossible at all........

but the millie/police too big?? imho no.........

sifu
 
No experience with the Police but Military – this is The Knife! If I would be hard pressed to keep one knife only the Military would be one of very first candidates.
Yes, it looks big but entire package is very slim, light and carryable. The handle is surprisingly comfortable as to so thin package and flat ground CPM 440V blade is an excellent cutter.
The only thing what prevents me from carrying it in publics in urban environment is bystander reaction – what a scythe! However it is my faithful companion around the household and going outdoors. My wife nominated it as The Best Folding Knife for Outdoors Sandwich Making :D
If seriously – it works for food preparing really nicely and even in my home I use it pretty frequently in the kitchen. Quite naturally this is just one among a lot of applications, in fact it can do all what could and should be done with the knife.
 
One of my EDC is a SS Police. There are times when I need to place my hand on the knife to make sure I actually clipped it on. I tend to buy mostly SS knifes which tend to weigh slighly more then the FRN ones. Everyone has different comfort levels, so what feels fine to me may not for you.

Another knife to consider is the Spyderco Ayoob model, basicly the same size as the Police (this is my main folder) and IMHO is better then the police for tactical/self-defense usage. The only downside to the Ayoob is some people find the scales slippery which I don't.
 
The Military has a lot more going for it than the Police (stainless handles) in my experience.

Military:
1) Broad bellied flat ground blade slices much more efficently.
2) Spyderhole is larger in diameter for larger thumb people and is easier to thumb open with gloves on.
2)G10 handles provide a much more secure grip, especially in inclimate weather or oily/ greasy environments.
3)Much more smoother action.
4)Easier to service due to liner and eccentric pivot pin construction.
5)Much lighter weight makes for ease/ preference of carry especially in very light attire.
6)While essentialy flat in handle construction, it is more ergonomic than the Police.
6)Has much less "shine" for spec ops/ covert/ sentry removal applications! :)

Also, the Military is a tad bit shorter in length than the Police. When my need for a full size production folder is called for, the Military is my first choice.

Nakano
 
Originally posted by Brandon -B-
I am thinking about getting a Spyderco Military but man is that folder huge. I was wondering. do owners of the Military and the POlice ever get used to the size of it? Did any of you ever look at it when you first got it and say "holy crap that thing is big!" but later wonder how you ever did with small folders in the first place?
Click to expand...

Brandon -B-, I don't have either folder, but I do have the Large Calypso which has approximately the same dimensions as the Military. Yeah, when I first got it, I thought I would never carry it due to the size. Handles felt too big, the appearance was a little overwhelming compared to other 4" folders such as the Buck 110.

I'm not sure when it happened, but eventually I began to really appreciate the relatively large handle and the long blade. Everything I can do with a small folder, I can do with the large Calypso. However, some things I do with the large Calypso (read: food prep) are not as easily done or messy to do with a smaller folder.

Like Sergiusz says, though, it's not the knife to carry around if you are worried about sheeple. I'm not, and I'm of the opinion that if it's legal, I'm carrying it :)

Hope that helps!

Matthew
 
I really like the way the Military carries in my pocket. Some folders will dig into your hip as you walk and sit down, but not this one. Yes, it is big, but very light weight and what a slicer! Mine is the ATS34 model with plain edge, and I plan on keeping it for a long time.
 
When not working, I always have a Military in my hip pocket. It is so thin that I constantly find myself checking to see if it is still there, kinda like with a wallet that you are used to carrying.
 
Thanks for the replies. I'm in the army and work in a maintainence shop where everyone already knows I carry a knife (and I've even convinced a couple of my buddies to carry) so the Sheeple thing shouldn't be a factor with too many people. I'm more likely to get big smiles and a Daaaaaaam what a big knife! comments but no one will freak out. I think I'll get one and see how it goes. Thanks again.

Brandon
 
Brandon,

The Military has more in common with the G-10 Police, now discontinued but still widely available. The G-10 Police is just as long (slightly longer) than the Millie, but has a narrower blade that works better for coring apples, etc. In every other area that I can think of the Military will pretty much outperform it. There is of course, the question of lockback vs. liner lock... so you may have a preference there.

I own the plain edge and serrated ATS-34 Militaries, serrated G-10 Police and both serrated and plain edge S/S Police models. I love them all. None are too big, and all carry with absolute comfort. The G-10 Police models are slightly more practical due to their grippy handles and flat ground blades.

I carry my Military plain edge a lot, mostly inside the waistband of my jeans around the back somewhere. it absolutely disappears there, such that forget it's there at times.

My favorite combo now has become the plain edged Military and the serrated G-10 Police. Good luck making your decision. In closing, I have to say that I can't imagine living without my PE Military the very most.

Jeff/1911.
 
Brandon , when I got my Military PE 440v the 1st thing that came to my mind was : "holy s h i t this thing is HUGE". But after having it a while it doesn't seem big at all.It is very light due to the g-10 and has been my EDC ever since.I also own a SS police , which is a great knife.The milli has a smoother action , better grip due to the g-10 , and is a all around great knife.Both knives are great for EDC.Choose one , you won't be disapointed but the milli gets my vote.
 
I have been carring my 3/4 serrated ATS-34 Military model for over 4 years, and I love it. I don't even notice that its cliped in my pocket, due to how light and thin it is. It does not look much different to the passerby than any other Spyderco cliped in a pocket, but try not to open it in front of someone who's not into knives. I think it would scare most of the politically correct members of society. But always remember that knives are like handguns. You want to have the smallest one ever made when you are carring it, but they don't make one big enough, if you ever need to use it. You will get used to it, if you even have to.

Just a side note: Are the ATS-34 blades uncommon? I have never seen another one made from it,besides my own.
 
Amen Jeff/1911, you couldn't have said it better. I thought I was the only guy that carried a plain edge military as well as a
spyderedge G-10 police model! Brandon, as for my favorite, I would probably have to say I use the Plain edge military for more task than the police. However, the police model is great for all sorts of things too. Hmmm...just get both, you will never regret purchasing either one! Good luck!
 
It's funny you mention the Military as a big knife. I've been carrying mine for the last year and I really don't think of it as a big knife. It is so light and thin that I just forgot how large it really is...
 
I just ordered a Military plain edge so hopefully it will get here sometime next week. I'm not sure which version I ordered other than the blade is cpm440V but I got it LNIB for $75 so either version ought to be worth that right. I'll let ya know what I think after I have had it a little while. Hopefully it will shrink on me just like it has most of you.

Brandon
 
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