Gayle Bradley, Military or Police? Spyderco is ruining me with options.

H

HFinn

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Sep 6, 2012
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I bought some time ago the Paramilitary 2, it was my first high-end Spyderco and first really usefull "tactical" knife. The fit and finish is exceptional, ease of opening and the lock-up really good.

Therefore I have been taking a look at other Spyderco models lately. I am particularly drawn to larger folders, like those I mentioned. The GB is a "large gentleman's knife" (and I dont mean the size of the gentleman), Military is maybe more "tactical" that I care for, but still a choise. Police, on the other hand, in my view sits on the fence, it is undouptedly a tactical knife but still I like the slim lines and the overall shape.

Help me make the choise. Cons and pro's, materials, weight, carrying, lock-up. I also like the Starmate, but some less than favourable reviews make me doupt is it worth the money. GB is about the same size. I like the Starmate profile visually more, but GB resembles it. Police is a classic and I have in mind, if I choose it, to customize it a bit.
 
Manix 2 might be a little samller than the others mentioned. I recently got one and found it to be a really nice one. Or you could look at the Manix XL
 
Now that the PM2, Manix2, Manix2 XL, and Gayle Bradley have all been mentioned, here's a comparison pic.

(Just in case...top to bottom - Manix2 XL, Gayle Bradley, PM2, Manix2)
 
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May as well just get it over with and buy them all.

I just picked up a Manix 2 and regret holding off for so long. Absolutely fantastic knife. It is however roughly the same size as the Para Military 2. The Manix 2 XL would probably be a better choice for your tastes and though not in your list of options, it gets my vote.
 
The GB Folder is one of the best folding knives ever, period. M4, w/ CF (laminant), pillar construction. Barely a liner lock, more of a frame lock. Looks like a million bucks, but truly a well thought out, made for hard use folder. The fit and finish is some of the best for any price point...any. Millie and Manix?..nice but, hard use, practical w/ ease of carry...Hand down, Gayle Bradley Folder.

 
Manix 2 Xl is a possibility, but the wide blade, allthough nice looking, might leave it out. The police and GB are still, after those pictures (thank's hhmoore) in the race. The GB looks sure classy, but size is about the same as the PM2 that I allready have. Choises, choises. I watched the interview of Gayle Bradley himself about how he designed the knife, what were his intentions and his logic makes sense.

I have some experience with Spyderco's backlock and it is a working, nice lock. On the other hand the liner lock of GB has been praised as one of the best liner locks in the business.
 
As much as I love the Military, the GB is probably more practical as an EDC. Military is thinner and lighter weight but just a bigger knife in length. GB is heavier and thicker in the pocket but has a great utility blade shape. You will most likely end up with both at some point. Just pick the one you like the best first.
 
The biggest negative for the Manix 2 and the Manix 2XL is the wide profile. The XL especially takes up a lot of space in the pocket. I have an original Manix from about 10 years ago (about the same as the current XL model) and a current Manix 2 LW and both have a wide profile although the LW is more easily pocketed. I carry the LW frequently but I never carried the original Manix very much due to its width in my pocket.

The Military and Police are both long in blade and handle but fairly narrow in overall profile. I have a Millie but not a Police. Both should carry about the same. Being narrower than the Manix, they will take up less horizontal pocket space but the overall length could become a problem, depending on how and where you intend to carry and use the knife. The G10 Police would probably handle about the same as the Millie as well. I like the way the Millie handles but I'm limited in how often I can carry it.

Which leads to the Bradley. Right now I consider the Gayle Bradley the finest pocket knife I own. The only negative I have to say about it is that I cannot access the liner lock release easily. That's a very small negative in my opinion. The Bradley is just the right size, narrow enough in profile to carry easily and long enough in blade and handle to use effectively. I don't get too caught up in the steel debate, suffice it to say the knife cuts well and I don't have any problems sharpening it or touching it up on a Sharpmaker or strop. While it appears to be a "gentleman's folder", it's one tough, heavily built folder. My ZT 0200 and 0550 are both more heavily built and appear to be stronger but neither of them is easy to carry around in my pocket.

I have a lot of favorite Spydercos--Dragonfly, Delica, Sage 1, Manix 2LW, PM2 and the Gayle Bradley are all at the top of the list. I don't think you can go wrong with any Spyderco knife. Of the choices the OP presented, I think it's obvious which I would pick.
 
IMO the GB is the best folder on the market under $150 in terms of materials, f/f, construction, and bang for your buck. A tank in a tuxedo.
 
Gayle Bradley is an amazing knife. It was my first Spyderco. What's great about it is that it is a hard use knife with a hollow grind so it slices really well too! The liner lock is a bit hard to use for some, it is very stiff and the is no cut out for it. I've seen people here on the forums make or have a cutout made for them.

I have several Spydies, and the Manix 2 (I have green CTS-XHP sprint) has been excellent.
 
You'll want them all :D
The Military is a must have for any Spyderco lover, but the Gayle Bradley is such a great knife.
tough choice :)
 
I've used a lot of Spyderco knives over the years, and I keep coming back to the Gayle Bradley and the Military as my two favorite utility knives.

These are what I would call my "Goldilocks Knives": Not too much, not too little, but just right!

They are not so overbuilt and thick that you can't cut anything with them or that you get sick of carrying around the brick in your pocket.
But they are substantial and tough enough to stand up to some really heavy cutting.

I can't see a downside to either knife. So really it's a roll of the dice on which one you should get.
I alternate between the two a lot, but lately I've been on a Bradley kick, so that's what's in my pocket right now.

But if I had a gun to my head & had to make a decision on just one knife for the rest of my life. . . again, it's a roll of the dice.
Maybe I would pick the Military because I've known it longer. But maybe I'd pick the Bradley because that's how I felt that day.

Pull a name out of the hat and see what your gut tells you. Then go with your gut.
You can't make a wrong choice between those two knives.

-nate

P.S. The Police isn't really my cup of tea. I generally dislike lockbacks, as the locking mechanisms do not wear in and self-adjust as well as liner locks do. You will get more tight lockup mileage out of the Military of the Bradley.
Another thing is that the blade shapes on the Military and the Bradley lend themselves to a wider variety of cutting tasks since they have more belly in their blade profiles. Just my two cents.
 
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"the locking mechanisms do not wear in and self-adjust as well as liner locks do. You will get more tight lockup mileage out of the Military of the Bradley."

Really? I have never thought about it that way. What do you other guys say?
 
I dislike the military simply because it is tip down only clip. Completely ruins it for me.
 
The Military might have a "tactical" name but it's a great cutting tool and one of the lightest knives you'll find in that size category. The flat ground blade makes it a great slicer, and the thin point is good for detailed tasks.

The clip is the only thing I don't like about it. It's fixed in one position and too much of the knife sticks out. I can live with it, though.
 
The Military is a very useful work knife and carries much smaller than its actual size due to its light weight. Seems to be a very strong knife.
The Ggyle Bradley is one of the best made knives on the market at any price and is very strong. As great as the m4 steel is for most people with a great combination of great edge retention and great toughness, I have trouble with corrosion where I live. Many people deal with non stainless knives without any problem, and the m4 is a great steel.
The Manix2 with s110v steel might be worth considering, if you think it s big enough.
 
HFinn said:
"the locking mechanisms do not wear in and self-adjust as well as liner locks do. You will get more tight lockup mileage out of the Military of the Bradley."

Really? I have never thought about it that way. What do you other guys say?
Click to expand...

Your mileage may vary, but of all the lockbacks I've ever owned, the lockup does not get better with use or with age. Once they start to develop vertical blade play they don't get better with use.
However, with liner locks there is the "support triangle" of the stop pin, pivot pin, and liner contact patch on the tang. Even if the liner wears in and moves over towards the non-lock side the knife self-adjusts to maintain the triangle.

Granted, that assumes that the lock face geometry is well-designed & allows for this wear-in. Both the Military and Gayle Bradley are in this category of well-designed liner locks. And based on my (very small) experience, other folks like ZT and Emerson fall into this category as well.

Anyway, I'm just weighing in with my opinion and would welcome civil responses & discussions.

Thanks,
Nate
 
I have the PM, Military, and Bradley, don't own but have handled the Police. I agree with those that say try to handle the models to see what you like best but they are all respected, can't go wrong with any of them, or the Manix.

My 2 cents--I prefer liner and frame locks to back/mid locks, or the compression lock (which is a great lock but I just find a little awkward). While the GB has the great look/fit and finish of a gentleman's folder, along with the cool carbon scales, it is heavy and ready for heavy use, if you like big knives it should fit the bill. My gripe with it is the liner lock is an absolute PITA to release, it's thick/stiff, and also the indent in the scale to get at it is shallow. It's also a bit heavy for me to EDC. The Military is maybe 1/2 or 3/4 inch longer than the GB but much flatter/thinner/lighter so would IMO be easier to EDC, I do wish the clip were reversible. IMO the Police is OK, similar to the Military, but there's the mid lock, meh.

IMO the winner of the ones you mention is the Military.
 
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