Gso vs miller brothers.

XtianAus · Mar 10, 2016

I currently own a few low-average knives such as ka bars, schrade etc
But lately i wanted something of higher end quality that would survive (no pun intended) under harsh conditions and usage.

So after a looooot of research i was in question between a rmd and a miller bros knife. But i kept second guessing both choices. I wanted something like an esee 6 on roids with better steel/toughness/reliability etc etc.
Thats when i soon discovered the gso knives and couldnt be more convinced. After even more research (more than the other 2 choices combined) I am 100% determined on acquiring one gso (just for now 1 - many more later) asap and have had no second guessing and have read nothing but some of the most positive on these knives

So my question just out of nothing but curiosity, how do gso stack up to miller bros?

(Either way im sticking with gso because of all that i have read and seen and the overall quality/reviews are nothing but close to perfection)

Silver Needle · Mar 11, 2016

I'm going to be watching this thread anxiously. Miller Bros don't come up that often on bladeforums. I've really been impressed with their designs and toughness of their knives. They're either super underrated or just not that we'll known.

Bennieboo · Mar 11, 2016

Silver Needle said:
I'm going to be watching this thread anxiously. Miller Bros don't come up that often on bladeforums. I've really been impressed with their designs and toughness of their knives. They're either super underrated or just not that we'll known.

I believe with Miller bros it's a cost issue. Survive knives is one if not the best knives made. For the money it's ridiculous how quality they're. Keep in mind I've met the Miller brothers they are great dudes no doubt but I'm not paying 1,500 for 5160 steel

Anttheknee · Mar 11, 2016

Miller Bros, from my research, makes some really tough hard use knives. Their general blade geometry is going to be more closely comparable to Busse's selection and they are not going to be as efficient slicers as the survive! series in general. That is not to say that every single one of there models is like that, but just in general. My opinion on knife toughness is this, if you are going to be cutting cinder blocks and nails all the time then by all means go for the Busse or Miller. Just keep in mind that for general knife uses and anything camp/outdoors related where cutting efficiency is going to be important you are going to appreciate a thinner blade geometry. You are also going to work less and save calories in a survival situation with a thinner edge. That brings me to the reason why I love Survive! knives as much as I do. They have the geometry necessary to make them efficient slicers and at the same time, while maybe not a tough as the sharpened pry bar category of knives, they are still tough enough to do everything else. Survive!'s CPM-3V is some of the best there is and CPM-3V in general is in my opinion the best hard use knive steel there is. Also, Keep in mind that at some point in the not so far future, the Newest version of the Survive! heat treat protocol will be further updated to possibly make it tougher than even INFI. If you're lucky enough you can grab a Survive off the exchange every once in a while. As long as you're faster then me that is

hhmoore · Mar 11, 2016

I don't have a GSO; but I think most people would find that a GSO meets their needs better than a MBB. Heavy, 5/16" thick knives, with obtuse edge angles, are incredibly durable...but that comes with a related reduction in performance (unless you really need to chop bricks, make a hole in a cement wall, or have your knife support your body weight while somebody climbs over you). That thought, obviously(?), is based on my experience with their older models. MBB has certainly progressed; and they now have offerings in different steels, or with less thick stock. I cannot comment on whether they are using obtuse edges on their thinner knives.
Don't get me wrong - I really like my MBBs for what they are...but, without reprofiling, they just aren't what I need most of the time. Reducing the edge angle a bit, and taking down the shoulder, greatly improve the performance for "normal" tasks; but (as an example) a 7.5" M8 still won't be as generally capable as a BK7 because it won't serve well in small knife duties.
I'll not be giving up my M4 (or any of my other MBBs, really); but I don't see myself ever needing it either.

hhmoore · Mar 11, 2016

Bennieboo said:
Keep in mind I've met the Miller brothers they are great dudes no doubt but I'm not paying 1,500 for 5160 steel

That isn't typical pricing for their 5160...unless your in sword territory; but pricing definitely becomes a factor for many/most of us.

Silver Needle · Mar 11, 2016

Bennieboo said:
I believe with Miller bros it's a cost issue. Survive knives is one if not the best knives made. For the money it's ridiculous how quality they're. Keep in mind I've met the Miller brothers they are great dudes no doubt but I'm not paying 1,500 for 5160 steel

You got to meet them? How?!! I'm glad they seemed cool in person. I mentioned in a thread a few pages ago that I was really attracted to their M8, but the cost made me hesitate. Is the price reflective of their fully custom, hand made process or is there something else going on? Even though I didn't see has much SURVIVE! like value in their pricing of 5160, you can't deny that what they can do with this steel is anything short of impressive. Their stress tests are crazy!

And yeah, very different geometry offerings from the two companies. Living Survival's video on the M8 made it seem like a knife shaped hatchet.

Brian77 · Mar 11, 2016

I also met them at Blade last year. Talked about their designs. They are friendly and very willing to help. Also to customize. I hope to get one of their blades in Z wear.

DJC72 · Mar 11, 2016

I have looked at Miller Brothers over the years but never pulled the trigger on picking one up. They use premium steels from Z Ware, 3v to S35vn. I've seen everything from knives all the way up to swords for sale on their website. Maybe I'll give them a chance someday.

Dollar for dollar, Survive is really tough to beat. From the materials used to the heat treat, everything is top shelf. The thing that keeps me coming back to them is their blade geometry. We all are steel junkies but without proper blade geometry a knife won't excel at its #1 job..to cut. Gso knives have that perfect balance of toughness and cutting performance.

XtianAus · Mar 11, 2016

Bennieboo said:
I believe with Miller bros it's a cost issue. Survive knives is one if not the best knives made. For the money it's ridiculous how quality they're. Keep in mind I've met the Miller brothers they are great dudes no doubt but I'm not paying 1,500 for 5160 steel

Silver Needle said:
I'm going to be watching this thread anxiously. Miller Bros don't come up that often on bladeforums. I've really been impressed with their designs and toughness of their knives. They're either super underrated or just not that we'll known.

DJC72 said:
I have looked at Miller Brothers over the years but never pulled the trigger on picking one up. They use premium steels from Z Ware, 3v to S35vn. I've seen everything from knives all the way up to swords for sale on their website. Maybe I'll give them a chance someday.

Dollar for dollar, Survive is really tough to beat. From the materials used to the heat treat, everything is top shelf. The thing that keeps me coming back to them is their blade geometry. We all are steel junkies but without proper blade geometry a knife won't excel at its #1 job..to cut. Gso knives have that perfect balance of toughness and cutting performance.

I completely agree. I think survive are all-round more worth it than most, if not any knives today. Of course that is based on a substantial amount of reading/watching/reviews and not personal testing. That being said, i think other peoples opinions/reviews are as useful as anything, especially when there is not one bad overall comment i have come across for gso.

Ps, in terms of toughness, how would a gso handle a cinder block or nail cutting? Are there any ridiculously abusive tests on gso such as these^

hunterjrg · Mar 11, 2016

XtianAus said:
Ps, in terms of toughness, how would a gso handle a cinder block or nail cutting? Are there any ridiculously abusive tests on gso such as these^

Well I'm not willing to put my GSO through that! I have hacksaws and hammers for that stuff.

Bennieboo · Mar 11, 2016

Silver Needle said:
You got to meet them? How?!! I'm glad they seemed cool in person. I mentioned in a thread a few pages ago that I was really attracted to their M8, but the cost made me hesitate. Is the price reflective of their fully custom, hand made process or is there something else going on? Even though I didn't see has much SURVIVE! like value in their pricing of 5160, you can't deny that what they can do with this steel is anything short of impressive. Their stress tests are crazy!

And yeah, very different geometry offerings from the two companies. Living Survival's video on the M8 made it seem like a knife shaped hatchet.

At blade show! All you guys need to come!

cold one · Mar 11, 2016

After looking at these two companies, it looks like Miller Bros hand makes their knives whereas Survive knives are CNC, doesn't make a difference to me for what I will use the knife for but I guess it is partially why the price difference.
The heat treat that Survive uses looks to be fairly well discussed and proven to be quite good, I'm sure Miller Bros do a good heat treat on their 3V, I just haven't seen much about it.

I have ordered a Survive because what I get for the price and the quality that it looks to be from my research.

AmericanAsApple3.14 · Mar 11, 2016

XtianAus said:
....
Ps, in terms of toughness, how would a gso handle a cinder block or nail cutting? Are there any ridiculously abusive tests on gso such as these^

There's been a number of stress test videos and such with the GSO's. One that's been posted in this forum a number of times is Guy cutting out a front windshield of a truck and another shows him repelling with the GSO as an anchor point. Nathan the Machinist in a demo video for a new HT spec shows a standard spec (current) GSO going through a couple nails. Chiral has a number of videos as well of giving the knives a good working over - I don't remember any cinder blocks but there was some metal cutting involved

XtianAus · Mar 12, 2016

AmericanAsApple3.14 said:
There's been a number of stress test videos and such with the GSO's. One that's been posted in this forum a number of times is Guy cutting out a front windshield of a truck and another shows him repelling with the GSO as an anchor point. Nathan the Machinist in a demo video for a new HT spec shows a standard spec (current) GSO going through a couple nails. Chiral has a number of videos as well of giving the knives a good working over - I don't remember any cinder blocks but there was some metal cutting involved

Well that sure is reassuring! Thanks.
Now just to make sure i can get one on monday before they sell out

willic · Mar 18, 2016

Well, I'm pretty new to Miller Bros, but..... I have an order in, but in the mean time, picked up one in Z-Tuf and JUST received one in 5160. The Z-Tuf seems to hold an edge MUCH better than expected! From edge profiling, edge building and use, it sure feels a lot like 3V. I have asked a couple of times about their heat treat, with the answer every time, something like "we do everything possible to maximize the strengths of each type of steel we use". Very secretive, very cool! I like people who take pride in developing the best possible heat treat for their tools! Busse does not tell what they do to their amazing steels! I do LOVE Infi! I can't wait to get my huge chopper in Z-Wear from MBB! The guys are super nice! I'd recommend giving them a shot!

-Will

Silver Needle · Mar 18, 2016

This is a cool very cool thread and I'm surprised that this comparison came up here since Miller Bros don't seem to get talked about much on BF, BUT it is a company I have a big interest in and really respect what they do.

There heat treat must be something special, I was blown away by their distraction vids. I didn't think 5160 could perform like that!

Will, what do you have and what's on order?

willic · Mar 18, 2016

I have a M-8 Compact in Z-Tuff and a M-8 in 5160. Those were knives they had on hand, I suppose customs a person changed their mind on. I am SUPER impressed! The M-8 is a hoss, a great camp knife! I just finished convexing the secondary bevel. Man she got super sharp, super quick!

I have a M-8 Compact, M-8 and M-10 on order in Z-Wear. I shortened the guards to the same height as the cutting edge.

These guys seem to really have their act together!

-Will

willic · Mar 18, 2016

I'd love to try a Survive in 3V!

Silver Needle · Mar 18, 2016

Man you have good taste! Not sure if it is in bad taste to be discussing another brand in a certain company's forum, but I'd be really interested to hear your thoughts on the M8. Does it function pretty well doing "knife stuff" despite its giant dimensions?

Is there anywhere on Bladeforums that Miller Bros are discussed regularly?