I was wrong about the Spyderco Military

[David Mary]

I once posted that the Spyderco Military was one of the few knives that I would perform no modifications to at all (aside from adding a deep carry pocket clip), despite once thinking I would get one and tip up mod and wave mod it.

I was really right that it should remain tip down. Tip down is a fantastic way to carry knives that I was sold on by my first, and so far only Military, the sprint run in CTS-204P with OD green peel ply G10 scales.

The Millie is a great user knife, super comfortable (for a folder), has a great blade to handle angle, but actually a really annoying blade to handle size ratio, though. And even though I once liked lanyards fobs on pocket knives, I no longer do, and really, there is no point of one (or a hole for one) on a tip down knife.

So was I ever wrong to think that I would never want to mod it in some other way. My Millie is much better for me like this.

 

[Mo2]

Needs a clip change to the other side. I've already stabbed my leg. So now I have to change the pocket I carry it in so that doesn't happen again. One of my favorites otherwise.

 

[BladeScout]

I once posted that the Spyderco Military was one of the few knives that I would perform no modifications to at all (aside from adding a deep carry pocket clip), despite once thinking I would get one and tip up mod and wave mod it.

I was really right that it should remain tip down. Tip down is a fantastic way to carry knives that I was sold on by my first, and so far only Military, the sprint run in CTS-204P with OD green peel ply G10 scales.

The Millie is a great user knife, super comfortable (for a folder), has a great blade to handle angle, but actually a really annoying blade to handle size ratio, though. And even though I once liked lanyards fobs on pocket knives, I no longer do, and really, there is no point of one (or a hole for one) on a tip down knife.

So was I ever wrong to think that I would never want to mod it in some other way. My Millie is much better for me like this.

How does the blade to handle ratio annoy you to a degree, that you wanted to change it?
I have a couple of Millies and nothing about neither the blades nor the handles annoy me. I like the Millie a lot. To each his own of course.

 

[scottyj]

Did you grind down the teeth on the liner lock?

 

[BladeScout]

Disregard. A case of mistaken ID on my part.

 

[BladeScout]

I once posted that the Spyderco Military was one of the few knives that I would perform no modifications to at all (aside from adding a deep carry pocket clip), despite once thinking I would get one and tip up mod and wave mod it.

I was really right that it should remain tip down. Tip down is a fantastic way to carry knives that I was sold on by my first, and so far only Military, the sprint run in CTS-204P with OD green peel ply G10 scales.

The Millie is a great user knife, super comfortable (for a folder), has a great blade to handle angle, but actually a really annoying blade to handle size ratio, though. And even though I once liked lanyards fobs on pocket knives, I no longer do, and really, there is no point of one (or a hole for one) on a tip down knife.

So was I ever wrong to think that I would never want to mod it in some other way. My Millie is much better for me like this.

OP, Interesting post. Good pics, which serve to illustrate the mod well
To get that out of the way: You can do, what ever you want with YOUR knife. Also I have nothing against anybody tweaking/modding their knives. I do that myself.
Kudos for not frothing at the mouth and jumping on the 'Millie must be able to be carried tip up' bandwagon. Also points for the distinguishing between lanyards and fobs

That being said, I not only dont see the need for chopping* off the end of the Millie, I further more dont very much like the look of the aft end of the knife. I held up my Ti Military and compared it to your (excellent) pics. The mod makes for a sort of 'compressed' and cramped look. Maybe because Im just used to how a Military is 'supposed' to look. Whats worse, is that the mod makes the aft end of the Millie - now curving unnaturally and abruptly breaking the flow of the original lines - look a bit like the pommel end of a CS Espada which met with an unfortunate accident.

Again, you can do with your knife as you wish. Its your money and Ill be the first to applaud mods/tweaks to a knife to make it better yours. I have no right to tell you what to do with your knife but I am allowed an opinion. IMO the good looks of that particular knife is ruined but I fully understand the experimenting and why we mod our knives.
If you feel this mod serves your needs and if you are happy with the end result, that is all that matters.


* the handle to ratio thing is IMO a non-issue and to a large degree dreamt up by youboobers, who suceeded in getting people to jump on that particular bandwagon. I look forward to your take on what your issue is with the 'blade-to-handle ratio' on the Military.

 

[BladeScout]

Interesting clip - is that a baked on finish?

Do you have much flex to the G10, now that you eliminated the lanyard tube?

 

[bikerector]

I actually really like the fob on the military, and some other large folders. The lack of a pocket clip makes the handle feel nicer, IMO, and they're long enough that the handles start to approach the comfort of a fixed blade. When I had 2, I left a clip on the beater and it was nice for carrying but I did notice the regularly, especially when it's up front. Sometimes, the added grip a clip provides is a plus though. I've found a lot of clips really help with one-hand deployment, or really, the lack of a clip is noticeable when trying to deploy one hand. With the millie, flicking it open is a little more challenging but it's on one that I care to flick open much anymore so we're good.

Great knife, I would love to get another one in a nice steel and scale color again. Orange cuts best . I'm hoping cutlery shoppe comes out with something like their CTS-XHP PM2 and PM2, or a S90v like the native 5.

 

[Cscotttsss]

Looks good, glad it works for you. I'm a huge Spyderco fan but have always shyed away from the Military because of it's size and tip down carry.

 

[Monofletch]

The Milie was my first true love in the “expensive” knife world. Everyone should own one!

 

[Mrgauth]

Have had several and sold them all but lately been thinking about getting one again, but none out I want. Here’s hoping another run like that green Millie pop up again.

As for your mod, I like it.

 

[luke978]

The Military was my first spyderco years ago. I've always been a proponent of tip up carry, however I think it would be a mistake on the Military due to the overall length of the knife.

Large folders like that need to be tip down IMO so your fingers go immediately to the Spidey hole when you pull it from the pocket. I find it a much quicker deployment.

 

[David Mary]

I like it.

Thanks Mrgauth!

I've always been a proponent of tip up carry, however I think it would be a mistake on the Military due to the overall length of the knife.

I agree, but for some reason the Resilience seems to be just as fast whether tip up or tip down. Weird, right? Nevertheless, I've started carrying it tip down, and am awaiting a deep carry clip for it and my Endura Wharncliffe, which I also carry tip down.

Needs a clip change to the other side. I've already stabbed my leg.

Oh no! That has been one of my worries, and truth be told, I did one time poke my pocket with the slightly open blade. No contact with my leg though, fortunately. It happened early on in my Millie ownership, so I have been extra careful to fully close the knife since then.

Did you grind down the teeth on the liner lock?

I did, and I also chamfered it and recessed it. The goal was to prevent the blade wiggle that I would get when holding the knife in a strong hammer or saber grip. It still has a little wiggle, unless I consciously move my index finger back a bit from the lockbar, but it's nothing major, and its wiggle is likely not enough to ever worry about the knife closing on me. But this part of the mod allows me to bring the tip a bit lower, thus enhancing the effect of the already excellent negative blade angle, and I can still actuate the lock just fine, even with my 5.11 leather gloves. And I am thinking of modding the front finger choil next to expose more of the choil's jimping, which will make it look a bit more like the choil on the Stretch.

OP, Interesting post. Good pics, which serve to illustrate the mod well
To get that out of the way: You can do, what ever you want with YOUR knife. Also I have nothing against anybody tweaking/modding their knives. I do that myself.
Kudos for not frothing at the mouth and jumping on the 'Millie must be able to be carried tip up' bandwagon. Also points for the distinguishing between lanyards and fobs

Thanks. I used to be a "won't get it 'cause it ain't tip up" guy, but opinions change over time.

That being said, I not only dont see the need for chopping* off the end of the Millie, I further more dont very much like the look of the aft end of the knife. I held up my Ti Military and compared it to your (excellent) pics. The mod makes for a sort of 'compressed' and cramped look. Maybe because Im just used to how a Military is 'supposed' to look. Whats worse, is that the mod makes the aft end of the Millie - now curving unnaturally and abruptly breaking the flow of the original lines - look a bit like the pommel end of a CS Espada which met with an unfortunate accident.

I didn't think everyone would like it, and your comments come as no surprise. You have made your case very respectfully. My guess is you don't like the look of the Stretch, either, if you don't like this mod. But I have been eyeing the Stretch for a while, though I will likely never get one (trying to cut back on the addiction, at least until I meet other financial goals).

Again, you can do with your knife as you wish. Its your money and Ill be the first to applaud mods/tweaks to a knife to make it better yours.

Exactly. There's a reason I said better for me. ;-)

* the handle to ratio thing is IMO a non-issue and to a large degree dreamt up by you----ers, who suceeded in getting people to jump on that particular bandwagon.

I have felt that way ever since I held the knife, YouTubers notwithstanding.

I look forward to your take on what your issue is with the 'blade-to-handle ratio' on the Military.

It's an aesthetic thing, and purely subjective, so I wouldn't try to convince anyone who likes the Millie as is to not like it. And again, it is now kind of a hybrid Military/Stretch, and I kind of like the look of the Stretch handle. But I owned a Sliverax, and despite the handle being just too small in the wrong places for me to enjoy using it, I was blown away by the amazing aesthetics provided by such a perfectly balanced blade to handle length ratio. In fact, the cutting edge on the Sliverax is only 6 mm less than that on the Millie, despite the Millie being a full 38 mm longer overall.

Interesting clip - is that a baked on finish?

Deep carry after market Ti clip with grip tape from the marine section of Canadian Tire!

Do you have much flex to the G10, now that you eliminated the lanyard tube?

I gave myself quite scare when I ground this on my 2 x 42. I had removed the blade, and then as I was grinding the butt of the handle off, turning it, and the lanyard tube into dust, the two two scales were still attached to each other. Once the lanyard tube was no more than a sliver of brass, suddenly the two scales just buckled inward, and I immediately thought: "Oh no, I destroyed my knife, and won't be able to reassemble it!" But relief was no further away than simply putting everything back together. There is no flex that is discernible or affects function. Yes, I can pinch the scales at the butt and they somewhat move towards one another, but not as much as stock Endura scales do when pinched in the center.

I actually really like the fob on the military [...] lack of a pocket clip makes the handle feel nicer

I tried to carry it this way, tip up, with a fob sticking out of my pocket. I have tried this with a few knives, notably stock and modded XL voyagers. But I ended the experiment when I realized I preferred the consistency provided by a pocket clip keeping the knife in exactly the same spot on my chosen pocket. The only exception is that my front magazine pocket in 5.11 Taclite Pro shorts/pants, or LAPG Field Shorts (these two products are conspicuously almost identical for pocket configuration) often receives a clipless and fobless folder in the tip down position, behind my debit card, a piece of note paper and some cash.

 

[jstrange]

I like it. I also dislike lanyard holes on a tip down knife. I did something similar to an Emerson Commander. Just too much handle sticking out there past the closed blade.

 

[BladeScout]

I didn't think everyone would like it, and your comments come as no surprise. You have made your case very respectfully. My guess is you don't like the look of the Stretch, either, if you don't like this mod. But I have been eyeing the Stretch for a while, though I will likely never get one (trying to cut back on the addiction, at least until I meet other financial goals).
.

You are right; the Stretch is not one of my favorites these days, though not for the reasons you think i.e the handle shape.
Im a big fan of the Spyderco hole and prefer that to thumb studs, plates and tabs but I dont much like the pronounced humpback spine of the Stretch. It immediately catches my eye and not in a good way. So many other Spydercos are much more elegant. Im in the minority, as the Stretch is popular.
I had one ... or rather the predecessor, I believe.

As for mods, here is one I really like. Smock Southard mod.

Also this one. Cut down PM2. Neither are mine.

It's an aesthetic thing, and purely subjective, so I wouldn't try to convince anyone who likes the Millie as is to not like it. And again, it is now kind of a hybrid Military/Stretch, and I kind of like the look of the Stretch handle. But I owned a Sliverax, and despite the handle being just too small in the wrong places for me to enjoy using it, I was blown away by the amazing aesthetics provided by such a perfectly balanced blade to handle length ratio. In fact, the cutting edge on the Sliverax is only 6 mm less than that on the Millie, despite the Millie being a full 38 mm longer overall.
.

Got ya.
The little extra room in the Millie handle is neglible and doesnt bother me an iota. Quite the contrary. To each his own and all that.

Deep carry after market Ti clip with grip tape from the marine section of Canadian Tire!
.

Simple solution. If it works for guns why not for knives.

I gave myself quite scare when I ground this on my 2 x 42. I had removed the blade, and then as I was grinding the butt of the handle off, turning it, and the lanyard tube into dust, the two two scales were still attached to each other. Once the lanyard tube was no more than a sliver of brass, suddenly the two scales just buckled inward, and I immediately thought: "Oh no, I destroyed my knife, and won't be able to reassemble it!" But relief was no further away than simply putting everything back together. There is no flex that is discernible or affects function. Yes, I can pinch the scales at the butt and they somewhat move towards one another, but not as much as stock Endura scales do when pinched in the center.
.

Ive given myself the occasional scare, when taking apart Spydercos. Good thing, that it worked out in the end. No pun intended.

 

[BladeScout]

. Just too much handle sticking out there past the closed blade.

Too much handle - what is it, a whole quarter of an inch past the tip?
I guess, it just doesnt bother me. The Military is beautiful as is IMO.

 

[bikerector]

I tried to carry it this way, tip up, with a fob sticking out of my pocket. I have tried this with a few knives, notably stock and modded XL voyagers. But I ended the experiment when I realized I preferred the consistency provided by a pocket clip keeping the knife in exactly the same spot on my chosen pocket. The only exception is that my front magazine pocket in 5.11 Taclite Pro shorts/pants, or LAPG Field Shorts (these two products are conspicuously almost identical for pocket configuration) often receives a clipless and fobless folder in the tip down position, behind my debit card, a piece of note paper and some cash.

I really like carrying it with the fob around the house when I'm in PJ's and shorts. It's too long for me to legally EDC in most of the cities I travel through since local ordinances determine what I can carry in much of SE MI. I think I also got used to that carry style from carrying traditionals without clips a lot more. I do frequently wear a work vest and so I usually have a knife clipped to the pocket. For working around the homestead, a bigger knife like the millie is what I have like, though I rotate that a bit. Right now I'm working through a BM crooked river and BM AFO phase. I the the AFO without a clip as well, but that has more to do with it's horrible placement than anything.

I really wish another M4 millie would come out, but without jade scales. I really just couldn't stand them and dying them just didn't seem worth with the value the things had. The CQI got me when I considered swapping my orange scales to it and I realized the bolts are smaller and the lanyard tube smaller on the older versions.

 

[David Mary]

So is that "Bike-Rector", "Bike-Erector", or "Bik-Erector"? My "reading to myself voice" wants to know.

I took a look at the AFO, and from what you said I assume you carry it tip down as well? Too bad about the length restriction on carry knives in so many places in the US. I'm glad we don't have that challenge in Canada. I like to edc my modded XL voyager. Not for self defense (situational awareness, and not being a jerk work much better for that than cutting on someone and having PTSD the rest of my life), but because it's awesome.

I like it.

Thanks JS!

As for mods, here is one I really like. Smock Southard mod.

That is beautiful! Makes the knife much more functional for how I would use it. I never really liked the Southard, but this, I like very much.

Also this one. Cut down PM2.

Proof that preferences are highly subjective. And maybe a bit arbitrary? It looks very well done, and all, but I don't think I'd carry or use it. It's "cute" looking, but, I need a pointier tip. But guess what: the blade to handle ratio on that (which looks similar to a stock Millie) doesn't bother me. It's the lines towards the tip that would prevent me from carrying it. Make it more wharnie than sheepsfoot, then I might sign up. And yes, I realize it is barely more sheepish than the Smock Southard, but it is enough to say no thank you.

Ive given myself the occasional scare, when taking apart Spydercos. Good thing, that it worked out in the end. No pun intended.

I disassembled my first Manix 2 XL (which was my first folder) after a couple years of owning it (and after modding the blade and handle), and snipped a couple rings off the lock spring to give it an easier action. I messed up somehow when reassembling it, and mistakenly thought I had cut too much and rendered it nonfunctional. I even called Spyderco and asked for a new spring, which they refused to send even if I offered to pay. The only way was to send the knife back, but I am in Canada, so that was a no go. I'm glad I tried again (after leaving it in a Byrd Cara Cara Rescue box for over a year!) because it went together without a problem, and the action was immaculate!

The Military is beautiful as is IMO.

You're right! I don't disagree with this, or I would not have bought a Millie. But I kept wondering why?, why?, why?, is all that material there and doing nothing. And I'm a tinkerer, so it was really only a matter of time. And fortunately I am happy with the result.

 

[jill jackson]

 

[bikerector]

David Mary bike-rector, my other big hobby/passion is bicycles. I used to do a lot of racing but I'm working on a few other parts of life for the time being.

I really don't understand the knife blade length restrictions when we love guns so much...