I would really like a compression lock Military and Civilian, would anyone else?

J85909266 said:
Finally, Spyderco fixed the Military. I cannot wait to buy it.

Serious question: It seems like people that don't like compression locks are all on the older side. Is it that manipulating a compression lock with the wear and tear of age is more difficult than I expect it to be, or is it just that old people are comfortable in what they know and don't particularly care for changes to what they already know and love?
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I'm on the older side but don't have any particular lock preferences. Comp locks are ok w/me but so are backlocks, liner locks, integral locks . . . whatever. I've got them all in my collection.

What is more important to me is the overall appearance, feel and functionality of the knife and, as long as it "works," I don't think it matters what kind of blade lock that it uses.

However, one "advantage" of a comp lock is that you can make the knife into a "semi-auto" by just doing a quick wrist flick while releasing the comp lock as you draw the knife from your pocket and quickly re-engaging the lock before the blade reaches the blade stop. The blade can also be made to "drop shut" and lock in place in reverse by well timed use of the comp lock as well.

No other blade locking system will allow you to do these things but that's not reason enough for me to buy a knife w/a comp lock on it.

As for a comp lock on a Millie, I'm not against it but I wouldn't buy one because I already own 7 "classic" Millies and the comp lock is not enough reason to make me want to buy another . . .

BUT the idea of just whipping open a 4" comp lock Millie using the method described above does have it's appeal particuarly if they offer it w/CF and/or TI scales and something other than S30V steel.

LOL! ;)
 
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Great news about the Military 2 having a compression lock. I'll pick one up as soon as it hits the market.
 
sgt1372 said:
I'm on the older side but don't have any particular lock preferences. Comp locks are ok w/me but so are backlocks, liner locks, integral locks . . . whatever. I've got them all in my collection.

What is more important to me is the overall appearance, feel and functionality of the knife and, as long as it "works," I don't think it matters what kind of blade lock that it uses.

However, one "advantage" of a comp lock is that you can make the knife into a "semi-auto" by just doing a quick wrist flick while releasing the comp lock as you draw the knife from your pocket and quickly re-engaging the lock before the blade reaches the blade stop. The blade can also be made to "drop shut" and lock in place in reverse by well timed use of the comp lock as well.

No other blade locking system will allow you to do these things but that's not reason enough for me to buy a knife w/a comp lock on it.

As for a comp lock on a Millie, I'm not against it but I wouldn't buy one because I already own 7 "classic" Millies and the comp lock is not enough reason to make me want to buy anor me it's not about
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For me, it isn't abut any of that. I like the compression lock because it has the lock release not in the blade path, and it is strong and easy to fuss around with. It's basically if a liner lock was a little smarter.
 
J85909266 said:
Finally, Spyderco fixed the Military. I cannot wait to buy it.

Serious question: It seems like people that don't like compression locks are all on the older side. Is it that manipulating a compression lock with the wear and tear of age is more difficult than I expect it to be, or is it just that old people are comfortable in what they know and don't particularly care for changes to what they already know and love?
Click to expand...

Serious answer: I buy knives to use as knives, not fidgit toys. Larger knives like the Military get used on materials much harder than arm hair, envelopes and cardboard boxes. A lock with exposed pinch points and square corners creating hotspots in the exact area where the most force is transmitted to the hand in hard cutting is hardly what I would call an improvement, much less "fixing".

The good news is, you won't have to compete with me to get one, since I'm not at all interested.
 
Darn it! Im gonna have to try an M2 now. Not a fam of the comp lock and I think the Military is perfect as is. But now after seeing that the locking tab is nice and large…. I may have to buy one, or 3
 
yablanowitz said:
Serious answer: I buy knives to use as knives, not fidgit toys. Larger knives like the Military get used on materials much harder than arm hair, envelopes and cardboard boxes. A lock with exposed pinch points and square corners creating hotspots in the exact area where the most force is transmitted to the hand in hard cutting is hardly what I would call an improvement, much less "fixing".

The good news is, you won't have to compete with me to get one, since I'm not at all interested.
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Yep, ergonomics on the Military are pretty much perfect.
Used one a few time for carving/woodsy tasks for 6 hours straight with no hot spots or hand fatigue.

The big issue for me with the compression lock on this knife though is making it harder to close with gloves on.
The Military is one of the few folding knives I can close easily with thick winter gloves on.

If they bring the Military 2 out in full serrated I might get one...but it won't get carried or used nearly as much as my original Military models.
 
This is just how I wanted the military to come. But the PM2 is about as long as I like to carry.
 
yablanowitz said:
Serious answer: I buy knives to use as knives, not fidgit toys. Larger knives like the Military get used on materials much harder than arm hair, envelopes and cardboard boxes. A lock with exposed pinch points and square corners creating hotspots in the exact area where the most force is transmitted to the hand in hard cutting is hardly what I would call an improvement, much less "fixing".
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Everyone's hands are different, but having used both the PM2, I don't find hotspots around the lock. That's also not the area where I typically apply pressure...my thumb is much further forward on the area designed for it (same when I use the Military). But your work style may be different.

I have the "original" Military and don't plan on replacing it just for a compression lock, though I do prefer them.
 
sgt1372 said:
However, one "advantage" of a comp lock is that you can make the knife into a "semi-auto" by just doing a quick wrist flick while releasing the comp lock as you draw the knife from your pocket and quickly re-engaging the lock before the blade reaches the blade stop.
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But that would deprive me the opportunity to do that cool Spyderco-hole middle-finger back flick!
 
raindog308 said:
Everyone's hands are different, but having used both the PM2, I don't find hotspots around the lock. That's also not the area where I typically apply pressure...my thumb is much further forward on the area designed for it (same when I use the Military). But your work style may be different.

I have the "original" Military and don't plan on replacing it just for a compression lock, though I do prefer them.
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I tend to use a hammer grip for rough cuts, and the lock well lands right in the flesh at the base of my thumb.

I also admit my biggest gripe with the compression lock is and always has been the manipulation required to release it. The only one that doesn't annoy me at closing time is the "left-hand" PM2 that I have set up for RHTD carry. Even that one hasn't been able to earn much pocket time.

Maybe I just haven't given it a fair chance. After all, I only have...18? 20? comp lock knives.
 
This is right up my alley. I don't tend to get too excited about new knives anymore, but this is a must have for me. I have two Militaries and don't tend to carry them juts because I frequently carry knives in my left-hand pocket and mine are both righty only. I do like liner-locks in general, but I think the Comp-lock is an upgrade in some respects.
 
jstrange said:
This is right up my alley. I don't tend to get too excited about new knives anymore, but this is a must have for me. I have two Militaries and don't tend to carry them juts because I frequently carry knives in my left-hand pocket and mine are both righty only. I do like liner-locks in general, but I think the Comp-lock is an upgrade in some respects.
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Yup, I made this thread when I just got into Spyderco, and even after my tastes have evolved, I'm still wanting that Military 2 badly, and still loving the compression lock. The comp lock is a total upgrade to the liner lock, I don't recall all the info off hand, but the way Sal & co put it, it's more than just a flipped-over liner lock.
 
sgt1372 said:
I'm on the older side but don't have any particular lock preferences. Comp locks are ok w/me but so are backlocks, liner locks, integral locks . . . whatever. I've got them all in my collection.

What is more important to me is the overall appearance, feel and functionality of the knife and, as long as it "works," I don't think it matters what kind of blade lock that it uses.

However, one "advantage" of a comp lock is that you can make the knife into a "semi-auto" by just doing a quick wrist flick while releasing the comp lock as you draw the knife from your pocket and quickly re-engaging the lock before the blade reaches the blade stop. The blade can also be made to "drop shut" and lock in place in reverse by well timed use of the comp lock as well.

No other blade locking system will allow you to do these things but that's not reason enough for me to buy a knife w/a comp lock on it.

As for a comp lock on a Millie, I'm not against it but I wouldn't buy one because I already own 7 "classic" Millies and the comp lock is not enough reason to make me want to buy another . . .

BUT the idea of just whipping open a 4" comp lock Millie using the method described above does have it's appeal particuarly if they offer it w/CF and/or TI scales and something other than S30V steel.

LOL! ;)
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Also, yesterday, I figured out how to flick a Spydie open in reverse grip! Did it with a backlock, did it with a comp lock... anyone trying to do this, using the Matriarch 2 as an example, tip up backlock, hold the knife upside down, like you would a pencil, ring finger touching backspacer, knife between ring and middle finger, middle finger on hole... flick out, and down, and voila, reverse-grip Spydie!

Folks, do this at your own peril, as I almost sent my Matriarch 2 flying last night.
 
Since it hasn't been posted here yet, here's Knife Center's Blade Show promo of the Military 2 Compression Lock knife, which "won" the "Best USA Made Knife of the Year Award," that I saw in a a post by RamZar in the Spyderco Forum:


The "idea" of buying one is growing on me but fortunately it's a LONG WAY out and I don't have to worry about it for awhile. :)
 
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I briefly thought about buying it but even the Para 2 is too big for me and I'm happy with the Para 3. Though I might be tempted when the sprint versions come out with micarta or CF.
 
So after watching that video, in my mind that is not a military.

It is a PM2 XL. Im a die hard believer that the Military is already the perfect pocket knife, so if they only switched from a liner to a comp lock (and maybe added the 4-way clip), but didnt change anything else, then I would agree its a Military 2. Im curious if they used the same nested full liner construction of a PM2 or if they ran it with partial liners like the Military. It will make a difference in weight.

Either way, I will try one, but knowing that I sold every PM2 I ever bought, I am not sure how I will feel.
 
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yablanowitz said:
Serious answer: I buy knives to use as knives, not fidgit toys. Larger knives like the Military get used on materials much harder than arm hair, envelopes and cardboard boxes. A lock with exposed pinch points and square corners creating hotspots in the exact area where the most force is transmitted to the hand in hard cutting is hardly what I would call an improvement, much less "fixing".

The good news is, you won't have to compete with me to get one, since I'm not at all interested.
Click to expand...

Couldn't have said it better.
 
Riz! said:
So in my mind that is not a military.

It is a PM2 XL. Im a die hard believer that the Military is already the perfect pocket knife, so if they only switched from a liner to a comp lock (and maybe added the 4-way clip), but didnt change anything else, then I would agree its a Military 2. Im curious if they used the same nested full liner construction of a PM2 or if they ran it with partial liners like the Military. It will make a difference in weight.

Either way, I will try one, but knowing that I sold every PM2 I ever bought, I am not sure how I will feel.
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I agree. Watching the KC video above, I see this knife to be basically a blown-up version of PM2, and hence PM2 XL rather than Military 2.
 
I don't mind a well designed liner lock, especially when it has a choil to land on your finger in the rare event of lock failure. I agree this redesign is more of a PM2XL, but the only thing that kept me from buying an original Military was the lack of tip up carry. There's no way I'm carrying a liner lock tip down in my right pocket, if that detent fails when one of my kids are climbing all over me I want the seam of my pocket to push it back shut not sever my leg and injure anyone else around me.

Also, a compression lock can be closed easily like a lock back where you drop the blade moving the tab over with your thumb so the choil lands on your index finger, and then finish closing it in that same two step process to a lockback. It requires no grip adjustment this way as opposed to when using your index finger to move the lockbar over, which proves the compression lock to be very versatile. Also I've never pinched my hands using a compression lock, these people must be the same people who need to wear gloves when cutting with a knife?
 
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