It's the HOLE Silly!!!

E

ekaagan

Joined
Jan 10, 1999
Messages
100
I know that this post is gonna stir up the pot, especially with you Military fanatics.

I like the Military a LOT, but I can't seem to get past that giant hole. I know that it was enlarged for gloved hands, but in some way it has got to make the blade weaker, and it adds so much unecessary width to the blade, i.e. the "hump". What would say if the hole was replaced (that sounds weird??) with a thumb-stud of some sort. That keeps the strength all through the blade, and makes for a sleeker design.

I know that Spyderco's reputation was built on that hole concept, but maybe it's not the right thing for this knife? Please don't go nuts over the "hole" thing. Thank you.

EK
 
Ek,
Why should Spyderco even think about it????
There are lots of knives that would fit your idea, albut for thr 440V steel. The whole design wraps around the hole design in the first place.
Speaking for myself, that hole is slick and fool proof. So some think it's funny looking, so what?
As to blade strength.... The knife pivot, etc, will crash before the blade gives up due to the hole.
Dan
 
ek -- the "hole" comprises one of Spydie's "Holy Trinity" (that plus the clip and serration).
wink.gif


I'm a hole lover, being lefty.

Contrary to popular belief, data shows that the hole on a Spydie folder does not weaken the blade.

My best friend visited me yesterday and he showed me his new Endura. While I loved Enduras (still do), I found its hole smaller to my liking; I like my Military's 10mm better.

A Military with no hole is not a Military anymore.


 
A Military without a hole? That`s like saying "I`d really like Jimi Hendrix a lot better without all that noisy guitar!!"

Dan`s right. There`s no shortage of high quality folders without holes that would meet your needs. The hole is part of Spyderco`s identity in the marketplace. I can only think of one Spyderco that didn`t have the spydie hole. (the stag Jess Horn) Were there any others?
 
Titan,

Your "holy trinity" idea is interesting. Maybe the fact that all three of those are missing from the Moran helps to explain why it never seemed to catch on with the general public. It was just a different knife than the public expected when they thought "Spyderco." And I own one so you don't have to convince me that it is a great knife.
 
The hole restricts Spyderco to a particular market segment. I think they should offer some without the hole, maybe even some with no easy opening mechanism. Something sleek rather than cameloid. They do such an excellent job of design, manufacture, and metallurgy that they deserve even more of the market than they currently have.

I think the Moran missed more of the market because of price combined with odd appearance (and because Spyderco is not a "hunting knife" company). A basic drop-point hunter with VG-10 blade would be a more generally acceptable product.
 
A Spyderco holy trinity? Next thing you know they'll be calling this forum a cult! In that case, the new lightweight Dyad will be a heretic knife, lacking a clip.

On the Moran fixed blade, there are others among us who wouldn't mind a drop point version. Meanwhile, for a basic drop point hunter with a VG10 blade, see Fallkniven. That name, by the way, means "folding knives." They don't make any folders, but they started out imported sport-utility folders to Sweden before they designed their line of fixed blades.

Back to the Military, that oversize hole makes it among the fastest-opening folders I've met, including automatics.


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- JKM
www.chaicutlery.com
 
I won`t go into the rest of the "hole issue" but there is simply no way that a blade with a large hole in it is as strong as an otherwise identical blade without a large hole in it. Especially when it takes a big chunk out of the thickest parts of the blade. It doesn`t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. If the blade is saber ground and the hole is mostly contained in the hump the difference in strength should be very minimal but on the Military with it`s big hole and flat grind that doesn`t leave much steel in that area for strength. I`m certainly not saying they`re weak by any means but they can`t possibly be as strong as they would be without the hole,all other things being equal. Of course it doesn`t make much difference on a folder in most cases anyway so it`s probably a moot point. Marcus

[This message has been edited by Marcus (edited 10 July 1999).]
 
Steve B - Yes, the Horn (C27 Stag) was the only Spyderco folder with no round hole (our trademark, The Ulu is not a folder. What is is, we're not sure?)
sal

 
As I've gotten used to it, I've come to like that giant hole on the Military quite a bit. Maybe give it a bit more time? I don't mind the "normal" holes on my other folders now, but the larger one on the Military is nice, too. Just so long as they don't get smaller (Viele-sized, for example).

The blade strength issue is silly, to my eyes. First of all, other parts of the knife (or your hand) should give first. Second, what the heck would you be doing to put that much lateral force on the blade??? Yeah, I hear from Danelle that breaks at the hole do happen, but I've spent a lot of time around knife stores and have yet to meet someone who's seen it.

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-Drew Gleason
Little Bear Knives
 
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