Just Ordered Military

L

lightninjoe

Joined
Feb 15, 1999
Messages
31
I am so excited I could hide from my wife!! I just ordered a Military in ATS 34 from Top Of TX tonight. I can't wait! They have 48 more at a great price if anyone is interested.
Joe"PFC"Rosenthal

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Rock On!

 
Joe did you get new or old style????
New style has different steel for blade?????
 
It looks like he got "the old style" as it has an ATS 34 blade. These have been discontinued and were sold off by Spyderco at a really good price. ($150.00 retail vs $200.00). There will only be CPM 440V blades offered when these are gone.

Actually, he could have "the new style" as ATS 34 was used in the updated ones as well as CPM 440V. The old ones had trouble with the clips pulling out and some other things. The current version is a great knife and, with the reduced prices on the ATS 34 models, are a great bargain.

I'm kind of sorry to see the ATS 34 go away, as it is good steel. CPM is a great steel but it is hard to sharpen. Of course, it holds an edge so well that it doesn't need sharpening too often.

 
Hay, I hate to tell you guys this, but I ordered the new style in CPM 440V from ABC Direct for $124.95.

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LD
"Every Dog Has His Day"

 
OK, I just looked at Top of Texas's site, $89 is pretty good.
redface.gif
 
Top of Texas told me that they could get me the CPM for, I think, 111.00. You guys should definately check them out. I am now a loyal customer.
Joe

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Rock On!

 
Wait till you get your hands on your Military, you'll really be happy ! This is probably the best production liner lock I've seen to date. Enjoy and welcome, Military Man.
 
My Spyderco Military came today via US Mail. I should have known something was wrong when I heard the barking before I opened the box. What a dog! If I didn't see "Spyderco" engraved on the blade, I wouldn't believe they actually built this thing. The knife doesn't like to stay closed. There is considerable play in the blade after lock up. (If you can call what it does "lock up.") I now know why some people hate liner locks. (My finger should be completely healed in a week or so.) The lock on my knife engages fully (mid blade) about 70% of the time and is extremely EASY to disengage. The rest of the time, the thin, anemic, wannabe piece of metal (titanium?) engages only the first 1/4 of the blade.

On the plus side, the knife as handsome as an ATS34 blade and G10 scales ban be. The blade was a dream to sharpen. Just a few quick strokes on my Lansky ceramick sticks and the knife was throwing hair off my arm.

OK, Spyderco, now that the prototype's are out, when should we expect a full working model?
 
4th
Are we to assume that this is a brand new Military folder? You didn't say. What do you mean when you say "The lock on my knife engages fully (mid blade) about 70% of the time "? I understand the 70% part but I don't know what you mean by mid blade. Is that mid thickness or the middle of the width of the blade? What do you mean the linerlock engages the first fourth of the blade? Do you mean that only 1/4 of the liner is engaged to the blade or that 1/4 of the blades thickness at the tang ramp is covered by the liner? Do you own any other liner locks? The liners on linerlocks are always much thinner than the blade stock unless you buy something like a Sebenza. It sounds like you may have gotten a lemon, and I'm sure that Spyderco will take care of it. Try calling Danelle at customer service, she seems very helpful. Also, if a liner lock is finnicky you can open the blade and (holding your fingers out of the blades path) whack the back of the blade against a telephone book or a table that you don't care about and sometimes that will fix the problem. I'm not trying to hassle you, just figure out what the problem might be. In my experience Spyderco produces some of the best production liner locks around. Send it to Spyderco customer service or the person/people you bought it from. Sorry you got a bad knife. Good luck.
Paul
 
the4th,

Dunno why your sample is so disappointing. Sounds like it is also the "older" version as you mention ATS-34. All the newest Militarys are strictly CPM-440V and I can assure you no one has posted a complaint about their construction, fit or finish here. There's even a "Military man" fan club. I think your comment about "prototypes" is somewhat off the mark given the second generation production available today.

I would strongly suggest you contact Spyderco's customer service to arrange to have yours adjusted.

-=[Bob]=-
 
Paul and Bald1,
First - my post was not a slam against Spyderco Knives. It was a slam against THIS Spyderco knife. My first REAL pocket knife was a Spyderco and I have owned several over the years.
Second - My error - I should have mentioned that this was a factory refurb knife. The black coating was removed from the blade and the knife supposedly had a thorough going over at the factory.
The question of where the liner comes to rest is confusing me. I'll try to "draw" what I mean. --I-- Where the "I" is, is the spot where I would like to see the liner line up on the thickness of the blade. (Right in the middle.) I--- or -I-- is where it lines up about 30% of the time.
I own and carry an AFCK and a Mini SOCOM daily. Their liners are thicker and engage much more solidly than on my Military. Couple the thin liner, the poor engagement of it, and the ease at which it releases and you come up with one cut finger. I was lucky.
As far as whacking my knife, I haven't tried that. Should I need or have to? I think not. (Hence my complaining.)
I don't feel that I am being picked on by anyone or hassled. I appreciate the feedback. I feel Spyderco makes a heckuva product and is a heckuva company. I am positive they would be more than happy to take care of this for me. They have always been good to me in the past.
I wasn't even aware there was a second generation production Military available. Given that fact, I feel that my comment about prototypes was right on the money.
Since the knife doesn't like to stay closed either, I am about to dismantle it, check the detent engagement, and see if I can adjust the knife myself.
Once again, thanks for the feedback. I'll let ya know what transpires!
 
Ok. It took all of 10 minutes to fix the problem. (That includes the time it took me to search for my allen wrenches.) One of the "bearings" (nylon or teflon film) had partially folded into the tension adjustment hole and started to tear. I removed it, trimmed it, and replaced it, thoroughly cleaned the knife, "tweaked" the liner over so it lines up well, and re-assembled the knife. Oh my goodness what a difference. When I first dismantled the knife I thought, "There is NO way that this is the problem." I guess with the tolerances being what they were, that little piece of film threw the whole alignment of the knife off. Whodathunkit?

Am I pleased with the knife now?
Heck yeah!

It stays closed now (the detent lines up), locks up TIGHT when opened, there is NO blade play, and it takes noteable effort to unlock the liner. It's a Spyderco again.

 
4th.
I would like more info on your C36 as I have been involved in this knife from proto to the ones being produced today.
Where did you buy this from.
Who told you it was factory refurbished and had the black coating removed.
From what you have explained about this knife It would seem from memory this knife is over 3 years old.
Does it have scale screws on both sides and does it have a 3 screw clip.
Any info would be helpfull.

Thanks
Vince.
 
4th,
Glad you got your Military working. You shouldn't have to whack it against anything but it does work and is cheaper than mailing it back. I have one of the first AFCK's and had nothing but trouble with it from day 1. I even returned it at the Benchmade booth at the Blade Show for not locking up well and for having a poor ball bearing detent. When it was returned it stayed closed a "little" better and the lock actually seemed worse. After hearing of the phone book trick I tried it and it locks up great now. I'm lazy I guess and like a 10 second fix. I'm glad you got your knife the way you want it now.

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Paul
Keep Em Sharp


 
Given the fact that the little film thingie might have been the culprit here. I doubt the "wackit" pricipal would have worked. I WILL try it the NEXT time I get a knife with a funky lockup. Thanks, everyone, for the replies!
 
4th,

I am interested in knowing how you disassembled and reassembled the knife, if it was a new model and if you had any problems with maintenance.
One of the main reasons I own a Sebenza is the fact that I can disassemble clean and whatever else and then reassemble. I like to be as self sufficient as possible as I am sure others do as well.
I currently own a new model Military(440-V) with the three screw clip(thanks again Spyderco) and would like to (if necessary) be able to do as you did.
You can E-mail me off-line with the info if you like. "Myshane@hotmail.com"
Thanks alot and enjoy the knife.

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*Norse Knife Nut*

"Military" Fans Unite!!

"The only limitation is lack of imagination."

 
I just got off the phone with Top of Texas. The lady I spoke with said the ones for $89 were the new style, but in ATS-34. She also said she can get the 440V for $111.00. I ordered one. I figured for $20 more dollars the 440V is worth it. I am looking for an everyday carry knife. I hope the military wont let me down. After all the great reviews on this forum, I figured I would take the plunge. I will let you know what I think when I get it.

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Front Site Communications "web sites with impact" http://www.knoxplace.com/fsc
 
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