Lost my EDC Military, looking to upgrade for under $300

[infiniteengine]

I just started getting into "collecting" over the past year and a half or so when I was originally just looking for something to finally keep me burning through cheap Gerber and Kershaw blades in my everyday work, but I've been hooked ever since.

I pretty much use every blade I have on the regular, including my larger fixed blades, and even my tomahawks, so everything I buy I've really been looking to use rather than to just "collect."

Over the summer, I lost my black combination edge G10 Spyderco Military, my EDC, and though I have some seemingly "better" and similar knives, I've yet to find anything that I feel gives me as secure and comfortable a grip.

Currently I have the following on rotation as a replacement:
Benchmade 913BK Nitrous Stryker (pretty much my current EDC)
Benchmade 930 Kulgera
Benchmade Mini-Griptilian (regular 154cm serrated)
Kershaw Random Leek S30V

Of all my knives, those four seem to wind up in my pocket while working most often where I used to have one (D2 on the Stryker for rougher stuff, S30v Kulgera for lighter precision work, the mini-grip for light work where I need a serrated edge, and the S30V Leek now and again for very detailed work.)

Though I do just fine with these, I still miss my Military primarily for the great handle I never even had to think twice about slipping up on. If I hadn't missed out on the CPM-M4 Military I probably wouldn't be making this thread.

When I bought the military I was on a much more restrictive budget, but now I'm a little more flexible; I'd like to keep it under $200, but $300 would be my max. Here are my priorities in order of importance:

-Combination edge
-A G10 handle designed with a solid grip for slicing and piercing (the Benchmade Ruckus comes to mind)
- Blade steel with decent edge retention without sacrificing beyond razor-sharpness (I have my D2 Stryker, as well as a Ka-Bar BK2 and BK-9 for heavy duty work, and my Benchmade 172 Tomahawk for thereally heavy duty stuff)
-Nothing spring assisted if possible (I never leave the house with any of my knives living in NYC, but I still tighten the hell out of them and just work up a callous in case I forget.)
-4" or under. I don't see this being an issue with most reccomendations anyway, but as mentioned in the above, I live in NYC, and if I ever want to bring one of my knives from one place to another, its better that it be legal to carry, though not 100% necessary as I'll almost strictly be using for work at home.
-Ability to buy through a reputable online retailer rather than heading to eBay (I know I may have to, but I'd rather not. For sites not shipping to NY, I have a friend out of state I can ship to)

I still haven't figured out what steel I should be looking most closely at, with CPM-M4, M390, S90V, and some others all seeming to have their benefits, and taking into consideration the fact that I also have a BK2 or BK9 within reach most of the time.

Currently under consideration:
- Benchmade 760SBK from GPKnives, #1 choice; it would be sitting in my pocket right now had I not read some bad reviews regarding various flaws in the construction. Not sure about the handle, though I've read it has a solid grip.

- Spyderco Military CPM-M4 (or possibly the S90v), I'd have to hunt one down on eBay and pay a bit of a premium but its a knife I know I love just made with a preferable blade steel. (

- Benchmade 710 M390 from Knifeworks, not having a partial serration is definitely a negative, but for ~$190 it seems like a good deal on a proven blade. The blade length is perfect, and flat G10 scales seem a lot like the Spyderco and feel much more comfortable to me than the more rounded ones.

 

[bladebertt]

I'd say just go ahead and get another Military with the S30V combo edge while you are looking for the ultimate carry knife.

 

[wongKI]

If you succeed in hunting down a S90V millie (for 300 bucks it shouldn't be hard) grind on some Veff serrations and you're done.

Same for the M390 Benchmade-custom serrations.

If you are looking for something with the same ergos as a Military, it's going to be a tough one to equal. I suggest just getting another Millie.

 

[Bill1170]

If you succeed in hunting down a S90V millie (for 300 bucks it shouldn't be hard) grind on some Veff serrations and you're done.

Same for the M390 Benchmade-custom serrations.

If you are looking for something with the same ergos as a Military, it's going to be a tough one to equal. I suggest just getting another Millie.

Plus 1 to the above. For the money the OP wants to spend, a pair of G-10 Militaries would serve him well, maybe one each plain and fully serrated. It is a hard knife to beat at any price for sheer ergonomic utility.

 

[KILLAFORNIA]

I don't have a good reccomendation but I'd suggest since you have so many production knives that you might get a custom knifemaker to make one for you. Many of them have a policy of "your design or mine" and many that'll do it for under 300...just thought I'd throw it out there.

 

[THG]

I traded my orange Military for a BM 710D2. The 710 is a great knife; it fits the hand better than the Military, IMO, and it carries a lot better. You can easily find it in CE.

 

[cutter17]

If you are looking at the BM 710 in 390, take a look at the 805 TSEK in 390, on the same website, Knifeworks. The handle shape is the same shape as the BM 806, whish is the same shape as the original AFCK Benchmade developed when the reorganized from Pacific Cutlery to Benchmade. The knice was designed by Chris Cuccrhi (wrond spelling as I'm pulling this out the back of my brain, and it's very musty).

 

[Reeek]

If you can live with a plain edge I suggest the Hogue EX01's. I prefer the G-Mascus myself but I have the 3.5" and the 4" and I like them a LOT!

 

[Planterz]

Looks to me like the simplest solution is just getting another Military. If you're looking for something different for the sake of having something different, a Benchmade 710 or 805/806, especially if you can find one in M390. If you decide you don't like it, you can always resell it, as it should hold its value extremely well as long as you don't beat it up.