Military & Starmate - differences?

K

Kallisti

Joined
Apr 9, 1999
Messages
226
Hi All

I've been playing with my friends Military and he with my Starmate and some questions came up. They must both be designed with tactical
applications in mind. The Military - obviously - and the Starmate
presumably being based on Bob T's Century Starfighter. To my hand the
Starmate feels more robust and threatening, so I was wondering on the
thinking behind the Military. It seems to be optimised for stabbing like the old Fairbairn-Sykes daggers, with the correspondingly weak tip. The wideness of the blade - how would this effect cutting? I notice the Becker Combat Utility 7 promotes a wide blade as conferring cutting benefits. Any ideas?

Many thanx

Kallisti.
 
The Millie was designed as a general working knife, not as a weapon. It's wide, flat ground blade makes it a great cutter and slicer, as well as a tool for picking out splinters, opening letters and cutting down boxes. It also slices up kindling very well...I could keep on listing its general uses. It could certainly be used for self defense in an emergency, but it's better as a working EDC.

I recently picked up a NIB PE Starmate for $78.00 and agree with you. It has a much stronger point for thrusting and the hollow ground blade is a good compromise for slashing/cutting. I think it would make an excellent self defense piece, and a useful tool.

So the difference appears to be in emphasis. The military is more EDC oriented, while the Starmate is more self defense oriented.

There appears to be one other major, perhaps THE major difference: the Starmate has been discontinued while the Military is a classic with a long production run ahead.
 
Just my opinion, but I find the Starmate too front-heavy. It lacks the balance in my hand of the Military. The latter gives a closer to 50/50 feel, while the Starmate always seemed ready to drop blade-first from my grip.
 
I find mine handle heavy, which I also prefer. I would like to own both, but still think I would carry the Starmate more.

Blade Santa Cruz - interesting you site the Military's design as being primarly EDC. I guess for military types just like everyone else, actual knife-fighting would be a rarity.

perhaps THE major difference: the Starmate has been discontinued
Click to expand...

This isn't an issue for me as I already have one, and it's not hard to get even now. I am curious about the intended uses for the two knives and how/why the blade geometry is as it is on each of them.

Kallisti
 
tortoise,

Check the balance point of each. The Military is very handle-heavy; nothing wrong with that in an EDC. The Starmate is just slightly handle-heavy; it would rotate much more smoothly if you had to throw it as a last resort. Its balance is a lot closer to 50/50, although both knives are handle-heavy. Again, EDC VS Self-Defense.

Kallisti,

If I was in the military and decided to carry a knife for self-defense, it would certainly be a fixed-blade, not a folder. If forced to choose a folder for last-gasp self-defense, it would be something like a Madd Maxx or a Weiland Wasp.
 
I was thinking more the centerline of the knife, rather than just blade vs. handle.

That is, when in very unscientific testing I rest the Military across my finger, the balance point seems to be very close to the midpoint of the knife. Like in a good sports car, 50% forward of the centerline, 50% aft, balanced.

I'm happy to trust you regarding throwing either knife, I get pissed enough when I drop the darn thing. :)
 
tortoise,

The Millie balances on your index finger when you grip the handle (saber grip) naturally. It also feels very natural when you use your thumb to apply contolled pressure on the blade for fine work. Again, this is ideal for an EDC. Maybe that's why my Sebenza stays home a lot more than I expected, while my Millie magically appears clipped to my right front pocket. :D
 
I think a good third knife to put into this discussion is obviously the large Wegner- most ergonomic of all three handles and more useful true drop pt for general utility for me. Starmate is excellent but I don't care so much for its in-line straight blade to handle design, I think Sebenza is best for this style (although that is altogether different debate!:) )
martin
 
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