Military vs Skirmish

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x0r

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Dec 30, 2008
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Hello everybody, i'm going to buy a new knife for EDC but also for outdoor, hunting etc. My favourites are Spyderco Military/Para-Military and Benchmade Skirmish/Mini-Skirmish. I would like to know some of your tips, thoughts, pros and cons. I've heard the Mili's tip of the blade often breaks and the para-mili's blade looks sooo short but the "normal" Skirmish is too heavy for EDC :( pls help guys and excuse my English...
P.S. Friend told me that Sebenza is much better than both of them :confused:
 
I say get the Full sized Military, you won't break the tip if you don't pry with it;). I don't really like re-curves so I wouldn't get a Skirmish. A Sebenza? Nah...
 
I have owned a Military for years (CPM440V version) and used it a LOT. It is much tougher than it looks or feels. I had a Paramiliary and didn't like the thicker scales or the overly long handle compared to the blade size. I think the Military is an awfully hard folder to beat. IMHO, it's about as close to perfect as you can get.
 
To start, I no longer recommend liner-locks to anyone anymore, though my Military knives have been reliable. Frame-locks have similar issues as liner-locks, but are generally more reliable. Not particularly enamored with either lock type at this time.

That said...

The Military and the Skirmish are two very different knives. The blade shapes are the determining factor, IMO.

The Military is a good general use slicer due to the how thin the blade is about the edge. Yes, the tip is more fragile than some other designs, but in many situations that thinness is appreciated. The grip frame is one of the better handfilling designs. I consider the Military a light in weight, medium duty knife. The Military's design is a classic as far as modern knives go because it is so useful.

The Skirmish is also a good design. The blade is more robust than the Military's blade, but at the cost of thickness. I like the recurve and the front "belly" curve with less pronounced tip makes the Skirmish a better knife for hunting, for example. I don't find the Skirmish too heavy to carry, but I do carry IWB.

There are a plethora of other differences that can be issues when comparing between the Military and Skirmish. Do you like sharpening recurves, for example. Value a titainium handle over G10?

If I foresee food preparation, fine cutting, or simply desire a light weight, I still carry a Military occassionally. When I foresee cutting rope or woodwork, something that requires a more robust tip, I carry a Skirmish occossionally.

As for the Sebenza, that knife is better crafted than either the Military or Skirmish, but in use you'll not notice such. The Sebenza is also a classic design and very good at most cutting tasks. However, whether that better craftsmanship makes an appreciably better carry knife is up to the user. The Sebenza costs a fair bit extra over either the Military and Skirmish; in fact, you could buy one of each and still spend less than a single Sebenza.
 
I have a Military and a large Sebenza. The Seb has very nice build quality but the Military is my favorite folder of all time. It's light, it's ergonomic, it's sharp, has full flat grind, and lockup is super solid.
 
I own a full size Skirmish and a few Militarys. Personally I think the Military makes a much better EDC
 
Wow, thank you so much! Guess I'll buy a Military :-) I was just thinking that Benchmade > Spyderco in quality (not sure, I'm a newbie currently using Extrema Ratio Nemesis for EDC :-X ). Is the S90V model with carbon handle better than the classic one(S30V steel and G-10 handle material)? I'll search the forums for these materials... Any other tips for a knife that could equal the quality of a Military?
 
x0r said:
Wow, thank you so much! Guess I'll buy a Military :-) I was just thinking that Benchmade > Spyderco in quality (not sure, I'm a newbie currently using Extrema Ratio Nemesis for EDC :-X ). Is the S90V model with carbon handle better than the classic one(S30V steel and G-10 handle material)? I'll search the forums for these materials... Any other tips for a knife that could equal the quality of a Military?
Click to expand...

The S90V Millie is about as good as it gets for a large folder for EDC. S90V is a super steel without any hype IMHO.

If a 4" blade for EDC is what you're after you really won't find better anywhere, just different. If you're not a right hander there is a bit of compromise with the Millie since it is only configured for right hand tip down carry. If that doesn't matter then everyone should have a CF S90V Millie in their toy box.
 
The Spyderco Military and Benchmade Skrimish are both fantastic knives.

I would choose the Military, however. The G10 handles are more ergonomic and wonderfully grippy, and the blade style is infinitely more useful and easier to sharpen than the Skirmish's recurve. I do prefer the Skirmish's titanium frame lock over the regular liner, but that's more an aesthetic preference than a functional one.

Good luck. :)
 
I would avoid the Military because of the liner lock. I think the Para, with its compression lock would be a fine choice as would be the Manix or Mini-Manixwith their back locks. I have the Manix, Mini Manix and Chinook III. They are all back locks and very robust.
 
I do agree that liner locks are slightly less relible than some other locks but when you are talking about the quality of a benchmade or a spyderco i would say that lock quality isa moot point ... i have owned and edc'd many benchmades and spydercos and never had a liner lock fail on me true its not and axis lock or the incredible back lock on a manix ... but its also not a 25 dollar crkt liner lock ... as long as you don't abuse your knife you should have no lock problems
 
i wouldnt worry about a liner lock in a millie i personally have had 4 or 5 millies with -0- lock problems, in fact i have never had liner probs with a spyderco LL, and have not heard of many folks having LL problems with spydie.

i would get a millie over a skirmish myself, i have had a skirmish or 2 and just never liked 'em very much, they are tip down which i dont care for, i dont like all the holes, and just didnt care for it, and i wanted to like it as i like large folders,

not saying its not a good knife just saying i dont care for 'em.
 
Thank you for your replies, my last question: Is the S90V similar in corrosion resistance or even better than S30V ? I know it holds an edge very well, is harder to sharpen but no info about the corrosion resistance... Happy New Year
 
x0r said:
Thank you for your replies, my last question: Is the S90V similar in corrosion resistance or even better than S30V ? I know it holds an edge very well, is harder to sharpen but no info about the corrosion resistance... Happy New Year
Click to expand...

S90V is very corrosion resistant. I haven't heard of any S90V rusting, and I have heard that it's definitely more corrosion resistant than D2 and ZDP.
 
I have a S60V Military (CPM 440V), a large Skirmish, and a large Sebenza.

For things like food prep, fish prep, general light cutting, the Millie is hard to beat.

The Skirmish is an excellent knife, near custom quality IMO, good for heavy cutting, skinning, that sort of thing. Also the best for SDSTNA.

The Sebenza is a great general use knife that can go heavy duty use due to it's strength and handle shape.

None of the three will let you down.
 
I love both. I prefer the para to the milli because it's all the knife I need. Same goes for the mini-skirmish.

The para is one of my all time favorite knives, actually.

The mini-skirmish is up there.

But for an EDC between the full sized skirmish and milli, I'd take the Milli. It feels smaller in the pocket and is more of a general use knife. It's also grippier and easier to open.

Thus, in the EDC tests, I'd go with the millie. They're both so good though I think it could really come down to stylistic preferences.
 
I actually Like the Military better in Hand, Just Lighter, sharper and feels better. the skirmish IS SWEET though, don't get me wrong. it's about perfect for a Ti frame lock.

I personally lke to carry the Military,BUT, I WOULD GET THE SKIRMISH RIGHT NOW!!!!! They have Been Discontinued, and are already selling on Ebay For $300. I let the cat out of the Bag, but get One for less then $200, Even $160, And you have yourself a great knife and an investment. The Military isn't going ANYWHERE!!! I don't think ever.
 
Looking at the Benchmade site, it does indicate the knife is unavailable (usually an indication of a knife being cancelled from current production).
 
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