Military vs ZT

Whitty- thanks for posting. Seems like you get a good half-inch+ additional handle space on the Millie. That 909 is a beast! Decisions, decisions. Gotta go check out your website.
 
I'm 6'5 250# with long fingers- difficult for me to find that perfect size knife or gun for that matter! Those micro-wonder guns just don't work in my hands.
 
I have owned a bunch of ZTs, and they are fun to flip and look cool. Spydercos tend to function better as knives, I think Spyderco consistently makes the most comfortable handles of any knife maker.
 
The 0909 is a great knife and has all but totally displaced other non-multitool/SAK knives for my work edc. Personally I think it walks the line between robustness and "sliciness" very, very well. Mine has sliced salami and onions for a sandwich and been very vigorously used (in my size xl gloved hand) like an ice pick on frozen hay bales to cut the twine. It has handled both with equal aplomb. It has impressed me in the time I've owned it. I'm a fan.

If it speaks to you, try it out. As others have noted, selling it on the exchange would get you most of your money back to buy and try something else if you decide it's not for you. Either the 0909 will be a knife that suits you and you really like or the few dollars you lose reselling it can be looked at as a small price to pay not to have to wonder what might have been if you'd tried something outside your brand comfort zone.
 
whitty said:
Here is a pic. I included the ZT0452CF too because I think it is much more in line with the Military than the ZT0909 is. Regardless they are all great knives!
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You read my mind!

Being the owner of both the 0452CF and a blurple millie in S110V, they're both great slicers and I enjoy them for different reasons.

Not that I would ever say the military is a "fragile" blade, but in my limited experience, I've found the 0452CF to be more robust in day-to-day use. I lost the smallest bit off the tip of my millie when I was cutting strapping off a skid of concrete slabs the first day I took it to work - I attribute that to the distal taper/ffg and/or the blade steel and my carelessness. However, that distal taper and ffg also combine to make the millie a wicked slicer; in fact it's so good it hands down beats the 0452CF here (and it's definitely no slouch in this department either)!

Whether you buy the 909, a military, or even decide to get the 0452CF, I really don't think you're making a bad choice however you end up deciding. However, against the 909, the military gets my vote.
 
OP - while ZT0452cf has the length, be thinkful of its narrowness. Even with my small hands, I feel the handle is a bit too thin/narrow. It does not give the same hand-filling feeling as the millie.
 
All depends on usage. Millie tip cannot be pried with. It will be better slicer but also much lighter in pocket.

The 909 is super heavy. At first I usually don't mind my heavy knives, but eventually I get tired of carrying them. That's just me though, lots of people don't mind heavier knives.

In any case the 909 weighs 7.5 ounces. The 920 weighs 5.4 ounces. The 920 is honestly the much nicer Les George ZT in my humble opinion.
 
Just to update- I went ahead and ordered the Spyderco Military with the newest CQI improvements. I'll pick up a ZT one day- but today wasn't that day I guess...
 
basspro said:
Just to update- I went ahead and ordered the Spyderco Military with the newest CQI improvements. I'll pick up a ZT one day- but today wasn't that day I guess...
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Excellent. The Military is an outstanding knife. Which one did ya get (S30V , S110V etc)?
 
I ended up going with the standard S30V. Spyderco now has them in stock with all of the CQI enhancements so I jumped on it. The S30V will handle all I could ever throw at it. Selected Camo G10/Black DLC blade.
 
Congrats OP!

Did you buy directly from Spyderco? Because I checked major dealers websites and found the plain jane s30 millies are still old model (with screwed stop pin).
 
Youll probably love the Military, but if you ever have the chance to fondle the 0452 you probably should try it out. Even the 0562 handle is nice with big hands IMO.
 
sharp_edge said:
Congrats OP!

Did you buy directly from Spyderco? Because I checked major dealers websites and found the plain jane s30 millies are still old model (with screwed stop pin).
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Yes- I had a discount/credit with Spyderco from a repair I sent in so it brought the price down to normal pricing. No authorized dealers had the new CQI so I went straight to the source.
 
ZTs are high quality and I have had a bunch. But if you are looking for a large cutting tool that actually cuts well then the military is an excellent choice. I have strictly carried a military for the last 3 years now. I havent found a folder that I like better. Its very comfortable, carries well, feels small in the pocket for its size and works well with gloves. Dont let the single position of the pocket clip worry you. The knife is designed to be carried with the tip down and there is NO reduction in performance from the clip position
 
basspro said:
I ended up going with the standard S30V. Spyderco now has them in stock with all of the CQI enhancements so I jumped on it. The S30V will handle all I could ever throw at it. Selected Camo G10/Black DLC blade.
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AWESOME. that color combo is a looker too! Just dont drop it in the woods!
 
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