Military ?

M

Mgj48

Joined
Jan 13, 2015
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Curious as to why the Military is only right tip down carry. I haven't gotten one because of the tip down carry only. Can't come up with the reasoning.
 
It's a great knife. Very easy to open with the tip down configuration. I prefer tip up but loved the military. It was a joy to own and use. Currently want to pick up another one.
 
Mgj48 said:
Curious as to why the Military is only right tip down carry. I haven't gotten one because of the tip down carry only. Can't come up with the reasoning.
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To keep weight down, it's only got a liner on the lock side so the only place that clip can go is on the liner side since the liner can be tapped for screws
 
Thanks. I wouldn't have guessed that the G-10 won't hold the screw. I learned something.
 
Also, tip up carry requires the user to shift his grip at least once to get close enough to deploy the blade. With tip down, you can pull it out and flip open the blade with one continuous motion.
 
I carry all my knives tip up and was hesitant to get a Millie for this very reason. However, after finally breaking down and getting one I can honestly say it doesn't bother me one bit. It's very easy and natural to deploy it in tip down configuration. Pull the trigger and get one...you won't be disappointed.
 
Like NeilB said, on large knives like the Millie, tip down actually works better because with tip up, you have to pull the knife out and move your grip up to open the knife compared to tip down which remains one fluid motion to deploy the blade. As a knife that many use as a tactical folder, speed is a requirement.

Also, the Millie has been around for twenty or so years. Back then, the trend was tip down and the majority of knives were oriented that way.

I also insist on tip up on my folders. Simply because I prefer to just stick with one way... Millie's probably the only knife in my rotation that I do not mind tip down though.
 
It doesn't take long to get use to the tip down. The Millie is such a great knife.
 
fwiw- BBK taps into G10 with the pocket clip. I don't think there have been problems.
What about using metal threaded inserts in the G10, to hold the pocket clip?
 
Tip Up is generally only as good as tip down on smaller knives. The military has a really long handle. If you carry it tip up it requires a severe shift in grip to open it. Tip Down is perfect.

Of course, there are other consideration some people prefer tip up for, but I've had no issue with my Military. I also enjoy my slab of Titanium not being riddle with clip holes everywhere.

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goodeyesniper said:
Tip Up is generally only as good as tip down on smaller knives. The military has a really long handle. If you carry it tip up it requires a severe shift in grip to open it. Tip Down is perfect.

Of course, there are other consideration some people prefer tip up for, but I've had no issue with my Military. I also enjoy my slab of Titanium not being riddle with clip holes everywhere.

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Amen to no hole drilled all over the darn thing. its such classy piece that can tackle any job. i like tip down right handed carry anyway. after you compare it to any other spyderco knife you really appreciate the fact that the holes are where the need to be and that is all. i own 4 and hope to get more. happy easter.
 
It's all user preference, but I personally prefer tip down carry, even though I have a mix of knives with both. The Military was my first "really good" knife years ago and I just sort of got used to the tip down configuration because I EDC'ed it for so long before I got into buying other knives.

If you're used to tip-up carry knives, transitioning to the tip-down Military won't be that hard of an adjustment. I can get mine out of the pocket and opened as quick, if not quicker than a lot of my tip down knives. The larger size allows you to manipulate the knife quickly in the hand and the large Spyderhole allows for very fast opening. After carrying it for a couple weeks it becomes second nature.

You'll be hard-pressed to find a production knife with the ergonomics of the Military - you really have to have one in your hands to appreciate it. It doesn't carry as big as it seems due to the low overall weight and thin profile and thickness. It's really one of Spyderco's greatest models, especially for those that prefer larger knives. I don't think you're regret picking one up.
 
Don't let the tip down dissuade you. It's too good of a knife in every other facet of its design.
 
There are really only three reasons I prefer tip up carry.

1) Spring assist knives. I've seen some open in the pocket with tip down carry. I prefer to have the blade safely pressed up against the seam of my pants with those.

2) One reason I prefer tip up (that I haven't seen mentioned on the forum) is often blades have jimping or sharp edges on the spine that make it uncomfortable to reach into your pocket. This of course depends on what pocket you use...

3) Another I've never seen mentioned on the forum, and it's my number one reason... ergonomics. With tip up, the pocket clip presses up against the fatty part of my hand and doesn't cause any discomfort. With most tip down knives, the pocket clip digs into the bony part of my metacarpophalangeal joint creating a terrible hot-spot.

That being said, I've been EDCing my Military since I got it (a few weeks ago) and I'm loving it. The clip is actually pretty non intrusive and hasn't given me any problem. I haven't used it for any strenuous tasks, though.

At the mo, it's in my top 5 knives for EDC.
 
Armadew said:
There are really only three reasons I prefer tip up carry.

1) Spring assist knives. I've seen some open in the pocket with tip down carry. I prefer to have the blade safely pressed up against the seam of my pants with those.

2) One reason I prefer tip up (that I haven't seen mentioned on the forum) is often blades have jimping or sharp edges on the spine that make it uncomfortable to reach into your pocket. This of course depends on what pocket you use...

3) Another I've never seen mentioned on the forum, and it's my number one reason... ergonomics. With tip up, the pocket clip presses up against the fatty part of my hand and doesn't cause any discomfort. With most tip down knives, the pocket clip digs into the bony part of my metacarpophalangeal joint creating a terrible hot-spot.

That being said, I've been EDCing my Military since I got it (a few weeks ago) and I'm loving it. The clip is actually pretty non intrusive and hasn't given me any problem. I haven't used it for any strenuous tasks, though.

At the mo, it's in my top 5 knives for EDC.
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I'm with you on those reasons. Safety is my biggest thing, and not just spring assisted. Drop your knife and see if it pops open. A lot of times they do, and could tip down in your pocket. No thanks!
And for the military, my tip up clip is completely out of my hand when using the choil, but for smaller knives, yes ergos in use are almost always better.

In pocket, tip up puts the smooth contoured back of the handle as the part of your knife your hand touches when sliding your hand in that pocket. This is the reason I want to file the ridges down on my Rubicon, and go tip up on my K2. On the K2, the spine of the knife has an unwelcome greeting with your hand if you put your hand in that pocket. I've tried it tip up and it is so much better.

For most knives (esp Spyderco) it also give you more room in your pocket as the knife's widest part of the blade (@ the opening hole) is deeper in the pocket.

The only argument for tip down is speed of deployment and Sal designed it that way. I couldn't care less about speed of deployment, and I bet the Military 2 will have 4 way clip holes.

There is something to be said of having all knives the same too. Tip down only knives are the minority.
 
The only argument for tip down is speed of deployment and Sal designed it that way. I couldn't care less about speed of deployment, and I bet the Military 2 will have 4 way clip holes.

There is something to be said of having all knives the same too. Tip down only knives are the minority.
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WoW! That's the most ignorant statement of heard about pocket clips so far. You need to turn over any big boy knives and go back to Nerf toys with that thinking. :jerk it:
 
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@LeathermanGX said:
WoW! That's the most ignorant statement of heard about pocket clips so far. You need to turn over any big boy knives and go back to Nerf toys with that thinking. :jerkit:
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What other arguments have you heard for tip down? You can't claim ignorance and spout insults and have no substance to back it up. In 100% of my knife use, speed of deployment is a non issue. I have never needed to get my knife out a half second faster.

When the Military was designed, four way clips didn't exist. Sal designed it how he thought it worked best. His design goal was "what would a knife need to be if my son was going to war and needed a pocket knife". Deployment would be a key point in that use, but for most guys, it never will be. I carry a knife as a cutting tool, and never think of it as a weapon. I carry a gun for that;)

The four way clip is a great step in Spyderco's CPI history, and I would bet it will be on the Military 2.

Again, explain any ignorance you see and drop the insults. I don't mind a good debate and learning.
 
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