Millie vs. Gayle Bradley

singularity35 said:
I like my military but I think "hard use" and "lightweight" are terms that incompatible.
Click to expand...


Perhaps "hard use" for some people is not using a folding knife for cutting ?
Again, as there is another thread about hard used folders, we should define "hard use" and I have seen some N°8 Opinel used very hard for long time without failure ! And it's only some wood handle, and carbon steel blade !

G10 is a lightweight materials made for "hard use". I've also seen blades of non detectable knives made of G10. It's very solid.
About the C36: no need for full steel liners to get a very robust folder.
YMMV. The C36 is light weight for such a cutting power and really made for hard use. The project of the C36 was to give Private Eric (:D) a reliable folding knife. A folder to be used in the Army: fast, sharp and reliable.
IMHO the Millie can be used hard as much as the GB.
After some fish blood mixed with mud, which one would be non slippy, non grippy and easy to rinse ?

Heavy weight knives sink faster. :D
 
Working with bamboo as part of general maintenance for a Nipa and Bamboo hut is typically hard on knives. A lot of tip work is often necessary to make the bamboo floor slats fit the support members. Sometimes bamboo workers also use the tip of their knives to cut holes in bamboo slats by pressing the tip into the bamboo and twisting clockwise and counterclockwise. The tip on my saber ground endura can do this with aplomb but in this case it is the handle that flexes. I am quite leery of using the tip of my military for this kind of work. Now I know that there are woodworking chisels that can do this job better, but sometimes my knife is all I have. So does this mean that jobs like this are not a job for a folding knife? Or should the folding knife be designed to fit the job? I can not be carrying a tool box with me all the time, but I do carry a knife most of the time. Should my knives just be used for opening letters, cutting cardboard, and slicing food? I think that the usefulness of a knife is it's versatility, I don't want a sharpened crowbar that can be used only for prying but I want a robust tip that I can bear down without breaking a few millimeters off.
 
Last edited:
Singularity: for your work with bamboo, as you perhaps need a lot of lateral strenght (which is not the best a folding knife can provide) perharps an Endura 4 (I assume as you handle flex you have a Endura 3?) with saber ground blade and metal liner handle would fit the bill ?
Or better, a strong Cara Cara G10 ? Or in this case the Gayle Bradley ? As the CPM M4 steel seems to be very strong. (I have dig wall in wood with it.)
There are many spydercos... If only one knife pattern was necessary for all works, Sal would have designed only one knife.
The Captain got a very strong tip for example as the Mariner...But lateral tip strenght is not first the reason to carry a Millie. :D I Have dig in wood with a S60V version (by turning and twisting the tip in) but I was careful.
(I carry a DPX HEST for this kind of job and I love it. :cool:)
 
Last edited:
*sighs* Now my list looks like:

ZT 301 (I still can't disregard this)
Millie / Paramillie 2
Native 4

Oh, my... How my budget ever manages this? :D

Heck I probably get Millie, Paramillie 2, GB, Native 4 and ZT-301 sometimes. Heck If I don't like them, I can always trade them or sell them. I've decided to get some of the Millie spyder. Regular millie is cheaper than para in here. So I might get G-10 orange Millie first and later Paramillie 2. I am still temped ZT-301. Everytime I see that knife in NCIS I start drooling.
 
Nemo said:
Singularity: for your work with bamboo, as you perhaps need a lot of lateral strenght (which is not the best a folding knife can provide) perharps an Endura 4 (I assume as you handle flex you have a Endura 3?) with saber ground blade and metal liner handle would fit the bill ?
Or better, a strong Cara Cara G10 ? Or in this case the Gayle Bradley ? As the CPM M4 steel seems to be very strong. (I have dig wall in wood with it.)
There are many spydercos... If only one knife pattern was necessary for all works, Sal would have designed only one knife.
The Captain got a very strong tip for example as the Mariner...But lateral tip strenght is not first the reason to carry a Millie. :D I Have dig in wood with a S60V version (by turning and twisting the tip in) but I was careful.
(I carry a DPX HEST for this kind of job and I love it. :cool:)
Click to expand...

I have an E4, it flexes a little too. Yes, I understand a military is not for this. It's just that I have a little issue when I mention military and people immediately reply with "lightweight hard use folder". I love the way my military feels in my hand. Nothing comes close but it's maybe a medium use folder with a strong liner lock. IMHO, the fragility of the blade makes the military less than a hard use folder.

I do understand that different designs are for different uses. It's just that for me a hard use folder includes a robust blade. Having said that, I love my militaries, and I know their limitations. But if I can have the comfort and the ergonomics of a military handle with the strength of a saber ground blade(especially the tip), I'd be happier than the figurative pig in a poke.

Now I'm not even asking Sal and Spyderco to make a saber ground military because the longevity of the design proves the usefulness of the design for a lot of military users. I'm just putting it out there that it's just the name of the military that gives us the impression that it is hard use.
 
A tie Millie with CPM M4 blade will be it. :D

(Do you got pictures of your work. It always interesting to see how people use their Spydies. I don't have a lot of Bamboo grove and job related to it in France. I'd like to see that in a new thread !) :thumbup:
 
Nemo said:
A tie Millie with CPM M4 blade will be it. :D

(Do you got pictures of your work. It always interesting to see how people use their Spydies. I don't have a lot of Bamboo grove and job related to it in France. I'd like to see that in a new thread !) :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Hope to oblige you soon but I only have a crappy phone cam.
 
thejamppa said:
I don't think country of origin is not that important. Spyderco keeps their quality high level. I have to do alot research. Millie is very well liked but GB has alot fans too. I Admit, I've been eyeing ZT 302 but that seems bit heavy.

I want tough knife. Something I can take with forrest and be excellent back up for my Busse GW or Cultellus. I don't plan to use it much in city (UKPK is for that) so looks is not important.

I am open for other suggestions too.
Click to expand...

I'm a big fan of the Military.

That being said, there are several points I would push for it instead of the GW. Blade length, weight, and materials. CPM M4 is not a stainless steel. Scrumming around in the Bush would not be my ideal use for it. Carbon fiber handles are nice, and durable too, however I believe the the checkered G-10 scales (and the large handle) provide superior grip in the Military. There is also a weight difference. You will find that the Military is light for such a large knife while the GB (when you have them side by side to compare) is significantly heavier. Nothing like the ZT302, but significantly heavier.
 
GB-HEST.jpg


This is my EDC Combo.
The GB for the clean hard cuts.
The HEST for all the dirty jobs prying scrapping, gouging...
The size different thickness, different jobs.
One in the pocket the other in the bag...
 
Last edited:
I have both.

The fit and finish on the GB is superior. The only thing I don't like about it are the proud liners. A redesign with flush scales would be a near perfect knife.

The Millie design is more refined and I like the ergos better. I wish the tip on the Millie was more robust, along the line of the current issue Endura/Delica.

I trust the locks on both. I prefer tip-up, but tip down on the Millie works fine too.

It's pretty subjective, but I find the M4 on the GB holds and edge longer. I've used it to cut food a fair amount, and as a result it has a slight patina, but no rust whatsoever. But then I've carried carbon steel knives since the 1960s, and have never had a significant problem.

I have no plans to sell or trade either knife.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top