Spyderco C36 Military question

[pearlforyou2]

Hello, I am new here. This is my first question. I have a Spyderco C36GSE Military. Its a beauty. I was looking at the Wiki and I see that my knife has a 2-screw clip and not a military tri-clip. Have you seen this? I can not find even one picture with the "Military" blade with a clip like this.

 

[Skywalker31]

It's legit, just older. I don't think a ton were made with that specific feature combination - two screw clip, blade marking entirely in front of the opening hole instead with the steel at least on the tang, 440V steel instead of ATS-34, full SE. A more knowledgeable Military collector than me could probably date the production to within a couple of years.

Here's a thread from over on Spyderco's forum with more examples of similar vintage: https://forum.spyderco.com/viewtopic.php?p=1318851

 

[M.FREEZE]

From 1996-2001, "MILITARY" & “ Golden Colorado” “440V” was marked on the blade. In 1998, improvements were made, including a clip with 3 mounting screws instead of 2. Looks like you have an early (pre-1998) Military.

 

[yablanowitz]

That's a piece of Spyderco history for sure. It is the first commercially made knife to use a powder steel blade. Early production, quite possibly first run. There were reports from the field that the 440V (a.k.a. CPM S60V) was brittle and chippy. Spyderco had gone with Crucible's suggested heat treat, since there was no other data available. Later runs were a bit softer to alleviate the issue.

 

[sgt1372]

I collect Millies & have at least 1 of the 2 screw clip model in my collection. Pics to follow.

 

[Sal Glesser]

Hi Pearlforyou,

Welcome to our forum.

Ist run Military. As mentioned, a piece of Spyderco history.

sal

 

[sgt1372]

Here are pics of the two 2 clip screw Millies in my collection:

The one on top is 440V & the one on the bottom is ATS-34.

According to SpydieWiki, the production of both overlapped between 1996-2001 (with only the 440V still in production between 2000-2001).

I suspect (but don't know for a fact) that production of the ATS-34 started before the 440V. See: SpydieWiki Military 36.

-----------------------

Sal: Care to say anything about this?

 

[yablanowitz]

Talked to Sal about that. They were released at the same time. ATS-34 was an established steel, PM steel was a complete unknown. Sal was concerned about the market accepting 440V, so they released the Military in both.

 

[sgt1372]

Talked to Sal about that. They were released at the same time. ATS-34 was an established steel, PM steel was a complete unknown. Sal was concerned about the market accepting 440V, so they released the Military in both.

And both are now scarcer than "hen's teeth" in the 2 clip screw version.

 

[M.FREEZE]

Here are pics of the two 2 clip screw Millies in my collection:

The one on top is 440V & the one on the bottom is ATS-34.

According to SpydieWiki, the production of both overlapped between 1996-2001 (with only the 440V still in production between 2000-2001).

I suspect (but don't know for a fact) that production of the ATS-34 started before the 440V. See: SpydieWiki Military 36.

-----------------------

Sal: Care to say anything about this?

I would also suspect that ATS 34 versions were probably the knives released prior to 440V versions, just based on earlier Spyderco knife models that used ATS 34 also. It seems like ATS 34 was a “super steel“ of the time, and it was already established, while 440V was new to the knife world.

 

[yablanowitz]

I would also suspect that ATS 34 versions were probably the knives released prior to 440V versions, just based on earlier Spyderco knife models that used ATS 34 also. It seems like ATS 34 was a “super steel“ of the time, and it was already established, while 440V was new to the knife world.

I thought the same until Sal told me otherwise. Both steels were released at the same time.

 

[Sal Glesser]

Talked to Sal about that. They were released at the same time. ATS-34 was an established steel, PM steel was a complete unknown. Sal was concerned about the market accepting 440V, so they released the Military in both.

This is true. We also ran a full page ad offering both versions.

There is some back story with our visit to Crucible.

sal

 

[pearlforyou2]

Another thing, I noticed that this knife has a number of 003 on it. I don't know what that is. That's not usually how the collectors numbers are expressed. Could it be because of the other engraving on the blade? Is this the collector club #?

 

[yablanowitz]

Some of the early models had the entire first run numbered, at least on collaboration models. I don't know if that is the case on the Military. Collector's Club number is very probable.