Spyderco Military - Im on the fence, help me jump off it

[retzius]

I really want to get the Military. It is one of those knives I have had in my cart a thousand times but never seem to actually purchase.

It seems like the perfect size for me and a great weight for its blade length.

The only reservations I have are:

1. liner lock. seems like a hard use or service knife like this is made for a compression lock
2. black blade models still have satin hardware. the paramilitary II is blacked out but for some reason the military has satin only hardware
3. delicate tip.

what say you?

 

[Fancier]

Styles for knives evolve over time, and these days folks seem to want their folders overbuilt.
Have you looked at the Tatanka?
The Military is a great cutting tool with excellent geometry and ergonomics.
It may not be the ultimate knife for you, but it is a perennial favorite among users of Spyderco knives.

 

[FriarPhenn]

I agree with the above for sure.

The Military is a phenomenal cutting tool. It's not designed with prying (or even stabbing, necessarily) in mind. The linerlock on it is robust, the lockup is solid, and the blade is a slicing machine.

That being said, I've watched and read about plenty of people "abusing" their Milies battoning, chopping, etc., with no damage to the knife.

If you're looking for a large-yet-compact knife that cuts very well and has excellent ergos, then the Milie is for you! :thumbup:

 

[wire edge]

I love the Military! The only upgrade I'd like to see is larger hardware like the Para 2 and Manix 2 have. It's a great overall design, there's a reason it's been around for 20 years! 1996-2016 to date!

 

[Evany]

FriarPhenn has put it very well. It's incredible how light and slim it feels in the pocket for how much blade length and utility it offers. I've actually used mine as a sort of mini machete, slashing through bittersweet and wild rose vines in some of the overgrown areas on my property.

 

[115Italian]

For me it was always one of those knives i just had to own. Big handle, good 4 inch blade. I wouldn't call it a hard use knife but rather and all around use knife. The blade stock is thick but then thins out for a great tip. Awesome flat grind makes is a great slices. Total package is not too heavy either for its size. All for a reasonable price.

 

[symphonyincminor]

The Military is one of those iconic production knives that haven't really changed since its inception..... there have been minor adjustments over the years (the eccentric pivot was phased out, the backspacer had material changes, the second nested liner was introduced with the BG-42 sprint run, and probably numerous other 'small' quality improvements that go unnoticed to the end user), but the design has stayed true to the original iteration.

Sal designed it as a knife that he could send his son or daughter into combat with, so take that into some serious consideration (someone can probably dig up the direct quote from Sal). It's one of those rare models that just feels like a natural extension of your hand when you use it. I've been through hundreds of knives over the years and a Military has always been in the lineup, somewhere in the knife drawer. The design is just that good.

So, your concerns:

1.) The liner lock is strong.... someone should dig up the ft. lbs. of weight it was designed to handle (I know I've seen it posted over the years). The lock is actually nested into the knife scale itself, lending to a more slender design, while retaining incredible strength.
2.) You can always have the hardware customized (Cerakote, DLC, etc.) if you want to spend the money.
3.) The tip looks delicate in comparison to the army of overbuilt knives that are currently on the market. The gradual taper to the grind allows for a 'splinter-picker' tip. As long as you don't drive it into a piece of wood and apply lateral stress to the handle, the tip should remain intact for the life of the knife. The blade design and grind excels at cutting - not outright abuse.

I'd say press the checkout button next time, and if it doesn't meet your expectations, you can always sell it or trade on the forums without losing a dollar.

 

[retzius]

Thanks for all your comments! I ordered the regular satin finish blade with black handles. I can't wait to try it out.

I wonder if they will release a Military 2 in the future. It seems like the perfect knife that is due for an upgrade. I can only imagine it with larger DLC hardware, nested compression lock, CTS-Xhp steel, etc.

 

[uxo2]

PM2 has a delicate tip.

But where the Mili loses me. TIP DOWN ONLY.

If the lock fails. Chances are your being abusive with it anyways and
should be using a Fixed blade.

 

[FriarPhenn]

But where the Mili loses me. TIP DOWN ONLY.

Haha, that's actually one of my favorite things about the Milie. Carries great in the back pocket and no extra clip screw holes. :thumbup:

But yeah—that's definitely a killer for quite a few people.

 

[knifeneasy]

I primarily use mine at work, outside, especially in colder months because it's super easy to open and close while wearing gloves. The lock seems plenty strong to me but I don't really worry about lock failure. There is absolutely zero play in any direction when the blade is open. Moving between the finger choil and the handle is for me the most economic and effortless of all the Spyderco knives I own. I too wish the hardware was blacked out like the PM2 but certainly not a deal breaker for me (I know some replace the Millie screws with black T8's). The tip is very precise but far from delicate. Being tip down only works very well for me for a work knife. Back right pocket and easy to grab while wearing a coat. I regularly use it to push cut (micro) kindling and currently it's being pressed into kitchen duty while we are visiting some relatives as their knife selection is hurting to say the least. It's incredibly versatile and when you click it open it's kind of hard to believe you have that much blade length in such a light package.

 

[dalefuller]

I really want to get the Military. It is one of those knives I have had in my cart a thousand times but never seem to actually purchase.

It seems like the perfect size for me and a great weight for its blade length.

The only reservations I have are:

1. liner lock. seems like a hard use or service knife like this is made for a compression lock
2. black blade models still have satin hardware. the paramilitary II is blacked out but for some reason the military has satin only hardware
3. delicate tip.

what say you?

I have in my knife cabinet an old S30V Military with dino-jimping (to say how old it is). It is razor sharp. It is undamaged. It has its original tip. There is no blade play in any direction. The liner lock originally locked up at about 40% (just to the left of halfway). Know where it locks up now? 40%.

I've used it to help remodel a buddy's house cutting and scoring sheetrock and wood. I've used it camping for the usual camp chores (food processing, making fires, killing ticks, etc.) I've cut computer cabling and opened boxes at work with it.

That seems to answer #1 and #3. I don't have to sneak up on the things I'm going to cut, so silver hardware doesn't make any difference to me.

 

[FriarPhenn]

I have in my knife cabinet an old S30V Military with dino-jimping (to say how old it is). It is razor sharp. It is undamaged. It has its original tip. There is no blade play in any direction. The liner lock originally locked up at about 40% (just to the left of halfway). Know where it locks up now? 40%.

I've used it to help remodel a buddy's house cutting and scoring sheetrock and wood. I've used it camping for the usual camp chores (food processing, making fires, killing ticks, etc.) I've cut computer cabling and opened boxes at work with it.

That seems to answer #1 and #3. I don't have to sneak up on the things I'm going to cut, so silver hardware doesn't make any difference to me.

This is a great post. Props, Dale! :thumbup:

 

[wire edge]

Dale is the man

 

[Cursum Perficio]

Thanks for all your comments! I ordered the regular satin finish blade with black handles. I can't wait to try it out.

I wonder if they will release a Military 2 in the future. It seems like the perfect knife that is due for an upgrade. I can only imagine it with larger DLC hardware, nested compression lock, CTS-Xhp steel, etc.

Good move.
I too spent a long time thinking about it before I got a Military. Now I have 2, and they are great, so very carryable and useful. I quickly got over the tip down only thing, it works just fine. Having said that, now one of mine is tip up, and it's awesome to carry.

 

[cbxer55]

I love the Military! The only upgrade I'd like to see is larger hardware like the Para 2 and Manix 2 have. It's a great overall design, there's a reason it's been around for 20 years! 1996-2016 to date!

I just happen to edc a Military I bought back in 1996, right when they first became available. CPM-440V steel. Knife has seen so much pocket time, way more than any knife I've ever owned. The lock has never failed me. NEVER! The lock has moved over slightly on the blade tang from where it did new. But I'm not a flipper, so I've never really stresses it enough to cause any undue wear there. It's been used to play mumblety peg numerous times. LOL Been tossed into trees and fences as well. Hacked branches off trees, whacked weeds out of the yard. Through all this, even after 20 years and lots of honing, the blade length is about 1/16 of an inch shorter than the two new ones I bought in 2012. I still edc the 20 year old one every single day.

THis is an old two screw clip model, and they were notorious for the clip screws stripping. Mine did this and I fixed it myself. Took the knife entirely apart, reamed the holes larger, re-tapped them for larger screws, and re-assembled it. It's not happened again since, and that was like fifteen years ago. I also apply black heat shrink tubing to the clip when needed, as it to wears out eventually. I do this without taking the knife apart. Slip the heat shrink tubing onto the clip. Slide a piece of cardboard under it, to protect the scales from the heat, heat it up and back in the pocket.

Can see in the first pic that the edge in no longer the factory edge. I actually have it honed at a 22 degree angle (11 degrees per side), which it handles just fine.
And yes, tip-down, now-and-forever.

 

[cbxer55]

Good move.
I too spent a long time thinking about it before I got a Military. Now I have 2, and they are great, so very carryable and useful. I quickly got over the tip down only thing, it works just fine. Having said that, now one of mine is tip up, and it's awesome to carry.

Those scales are just awesome. Tell me about them. Like where to get some. LOL

 

[Cursum Perficio]

Those scales are just awesome. Tell me about them. Like where to get some. LOL

Polished Venom Pearl Kirinite with a rounded contour on a layer of black G10, T8 screws on scales and clip, T15 screws for pivot, back spacer replaced with barrel spacers, tip up clip screwed into barrel spacer and nuts recessed into the G10.

They were made by Steve Ketchen of Sketchen Scales (link below) and I highly recomend him. Not only is he a skilled craftsman making beautiful scales, he is also a great guy to deal with.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1192333-Sketchen-Scales-Customs

 

[Buellrider]

I recently picked up a pre owned military. It is a Spydie, so it is awesome. but, it is a little too large for me, I prefer my PM2's for front pocket carry, or even my Tenatious. I also like the tip up/down option of the PM2 compared to the military as others have said. The military does work well in the back pocket next to the wallet though. I can see how it would be a great pack knife also. It definitely has its purpose in the lineup.

 

[archieblue]

I sold one of my Millies to a home builder buddy. He seriously treats that thing like he stole it. The Millie just asks for more.