Spyderco Military Lock

Just like an ex smoker or drinker who can get a little evangelical about their new choices in life, I've been a little effusive about my Military lately. I was turned off by it's initial appearance (not just cosmetically - I thought it looked weak, got turned on by reading Buzz's review and have been amazed after 3-4 weeks of putting it through it's paces (household, fishing, 2 nights camping, cutting all sorts of rope etc)

So the lock(IMHO),

pros:

Strong - way strong enough for me but I tend to just cut things with my knife. I'd be interested to see Cliff Stamp try and bust a Sebbie, Strider AFCK and Military to actually guage how bombproof (respectively) they are. I suspect that looks may be decieving. Without the 2nd liner one would expect the Millie to be weaker but as Buzzbait explains this doesn't have to be so. I judge strength by how much the locking liner has moved across the ramp after I push cut as hard as I can. The liner on my knife moves less that any knife I've seen.

Easy to clean - Mine has shown a slight reluctance to click into the lock position when it it thoroughly gummed up with beach sand. This is easily resolved with a dunk in the water and a proper clean when I get home.

Light - The big knife that carries like a little knife. Means it's more likely to be on me when I need it.

Designed for long term wear.

Cons: It's not a fixed blade
 
The following lists pros and cons, as I know them, in comparison to other lock types, not just other liner locks. In general, I think of the Military nested liner lock as a nice improvement over the standard liner lock.

Pros of the Military nested liner lock:

1. Light in weight
2. Slim in the pocket
3. Excellent strength under vertical loads
4. Self-adjusts to wear
5. Easy to manipulate
6. Easy to clean


Cons of the Military nested liner lock:

1. Expensive and complicated to manufacture
2. Not ambidextrous
3. Can slip under extreme lateral force
4. Places finger in path of blade when closing

The nested liner lock is not the end-all and be-all of locks, but a good basic lock for right-handers who want a maximum amount of convenience. If you're right-handed, and use your knife for cutting and not prying, it's more than enough lock to get the job done. If you find your blade stuck in the substrate being cut, and need to apply lateral pressure to free the blade, I recommend "choking up" on the Military, so that your index finger is placed in the choil. This will create an effective ricasso against lock failure.

Hope this helps.
 
I have used a Military, the liner lock was very sloppy NIB and would release easily in a tight grip. Sent it back to Spyderco, came back better, but still would release in a tight grip. Returned the knife as I didn't buy it as a light use knife.

Have used a Sebenza on loan from a forum member. The lock would too easily jam under tight pressure, and there are problems with release under torques similar to liner locks. Excellent light use blade profile though, didn't care for the handle ergonomics and have issues with customer service that would prevent me from ever buying one.

Have used a Strider/Buck, broke the liner lock easily under torques (twisting and some lateral load, the liner moved and then was sheared off). No interest in a custom Strider as Mick Strider commented that the experience I described was the expected behavior of the lock and I feel that a blade that massive is not functional on a lock that insecure.

Lock backs are where I would go for a utility folder now outside of the Niemi which I would have without hesitation if it was legal here. I just briefly checked a Calypso Jr. last night, gift for a friend. The lock was stable under spine whacks, easily passes white knuckle in various grips and various blade torques. I would bet on gross blade / handle damage in heavy use as likely to be problematic before the lock would break

-Cliff
 
At least Cliff and I agree on something lately. Spyderco does make a killer lockback. My Endura is about as bulletproof in lock design as I could ever really want on a folder.

Cliff, have you tried out the Spyderco compression lock yet? I haven't yet had the opportunity to handle one yet, and would like to hear your views on it. Also, have you tried a newer Military? There have been many changes to the lock design since that older model you tried.
 
Yes, I have used two Guntings with the compression lock. I saw no evidence of the common problems often seen with liner locks. It is very solid and based on what I have seen, very difficult to release.

No I have not used a recent Military. Very nice knife though outside of the problems I had with the lock. For that style of knife though I have others now that are personally suitable, Opinel and Twistmaster.

-Cliff
 
Cliff. One more question. When you say that the Buck/Strider lock sheared off. Was the failure at the bend in the lock or at the pins? I'm curious about the actual point of failure that most liner locks suffer under various stresses.
 
The actual liner lock bar broke. When the knife was twisted, the lock bar moved across until only a portion of it engaged. When the knife was then leaned on, the weight was therefore focused on a small portion of the lock bar which could not take the pressure and it sheared off. It was replaced by Buck under warrenty. As long as all the lock is engaged you can't get this kind of shearing effect so it is again a security problem that is the issue not brute strength, which is rarely a problem in folding knives, except on the cheap ones, or unless you are looking for batoning or other high impact work.

-Cliff
 
Thankyou everyone for your input. Especially Cliff. I'd like to here more from you Cliff. Particually on frame locks. Thanks again!:)
 
The same forces which can make a liner lock move and lose engagement can do the same thing to an integral and thus all the same problems exist. The problem isn't as large with integrals because the lock face is simply larger, and with a squashing grip you can to some extent prevent the lock bar from moving depending on the nature and strength of your grip. It is however inherently far less stable than a lock back, or compression lock, or the custom by Niemi. You also have a handle which is inherently less than ergonomic as a big chunk of it is basically missing, and on top of that the lock can jam and gall if the handle is squeezed excessively tightly.

-Cliff
 
And what about the axis lock?

I´ve seen some lockbacks, which failed by light pressure on the spine, so he axis seems to me as a step forward.
 
I have not used an axis. In regards to lockbacks folding or releasing, yes, I would imagine there are lots of bad ones out there. However inherently it is a lot more of a stable design than the liner lock. The biggest problem with lockbacks is releasing under pressure which is depending on the grip used and shape of the hand. This is easily tested though by the individual user with no harm done to the lock. Spyderco has made progress in removing even this problem by recessing the lock bar release slightly with a cutout which makes this very difficult to do unless a very artifical grip is used.

-Cliff
 
Buzzbait:

"If you find your blade stuck in the substrate being cut, and need to apply lateral pressure to free the blade, I recommend "choking up" on the Military, so that your index finger is placed in the choil. This will create an effective ricasso against lock failure."

I have used this technique before, but I still think of a friend of mine who had severe hand/finger damage from sliding down the blade on a knife with no guard. Personally I wouldn't use the Military for anything more than slicing and cutting. Not to say I haven't used it for prying old gates off irrigation pipe and other tasks, I just most always prefer fixed bladee, even though carrying one around here is universally shunned.
 
I totally agree. I always used a fixed blade if I have a choice. I generally never pry anything with any of my knives, much less my folders. I have an Atwood Pry-Baby Mini for impromptu prying tasks.
 
Cliff,

Based on what floats your boat, I would imagine you will be all over the Extrema Ratio folders. What do you think of those so far, from what you've heard or seen anyways?
 
Cliff and others on the Buck Striders The BU880 SP I just got has all the new updated design improvements. This version has several upgrades that I believe would eliminate any liner lock shearing problem Cliff had and also the torque closure problem he encountered. (See my intitial review in the Buck Forum section) but the new version has the Ti liner lock area where it contacts the blade heat treated, it is refered to as "flame treated" by Strider knives and the section treated is the same color as the AR/GB custom folder liners. This heat treating of the Ti liners changes the knife lock up greatly and will improve wear of Ti liner against the blade. Strider Knives has used this process on all the custom folders they have produced now it has trickled down to the Buck/Strider collaborations.

The bronze bearing surface is also changed the non liner washer is very large (square in appearance except for the cut out for the stop pn) covering the entire blade and wraps around the stop pin half way, the other side is a full washer (round) and is not the three stack version of old.

These improvements which are on the newest versions out really improve the Buck Strider and I believe it beats a Spyderco Mil lock up any day.
 
I have not used the Extrema Ratio folders, but initial comments on them seem to have people pleased.

spartan_ajax, can the liner be moved as the one I had, if so, then the same problems can result. Flame hardening the ocntact surfaces doesn't address this issue.

-Cliff
 
My experience with the Military lock is as follows:

The first time I really put my weight into a cut - I was cutting through some heavy plastic flower pots so that I could get the plants out - the handle flexed enough to let the lock move all the way across the handle and jam on the opposite side between the blade and the handle slab. Took a pair of pliers to release the lock.
 
I haven't done any cuts applying force 90deg across lock(side to side). I have cut through many 5gal pails though when I was working as a dishwasher. no question on the lock for me.
 
as an update, have been using a new Military (S30V), the liner lock is stable under spine whacks, white knuckling and torques + vertical loads, very heavy dynamic cutting is also not a problem.

-Cliff
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top