Spyderco military vs paramilitary

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Nakk77

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Jul 26, 2010
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Hey Spyderco lovers which of these do u like better?

I'm looking at getting one of these two? which do u guys like better and why. Obvious difference is compression lock vs liner lock. I have no experience with the compression lock so need some expertise. Let me know.
Thanks.
 
The Military has a 4" blade while the Para is around 3 1/2".
 
I have both, and honestly its 50/50. If you told me I had to choose one I might flip a coin.

The basic differences are obvious: size and lock type. I like the size of the Para better, but I find the liner lock on the Millie easier to operate--not that the compression lock on the Para is what I'd call difficult. I classify the other differences as details: such as the Para 2 has full steel liners, four clip positions, and a larger lanyard hole. But can't say I miss those features on the Military.

You absolutely can't go wrong with either--two of the best production knives available.
 
If you can legally carry the extra half inch why wouldn't you? I find the Military carries so easy and it's blade length is ideal for EDC and kitchen tasks. I carved a turkey with mine Sunday. I really like liner locks though. I find them very easy to use.
 
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Nakk77 said:
i'm talking para 1 not para 2 since i cant find a para 2 anywhere.
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Just my personal tastes here, but between the Para 1 and Millie, I greatly prefer the Millie. The Millie fits my hand so very well. However, with the Para 1, I never could find a grip with which I was completely satisfied.
 
I love the compression lock and I'm not a fan of liner locks, although Spyderco does make the best liner lock in the business. I prefer the Para 2.

The titanium framelock Millie is pretty nice though. It's just about double the cost of the Para 2 though.

Edit: The next batch of Para 2's isn't far off, and I would recommend the 2 over the 1.
 
I'm not a fan of the Military, even the G10/Ti/M4 version I just got. I wear a large glove and the handle is just too big. It doesn't need to be that big and there is excess handle sticking out of my hand and I just don't find a really comfortable grip. The Paramilitary on the other hand is just about my favorite size for a folder. My hand fits on it completely and comfortably and is not too big or too small.

I also greatly prefer the compression lock as it is one of the strongest out there. It isn't the fastest lock to manipulate but I like it. I also have had multiple failures of liner locks so I am somewhat biased against them no matter how well a company makes them.

I would definitely take the Paramilitary over the Military and while I haven't been able to hold the Para 2 yet I would take it over the original just to take advantage of the improvements. The Para 2 should be available again in the next month or so if you don't mind waiting a little bit. You might also be able to score a S90V/ carbon fiber Para 2 if you look around and they should be shipping in the next few weeks with the regular ones following after.
 
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I also like the coated blades and I don't think para 2 is offering a black blade yet. I'm looking at the military or para in digi camo and black blade.
 
If I were you I'd wait for a deal on the F/S forum here, and just buy which ever one you can find a good deal on first. I paid $80 shipped for my BNIB Military here on the forums.
:thumbup:
 
i like the military because the liner lock is easier to close for me than the lock on the para. i also like the bigger blade with the military because its still pretty light.
 
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Both are great knives but if I had to pick one it would be the Military mostly for it's extra blade length. I've had 2 Paramilitaries one PE and one SE and loved them except the pivot screws would always get loose after a few days of use. Both also seemed to get gritty feeling in the pivot/washers whenever I'm working in a dirty environment. Probably from the pivot comming loose allowing dirt to get in easier. Never a problem with the Military. Despite those two issues I had with the Paramilitaries, the PE Para always my grab-n-go knife whenever I was in a rush to leave the house or couldn't decide what knife to carry that day. I like the compression lock too. I'll definitely buy another one but I'm waiting to see if the price will go down.
 
Nakk77 said:
i'm talking para 1 not para 2 since i cant find a para 2 anywhere.
Click to expand...

Who can!? :D

Oddly, the Para and Millie are rather different feeling pieces. I have a couple of each and I can't choose. For just 'around' I lean towards the Para. For fishing and so forth, the Millie.

I guess you know that you will have to buy them both :D
 
Nakk77 said:
i'm talking para 1 not para 2 since i cant find a para 2 anywhere.
Click to expand...
gpknives or knifecenter.

I'm deeply offended that you did not pre-order the new Para 2 in either S90V and Carbon Fiber or the one in CTS-20CP. I of course, ordered both and I'll happily endure the holiday season of absolute agony(for my job) for them:thumbup:.

In any case, the military looks to be the same rough dimensions as my Endura 4, and I found that one to be a little "too" long, almost like I was holding a pencil in my hand rather than a knife. The Paramilitary looks to be just right, which begs the question of why the Para2 is so popular if everything wasn't just right?

As for a coated blade, while I do like some of them, I don't tolerate anything less than DLC because they often seem to get stripped off easily either from daily use or my sloppy sharpening. Unless your regular use specifically calls for a coating(in which case you might very well need DLC), there's no practical reason to have it.
 
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